Chapter 99: The Pre-War Chaos Unfolds

The Hidden Leaf Village, though accustomed to the ever-present shadow of war, was caught off guard by the sudden plunge into darkness. This was no ordinary night. As the winds howled and the ground quivered, villagers whispered in fear. The Third Ninja War was on the horizon, but something darker was brewing right now.

Atop the looming Hokage Rock, Johan stood beside his sinister ally, Orochimaru. The pair, an unlikely alliance of chaos and malevolence, looked down upon the village below. Johan's wild grin and carefree posture contrasted with Orochimaru's cold, calculating stare.

"Ah, the good old days," Johan mused, twirling a kunai between his fingers. "The world hasn't seen destruction like this in ages."

Orochimaru's pale lips curled into a snake-like smile. "The chaos you enjoy is meaningless without purpose. Let's see what these Shinobi can do when pushed beyond their limits."

Johan yawned, clearly uninterested in Orochimaru's grand plans. "Yeah, yeah. 'Purpose' and all that. I'm here to stir things up and watch it all burn."

With a dramatic snap of his fingers, Johan unleashed a wave of Abyssal Energy, causing the night sky above Konoha to crackle with dark, swirling energy. The oppressive force that followed felt as though the heavens themselves were being dragged down upon the village.

In the Village

Inside the Hokage's office, a young Hiruzen Sarutobi, still holding the mantle of Third Hokage, was alerted by the sudden tremor. He rose from his desk, his face stern. He could sense it — an ominous chakra he'd never encountered before.

"Summon the Jonin," Hiruzen ordered calmly, despite the tension in the air. "This isn't Orochimaru's doing alone."

At that moment, Danzo, ever the opportunist, appeared in the shadows, his expression unreadable. "Hokage, this may be the work of foreign forces. We cannot afford weakness right now."

Hiruzen shot him a sidelong glance. "We must act decisively, but with care. I will not allow Konoha to fall into panic."

As they spoke, the village below was already in disarray. Shinobi rushed to evacuate civilians as enormous shadowy creatures, born from Johan's dark energy, roamed the streets, causing havoc. Some bore resemblance to Orochimaru's twisted experiments — serpentine monsters with too many eyes — while others were incomprehensible, swirling masses of dark energy that defied reason.

The Battle Begins

Down in the village, a young Jonin named Minato Namikaze stood at the ready, his face a calm mask despite the chaos around him. He had been tasked with protecting the outer perimeter, but as the situation escalated, his instincts screamed that something far worse was at play.

Beside him, his teammate, Fugaku Uchiha, activated his Sharingan, scanning the chaotic streets for any sign of their enemies.

"This is no ordinary attack," Fugaku muttered. "I can sense chakra, but it's twisted, unnatural."

Minato nodded, his sharp mind working quickly. "We'll need to contain this energy, but we can't let the village fall into disarray."

Just then, a massive serpentine creature lunged toward them, its fangs bared and its eyes glowing a sickly green. In a blur, Minato disappeared, reappearing above the creature's head, kunai in hand. With a swift slash, the beast dissolved into dark mist, only to reform moments later.

"Tch, these things aren't normal," Minato muttered as he landed gracefully beside Fugaku. "We need to find the source."

Hokage Rock

Back at Hokage Rock, Johan was thoroughly enjoying the chaos. His maniacal grin widened as he watched the monstrous creations wreak havoc below.

Orochimaru, however, was focused. "They'll trace the energy back here soon. We need to move quickly if we're to execute the next phase."

Johan waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, snake-man. Let the kiddies have their fun for a bit. Besides, I want to see how far they can push themselves before they break."

But Orochimaru wasn't interested in Johan's games. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling focus. "Don't forget why you're here, Johan. Destruction is only a tool. The true power lies in controlling what comes after."

"Oh, I didn't forget," Johan replied, stretching lazily. "But why do you always have to make everything so serious? I'm just here to mess things up!"

With that, Johan raised his hand, summoning a swirling vortex of Abyssal Energy. From the dark portal, a monstrous creature far larger than any of the others emerged — a towering behemoth with jagged, crystalline skin and burning red eyes that seemed to pierce the very soul.

Orochimaru observed the creature with mild interest. "You've certainly outdone yourself this time."

Johan grinned. "I like to go big."

In the Streets of Konoha

Minato and Fugaku's battle with the shadow creatures had escalated. Despite their best efforts, the creatures seemed endless, regenerating with each passing moment.

"This is getting out of hand," Fugaku growled, wiping sweat from his brow. "We need to regroup with the others."

Minato nodded. "Let's head toward Hokage Rock. The source of this energy seems to be coming from that direction."

Just as they were about to move, the ground beneath them trembled. Minato's sharp eyes widened as he saw the massive behemoth Johan had summoned. It was heading straight for the heart of the village.

"We need to stop that thing," Minato said, his voice steely.

Fugaku activated his Sharingan once more. "Agreed. Let's take it down."

The two elite shinobi charged toward the beast, their combined efforts aimed at halting its destructive path. Minato flashed in and out of existence with his signature Flying Thunder God Technique, while Fugaku's Sharingan guided their precise strikes. But no matter how many hits they landed, the behemoth seemed unfazed.

From the shadows, Johan watched their valiant attempts with an amused grin. "Oh, look at them go. Like ants trying to topple a mountain."

Orochimaru, still calculating his next move, glanced at Johan. "Do you intend to let them fight it out, or will you intervene?"

Johan stretched lazily, cracking his knuckles. "Nah, let them play. It's more fun this way."

Back at the Hokage's Office

Hiruzen watched the growing destruction from his window, his fists clenched in frustration. "We can't hold back any longer."

Danzo, lurking in the corner, offered his usual cold solution. "Deploy Root. We can crush them before they do any more damage."

Hiruzen shook his head. "We won't sacrifice our people like that. Not yet."

Just then, a young Jonin burst into the room, breathless. "Lord Hokage! The source of the dark chakra is on Hokage Rock! Orochimaru… and someone else."

Hiruzen's face darkened. "Orochimaru…"

He turned to Danzo, his voice resolute. "Gather the Anbu. I'll deal with Orochimaru myself."

Meanwhile, Some Unrelated Chitchat

Amidst the chaos, two shinobi were crouched behind a broken wall, trying to catch their breath.

"I'm telling you, this isn't the worst thing to happen to Konoha," one of them said casually, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The other gave him a skeptical look. "Really? Massive shadow beasts, a rogue snake man, and the sky cracking open? What could be worse?"

The first shinobi shrugged. "Remember the ramen shortage last year? Now that was true chaos. People were rioting in the streets."

The second shinobi rolled his eyes. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Hey, I'm serious! A man's gotta eat, and nothing causes more chaos than hungry shinobi."

As the ground shook beneath them, they both stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. Even in the face of destruction, Konoha's sense of humor never died.

---

The Hidden Leaf Village had always been prepared for war, but what unfolded that night was beyond their expectations. Johan and Orochimaru stood atop Hokage Rock, gazing down upon the village, reveling in the chaos they had unleashed.

"Destruction with no purpose is meaningless," Orochimaru said in his low, sinister tone. His snake-like eyes gleamed with malice, but his mind was as calculating as ever.

Johan, spinning a kunai nonchalantly, let out a lazy laugh. "Purpose is overrated. I'm here for fun. Watching things fall apart is its own reward."

A swirling vortex of Abyssal Energy loomed overhead, casting a dark shadow over Konoha. The village trembled under the wave of monstrous creatures that Johan's power summoned, each more grotesque and unearthly than the last.

In the Village

Down below, Konoha's shinobi were struggling to keep the creatures at bay. Minato Namikaze darted between shadows with his Flying Thunder God Technique, neutralizing the beasts as they reformed. His eyes were sharp, calculating, and unwavering despite the overwhelming odds.

"These things just won't stay down," Fugaku Uchiha muttered, his Sharingan glowing as he surveyed the battlefield. "What kind of power are we up against?"

"I don't know," Minato responded, "but we need to find the source and stop it at its root."

The chaos escalated as Johan unleashed an even larger monstrosity—a towering creature with jagged crystal armor and molten eyes. It stomped through the village, crushing everything in its path.

Hokage Rock

Johan, grinning from ear to ear, couldn't get enough of the destruction. "Now that's what I call fun. Look at 'em scramble!"

Orochimaru, still observing the village with a cold smirk, shook his head. "You're too reckless. This is a delicate moment."

Johan shrugged. "Delicate, schmelicate. What's the point if we're not going big?"

As the pair bantered, a flash of light caught their attention. Minato and Fugaku were racing toward the towering beast, intent on bringing it down.

Back at the Hokage's Office

Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was deep in thought, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. The Third Hokage knew that something far more dangerous than an ordinary attack was unfolding. Orochimaru was no stranger to betrayal, but this new energy... it was unlike anything Hiruzen had ever sensed.

"We have to act now," Hiruzen said to Danzo, who stood nearby, his eyes as cold as ever.

Danzo nodded slightly. "You know what must be done, Hiruzen."

Meanwhile, A Moment of Unrelated Chitchat

Amidst the destruction, two chunin stood huddled behind a makeshift barricade, catching their breath. One of them peeked over the edge of the rubble, watching as Minato engaged in a lightning-fast battle with the monster.

"So, what's the deal with ramen these days?" the first shinobi asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

His companion blinked, glancing at him in disbelief. "Seriously? Right now?"

"Yeah, yeah," the first one said, waving a hand. "I've been hearing rumors that Ichiraku's raising their prices."

The second shinobi groaned. "We're literally fighting for our lives and you're worried about ramen prices?"

"Look, man," the first one replied with a shrug. "Ramen's life, especially after a tough mission. You think I can afford a price hike on a chunin salary?"

The second shinobi let out an exasperated sigh. "I swear, if we survive this, I'll buy you ramen for a week. Just focus on staying alive!"

The first shinobi grinned. "Deal."

Just as they prepared to rejoin the battle, a massive explosion rocked the village, sending debris flying everywhere. But as they scrambled to their feet, the two shinobi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Honestly, ramen prices…" the second one muttered with a smirk. "Only in Konoha."