Noah watched the chaos with detached calm.
Even as Gaara's siblings, Temari and Kankuro, leaped into the arena to retrieve their brother, and their commander Baki faced off against Genma, Noah didn't flinch.
His energy circulated at its peak.
"Gaara's in no condition to fight. Retreat," Baki ordered after checking on the boy.
He was frustrated.
They had wanted to use the One-Tail to cause chaos, but Gaara was so unstable he might go on a rampage that killed their own men. Better to move him away.
On the balconies, Kakashi fended off invaders while giving orders to Sakura, who had remained awake. The instructors were spread thin. They had to rely on the students.
Noah decided there was no need for a chase.
He locked his gaze on the retreating Sand ninjas.
"Did I say you could leave?"
His voice was terrifyingly level.
The aura of a high-tier mage radiated from him.
It wasn't just "killing intent"; it was the cold, absolute presence of someone who looked down upon the world.
"This feeling?" Baki shivered. His instincts screamed.
This boy felt like a supreme ruler who viewed life as insignificant.
Before Baki could react, Noah raised a hand.
He didn't bother with a real sign.
A massive torrent of water materialized out of thin air, surging toward them.
Baki's face paled. Creating that much water without a source was unheard of.
He grabbed Temari and Kankuro and leaped back-only to feel a surge of energy behind him.
Space-Time movement.
Baki recognized it instantly from the reports.
He had thought Gaara would lose, but he hadn't realized the gap was this wide.
This wasn't a fight. It was a massacre.
Noah didn't know fancy swordplay, but at this range, it didn't matter.
His energy blade flashed.
Baki's back was slashed open, and he crumpled to the ground.
Noah didn't stop to check if he was dead.
He appeared behind Temari, then Kankuro, dropping them both with surgical efficiency.
Finally, as he moved to finish Gaara, the boy truly snapped.
A massive, tanuki-like beast erupted into the arena.
"That's... the One-Tail!" Genma gasped.
"Things just got complicated," Kakashi muttered from the stands.
A Tailed Beast was a weapon of mass destruction. If it ran wild in the village, it would be a repeat of the disaster twelve years ago.
The wooden structures of the village groaned.
Wood Style ninjas were rare, but Noah didn't care. He flooded the area with energy, and the very ground of the village began to heave.
"What is this?"
Huge wooden beams erupted from the earth, coiling around the massive One-Tail like snakes.
The more the beast struggled, the tighter the wood became.
Remarkably, the wood sprouted thick, vibrant green leaves.
"Wood Style: Silent Strangling Bind," Noah announced, mostly for dramatic effect.
"Silent Strangling?"
"Wood Style?"
The nearby ninjas were stunned.
They watched as the One-Tail's energy visibly drained, absorbed by the sprouting leaves.
The beast opened its mouth to roar-but no sound came out.
"Does it drain energy and silence the target? As expected of the First Hokage's power!"
While the observers were in awe, Orochimaru seethed.
He hadn't forgotten that this brat had interfered in the forest. Now, the kid was using the legendary Wood Style of his idol.
"I'll leave the rest to you," Noah said to Genma, glancing toward the Hokage's roof.
"There are some important guests I need to see."
"Right... yes," Genma stuttered, unconsciously taking a subordinate tone.
"I've got it. You're going to... save the Hokage?"
"Something like that," Noah said with a small smile.
He looked toward the roof where his destiny awaited.
"It's time I did what I should have done a long time ago."