The ongoing match in the arena was the battle between Sasuke and Gaara.
Sasuke was the last remaining Uchiha in Konoha, while Gaara was the second son of the Kazekage and Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchūriki. The clash between the two was easily the hottest matchup of the third exam.
Their fighting styles were flashy and spectacular, leaving the audience completely entertained.
Especially after Sasuke shattered Gaara's Absolute Defense with Chidori, Gaara finally began using the sand from his gourd and transformed into a tyrannical monster within the sea of sand.
After seeing Sasuke's Sharingan, the Fire Daimyo looked toward the Third Hokage and asked:
"Hiruzen, is this Konoha's last Uchiha?"
"I heard the other Uchiha defected from Konoha and established a nation elsewhere. I believe it's called the Land of Uzumaki now?"
The Third Hokage was slightly surprised.
How did the Fire Daimyo know about this information?
Logically speaking, the Twelve Guardian Ninja shouldn't have leaked such information so casually. Could it be that Danzo's subordinates had really approached the daimyo and formed some sort of alliance with him?
Given Danzo's personality, that was entirely possible.
After thinking about this, the Third Hokage said to the Fire Daimyo:
"Daimyo-sama, if any ninjas approach you, please do not trust them—especially Danzo's subordinates…"
The Fire Daimyo showed a strange expression. After glancing at Jiraiya in the distance, he looked suspiciously at the Third Hokage before lightly nodding.
As expected of Hiruzen. He had been Hokage for decades and was cautious to the extreme.
At this moment, the battle between Sasuke and Gaara reached its climax.
After exploiting an opening in Gaara's defense, Sasuke drove Chidori straight into Gaara's shoulder and pressed a kunai against his throat.
"You lost, brat from the Sand."
Since this was still an exam, Sasuke didn't kill him.
Based on his observations over the past few days, Gaara seemed to be the same type of person as himself—someone who wouldn't casually kill unless absolutely necessary.
That was also the biggest difference between him and Uchiha Itachi.
However, just as Sasuke thought victory was already secured, Gaara slowly closed his eyes and fell unconscious.
A massive wave of chakra erupted from Gaara's body, gradually condensing into the shape of Shukaku.
What the hell is this monster…?
Sasuke frowned and quickly widened the distance between them, but Shukaku had already transformed into a gigantic beast more than ten meters tall.
It immediately fired an air bullet toward Sasuke.
The terrifying blast instantly shattered the ground, and even the surrounding barriers began cracking under the pressure.
At the same time, a melodious sound echoed throughout the arena.
The sound carried a powerful genjutsu effect, hypnotizing most of the audience in an instant, leaving only ninjas barely capable of maintaining combat readiness.
Seeing this scene, both Jiraiya and Tsunade's expressions changed drastically.
They immediately turned toward the Fourth Kazekage in the VIP stands, while Jiraiya coldly said:
"Your Excellency Kazekage, we need an explanation."
"Why has Shukaku suddenly gone berserk?"
The Fourth Kazekage instantly appeared behind Jiraiya and spoke in a low voice:
"Of course it's to free ourselves from Konoha's control."
"But I was merely invited to participate in this plan by someone else."
Before he even finished speaking, the Fourth Kazekage condensed a massive amount of Gold Dust and launched it toward Jiraiya and Tsunade, attempting to restrain them.
Jiraiya quickly retreated as his hair rapidly expanded, transforming into thousands of hardened strands that shot toward the Fourth Kazekage like steel needles.
Magnet Release could control metal, but it couldn't manipulate hair hardened to the level of steel.
"I'll deal with the Fourth Kazekage."
"Tsunade, evacuate the audience!"
As he spoke, Jiraiya rapidly formed hand seals, summoned several giant toads, and forcibly drove the Fourth Kazekage away from the arena.
Tsunade nodded before immediately ordering the ANBU to surround and suppress Shukaku.
But at that moment, a large number of invading forces from Sunagakure and Otogakure suddenly appeared around the perimeter of the arena, completely surrounding the area.
The moment he saw the invading troops, the Third Hokage could no longer sit still.
He immediately stood up and rushed toward the battlefield.
He truly hadn't expected that with himself, Jiraiya, and Tsunade all present in Konoha, Sunagakure would still dare launch an attack.
Had those Sand ninjas completely lost their minds? Were they really planning to drag everyone down with them?
At that moment, the Fire Daimyo suddenly grabbed the Third Hokage's sleeve.
The Third Hokage turned back toward the Fire Daimyo, only to see him pointing toward a mysterious ninja rushing toward them.
The figure was a black-haired beauty with an enchanting appearance.
"My lord, it's time you explained your actions."
"You've been acting strangely since the very beginning today."
The Fire Daimyo frowned before replying:
"Hiruzen, are you still pretending to be confused?"
"Didn't you secretly send people to contact me and ask for my support in restoring your position as Hokage?"
"Sunagakure and Orochimaru are your allies."
"Sunagakure and Orochimaru are my allies!?"
The Third Hokage's expression changed dramatically.
He immediately thought of Danzo and quickly explained:
"This is definitely a conspiracy between Danzo and Orochimaru!"
"I never intended to reclaim the Hokage position!"
The Fire Daimyo looked somewhat confused.
"But the ninjas who contacted me were all Sarutobi jonin."
"I even asked the Guardian Ninja to verify it. They confirmed those Sarutobi jonin were members of your clan."
After a brief pause, the Fire Daimyo looked toward Tsunade before continuing:
"Hiruzen, the Fifth Hokage's reforms are violating the agreement between the Senju clan and the Daimyo's court."
"The Sarutobi clan, Sunagakure, and even Mr. Orochimaru are extremely dissatisfied."
"We still hope for your return as Hokage."
"Everyone would be much more satisfied that way."
Hearing this, the Third Hokage didn't lash out at the daimyo.
Instead, he stared directly at the black-haired beauty before him.
His instincts told him that this person was his student, Orochimaru.
Orochimaru casually removed the mask from his face and said in his eerie, genderless voice:
"Long time no see, old man."
"This time, we're on the same side."
"We both oppose Jiraiya becoming the Fifth Hokage."
"I hope we can cooperate happily."
"Orochimaru… don't tell me you think I made some kind of agreement with you?"
The Third Hokage gritted his teeth as he spoke.
He never imagined that Sunagakure and Orochimaru would approach the Fire Daimyo and attack Konoha under the banner of restoring him as Hokage.
Were they not afraid the entire plan would fail?
Orochimaru looked at the Third Hokage before pointing toward the distant streets with a faint smile.
"I truly admire your acting skills, Sensei."
"Even while the Sarutobi clan is launching an attack on the Hokage Building, you're still pretending."
The Third Hokage's eyesight was excellent.
He quickly saw members of the Sarutobi clan leading an assault on the Hokage Building, and his face immediately darkened.
In an instant, he understood.
The jonin of his own clan had betrayed him.
And the reason for the betrayal was simple.
After losing his position as Hokage, the Sarutobi clan had also lost its former status and influence.
But just as Jiraiya had launched a coup to seize power, the Sarutobi clan could also launch a coup to reclaim the Hokage seat that once belonged to them.
After all, Jiraiya's succession itself lacked legitimacy.
The Third Hokage trembled with rage, but he still forcibly suppressed it.
Then he looked toward Orochimaru and coldly declared:
"Orochimaru, it seems letting you go back then was a mistake."
"I will personally kill you and stop your plan to destroy Konoha!"
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