Hiashi protected his two daughters, steadily retreating toward the corridor above the stairs.
Suddenly, three dark shadows pounced out from the chaos.
Hiashi's Byakugan narrowed, and veins instantly bulged around his temples. He gave a low shout, his hands turning into afterimages as his sharp palm strikes created several sonic booms in the air.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three Oto ninjas trying to ambush them didn't even see the movements before they were sent flying, crashing to the ground unconscious.
"So... so amazing!" Hanabi couldn't help but exclaim at the sight.
Hinata was also startled, her gaze filled with shock.
Even as his own daughters, they rarely saw their father act so mercilessly, and such sharp attacks were even rarer.
"You two, protect yourselves!" Hiashi instructed in a deep, solemn voice.
Before his voice faded, his figure blurred as he rushed into the battle below, his Gentle Fist unfolding, instantly suppressing several invaders.
Seeing her father's brave and peerless figure, a strong sense of pride welled up in Hanabi.
She immediately spread her arms, standing firmly in front of Hinata. "Sister, I will protect you!"
"Hanabi..." Hinata looked at her sister's small but firm back, a gentle and gratified smile appearing on her face.
However, the sisters didn't notice that in a corner of the spectator stands, two pairs of eyes were secretly watching them. Seeing Hiashi actively engaging the invaders, the two looked at each other, craftiness and greed flashing in their eyes, and then moved in unison.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures suddenly appeared, one on the left and one on the right, perfectly flanking Hinata and Hanabi.
"Who's there!" Hanabi reacted quickly, shouting immediately.
"Hanabi, be careful!" Hinata entered a state of alert at the same time.
Almost simultaneously, the sisters unhesitatingly activated their Byakugan, veins bulging around their eyes, as they assumed the starting stance of the Hyuga Style Gentle Fist, ready for battle.
"Make it quick, before the Main House reacts." The bald Kumo ninja urged in a low, urgent voice.
However, before he could finish—
Boom!
The two Kumo ninjas were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer from the side, their bodies slammed into the side wall.
The wall cracked instantly, rubble falling as their distorted bodies were embedded deep within, completely silent.
"Eh!?"
This sudden turn of events startled both Hinata and Hanabi, who didn't understand what had happened.
"Rats trying to fish in troubled waters are everywhere." A voice spoke slowly with a hint of annoyance.
Along with the voice, Mamoru's figure levitated above the spectator seats, as if he had been there all along.
"Mamoru..."
Hinata had just opened her mouth in surprise, only to be instantly drowned out by another crazed roar.
"Mamoru!!!"
Amidst the roar, the sturdy railing made of steel pipes and concrete on the outer edge of the spectator stands was smashed to pieces by a massive figure.
Gaara's terrifying figure appeared at the edge of the destroyed area. His eyes locked onto Mamoru in mid-air, his gaze incredibly cold.
Following that, two figures flipped out from below, passing over Gaara's head.
Sasuke and Naruto landed on the steps one after another, staring solemnly at Gaara in front of them.
"What's with this guy? He's shouting Mamoru's name while running around everywhere." Naruto's tone was both confused and anxious.
"Don't worry about that, just find a way to stop him." Sasuke's Sharingan was locked onto Gaara as he spoke coldly.
Mamoru didn't even look at Gaara, responding coldly, "I don't have time for you right now, get lost."
After saying that, he moved, flying out of the spectator stands.
"Stop!"
Seeing this, Gaara roared, his massive body suddenly turning.
"Now!"
Sasuke and Naruto seized this momentary opportunity, both lunging from the steps toward Gaara.
Although Gaara was in a frenzy, his combat instincts remained. Sensing the movement behind him, he swung his hand back, and a massive sand hand swept out, forcing the two back.
Taking advantage of this gap, Gaara flipped onto a higher roof, his eyes instantly catching Mamoru's figure, showing excitement and ruthlessness.
Exerting force with his feet, his massive body soared into the air. Gaara intended to intercept him mid-air.
Mamoru noticed immediately and couldn't help but wonder.
You're a Jinchuriki, why aren't you looking for another Jinchuriki to play with? Why keep pestering me?
Without even turning his head, he simply extended his arm, pointing his fingertips at the figure chasing behind him. A sphere of energy flashing with dangerous blue light, Blue, instantly condensed.
The blue light sphere shot out, heading straight for Gaara. Gaara didn't dodge, raising his huge claw to meet it head-on.
Boom!
A blue energy vortex erupted in the air, carrying Gaara's massive body and throwing him far away from the arena, instantly clearing him from this airspace.
Sasuke and Naruto witnessed the whole scene, and they looked at each other in shock, both seeing the same plan in each other's eyes.
"Chase him!"
Without hesitation, the two leaped from the edge of the spectator stands, running fast along the high walls of the arena, chasing in the direction where Gaara had been blown away.
Two others had the same plan. Temari and Kankuro had already flipped over the arena's high walls.
—
Meanwhile, on the roof of the central observation stand, Hiruzen and Orochimaru faced each other at the highest point.
Not far away, Anbu members were clashing fiercely with Oto ninjas, the sound of Kunai clashing never-ending.
"It seems your plan has failed, Orochimaru." Hiruzen spoke calmly, his expression indifferent.
He had seen everything that had happened in the arena. Mamoru's performance made him feel both surprised and gratified.
"Shut up!" Orochimaru grit his teeth, his golden vertical pupils swirling with resentment.
Just as he finished speaking, four figures landed behind him.
"Orochimaru-sama!" The Sound Four knelt on one knee.
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as he scanned the four.
"Is it just you four? I see, even Kabuto..."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his face looking extremely grim, and said coldly, "Prepare to implement Plan Two."
"Yes!"
The Sound Four took the order and dispersed without hesitation, each occupying a corner, guarding Orochimaru strictly in the center.
Orochimaru's hands moved, beginning to form seals.
"Don't even think about it!" Hiruzen roared.
He kicked off and rushed forward, pulling a shuriken from the ninja tool pouch at his waist and throwing it. At the same time, his hands quickly formed seals, completing the Ninjutsu while running.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
In an instant, the single shuriken in the air split into a dense mass of shuriken, raining down toward Orochimaru.
Jirobo, who was in the front, reacted quickly, completing his seals in an instant. He slammed a hand onto the ground.
Boom!
A barrier made of rock erupted from the earth.
Clang... Clang...
The shuriken struck the barrier, the sound never-ending.
In that brief moment gained, Orochimaru's technique was already complete. He pressed his hands together, a cold smile at the corners of his lips.
"Summoning Technique: Edo Tensei!"
As his sinister voice fell, the entire roof shook violently, and a mist rose and spread from the center of the technique.
Amidst the rumbling and the shaking ground, the first coffin engraved with the word "First" slowly rose from the ground.
Then, the second coffin engraved with the word "Second" also fully emerged from the ground.
The technique did not stop and a third coffin engraved with the word "Fourth" also began to slowly rise.