Chapter 166: The Removed Four Violet Flames Formation
Gaara doesn't recover as quickly as Naruto. The One-Tail was forcibly blown up three times by the Steam Explosion, causing significant damage. There was no opportunity to help him, so he had to rely on his own healing abilities to slowly replenish his chakra.
Regardless of what the Hidden Sand Village ninjas might have thought before, the current situation is clearly that they were deceived by Orochimaru. This is the only logical explanation. To elaborate, the core issue is Orochimaru impersonating the Fourth Kazekage.
Conflict between the Hidden Sand Village and the Hidden Leaf Village? That's absurd! The two villages have an unbreakable alliance. Orochimaru is responsible for all the trouble! Of course, the Hidden Leaf Village also bears some responsibility for allowing Orochimaru to act unchecked, perhaps a minor reprimand at most.
In both name and reality, Gaara must avenge his father.
He is the primary combatant. If he's exhausted and completely drained of strength, how can he possibly take revenge?
Even for a Jinchuriki, chakra recovery takes time.
Shikaku deliberately slowed the advance of the main force. Let the world know, this was entirely for the sake of their allies, out of pure altruism, and definitely not to wait for the Third Hokage to die on his own.
Naruto seized the chance to talk with Gaara. They did have a lot in common, perhaps not as deep a connection as in the original timeline, but they had established a foundation of friendship.
Ino called out to her teammates Shikamaru and Choji, and the three quietly slipped away from the main group and returned to the Chunin Exam venue. Her sole purpose was to witness the Reaper Death Seal with her own eyes.
At the same time, Kidomaru, one of the Sound Four, released his internal seal and whispered a few words to Orochimaru.
This news was relayed by Kabuto Yakushi, who had been operating outside the immediate battlefield but remained within its vicinity.
Upon hearing the news, Orochimaru's golden pupils gleamed with a captivating light. "Oh? The timing of those ninja clans' actions is quite clever. Don't they care at all about the old life of Teacher Sarutobi? This grand spectacle should become even more lively, hehe..."
He suddenly issued an order: "Release the Four Violet Flames Formation."
The Sound Four replied in unison, "Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"
The four immediately formed hand seals, and the purple barrier slowly descended, re-establishing the connection between the inside and outside.
The Third Hokage was greatly surprised. "Orochimaru, you!?"
He couldn't understand why Orochimaru would break the unspoken agreement between master and disciple. Orochimaru smiled wickedly at him. "Teacher Sarutobi, you still don't understand me well enough."
Before he could finish speaking, the kunai of two Anbu ninjas flew past his eyes. He raised the Kusanagi Sword and deflected them one by one.
If the Anbu's attacks could reach him, then the attacks of the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and the Fourth Kazekage could naturally also get through.
Without the restriction of the Four Violet Flames Formation, two Anbu ninjas were instantly overwhelmed by the Second Hokage's Water Style. Following that, the surging flood poured down from above towards the village below.
Civilians and various debris, bricks, and trees that hadn't been evacuated in time were swept together on the streets. They tumbled with the massive waves, let out cries of despair, and then vanished without a trace.
The First Hokage clapped his hands together, and towering trees erupted from the ground. The orderly streets instantly transformed into a dense forest. This was his signature technique that allowed him to dominate the ninja world, Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence.
The Fourth Kazekage also stirred up a sky full of yellow sand, and for a moment, the sunlight was completely blocked.
"Orochimaru!!" The Third Hokage roared in fury, his eyes fixed intently on Orochimaru.
The middle-aged woman showed no fear, her eyes filled with provocation. What? Do you think you have the ability to kill me?
The Third Hokage used his remaining chakra to create three shadow clones, sending them to deal with the three reanimated Kage. He and his summoning beast fiercely attacked Orochimaru, but their efforts had little impact. Orochimaru's orders to the three Kage were simply to destroy, using any powerful moves they desired, without any specific target.
Ino was startled when she arrived at the scene. The Four Violet Flames Formation had actually been removed.
The ground was covered in floods and gigantic trees, and the sky was filled with yellow sand. This scene looked nothing like the Hidden Leaf Village, nor did it resemble a typical ninja battle. It was more like three Navy Admirals who had eaten Logia-type Devil Fruits had suddenly invaded.
The scene was already utter chaos. Some were attacking Orochimaru alongside the Third Hokage, others were trying to stop the three Kage, and there were also Hidden Sand Village ninjas gathered beside the Fourth Kazekage, following his lead to kill and set fires.
Shikaku's steady and cautious plan had been completely ruined by this disruption. It didn't matter that Gaara usually spoke softly, like a cute boy; even if he had Zhang Fei's booming voice, it wouldn't make a difference. The scene was far too chaotic!
No matter how much influence he had, could he compare to the Fourth Kazekage wearing the Hokage robes and a conical hat?
"You say the Fourth Kazekage is fake? Look at this Magnet Release, this Gold Dust. Does this look fake to you?"
Ino and the others didn't rush forward but instead helped rescue people nearby.
She really didn't intend to show off, but seeing the flood about to engulf her flower shop, she genuinely couldn't hold back.
"Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Her Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave countered the Second Hokage's Water Style: Water Colliding Wave. The colliding torrents of water formed a wall more than ten meters high.
The Second Hokage merely glanced at her before turning and moving elsewhere. The Third Hokage's shadow clone arrived closely behind, and seeing Ino blocking the flood, he nodded in acknowledgment and continued to pursue the Second Hokage.
Many villagers and several injured ninjas sought shelter inside the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Ino even spotted Sakura's figure within.
The unlucky girl was covered in dust and looked like an unearthed artifact, completely coated in mud.
"How did you get here?" Recognizing her, Ino reached out and pulled Sakura to the second floor of the flower shop.
Sakura had long since abandoned any pretense of ladylike behavior and was lying sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.
How could the Chunin Exams have devolved into this? She still couldn't comprehend it.
Originally, she was chasing Sasuke, but he was too fast, and they got separated along the way. After that, she followed the medical ninjas from the Hidden Leaf Hospital, dazedly helping to transport the wounded. Three minutes ago, she had no idea what was happening, but yellow sand began falling from the sky endlessly, followed by a flood. Seeing others running, she ran too.
On the way, she even used her ultimate technique, the Great Summoning Jutsu: Naruto, but it was useless. If Ino hadn't blocked the Second Hokage's Water Style in time, she might have drowned.
Ino sighed. Sakura's strength was far too inadequate for this kind of battle. A mere shockwave could take her out, and the worst part was, she wouldn't even know what hit her.
"You two, stop chatting for now! The water is about to reach here!" Shikamaru reminded them.
The terrain around the Yamanaka Flower Shop was slightly elevated, but only to a limited extent. Now that the village was submerged by the flood, and even though the Second Hokage had been pushed back momentarily, water from other areas would still overflow.
Facing a large number of civilians and wounded, Ino had to take action.
"Don't be afraid, watch this! Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!" Four earthen walls, each carved with the portraits of Team 10, rose from the ground, isolating the flood and completely surrounding the Yamanaka Flower Shop.
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