Chapter 26: The Konoha Crush Plan Begins!
“This is bad!”
Seeing Gaara’s body start to change, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqUO7JgrIz
Baki’s expression changed drastically.
“Now the whole plan is messed up! 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P0Nu301O1
Damn it… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fJfpSBKgd
How is that Hinata so strong? 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMwbFs3O7v
She actually forced Gaara to this point!”
While he was feeling frustrated inside, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL7Oe9j9K9
he suddenly noticed white feathers beginning to drift through the air.
This was the sign of a large-scale genjutsu taking effect.
Along with the dancing feathers, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNZOv9lAoE
the ordinary audience members in the stands started falling asleep one after another.
The only ones still awake… were all shinobi!
In an instant, the targets became perfectly clear.
“Hm?”
Baki was stunned for a moment when he saw this. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwoxzpKsz8
Then joy quickly replaced the shock.
“Finally… the operation is starting?”
……
“Damn it.”
Orochimaru was also quite irritated at the moment.
“This is the second time! 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgPbAhP7Tq
Last time I didn’t get to see Sasuke’s real strength either. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkijacedlR
I was planning to watch it properly this time… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kj3xCxaOK
But who would’ve thought 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlVBfzw2gf
something like this would happen. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTRWe4SE4I
Gaara is truly useless.”
Orochimaru felt helpless. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR0HkmxC6E
But helplessness wouldn’t change anything.
The situation had already reached this point—some things had to be done whether he liked it or not.
After all, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLnRQCMop0
the real purpose of launching the Konoha Crush plan 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSaxFAEI51
wasn’t just to observe Sasuke’s power.
So… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf0wycxL1s
he suddenly turned his head sharply toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
And as if sensing it, Hiruzen also turned to look at him.
“Begin!”
Orochimaru gave the signal.
At the same time, he rushed straight toward the Third Hokage.
His subordinates immediately threw out a smoke bomb!
That smoke bomb seemed to function like a signal flare. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVldDlr72AG
The moment it exploded, countless shinobi sprang into action.
They swiftly charged toward the hidden ANBU stationed among the audience seats, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5LSa2pMav
planning to eliminate them first.
However… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0kusuhu6M
the ANBU weren’t pushovers either.
They reacted almost instantly and clashed with the invaders.
……
Baki didn’t join the attack on the Leaf shinobi.
Instead, he frowned and looked toward Gaara.
Right now, Gaara was still in the middle of “transforming.”
Because his chakra was sealed, his body paralyzed, and his mind completely deranged, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9SFQ284f9
he had lost all control.
His entire body kept swelling larger and larger. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2DgH2e70l
It looked like he would soon complete the full transformation into Shukaku!
“Gaara…”
Kankuro’s eyelid twitched nonstop.
Looking at the scene before him, he had no idea what to do.
He knew better than anyone just how powerful the One-Tail was.
If Gaara finished transforming and two Kage were fighting over there… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzALjysfT3
then there was probably no one left in this place who could suppress the One-Tail!
“What do we do now?”
Temari clutched her head, squatting down in fear.
Her bad premonition had come true! 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHhNWm7RyD
Something completely uncontrollable really had happened.
Fortunately… she had held back her strength.
“Don’t get close to Gaara. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51vuuAAZru
He’s completely lost control.”
Baki let out a heavy sigh.
“Just be careful yourselves. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mEEZQXoZp
Follow the plan.”
“Yes, sir!”
……
On the Leaf side, the shinobi who hadn’t fallen asleep stared at the constantly changing One-Tail monster. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRuMazSar8
Fear filled their hearts.
“W-What… is that monster!?”
“So… so terrifying…”
“Where’s the Hokage-sama?!”
“This is bad! 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7KipBFveg
There’s smoke over there… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4v1pPERcD
The Hokage-sama seems to be tangled up with the Kazekage!”
“Damn it! 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgvqFiNXD5
What the hell is the Sand Village planning?!”
……
While the group of shinobi panicked and fought the enemies at the same time, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vlaikluCz
Kakashi stepped forward.
“Everyone, calm down. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2bo0dHLBj
This is an attack launched by Orochimaru in cooperation with the Sand Village. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfKQsqdWME
But the Hokage-sama has known about it for a long time. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Kmg0OSVlE
We came fully prepared!”
Hearing Kakashi’s words, the crowd immediately felt much more at ease.
In their hearts, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the strongest Hokage. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDli87ycXt8
With such a Hokage protecting them, what was there to fear?
……
“They do have preparations, yes. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8iKRlKI8n
But… can they really stop Orochimaru?”
Byakuya quietly watched the entire scene, brows slightly furrowed.
He wasn’t paying attention to Hinata’s side.
If the enemy were the full-power Shukaku in the middle of the desert, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNG9rB7XeM
he might worry that Hinata would be forced to use “Pikachu Mode.”
But right now, it was just a berserk One-Tail. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmR30SL67K
There wasn’t much sand around at all.
That was why Byakuya could remain so calm and watch the show like this.
“I always feel like that old man Sarutobi is too confident. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtuw7ZTPBm
He seems to overestimate himself and underestimate Orochimaru.”
Up on the main viewing platform, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT30326dm0R
the fierce battle hadn’t lasted long at all.
The Third Hokage’s three bodyguards were taken down in seconds by a few kunai from Orochimaru’s subordinates.
Immediately afterward, the Sound Four swiftly deployed a barrier.
This prevented any other arriving ANBU from helping the Hokage.
Seeing this, Byakuya couldn’t help but frown.
“Sarutobi Hiruzen really has gotten old… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaozQNzNPzO
His heart has aged, and his mind has dulled too. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELFE4DNaPm
I told him everything, yet nothing changed at all. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFYmNbveWN
Does he really think he can beat Orochimaru? 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkufibm5V9q
Looks like I’ll have to step in myself later.”
……
“Is that you, Orochimaru?”
Inside the barrier, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst1qQbCwLd
Hiruzen first glanced at the chaos below, then turned to look at the “Kazekage.”
Thanks to Byakuya’s prior warning, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIFUtfuxN8
he was a bit sharper than in the original story. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DFBdGdYQ2
He could tell at a glance that his opponent was Orochimaru!
“Sarutobi-sensei.”
Orochimaru seemed slightly surprised.
“I didn’t expect you to recognize me. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki856f7Wqo
What a gratifying thing~”
“Orochimaru… is your goal this village?”
“Is Konohagakure really that important to you?”
Orochimaru’s tone carried three parts disdain 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SSaCw78TU
and seven parts dissatisfaction.
“Compared to this village, Sensei… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aF22oIcDv
take a look at Gaara. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuQPBogBFE
Isn’t he something far more interesting than a village? 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt8VRfAlxw
The charm of ninjutsu and scientific research is much greater than some village~”
“Hmph!”
“Enough of that, Sensei. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRp4VVBpRM
Because of your foolishness, Konoha has fallen into utter chaos. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1hbOQ38Fu
I’ve already won!”
“Things aren’t decided until the very last moment. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExdCkIIQ0v
Isn’t that what I taught you?”
Hearing this, Orochimaru suddenly became excited.
He reached up and peeled off his disguise, revealing his true face.
“Orochimaru.”
Hiruzen looked at him calmly.
“I knew this day would come long ago. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEUK9eXUQP
But if you want to take my head… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3ZNnDlYza
it won’t be that easy!”
“ROOOOAR!!”
At that exact moment, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEufeVAjyHE
Gaara finally completed his full transformation into the One-Tail.
That terrifying pressure, 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh0YXqnU15
those hair-raising eyes— 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmIXWx3DxV
everything about him filled the shinobi with dread.
“Sensei… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdwpprL9vh
The village you cherish so much… 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB0mHOqlG7
is about to be finished~”
Orochimaru extended his long tongue, licking the kunai in his hand. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuroKZQovbZ
His eyes were filled with wild excitement.
Wanna read ahead? Join my Patreon and support the story: patreon.com/ArealMaster7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmAWbV8j76
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and then Add to home screen.