The barrier around them shimmered and gave a tinted view of the chaos erupting in the village. Within the shimmering purple walls, an entirely different confrontation was taking place.

  Sarutobi stood firm despite his age, the ceremonial Hokage robes discarded to reveal his battle attire beneath. On either side of him, Hayate Gekko and Yugao Uzuki maintained defensive positions, their ANBU masks removed to better track the movements around them. To his right stood Mei Terumi, the new Mizukage, with Zabuza and Chōjūrō flanking her protectively.

  Across from them, Orochimaru smiled with almost childlike glee. Gone was his disguise, his pale face revealed in all its serpentine glory. Beside him stood Mui, the warden of Hōzuki Castle, his expression impassive but eyes alert. The reanimated Rasa stood motionless, his skin cracked with the telltale dark lines of the Edo Tensei. The fourth figure remained partially in shadow, dark dust swirling lazily around his fingertips.

  "I must say, sensei," Orochimaru drawled, breaking the tense silence, "you've managed to keep the village quite lively in my absence."

  "This is what you've come to, Orochimaru?" Sarutobi's voice was heavy with disappointment. "Attacking the village you once swore to protect?"

  Orochimaru's laughter was like broken glass. "Attack? Oh, I think you misunderstand my intentions." He paced slowly, his movements fluid and predatory. "I did originally plan to crush Konoha beneath my heel. To punish this soft, complacent village for rejecting my vision."

  A flicker of genuine curiosity crossed his face. "But do you know what I discovered during my... reconnaissance? Something truly fascinating."

  "Spare us your theatrical monologues," Zabuza growled, the massive blade on his back trembling with his eagerness to draw it.

  Orochimaru's yellow eyes flashed with amusement. "Always so impatient, aren't they, sensei? The brutes with their oversized weapons." He chuckled, continuing as if uninterrupted. "What I found, to my surprise, was a loyal following—shinobi within Konoha who still believe in my methods, my vision. People who understand that progress requires sacrifice."

  "Traitors," Hayate spat, his voice rough from his chronic illness.

  "Visionaries," Orochimaru corrected smoothly. "Men and women who see beyond the stagnation you've encouraged, sensei."

  Sarutobi's eyes narrowed. "Is that what you told them? That I've led Konoha into stagnation?"

  "Haven't you?" Orochimaru spread his arms wide. "How many of your elite forces can truly stand against the threats gathering on our horizon? How many could face an opponent like Pain of the Akatsuki and survive?" He shook his head in mock sadness. "You've created a village of mediocrity, where true genius is constrained by your ethical hand-wringing."

  Mei shifted her weight, her eyes never leaving Orochimaru's face. "If your vision for ninjas is so compelling, why did you need to resort to deception and surprise attacks?"

  Orochimaru acknowledged her with a slight tilt of his head. "A fair question, Mizukage-sama. The simple answer is efficiency. Why waste resources on a protracted conflict when a surgical strike accomplishes the same goal?"

  His voice softened, becoming almost nostalgic. "But there was another reason I changed my approach. This generation of genin... they've impressed me greatly."

  "Sasuke Uchiha, of course, is exceptional—the last flower of a once-great garden. But there are others..." Orochimaru's tongue flicked out briefly, moistening his lips. "The Hyūga girl shows remarkable potential, far beyond what her clan's rigid traditions would normally allow. Young Nara's strategic mind rivals his father's. And Naruto..."

  He laughed softly. "Well, Jiraiya always did have a knack for finding diamonds in the rough, didn't he?"

  "If you admire them so much," Chōjūrō ventured hesitantly, "why endanger them with this invasion?"

  "Endanger?" Orochimaru looked genuinely surprised. "No, no, you misunderstand. I'm not here to destroy Konoha anymore." His smile widened, revealing teeth too sharp to be fully human. "I'm here to lead it."

  A chill settled over the rooftop as his words hung in the air.

  "The village rejected your leadership once before," Sarutobi said quietly. "What makes you think they would accept it now, by force?"

  "No you rejected my leadersship Sarutobi-sensei, and they've seen the alternative," Orochimaru replied, gesturing toward his old teacher. "They've seen what becomes of a village led by sentiment rather than strength. Three decades under your guidance, sensei, and what has Konoha achieved? We've fallen behind Kumo in military strength. Our intelligence network is a pale shadow of what it once was. And our research..." He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Well, the less said about that, the better."

  He stepped closer, golden eyes gleaming. "But I can change all that. I can restore Konoha to its rightful place—not just as the strongest of the five great villages, but as something transcendent."

  "At what cost?" Sarutobi demanded. "You've never understood the true value of the citizens of Konoha. They are not tools or specimens for your experimentation."

  Orochimaru tilted his head, regarding his former teacher with something almost like affection. "That's where you're wrong, sensei. I admit, I once undervalued them. I saw them as resources, easily replaceable for the most part, with only a few gems worth polishing."

  He gestured toward the arena below, where chaos still reigned. "Take young Sakura Haruno, for instance. I would have dismissed her entirely in my younger days. No rare bloodline. Mediocre chakra reserves despite having two ninja parents. Above average chakra control being her only standout quality."

  His expression grew animated, almost feverish. "I would have considered her fodder or, at best, a useful research assistant. But look what she's accomplished! She's in the beginnings of discovering an entirely new ninja field with her work on essence."

  "Essence?" Yugao questioned, glancing briefly at Sarutobi.

  "Oh yes," Orochimaru continued, clearly warming to his subject. "A fascinating concept. The fundamental quality that defines a being's nature—human, animal, or otherwise. The rabbits have been working with it for decades, but never understood its full potential. Sakura, with her modifications, has opened doors that I never even knew existed."

  He clasped his hands behind his back, beginning to pace again. "My spy in the academy—Mizuki, you remember him, don't you, sensei?—has been sending me reports on her progress. I've begun my own experiments with essence, and the possibilities are..." He closed his eyes briefly, as if savoring a delicious meal. "...extraordinary."

  "And how many lives have you sacrificed in these experiments?" Sarutobi asked, his voice hard.

  Orochimaru waved a dismissive hand. "Fewer than you might think. I'm becoming more... efficient." He smiled, the expression never reaching his eyes. "But that's beside the point. The point is that under your leadership, it would have taken years—perhaps decades—before you allowed more academy students to begin working with essence transformations. Your caution costs Konoha its edge."

  Sarutobi sighed deeply, the weight of decades evident in the sound. "You still don't understand, Orochimaru. You've never understood how to nurture potential—you only care about results. This, more than anything else, is why I couldn't name you Hokage."

  "Nurture?" Orochimaru repeated, as if tasting a foreign word. "Is that what you call it when you restrict research that could save lives? When you reject techniques that could strengthen our forces? When you allow threats to grow unchecked because confronting them might upset the delicate political balance?"

  His voice grew harder, colder. "You speak of nurturing, but what you practice is stagnation. The Will of Fire you so cherish burns lower with each passing year."

  "The Will of Fire is stronger than ever," Sarutobi countered. "It burns in the hearts of the very genin you claim to admire."

  "Perhaps," Orochimaru conceded. "But what good is a strong fire without direction? Without purpose?" He shook his head slowly. "They have potential, yes, but they need a proper leader to shape them into something truly magnificent."

  "And you believe you're that leader?" Mei asked, skepticism evident in her tone.

  "I know I am," Orochimaru replied simply. "Under my guidance, Konoha will achieve heights undreamed of. And I will be the last Hokage this village ever needs."

  Sarutobi's expression darkened. "So that's your goal. You won't let the village outlive you. You'll burn it to the ground when your time comes."

  Orochimaru laughed then, a sound of genuine amusement that echoed strangely within the barrier. "Oh, sensei. Always so dramatic." He wiped at an imaginary tear. "No, no. You misunderstand me completely. I won't need a successor because I don't intend to die."

  "Everyone dies, Orochimaru," Sarutobi said quietly. "Even the greatest shinobi must eventually face that reality."

  "Must they?" Orochimaru's smile stretched wider. "I've conquered that limitation, sensei. Did you think I spent all those years away from the village idly?"

  He raised his hands, forming a series of seals too quick for most eyes to follow. His face began to crack along invisible seams, the skin splitting to reveal... another face beneath, younger and unfamiliar.

  "Behold," he said, his voice momentarily distorted as the transformation completed, "the culmination of my research into immortality."

  The new face settled into place—still recognizably Orochimaru in its features, but lacking the more serpentine qualities, appearing almost human.

  "The Fushi Tensei," he explained, his voice returning to normal. "A technique of my own creation. It allows me to transfer my consciousness to a new body when this one grows old or damaged." He gestured to himself proudly. "I've already performed the transfer twice. This body still has several years of viability left."

  Horror dawned on Sarutobi's face as the implications became clear. "The missing ninja... the disappearances in the border towns..."

  "Candidates," Orochimaru confirmed casually. "Though most proved unsuitable. The body must be specially prepared to accept my consciousness without rejection."

  He glanced at Sasuke, who was visible in the arena below, fighting against several Sound ninja. "The Uchiha body would be ideal, of course. Resilient, powerful, and with such magnificent eyes." He sighed appreciatively. "But I've learned patience. There are other candidates who might serve in the meantime."

  "You're insane," Zabuza growled, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword.

  "Insane?" Orochimaru looked genuinely offended. "I've transcended the fundamental limitation of human existence. Is that insanity, or is it genius?"

  "It's abomination," Sarutobi said firmly. "Using others as vessels for your own extended life."

  "They're honored to serve as my vessels," Orochimaru replied smoothly. "Most of them, anyway. The unwilling ones tend not to last as long." He shrugged dismissively. "A small price to pay for the advancement of ninja knowledge, wouldn't you agree?"

  Sarutobi shook his head slowly. "You speak of advancement, but what you practice is perversion. The techniques you develop corrupt rather than enhance."

  "Such limited thinking," Orochimaru sighed. "This is precisely why I must take control. Under my leadership, Konoha ninja will be encouraged to push boundaries, not cower behind arbitrary moral restrictions."

  He turned to the reanimated Fourth Kazekage. "Wouldn't you agree, Rasa? Your own village might still stand strong if you had embraced more... progressive methods."

  The dead Kazekage's eyes narrowed slightly, but the Edo Tensei technique kept him from speaking against his summoner's will.

  "And you, Mui," Orochimaru continued, addressing the Hōzuki Castle warden. "Your position in Grass allows you to see firsthand how power ebbs and flows between the nations. Surely you recognize that Konoha's traditional approach is becoming obsolete in this changing world."

  Mui's expression remained impassive. "I serve the interests of Grass, not your ambitions, Orochimaru."

  "For now," Orochimaru acknowledged with a small smile. "But alliances shift with the winds, don't they?"

  He turned back to Sarutobi, his expression growing more serious. "Tell me honestly, sensei. When you look at what I've accomplished—mastery over death itself—can you truly say I was wrong to pursue this path? How many lives could be saved if the greatest minds, the most skilled shinobi, could continue their work indefinitely?"

  "At what cost?" Sarutobi countered. "How many have died to fuel your 'immortality'? How many more would suffer if your methods became standard practice?"

  "Acceptable losses," Orochimaru responded with a casual wave of his hand. "The history of ninja advancement has always been written in blood. Why pretend otherwise?"

  "Because there are lines that should not be crossed," Sarutobi insisted. "Boundaries that exist not to limit us, but to define us. What you propose isn't advancement—it's regression to the darkest days of shinobi history."

  Orochimaru's expression hardened. "You cling to your outdated morality even now, at the end. This is why you will lose today, sensei. Not because I am stronger—though I am—but because you lack the resolve to do what's necessary."

  He spread his arms wide, as if embracing the chaos that surrounded them. "Look around you. The village is already falling. Your precious Will of Fire flickers and fades. Soon, Konoha will be mine to reshape as I see fit."

  "You underestimate the shinobi of this village," Sarutobi said quietly. "They will never bow to you."

  "They already have," Orochimaru countered. "More than you know. Sleeper agents placed years ago. Disillusioned jonin who see the village's weakness. Ambitious chunin who recognize where true power lies." His smile turned predatory. "Even now, they move through Konoha, ensuring my eventual victory."

  He clasped his hands behind his back, resuming his pacing. "But enough talk. I've indulged this conversation long enough out of respect for our history, sensei. It's time to decide the future of Konoha."

  Panic erupted throughout the arena as explosions rocked the village perimeter. Civilians scrambled for the exits, creating a dangerous bottleneck as more blasts sent debris flying. Several jonin shouted directions, trying to establish evacuation routes, but their voices were lost in the cacophony of screams.

  "This way! Stay together!" A chunin waved frantically at a group of civilians, only to be nearly trampled as another explosion—closer this time—sent people rushing in the opposite direction.

  From his position, Utakata could see the pattern emerging. The attacks weren't targeting critical infrastructure or causing maximum casualties—they were strategically placed to create chaos and confusion, forcing Konoha's forces to spread thin to manage the civilian population.

  "They're not trying to destroy the village," he realized aloud, his eyes tracking the movements of the foreign ninja. "They're immobilizing it."

  Tenzo nodded grimly beside him, his hands locked in a seal as wooden beams reinforced the barrier containing the partially transformed Gaara. The One-Tail's chakra pushed against their containment, threatening to break through with each passing second.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "We can't hold this indefinitely," Tenzo grunted, sweat beading on his forehead as he channeled more chakra into the barrier. "If he fully transforms—"

  "I know," Utakata replied tersely. He blew a stream of bubbles that hardened into an additional layer of reinforcement. "This was their strategy all along. Keep you and me occupied here while their forces move through the village."

  The realization hit him with sudden clarity—with two jinchūriki contained in a single battle and a third transforming, they'd effectively neutralized three of Konoha's strongest potential defenders. Add in the three Kages engaged at the tower, and the invasion's true brilliance became apparent.

  Shikaku Nara surveyed the chaos from the upper level of the arena, his mind racing through strategies faster than most men could form a single thought. The familiar weight of command settled on his shoulders as he gestured to the ANBU captain beside him.

  "Evacuate civilians through the eastern tunnels. Station three squads along the perimeter—no, make it four. The south wall is taking heavier fire."

  The captain nodded once and vanished in a blur of movement. Shikaku turned his attention to the tactical map spread before him, its surface marked with rapidly changing positions as reports filtered in. The initial confusion of the attack had given way to organized resistance, but something felt off about the enemy's movements.

  Inoichi Yamanaka materialized at his side, blood trickling from a shallow cut above his eye. "We've lost contact with the sensor division. Last transmission reported a specialized jamming technique—nothing we've encountered before."

  Shikaku's expression remained unchanged, but his fingers tightened imperceptibly around the marker in his hand. "Location?"

  "Eastern sector, near the Academy."

  Chōza Akimichi landed heavily on the platform, the wood creaking beneath his weight. "The Academy evacuation route's been compromised. Students are being redirected north—directly into the invasion corridor."

  Shikaku's eyes narrowed. "Redirected by whom?"

  "That's the problem. Some of our own people." Chōza lowered his voice. "We've confirmed traitors among the ANBU—likely Danzō's ROOT operatives—and even standard shinobi. They're using primarily non-lethal takedowns on our forces."

  "Non-lethal?" Inoichi frowned. "That doesn't match Orochimaru's usual methods."

  Shikaku stood motionless, his mind assembling the puzzle pieces, fitting them together until the picture became clear. The controlled chaos. The strategic positioning of attacks. The careful preservation of Konoha's future generation. The targeted elimination of communication networks.

  "This isn't an invasion," Shikaku said, voice flat with certainty. "It's a revolution."

  Inoichi's head snapped toward him. "A revolution? Who would follow Orochimaru after what he's done?"

  "Ninja follow strength, Inoichi. Always have." Shikaku traced a line across the map with his finger. "If Sarutobi falls to Orochimaru, how many of our forces would stand against him? How many would question if they were backing the wrong horse?"

  He tapped the map where ROOT operatives had been identified. "Not everyone shares our loyalty to the Third. The Uchiha massacre left questions. The Kumo incident with the Hyūga created resentment. Sarutobi's peaceful policies frustrated the war hawks."

  "But still—"

  "Look at their targets," Shikaku interrupted, pointing to the map. "Communications first. Then isolation of key clan compounds. They're cutting off leadership while securing the next generation. Classic coup strategy—minimize bloodshed of valuable assets while eliminating command structure."

  A massive explosion shook the building. Through the open side of the command post, they watched a gigantic scorpion materialize on the village perimeter, its stinger dripping with venom as it smashed through the outer wall.

  "Another summon," Chōza growled. "That's the fourth one. Where the hell is Jiraiya?"

  "Who knows," Shikaku muttered. "We need to secure those academy students immediately. If Orochimaru's forces capture them, he'll have leverage against every major clan in the village."

  Kakashi appeared beside them, his Sharingan exposed and swirling. "I'll handle the scorpion."

  Shikaku assessed him with a glance. The Copy Ninja looked battle-worn but functional. "Go."

  Kakashi nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

  "Our elite jonin are spread too thin," Shikaku said, looking over the village from his vantage point. He could see Gai clashing against a sound kunoichi with dragonfly wings. "ANBU compromised, sensor corps down, summons at every cardinal point..."

  His eyes fell on the gathered genin below—Sasuke and Sakura standing back-to-back, Neji with his Byakugan activated, scanning the surroundings. Lee bouncing on his toes, ready for action. Shikamaru analyzing the battlefield with that familiar furrow between his brows. Ino bandaging Chōji's arm while Karin hovered nearby. Hinata, Kiba, and Shino in tight formation, while Hotaru and Suigetsu remained slightly apart but alert.

  A troublesome solution formed in Shikaku's mind.

  "Genin!" he called down. They looked up as one. "Report!"

  They bounded up to the platform in seconds, faces serious but eyes bright with adrenaline.

  "We've secured this section of the arena," Shikamaru reported, hands in his pockets but stance ready. "Most civilians evacuated. What's the situation?"

  Shikaku hesitated for only a fraction of a second before committing. "Academy students have been diverted from evacuation routes. They're heading north, straight into enemy forces—potentially by design."

  Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Diversionary tactic?"

  "No," Shikaku replied. "Asset acquisition. Those children represent Konoha's future—and hostages against their clans."

  "You want us to intercept," Neji stated, not a question.

  "Yes. Find the academy students and their instructors—determine who's loyal and who isn't. Get those kids to safety."

  Ino stepped forward. "Where should we take them?"

  "Nara forest compound," Shikaku said after a moment's consideration. "The deer will warn of intruders, and the paths are trapped for anyone without the correct chakra signature."

  Sakura exchanged glances with Sasuke. "But how will we—"

  "Shikamaru knows the way," Shikaku cut in. "He'll lead this mission."

  His son's expression didn't change, but Shikaku recognized the slight widening of his eyes—surprise, quickly contained.

  "Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, but stepped forward.

  Shikaku pulled his son aside, leaning down to whisper something in his ear.

  Shikamaru's eyes widened. He nodded once, sharply.

  "Move out," Shikaku ordered. "Primary objective is extraction and protection of the academy students. Secondary is identification of traitors. Avoid direct engagement with superior forces where possible."

  The genin disappeared in a blur of movement, leaping from the platform toward the northern sector.

  "That's a lot of genin for one mission," Chōza commented, watching them go. "And our children among them."

  "They were at highest risk here," Shikaku responded. "The arena is a primary target. And if they fail..." He traced another line across the map. "At worst, we've given the enemy more hostages, which they will already have."

  "Is that the only reason?" Inoichi asked quietly.

  Shikaku's eyes remained on the map. "We both know Orochimaru's particular interest in the Uchiha boy. Better to have him moving than sitting still. And together, those genin are more formidable than many give them credit for."

  Another explosion rocked the building. Shikaku straightened, pushing aside his concerns for his son. "Status report on the Hokage?"

  "Barrier still in place," a jonin called from across the room. "ANBU attempting breaching techniques without success."

  "Keep trying." Shikaku turned back to the tactical map. "Chōza, take a squad and reinforce the hospital. Inoichi, see if you can reestablish contact with any sensor division members." He looked up at the smoke rising across the village. "We need to buy the Hokage time to finish this."

  "And if he doesn't?" Chōza asked quietly.

  Shikaku didn't answer. Some possibilities were too troublesome to voice aloud.

  Baki watched the Konoha genin scatter from his position on a nearby rooftop. Through the smoke and chaos, their movements were clear—heading north in formation.

  "They're going after the academy students," he muttered, recognizing the tactical play instantly. He turned to Temari who crouched beside him, fan at the ready. Kankuro stood a few paces back, Raven slung over his shoulder, its contents unknown to Baki.

  "Change of plans," Baki ordered sharply. "That group of genin is moving to intercept our extraction team."

  Temari's eyes narrowed. "All of them? That's over a dozen fighters."

  "Yes, and most of them are clan heirs." Baki's lips thinned beneath his face covering. "If they reach the academy students first, we lose a major bargaining chip."

  He spotted two Sound shinobi moving through the shadows below—Dosu and Zaku, waiting for instructions as arranged. Baki signaled them up.

  "You two, with my students. I want you to harry that group of Konoha genin. Slow them down, separate them if possible, but don't get bogged down in extended combat."

  Dosu nodded silently. Zaku looked less pleased about taking orders from the Sand jōnin.

  "Once you've delayed them sufficiently, break contact and rendezvous with our forces at extraction point B," Baki continued. "Those academy students are priority targets."

  Kankuro shifted uncomfortably, adjusting the puppet on his back. "What if we encounter heavy resistance?"

  Baki fixed him with a hard stare. "The mission parameters are clear. This invasion isn't about slaughter—it's about leverage. Those academy students are our objective."

  "We'll handle it," Temari said firmly, snapping her fan open with a flick of her wrist.

  "The Uchiha and Hyuga are with them," Baki warned. "Approach with caution. Remember, delay and divert, then join the extraction team."

  "Understood," Dosu replied, his single visible eye narrowing. "We know what to do."

  Baki nodded. "Move out. Signal if you encounter problems you can't handle."

  The four nodded and leapt away, pursuing the path the Konoha genin had taken moments before. Baki watched them go, calculating probabilities in his head. If they could secure those academy students, the invasion's success was all but assured.

  Sand whipped across the arena in violent swirls as Shukaku's massive form took shape. The demon's crazed laughter echoed against the walls. What remained of the arena floor cracked beneath the weight of the One-Tail's transformation.

  "FINALLY FREE!" Shukaku roared, his voice a discordant mix of Gaara's and something ancient and hateful.

  Naruto landed beside Haku, whose body was partially covered in a coral-like formation. Steam rose from the ice user as frigid chakra leaked from him in waves.

  "We need to stop him before he reaches full power," Haku said, his voice strained. Patches of his skin had transformed to a bluish hue, and his normally gentle eyes now glowed with an unnatural light. "Utakata-sensei taught me how to access the Three-Tails' chakra, but maintaining clarity becomes... difficult."

  Naruto nodded, his own features sharpened by the Nine-Tails' influence. Red chakra bubbled around him, forming a protective cloak.

  "I could try summoning the Boss Toad," he muttered, eyes darting around the cramped arena. "But there's barely enough room for one tailed beast, let alone adding Gamabunta to the mix."

  Shukaku slammed a massive paw into the ground, sending both jinchūriki leaping aside. The stadium's foundation groaned under the impact.

  "I AM SHUKAKU, THE MIGHTY DESERT SPIRIT!" The tanuki swung its tail, cracking the western wall. "WHO WANTS TO DIE FIRST?"

  Naruto formed a shadow clone seal. "Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

  Hundreds of Naruto clones materialized, swarming toward Shukaku like orange ants attacking a predator. The tanuki inhaled deeply, its stomach swelling.

  "Wind Release: Air Bullet!"

  The compressed air blast decimated dozens of clones, but the remaining ones continued their assault, climbing up Shukaku's limbs.

  Haku formed a series of one-handed seals. "Ice Release: Tearing Dragon Fierce Tiger!"

  A massive ice construct—part dragon, part tiger—materialized from the moisture in the air and slammed into Shukaku's exposed flank. The beast staggered but quickly recovered, sand regenerating its damaged side.

  Naruto's gaze flicked upward toward the Kage box where a purple barrier now contained Sarutobi and Orochimaru. His clones continued their assault, but his attention was divided.

  "Focus, Naruto-kun!" Haku called out, forming more ice mirrors around Shukaku to restrict its movement. "Your Hokage is capable."

  "I know that," Naruto snapped, sending another wave of clones forward. "But that snake bastard—"

  "My master and Lady Mizukage will ensure your Hokage's safety," Haku interrupted, though the strain in his voice betrayed his uncertainty. The coral formations had spread further across his body, and a third eye was beginning to form on his forehead.

  Naruto scoffed. "The old man's the God of Shinobi. He'll be the one keeping them safe."

  He created another wave of clones, these ones carrying explosive tags. They detonated all along Shukaku's body, but the sand simply reformed.

  "We need to wake Gaara," Naruto said, focusing back on their immediate threat. "Look there—on Shukaku's forehead."

  Through the swirling sand, they could make out Gaara's unconscious form, embedded up to his waist in the tanuki's head.

  "He used the Feigning Sleep Technique," Haku observed, the Three-Tails' chakra rippling around him. "The longer he remains asleep, the stronger Shukaku's control becomes, and the harder it will be to wake him."

  "Then we hit him hard and fast." Naruto formed his favorite hand sign again. "How good's your aim with those senbon of yours?"

  Haku smiled grimly, ice needles forming between his fingers. "Precise enough."

  They synchronized their movements, Naruto's clones providing distraction while Haku's ice attacks targeted vulnerable points. But Shukaku's defenses were formidable, its sand automatically shielding Gaara from every projectile.

  "Direct attacks won't work," Haku said, breathing heavily. The Three-Tails' chakra was clearly taking its toll. "And I can't maintain this form much longer without losing myself."

  Naruto's eyes narrowed in determination. "Then we need to get creative." He glanced around the devastated arena, mind racing. "If we can't reach him from outside..."

  "What do you propose?" Haku asked, deflecting another sand bullet.

  "I need to get inside that defense. Close enough to wake him directly."

  Haku considered this, his third eye now fully formed and glowing eerily. "I can create an opening, but you'll have only seconds before the sand closes it."

  "Seconds is all I need." Naruto cracked his knuckles, red chakra intensifying around him. "Just tell me when."