Chapter 20: Kazekage-sama, what do you intend to achieve with this unfriendly behavior?

In front of Naruto's protagonist halo, the genius Neji could only accept defeat willingly.

Next is the match between Temari and Shikamaru Nara.

Mukaze modified Temari's ninja tool, the giant folding fan, but it couldn't change her lack of combat experience.

Although Temari fought cautiously, the highly intelligent Shikamaru Nara outmaneuvered her with his Shadow Possession Jutsu, effectively controlling her.

Shikamaru Nara quickly surrendered as well.

He could only control for ten seconds, and after that, he had to continue fighting.

To use his catchphrase: "It's too troublesome!"

Sasuke still hadn't arrived, and the referee was considering declaring him forfeit.

But Orochimaru insisted on giving him more time.

At the last moment, Sasuke and Kakashi appeared brilliantly amidst the falling leaves.

On the stage, Orochimaru's snake-like eyes lit up with excitement.

My beloved Sasuke, you've finally come.

Sasuke's opponent, Gaara, easily defeated two insignificant ninjas before calmly entering the arena.

The match began.

Gaara's sand flew out from the gourd, scattering around him and wriggling as if it had a life of its own.

Sasuke wasn't about to back down either.

He continuously moved at high speed, delivering punches and kicks to Gaara.

"I won't give you a chance to use the gourd," Sasuke declared.

Having learned from his previous encounter with Kimimaro, Sasuke didn't give Gaara any distance.

Gaara, caught off guard in close combat, struggled to react in time.

He took a few punches.

Fortunately, Gaara had his Sand Armor, a defensive layer formed by sand that enveloped his entire body.

Sasuke's punches only broke through the sand shell but didn't harm Gaara.

Sasuke struck Gaara, sending him crashing to the ground, which only made Gaara angrier.

The sand rolled up into a spherical shape, completely enclosing him.

Sand particles above him gathered into an eyeball-like form.

Ninjutsu: Third Eye. Gaara transformed the sand into an eye, which acted as a surveillance device in other locations, transmitting visual images back to the main eye held in his hand.

Now, Gaara had perfect defense and the ability to monitor his surroundings.

If Sasuke approached to attack the sandball, spikes would protrude from it, forcing him to retreat.

And then...

A hole appeared on the sandball.

The mouth of the gourd extended from the hole.

Sasuke felt a sense of dread.

Not good.

Sandstorm Gatling!

He quickly flew up the tall barrier wall, running swiftly along the wall to avoid the targeting of the Gatling.

While evading, lightning flashed in his right palm.

A lightning ball gradually took shape in his palm.

The lightning ball appeared.

White electrical sparks radiated from between his fingers.

Crackling sounds filled the air, resembling the cries of a thousand birds.

Lightning Style: Chidori!

The clash between the strongest shield and the strongest spear was about to begin.

Meanwhile...

Outside the walls of Konoha, in the forest, a joint force of Suna and Oto shinobi had bypassed the Konoha guards and arrived at the edge of the barrier wall.

The Oto shinobi began their genjutsu Formation.

War was about to commence.

Inside Konoha, the Konoha shinobi were completely absorbed in the ongoing battles in the arena, unaware of the situation outside.

Crackling sounds.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan, stabilizing his right hand by pressing his left hand against his right arm.

Gaara's Sandstorm Gatling turned towards Sasuke and fired.

Sasuke ran in a large zigzag pattern.

A series of sand bullets followed closely behind his feet.

Mukaze's cranial electromagnetic sensors detected abnormal fluctuations in the electromagnetic signals.

It was a large-scale genjutsu initiated by the Oto shinobi.

Genjutsu, in simple terms, used spiritual power to influence the minds of others.

The so-called spiritual power was a series of electrical signals in the brain.

Mukaze naturally formed an "electromagnetic barrier" within his body by enhancing his own bioelectricity, which could resist external influences on his mind.

A mere large-scale genjutsu caused his eyelids to flicker for a moment, rendering it completely useless.

The spectators around him, however, felt heavy eyelids and fell into a deep slumber.

As a qualified actor, Mukaze naturally lay down and played dead.

Now it was time to appreciate Orochimaru's performance.

Crackling sounds.

After withstanding a few shots, Sasuke used Chidori to pierce through Gaara's sandball.

Chidori's power was indeed astonishing.

It created a hole in the sandball.

The mouth of the gourd turned around.

Sasuke dared not linger and quickly retreated.

Sasuke still achieved results.

He cut Gaara's face.

Gaara licked the flowing blood, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty savagery.

Shukaku inside his body said, "Let me teach this kid a lesson."

A terrifying and despair-inducing aura emerged from the hole in the sandball.

Sasuke was stunned upon sensing it.

Unfortunately, the spotlight was no longer on them.

On the high platform.

Orochimaru suddenly turned his head.

His sinister gaze met the aged eyes of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to see someone in a daze.

At this moment, Orochimaru's subordinates threw smoke bombs.

Smoke enveloped the high platform.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained calm.

He sat on his chair and questioned Orochimaru, "Lord Kazekage, what do you mean by such unfriendly actions?"

Anbu members in the arena rushed toward the smoke-covered high platform.

They intended to protect the Hokage.

Orochimaru did not respond. Instead, he used a kunai to hold Hiruzen Sarutobi hostage and jumped onto the roof.

On the large and spacious rooftop, among the sound ninja, appeared Kidomaru, Sakon/Ukon, Jirobo, and Tayuya.

At Orochimaru's command, the Four Beasts Encirclement Formation was activated.

A square-shaped, black, and sinister Four Beasts Encirclement Formation engulfed him and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

A single touch would result in burns from the purple flames.

The Anbu members outside were helpless.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was trapped and alone.

Guy and Kakashi wanted to go up and rescue him, but they were blocked by the sound ninja.

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi still hadn't realized that the Wind Shadow was Orochimaru in disguise.

He loudly admonished the Kazekage, "Rasa, your actions are going to provoke a war between the two villages."

"Do you know the consequences of such actions?"