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“How did this happen? Why is the Nine-Tails rampaging?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply, clenching his fists. He almost couldn’t resist intervening personally.
This was supposed to be the Chūnin Exams! Countless villagers were watching, even the Land of Fire Daimyo himself!
If something went wrong here, the consequences would be dire.
“Third Hokage, looks like you have some trouble?”
Orochimaru, sensing the familiar, hateful chakra, smiled faintly, his eyes filled with anticipation. He’d heard about Hinata Hyūga training with Shin Uzumaki; he was curious about her strength
But then Orochimaru noticed something strange. Hinata Hyūga’s eyes weren’t the pure white Byakugan; they were a faint azure blue.
“Mizukage, your daughter’s eyes… they’re not right!” Orochimaru looked towards Hiashi Hyūga.
“That is the evolution of the Byakugan,” Hiashi replied proudly.
Though he didn’t know the full capabilities of the evolved Tenseigan, Shin Uzumaki had told him it was the Byakugan’s next stage.
As for its power, Hiashi didn’t know, but now he could confidently say their Byakugan was not inferior to the Sharingan. That was the source of his pride.
“The Byakugan evolved? The Byakugan can evolve?!” Hiruzen and Orochimaru simultaneously turned to Hiashi.
Hiruzen momentarily forgot about the rampaging Nine-Tails, utterly shocked by this revelation. This was the first time he’d heard the Byakugan could evolve.
“Indeed. If the Sharingan can evolve, why can’t our Byakugan?” Hiashi stated proudly.
Many liked to compare the Sharingan and Byakugan.
When the Mangekyō Sharingan was brought into the comparison, the Byakugan was often deemed inferior.
But now, Hiashi could proudly tell the world that the Hyūga Clan’s Byakugan could also evolve.
Though he didn’t know the strength of the evolved Tenseigan, it surely wouldn’t be weak, considering the Byakugan itself was already powerful.
Compared to the three-tomoe Sharingan, the Byakugan wasn’t necessarily weaker; it just couldn’t match the Mangekyō Sharingan.
“Hinata Hyūga’s eye evolution—That’s Shin Uzumaki’s doing, isn’t it?”
Though Orochimaru phrased it as a question, he was already certain.
He didn’t believe the Hyūga Clan possessed the ability to evolve the Byakugan. Otherwise, why hadn’t news of it spread after all these years?
Hiashi’s expression stiffened slightly. He shot the “Fourth Kazekage” a displeased glance.
Is he mocking the Hyūga Clan’s incompetence? Though not stated directly, that was clearly the implication.
Hiashi couldn’t recall ever doing anything to this Kazekage; why was he deliberately provoking him? Did he not care about the relationship between their villages?
Hiashi didn’t know the man before him wasn’t the real Rasa—but Orochimaru, who had killed Rasa and taken his place. Rasa had met a tragic end, just like the Third Kazekage—both dying ignominiously, and both being Kazekage of Sunagakure.
BOOM!
The Nine-Tails chakra erupted fully. Hiruzen pushed aside thoughts of the Byakugan’s evolution.
The priority now was evacuating the people here. Though The Nine-Tails hadn’t fully emerged, there were signs it might. If The Nine-Tails truly broke free, this place would become the most brutal battlefield imaginable.
——
“Damn it! This power…”
Gaara frowned, looking at Naruto Uzumaki leaking Tailed Beast chakra. The One-Tail within him, was also rampaging.
“Is he… like me?” Gaara’s expression turned complex.
Gaara’s childhood had been tragic, shaping his twisted personality.
In truth, Naruto Uzumaki had suffered even more than Gaara, yet he hadn’t become as dark and extreme. Before Naruto’s “Talk no Jutsu” brainwashing, Gaara’s personality was indeed quite warped.
“Guy, quickly—”
“Don’t move, Third Hokage.”
Just as Hiruzen was about to order Might Guy to evacuate the crowd, Orochimaru’s kunai pressed against Hiruzen’s neck. Hiruzen was stunned.
“Fourth Kazekage, what is the meaning of this?”
“Sensei… you’ve gotten old. You didn’t even recognize me.” Orochimaru ripped off his disguise.
Originally, Orochimaru hadn’t planned to strike now, but circumstances had changed; he had to act.
He had already sent out signals earlier.
Otogakure ninja and their Sunagakure collaborators would soon make their move. Orochimaru was ruthless—killing their Kazekage and still using them as pawns.
“Orochimaru, what are you planning?” Hiruzen asked, his expression complex. No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity from this Kazekage earlier; it was Orochimaru in disguise.
“Isn’t it obvious now?”
As Orochimaru spoke, several giant snakes, tens of meters long, began wreaking havoc within Konoha. Otogakure ninja launched their attack.
“<Demonic Illusion: Temple of Nirvana Technique!>”
Kabuto Yakushi cast a Genjutsu, putting the spectators to sleep. Being able to cast such a large-scale Genjutsu demonstrated Kabuto’s strength.
Kabuto was actually quite strong, likely comparable to Kakashi Hatake. And Kakashi, Konoha’s infamous “Copy Ninja,” could hold his own against most opponents.
This showed Kabuto’s prowess.
Among Orochimaru’s subordinates, Kabuto was likely the strongest. He had forfeited the preliminary rounds earlier, fearing he couldn’t control his strength and would expose himself.
Of course, “Strong” was relative. In Shin’s eyes, Kabuto was still a weakling.
From Shin’s perspective, anyone below Six Paths level was a weakling.
“Mizukage, this is a personal grudge between me and Sensei. Are you planning to get involved?” Orochimaru asked Hiashi Hyūga, holding Hiruzen hostage.
“Since it’s the Hokage’s personal grudge, I won’t interfere.” Hiashi Hyūga immediately stepped aside and moved far away. He wouldn’t get involved in this matter.
What happened in Konoha had nothing to do with him.
He was now the Mizukage of Kirigakure, completely separate from Konoha—in fact, they even had friction. Not choosing to kick Konoha while it was down was already considered conscientious; he certainly wouldn’t help Hiruzen Sarutobi.
“Orochimaru started his plan this early?” Shin watched Orochimaru, frowning slightly. Hinata’s match hadn’t even begun yet.
But it didn’t matter. Even if Orochimaru’s plan started ahead of schedule, it wouldn’t stop the fight between Hinata and Naruto Uzumaki.
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