A whole night passed.
It must be said that emotional aspects in the Shinobi World are quite simple. Especially romantic relationships—they are extremely straightforward.
For example, at the beginning of the Boruto era, Boruto and his peers are all 12 years old.
They are the same generation.
But what's terrifying is that, according to timeline calculations, Naruto got married in April when he was 19.
Boruto was conceived in May.
After ten months, he was born on March 27.
From Naruto's wedding, we learn he was the first to marry.
Others hadn't even confessed their feelings yet.
Some were still in the "holding hands is lewd" phase.
Yet all their children are Boruto's peers. Their birthdays are only a few months later than Boruto's.
This means everyone else—including Shikamaru, Ino, and even Choji—had to rapidly develop relationships and frantically "do the deed" within a specific three-month window to ensure their children would be in the same class.
It was like a synchronized breeding program.
Even more frightening is Sasuke.
He once said, "You want me to play love games with her?" regarding Sakura.
Yet Sarada's birthday is March 31.
Also Boruto's peer.
In summary, emotions in the Shinobi World are simple. You meet, you reproduce and you send the kid to ninja school.
Moreover, despite all the tragedies in the Shinobi World, there has never been any 'NTR tragedy'.
This proves the point.
For example: On this very night, the proctor Hayate Gekko—who looked like he was already dying of tuberculosis—tragically died at the hands of Baki from Sunagakure.
His girlfriend, Yugao Uzuki, couldn't take revenge at all.
Why? Because after the Leaf Destruction Plan, the Sand Village immediately said "Sorry, we were tricked by Orochimaru," and Konoha said "It's cool, bro."
And they became best allies after that.
Later, Gaara became Naruto's best friend.
Baki, the man who murdered Yugao's lover, rose through the ranks to become a top official in Sunagakure.
Did Yugao go rogue? Did she vow to destroy the world like Obito? No.
She remained an ANBU.
She continued to serve the village that shook hands with her lover's killer.
This is the norm in the Shinobi World.
Shinobi are those who endure.
"Right," Makoto muttered to himself, sipping his morning tea. "This has nothing to do with me."
He didn't even have Chakra, so naturally he wasn't a ninja and didn't need to endure anything.
He was just waiting to recruit Orochimaru so he could get better training methods.
Currently, the only two people in Akatsuki with any scientific spirit (Sasori and Deidara) were too busy arguing about art to do actual research.
...
Spectator Stands.
"I've been waiting so long the flowers are about to wilt," Makoto sighed, gazing down at the arena.
"Me too," Mei Terumi nodded, bored.
"Mhm," Kurotsuchi agreed, popping a bubble with her gum.
The rookies from Kiri and Iwa who were still alive had already been sent home.
They were trash anyway.
The Kage only remained to watch the spectacle and to support Makoto's, adding weight to their alliance to make their goals easier to achieve.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know this.
He thought they were just eager fans waiting for the main event: Gaara vs. Uchiha Sasuke.
"Same here," the "Kazekage" chimed in, his voice raspy with anticipation.
...
The Match Begins.
After some simple probing attacks, Sasuke confirmed that his Taijutsu wasn't enough to break Gaara's absolute defense.
So, he created distance.
He ran up the arena wall and he began forming hand signs.
Chirp... Chirp...
The sound of a thousand birds filled the stadium as a bright blue lightning chakra gathered in Sasuke's hand.
"Kakashi," Might Guy looked at his rival in surprise. "I never expected you to teach Sasuke that technique. It's reckless."
"This... this Lightning Release... could it be..."
On the opposite side of the VIP box, Kankuro gasped sharply.
His face turned pale.
That's right! This was Kakashi's Chidori!
The terrifying Ninja Technique rumored to be the "Backdoor Destroyer"!
The one used to surgically remove the Raikage's hemorrhoids!
"Kakashi really did pass this technique to his student..." Kankuro whispered in horror. "Gaara's butt is in danger."
"Stop thinking about ass!" Temari hissed, smacking him. "The problem now is... Gaara, you absolutely must endure this."
Temari nervously watched Gaara's expression below.
Gaara's mental state was fragile.
If he got injured and saw his own blood, Shukaku would wake up.
"Um, Temari," Kankuro scratched his head sheepishly. "I actually told Gaara yesterday..."
He explained how he "educated" Gaara about the Chidori's true purpose.
"WHAT?!" Temari's jaw dropped. "That's just your own made-up story! You told him that?!"
"I thought it would make him cautious!"
"You idiot!" Temari stood up, panic rising within her. "Now we're doomed!"
...
In the Arena.
Meanwhile, after activating Chidori, Sasuke began sprinting at full speed.
CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP.
Gaara hid inside his spherical sand shield.
But he left a small opening to watch Sasuke.
He remembered what Kankuro had told him yesterday about Chidori's origins.
The White Fang's secret technique... Thousand years of death... The Backdoor Thrust...
The next second, Sasuke's figure suddenly disappeared.
The crackling sound of lightning came from... BEHIND!
This would normally be a standard ninja tactic—attacking the blind spot.
But in Gaara's paranoid mind, it was confirmation.
'The evil Konoha Ninja Uchiha Sasuke is coming for my butt!'
"ROOOOAR—"
A strange, beast-like roar erupted from within the sand sphere.
Frenzied sand exploded outward.
Sasuke was sent flying backward, landing on the ground.
Gaara stood there with half of his body was covered in sand, transforming into the monstrous claw and arm of Shukaku.
"Kill you... kill you..." Gaara muttered, his voice distorted. "I'm going to kill you before you touch me there!"
Half of his face was a frenzied human.
The killing intent emanating from him, combined with his words, was utterly terrifying.
And most notably... the giant sand claw was firmly covering his own ass.
...
In the Stands.
The "Kazekage" froze.
He had expected the battle to trigger Shukaku's rampage eventually since that was the plan.
But... why was the timing off?
Sasuke hadn't done anything—he'd just used Chidori, which didn't even hit.
So why had Gaara suddenly gone berserk?
Moreover, hadn't he ordered his subordinates to act immediately upon seeing Shukaku's rampage?
Why is there no movement? Are they asleep?
Finally, a signal flare went up.
"Hm?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed the Kazekage turning around and he followed his gaze.
He spotted a hooded ANBU in the crowd forming hand seals.
"Genjutsu: Temple of Nirvana!"
However, this technique could only affect ordinary spectators. Anyone with moderate skill could break free from the Genjutsu control.
BOOM!
In the arena, Gaara completely lost it.
He smashed through the wall and fled toward the forest, with Temari and Kankuro chasing him.
Sasuke also pursued him.
Meanwhile, the "Kazekage" grabbed Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He leaped to the tiled roof of the stadium box and Four Sound Ninjas appeared from nowhere.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!"
A purple barrier erected instantly, trapping the Hokage and the "Kazekage" inside, while burning an ANBU who tried to enter to ash.
"Kazekage, you..." Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
"Sarutobi-sensei," the Kazekage chuckled. "You've truly grown old. Your reaction time is slow."
He reached up and tore off his face—literally peeling away the skin mask of Rasa.
Underneath was the pale, snake-like face of Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen gasped. "How are you still so young? Have you truly accomplished that technique?!"
"That's right, Sensei." Orochimaru sneered.
He tore off another layer of "skin" revealing a different body underneath.
It was the body of a young woman.
"Orochimaru..." Hiruzen looked at him with deep anguish and disgust. "For the sake of your greed... you've actually transformed yourself into a woman... No, not a woman—this monstrous form!"
"It's immortality, Sensei. Eternal youth."
"NANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII?!"
A loud shout came from outside the barrier.
Jiraiya had arrived just a second too late.
He was panting, staring through the purple flames at his former teammate.
He heard the conversation and he saw Orochimaru's female face.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in horror.
"Orochimaru!" Jiraiya screamed, clutching his head.
"Did you also read Kakashi's book?! Are you transitioning?!"
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