stonecrandall Chapter 427 Chaos
Chapter 427 Chaos
"A Jinchūriki?!" Samui's usually calm demeanor could no longer remain composed.
As a knowledgeable Jonin from Kumogakure, she was very familiar with the term "Jinchūriki"!
Because there are two in the village!
The chakra emanating from this red-haired boy is definitely at the level of a tailed beast!
Although it may not seem as profound as that of Lord Killer Bee and Lord Yugito, its pure malice and violence are more direct and impactful!
Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly, trying to analyze the massive and violent flow of chakra, but all it returned was a crimson glow!
Shikamaru's face turned pale, finally understanding where the other party's arrogance came from.
Jinchūriki!
This is something that ordinary ninjas simply cannot contend with!
Hozuki Suigetsu's arrogant smile froze on his face, and cold sweat seeped from his palms as he gripped the scalpel.
Karui, Omoi, and Atsui immediately went into a state of high alert, knowing better than anyone the destructive power of Jinchuriki on the battlefield!
"What are you talking about?! A Jinchuriki like Master?" Karui drew her ninja sword from her back with one hand, her eyes widening on her beautiful dark face.
"This is a huge problem..." Omoi almost dropped the lollipop he was eating.
The air in the rest area seemed to freeze the moment Gaara unleashed his chakra.
The six from the Land of Stars are like the eye of a storm.
Meanwhile, the combined forces of Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure on the opposite side were like a small boat tossed about in a storm. Their previous numerical advantage and the sense of security brought by the two Jonin seemed so pale and laughable in the face of the massive tailed beast chakra.
Gaara slowly raised one hand, and the sea of sand around him surged.
His emerald green eyes now seemed veiled by a faint, dark red glow, and his voice carried a chilling indifference:
"Now, can you stay here obediently?"
As Gaara finished speaking, Temari moved as well.
The huge three-star fan that she always carried on her back was suddenly swung forward with one hand, and slammed heavily to the ground!
boom!
With a dull thud, the Samsung fan fully unfolded, revealing three huge purple star-shaped patterns clearly visible on its surface.
On the other side, Kankuro also untied the "package" tightly wrapped in white bandages from his back.
Sizzle—!
The bandages came off, revealing the bizarrely shaped humanoid combat puppet inside.
It has three eyes on its face and forehead.
The four arms do not grow symmetrically, but rather spread out at an aggressive angle. Each arm is connected to a different weapon at its end: a sharp scimitar, a barbed iron fist, a retractable grappling hook, and a device resembling a cannon muzzle.
The joints reveal intricate gears and metal wires that transmit chakra. The overall style retains the ruggedness of Sand Village Puppet Technique while exuding a more sophisticated sense of technology.
This is one of Sasori's works from his childhood, which was later inherited by Kankuro, who possessed the talent of a puppeteer.
After Sunagakure was annexed by the Land of Stars, Gaara and his siblings entered the Land of Stars. Kankuro, due to his talent as a puppeteer, also studied at the "Puppet and Mechanical Arts Research Institute" under the Academy of Sciences of the Land of Stars. There, he came into contact with the puppet technology from the Otsutsuki clan of the moon, as well as new materials and chakra energy technology developed by the Land of Stars in combination with the concept of scientific ninja tools.
With the help of the research institute, he carried out a comprehensive upgrade and transformation of "Crow".
Today's "Crow" is not only made of more durable and lightweight materials, but also has more efficient internal transmission and chakra circuits. Its weapon system also integrates some of the standard scientific ninja tools of the Land of Stars. Its overall combat power has far surpassed that of ordinary Jonin.
Under Kankuro's control, "Crow" adopted a stance that allowed it to both attack and defend, with the weapons on its four arms slightly adjusted to lock onto the most densely packed areas of the enemy crowd.
Although it lacked the terrifying power of Gaara's tailed beast chakra, its cold, mechanical feel and emotionless killing intent were equally chilling.
Karin, Kurotsuchi, and Ranmaru each took up advantageous positions and entered battle mode.
The six from the Land of Stars, with Gaara at the core, subtly surrounded four teams from Konoha, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure, along with two Jonin.
Gaara's unleashed Tailed Beast Chakra was like a beacon suddenly lit in the darkness. Its immense and terrifying power instantly pierced through the chaotic arena and reached the senses of every ninja sensitive to chakra.
"This feeling... is it?!"
"A tailed beast?! How could that be?!"
Throughout the venue, Konoha ninjas who were rescuing unconscious civilians, evacuating civilians, or fiercely fighting against the infiltrated Sound Ninja team, especially those ninjas who had experienced the tragedy of the "Nine-Tails' Rebellion" twelve years ago, all changed their expressions drastically when they sensed that chakra filled with hatred, and an uncontrollable fear and chill welled up in their hearts.
That nightmarish night, the rampaging nine-tailed fox, the rivers of blood, and the screams of loved ones…
It was as if, with the resurgence of this chakra, it reappeared clearly before my eyes.
Some ninjas with weaker mental fortitude even showed signs of slowing down, giving the Sound Ninja an opportunity to strike, resulting in casualties.
Kakashi, Asuma, Might Guy, Kurenai, and the others who were fighting Yukimi, Itada, and Neji in the stands also noticed this astonishing chakra.
"What?!" Sarutobi Asuma used his specially made fist to deflect Ita's powerful slash, then slid back several steps, turning his head to look towards the rest area, his face filled with shock.
He immediately shouted at Kurenai Yuhi, who was desperately protecting six students—Kiba, Shino, Lee, Sakura, and others—not far away, "Kurenai! Forget about us! Take the children and get out of here immediately! To the underground shelter! Hurry!"
Kurenai bit her lower lip, glanced at Might Guy who was still locked in a high-speed taijutsu battle with Neji, and then at Kakashi who was confronting Yukimi. She knew this was not the place to hesitate.
"Kiba! Shino! Lee! Sakura! Follow me!" She made a quick decision and led the several shaken genin to retreat towards the relatively safe passage below the stands.
Kakashi, who was confronting Yukimi, slightly adjusted the angle of the kunai in his hand.
He heard Asuma's shout and sensed the increasingly clear tailed beast chakra, and his shock was no less than anyone else's.
"Yukimi... Your Land of Stars actually brought Jinchuriki to Konoha? What exactly are you trying to do? Are you starting a full-scale war?"
It is common knowledge that the Land of Stars itself does not have any tailed beasts.
But Sunagakure has it!
The war between the Land of Stars and the Hidden Sand Village was rumored to be closely related to the Tailed Beasts.
It now appears that the Land of Stars has not only annexed Sunagakure, but has also brought the former Jinchuriki of Sunagakure under its control and brought them to Konoha!
This means that the Land of Stars is determined to succeed in this operation, even at the cost of using strategic weapons like Jinchuriki!
"Kakashi, don't be so surprised." Despite Kakashi's questioning, Yukimi's freckled smile remained lively.
She gripped kunai in reverse, her body slightly lowered, poised to launch a sudden attack or dodge at any moment. She simply chuckled, her tone even tinged with a hint of mockery: "We Star Country people always do things with great 'sincerity.' Bringing Jinchuriki here is merely to ensure the smooth progress of the 'plan.' As for a full-scale war…"
She paused, her gaze seemingly casually glancing towards the roof of the VIP viewing platform, where the purple barrier was still burning.
"Wait a minute, there's an even bigger 'surprise' waiting for you. It's too early to be surprised now."
Meanwhile, the physical combat between Might Guy and Neji had reached a fever pitch.
Neither of them used ninjutsu; they were simply clashing using the purest taijutsu, speed, and power.
Although Kai has never opened the "Eight Gates", his physique and combat intuition, honed through years of arduous training, have reached a level that is difficult for ordinary people to achieve.
Every punch and kick he delivered contained the immense power to shatter stone and split rocks, and the resulting gust of wind scattered the surrounding wreckage of chairs everywhere.
However, Neji's performance secretly surprised Guy.
This genius boy from the Hyuga branch family, who is about the same age as Rock Lee, has demonstrated Gentle Fist skills and physical abilities that have reached the level of a Special Jonin!
Neji's Byakugan was fully activated, his veins bulging, and his 360-degree field of vision allowed him to perfectly capture all of Guy's movements.
His soft fist is not just about being fierce, but rather a combination of strength and gentleness. Often, at the last second, he uses exquisite angles and force to neutralize Kai's heavy blows and seize the opportunity to counterattack with pressure point techniques.
The two exchanged blows, producing dull thuds. Their movements were so fast that to an ordinary person, they were just two blurry afterimages, one green and one gray. Wherever they passed, the sturdy grandstand seats and railings were easily destroyed as if they were made of paper.
Kaine could sense that Neji hadn't used his full strength either.
Meanwhile, in the darkest corner of Konoha.
The "root" base is buried deep inside the mountain beneath Fire Shadow Rock.
In stark contrast to the chaos outside, with its deafening explosions and shouts of battle, the interior of the Root Base was deathly silent, with only the faint glow of the lights on the walls illuminating the cold outline of the steel passageways.
A stillness filled the air, so still that you could almost hear your own heartbeat.
In a spacious square plaza in the center of the base, a dozen or so elite members of the Roots, dressed in uniform and wearing patterned masks, knelt on one knee, heads bowed, motionless.
Their presence was completely concealed, as if they had blended into the surrounding darkness.
Danzo Shimura stood quietly before the crowd, leaning on his ever-present scepter.
He was still wearing that dark robe that covered him up completely, his one eye was slightly closed, and his face was expressionless, like an old monk in deep meditation.
The sound of the explosion from the outside world, even though it came faintly through the thick layers of rock, did not make his eyelids tremble in the slightest.
Ryoma Aburame stood like a shadow, half a step behind Danzo, equally silent.
Occasionally, Root ninjas would emerge from the shadows of the passage, landing behind the two and quickly and concisely reporting the battle situation outside in a voice only they could hear:
"Report! The Four Purple Flame Formation has been confirmed at the competition venue, and the Third Hokage is trapped inside! The enemy has been confirmed to be Orochimaru leading the Sound Village."
"Report! The Star Country ninjas have dispersed and confirmed that the targets include Anbu strongholds, Root's No. 3 backup base, and a firefight has broken out at the Hokage Building."
"Report! The Sound Ninja main force has broken through the breach in the wall and is engaged in battle with the forces led by Jonin Shikaku in the Third District. The enemy is moving inward."
"Report! A high concentration of tailed beast chakra has been detected in the arena. It has been confirmed to be Shukaku, the One-Tailed Beast, and its source is Gaara, a Jinchuriki genin from the Land of Stars."
Each piece of intelligence was enough to make ordinary Jonin pale with fear, or even panic.
However, Danzo listened quietly, his one eye still slightly closed, as if the war in the outside world had nothing to do with him.
He neither ordered the root forces to launch attacks to support various battlefields, nor did he order a retreat to defend the base.
He just stood there, as if waiting for something.
Ryoma Aburame glanced at Danzo's profile, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
He knew that Lord Danzo must have his own deeper intentions and plans, but right now, Konoha was engulfed in flames, the Third Hokage was trapped, powerful enemies were invading, and Root remained inactive...
But in the end he said nothing, simply standing silently behind Danzo like the most loyal shadow.
The hustle and bustle and carnage of the outside world seemed completely isolated from this dark underground world.
On the glazed tile roof of the VIP viewing platform at the competition venue.
The Four Purple Flame Array is like a magnificent cage, completely isolating the inside from the outside.
The purple flames burning silently on the barrier wall emitted a chillingly high temperature.
Outside the barrier, Yamato, wearing an ANBU mask, was accompanied by two elite ANBU members, who were extremely anxious.
They tried several methods, but none of them could shake the solid Four Purple Flame Array in the slightest. Instead, they were almost injured by the backlash of the barrier's flames.
The atmosphere inside the barrier was heavy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had removed his Hokage robes, revealing a black, tight-fitting combat suit underneath, with a lightweight chainmail underneath.
Beneath his helmet, his white goatee swayed slightly with the surge of chakra, and the usual gentle smile on his face had vanished, replaced by an aura of majesty and ruthlessness forged through countless trials of blood and fire.
A massive amount of chakra erupted from his aging body like a volcano awakening, its oppressive force causing the air to hum uncontrollably.
The golden glazed tiles beneath their feet shattered inch by inch under this force, the fragments slowly floating in the air as if they had lost gravity.
Orochimaru, standing opposite him, also radiated chakra, his aura in no way inferior.
The cold, viscous chakra collided and compressed silently with Hiruzen Sarutobi's hot and righteous chakra at the center of the barrier, producing a hissing sound.
However, as Orochimaru unleashed his full chakra power, several extremely fine cracks suddenly appeared on his face!
The cracks were faint, but they were incredibly clear to a Kage-level ninja like Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed sharply, and his pupils contracted abruptly!
He stared intently at the strange crack on Orochimaru's face, and a guess that enraged him instantly surfaced in his mind.
"Orochimaru! Could it be that you..." His voice trembled slightly.
"You've perfected that forbidden technique?!"
What he was referring to was, of course, one of the core reasons why Orochimaru was expelled from the village for conducting forbidden human experiments.
They attempted to research and master the art of "reincarnation" in order to seize the bodies of others and achieve so-called "immortality"!
Could it be that after all these years, this rebellious disciple has truly succeeded?!