"The winner is Aburame Shino!"
Shiranui Genma's announcement echoed through the stadium.
The crowd erupted in applause.
"Shikamaru, you alright?" someone asked.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "What do you think? Look at all these red spots all over me."
Shino, hands in his pockets, responded, "You weren't serious. If you had been, the fight wouldn't have ended so quickly."
It was clear that Shino was disappointed by the lack of a proper challenge.
"What a drag. Let's go get ready for the next round," Shikamaru sighed.
"Mm."
With Shino's help, he stood up, and the two walked off together.
"Next match: Tenten versus Dosu! Contestants, please enter the arena!"
Even though Gaara had already confirmed Dosu's death, the match needed to proceed as protocol demanded.
Near the participants' waiting area, Sasuke glanced at the silent Gaara.
"Looks like it's our turn."
Gaara didn't reply. Instead, he closed his eyes, and the Third Eye of Sand appeared above the arena.
Seeing Gaara's lack of response, Sasuke didn't press further. He simply leaned against the entrance, waiting for Shiranui Genma to announce their match.
Meanwhile, in the depths of Konoha...
"You can't do this…! The Hokage and the elders may have been wrong, but everything they did was for Konoha!"
"For Konoha?"
A cold chuckle followed. "That excuse is used far too often."
"Can you justify sacrificing innocent lives for the village?"
Jiraiya, beaten and restrained, sat in his cell, bound by chakra-sealing techniques. Kakashi entered, taking in the sorry state of his former mentor.
"Jiraiya, wouldn't you like to see who the real rulers of Konoha are now?" Kakashi asked, his voice laced with disdain. "Come on. You'll regret missing this show."
"Kakashi!" Jiraiya growled.
"Save your breath. The so-called 'Will of Fire' is just a leash used to control us," Kakashi sneered.
"Kakashi, he's the one who wrote Make-Out Paradise, right?" Might Guy asked, holding up a copy of the book.
"Yeah, that's him."
Might Guy scoffed, tossing the book aside and pulling out another. "Trash. I've seen him peeping in the women's bathhouse before. Disgusting. Now this book, at least, has willing heroines."
"Ahem… Guy, let's focus."
"Right!"
Before Jiraiya could protest further, Kakashi slapped a seal over his mouth. Then, he and Guy dragged him out of the dungeon.
"Jiraiya, watch closely," Kakashi murmured. "This time, those old roots will burn to make way for new growth."
Elsewhere in the village…
Tsunade stood at the forefront, leading a battalion of Hyuga clan members. The exits of the Root organization's headquarters were completely surrounded.
"Alright, let's not just stand around. It's time to act," she commanded.
"L-Lady Tsunade… should we really just charge in?" Hiashi Hyuga asked hesitantly.
"What else? Do you plan to ask for permission?" Tsunade scoffed. "Haven't you had enough of being controlled by those old relics?"
Hiashi's entire body trembled.
"No… I have had enough!" he declared, his voice resolute. "Now, it's time they see the true face of the Hyuga clan!"
The Hyuga branch family members looked stunned.
For years, they had been forced to submit. Forced to bow their heads, even when they were the victims. Forced to make amends to the Hidden Cloud Village after their clan leader's life was used as compensation.
Tsunade's chakra flared, drawing every eye toward her.
"From this moment forward, the Hyuga clan will no longer be divided into a main family and branch family!"
A stunned silence followed.
Hiashi stepped forward. "As head of the Hyuga clan, I declare that Lady Tsunade's words are absolute. The Hyuga clan is united!"
The air crackled with tension as realization dawned upon them.
"The major clans have suffered under Konoha's corruption for too long!" Tsunade's voice rang out.
"The rot in the leaves must be purged!"
Back at the Chunin Exam arena…
"Next match: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Gaara of the Sand! The match begins!"
The moment the words fell, Sasuke dashed backward, creating distance between them.
The arena's floor was covered in sand.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A massive sea of flames roared toward Gaara.
The spectators gasped as the towering blaze lit up the stadium.
"Uchiha!"
"This ticket was so worth it!"
"Damn, is this really a Genin battle?" someone murmured.
Amidst the chaos, Gaara remained calm.
From the gourd on his back, sand surged forward, forming a protective shield around him.
The firestorm crashed against the sand, black smoke billowing into the sky.
Snap—
Cracks spread across the sand barrier, and Gaara slowly rose from within, standing atop a shifting sea of sand.
In an instant, the ground trembled, and the battlefield transformed into a desert.
"That fire jutsu didn't work?!"
"Monsters… these two are monsters!"
In the stands, the Fourth Kazekage—secretly Orochimaru in disguise—watched with sharp eyes.
"Your son is quite powerful, Lord Kazekage," the Hokage noted.
"He still lacks control," Orochimaru replied smoothly. His plan was moving forward perfectly.
"Naruto, is what you said… really true?" Temari asked quietly, gripping the railing.
Naruto nodded. "I have no reason to lie."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances before turning back to Gaara.
They knew that right now, deep inside, their brother's heart was wavering.
"The sand in his gourd… it's infused with their mother's chakra," Kankuro murmured.
"Gaara isn't the problem. Father is."
He clenched his fists. "Temari, when we return, we'll remove any obstacles for Gaara. He must become the Fifth Kazekage. If we delay, the Sand Village will fall into chaos."
Maki, standing at the back, observed Gaara's chakra surging outward.
"Gaara… control your power," he muttered. "This fight determines the future of the Sand."
"Chidori Stream!"
"Sand Tsunami!"
The two techniques clashed in an explosion of lightning and sand.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly as he dodged Gaara's relentless assault.
He gritted his teeth. Damn, this sand… it's everywhere!
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
But before the battle could reach its climax—
From the stands, a masked Anbu ninja stood.
"An incredible duel… but it's time."
A cruel smirk spread beneath the mask.
"The Konoha Collapse Plan begins now."
After saying that, he slowly stood up.
He reached out and tapped the shoulder of the spectator sitting in front of him, who was watching the match.
Thump—
The next moment, the spectator slumped over, fast asleep.
He scanned the audience, noting that all eyes were locked on Gaara and Sasuke's battle.
Silently, he raised his hand.
Whoosh—
With blinding speed, he wove a series of hand seals.
On the battlefield, Gaara continued to move his hands in rhythmic motions.
The shifting sands surged like a relentless tide, swallowing Sasuke's shadow clones one after another.
"Oi~!"
"You're weak, kid!"
"This is getting boring. Let's wrap it up!"
Boom—
Suddenly, an immense surge of chakra erupted from Gaara's body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shukaku's chakra flared, shifting the tides of battle in an instant.
Sasuke's pupils constricted.
"I see now… So that's what he meant when he said he and Naruto were alike."
"Then that makes me the same as well!"
Boom—
Within Sasuke, the seed of the Nine-Tails' chakra burst forth, flooding his body with power.
Elsewhere, deep within Konoha, the Nine-Tails—who was busy contemplating how to acquire all of Tsunade's assets—suddenly shuddered.
Then, with a quick motion, he retrieved a small notebook from his fur.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you've burned through an insane amount of chakra today... That'll be 500,000 ryo."
"We accept cash, but I'm fine leaving it on your tab. We're all friends, after all."
Little did Jiraiya know that, thanks to his fight with Gaara, he now owed the Nine-Tails a hefty debt.
"Sand Burial!!"
Boom—!!!
A deafening impact shook the arena.
The sheer force of Gaara's technique sent waves of sand surging across the battlefield.
"It's over," Gaara murmured.
Had he held back? If so, Sasuke might still be alive.
But then—
Bang—
The final Sasuke buried beneath the sand dissipated into a cloud of white smoke.
"What?!" Shukaku's voice rang out in disbelief.
"Above!"
Gaara's gaze snapped skyward. The glaring sun forced him to squint.
Sasuke was already in mid-air, forming hand seals at lightning speed. Around him, dozens of shadow clones mirrored his movements.
Bzzt—
Lightning crackled.
"Chidori!"
Dark clouds began to swirl ominously in the distance.
Sasuke continued ascending, using his clones as stepping stones to reach even greater heights.
"Sand Shield?"
"Let's see whether your sand is faster than my lightning!"
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Boom—
From Sasuke's mouth, enormous dragon-shaped flames roared forth.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails' chakra drained away like a receding tide.
Back in the stands, unnoticed by the battle-hungry spectators, a peculiar phenomenon was unfolding.
One by one, starting from the back rows, more and more people were collapsing into a deep sleep.
"That's enough, Sasuke. This isn't the time for a fight to the death."
Bzzt—
Sasuke hesitated, raising his hand.
"I see."
The Chidori's glow faded as he dispersed the technique.
Below, Gaara's sand intercepted and neutralized the remaining clones' attacks.
"A new technique isn't useless after all."
As Sasuke descended, Gaara's sand curled around his feet before he even noticed.
His pupils dilated.
These grains… They've been clinging to me all along?!
Though minuscule, the accumulated sand was enough to slow his descent.
"Genjutsu!"
In the stands, Kurenai Yuhi frowned.
"Are you sure?" Anko and Yugao questioned.
"Yes. But I'd need Kurama's chakra to counter it… And without Tsunade's Yin Seal, the timing is too tight."
Just then, white feathers began drifting down from the sky.
Countless spectators succumbed to slumber, trapped within a powerful illusion.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, turned to look at the 'Fourth Kazekage' beside him.
At the same time, Orochimaru, in disguise, met his gaze.
Then, without pretense, Orochimaru spoke in his true voice:
"Shall we begin?"
Whoosh—
At his command, the two shinobi standing at his sides sprang into action.
A smoke bomb was thrown.
Boom—
Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the VIP viewing box.
The explosion's echo drew the attention of every ninja present.
Simultaneously—
A massive, three-headed snake came crashing down, smashing through Konoha's walls and barriers.
"Konoha Crush Operation—Commence!"
From the rooftop, Kakashi and Might Guy overlooked the unfolding chaos.
At their feet, Jiraiya lay bound, completely immobilized.
"It's starting," Kakashi muttered.
"Huh?" Might Guy asked without averting his gaze.
Kakashi sighed. "Orochimaru's plan is in motion."
"Give the signal, Guy."
Might Guy reluctantly closed his book and took a deep breath.
"My youth… IS BURNING!!"
"The Sixth Gate: Gate of View—OPEN!!!"
Bzzt—
An explosive aura of green chakra erupted around him.
Might Guy clenched his fist and hurled a devastating punch skyward.
"Morning Peacock!"
A barrage of rapid strikes ignited the air, forming a spectacle of flames that resembled a peacock's tail.
For a moment, all of Konoha stood in awe.
After delivering the signal, Might Guy promptly shut the Eight Gates, collapsed onto the ground, and foamed at the mouth.
Across the village, every prepared ninja turned their heads to the sky, taking in the signal.
Still airborne, Sasuke caught sight of it, his mind flashing back to something Naruto had once joked about.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Bang—
As soon as Sasuke's shadow clone emerged, it propelled him high into the sky.
Whoosh—
In an instant, Sasuke shot past the clouds, ascending rapidly. Gathering chakra at his mouth, he prepared his next move.
With the Nine-Tails' chakra coursing through him, a powerful presence stirred within.
On the ground, Ino and her father, Yamanaka Inoichi, exchanged glances.
"Ninjutsu: Mind Link Technique!"
A faint barrier shimmered over Konoha as their technique activated, linking their minds with the shinobi across the village.
Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi glanced towards Naruto in the distance, catching the subtle smile on his face. Understanding his silent signal, she nodded and moved swiftly.
Now was the perfect time.
She rapidly formed hand seals.
"Genjutsu Release!"
Buzz—
A surge of the Nine-Tails' chakra pulsed outward. In an instant, the illusion trapping the Konoha spectators shattered, and the civilians and shinobi alike snapped awake, confusion flickering in their eyes.
Up in the sky, Sasuke smirked. "Naruto, let me take center stage for once."
He inhaled deeply, tapping into the telepathic link with Inoichi before shouting:
"Save the people from danger!"
"Bring peace to a chaotic world!"
"Gather the power of the heavens!"
"Follow the will of fate!"
"The heavens will not fail us—the Yellow Sky shall rise!"
"Raijin! Goddess of Thunder! Hear my command!"
Boom! Boom!
Sasuke's voice echoed across Konoha, resonating in every mind.
Above him, the dark clouds—gathered earlier by his Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation and Great Dragon Fire Technique—rumbled ominously. Thunder crackled, rolling through the sky like a divine proclamation.
"From this moment on!"
"The era of endless war among the Five Great Nations...ends today!"
The Konoha Uprising had begun.
On the battlefield below, Naruto's chakra flared as he harnessed more of the Nine-Tails' power. His voice thundered:
"The old order is dead! The new age begins! The time is now! Thunder God, grant me your power!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Lightning Release: Kirin!
A piercing roar filled the sky— a massive thunder beast emerged from the storm clouds, its form crackling with electric fury.
Its scarlet eyes locked onto the Hokage Monument.
Flash—
BOOM!
Too fast.
The Kirin moved at the speed of lightning itself. Most could only register a blinding white flash before the deafening explosion tore through the air.
The Third Hokage's face on the monument—Sarutobi Hiruzen—shattered into rubble.
All across Konoha, voices rose like sparks igniting a wildfire, echoing a single cry:
"Our heads may fall, our blood may spill, but our will shall never break!"
And so—
The rebellion began.