"Orochimaru brought at least a thousand ninja this time. With a force that large, there's no way he avoided every border checkpoint within the Land of Fire. Which means… his space–time ninjutsu may truly have been activated from outside the country's borders."
Nara Shikaku's words made Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi stiffen in shock.
"If that's true, then doesn't it mean the barrier networks and checkpoints set by every major village are completely meaningless? With this jutsu, he could infiltrate anywhere at any time?"
Chōza's expression darkened. Inoichi, who was currently coordinating with Konoha's Sensory Division via the village's sensory barrier, looked grim as well.
"For Konoha alone, maintaining the sensory barrier requires at least ten mid–level sealing specialists. In emergencies, that number multiplies several times. After paying such a high cost… it's now useless?"
War was already at their doorstep. After a brief sigh shared between the three clan heads, they moved to the main topic.
"Inoichi, how are the other clans responding right now?"
"The Aburame Clan has mobilized entirely, but… they've only erected a defensive line around the edges of their compound. It seems they don't intend to provide support."
"The Inuzuka Clan is almost the same—most are fortifying their defenses, and only a handful were sent out to gather intel."
"As for the Hyūga and Uchiha… they haven't even built a defensive line. All their ninja remain inside their compounds, making no movements."
Chōza was stunned, while Shikaku only let out a long sigh.
"So it's come to this after all. Lord Third… everything happening now is the consequence of your actions over the years, finally erupting."
"Shikaku… we're not going to help them?"
Chōza sounded anxious. Shikaku turned to him.
"Chōza, do you remember what I told you before? The Ino–Shika–Chō will always stand on the Hokage's side. But the Third…"
Chōza remembered. Shikaku had said that the Third Hokage was no longer suitable to lead Konoha.
He hadn't argued then because he was angry, and afterward he felt guilty—after all, as loyalists to the Hokage, wasn't refusing to save him going too far?
Yet judging by the reaction of every clan Inoichi just reported… the Ino–Shika–Chō weren't the only ones refusing to help. Nearly every clan in Konoha had made the same decision—to sit on the sidelines and protect only their own.
"Sigh… then we should build our own defensive line as well."
The strongest fortress always collapses first from within.
Konoha was no exception. Sarutobi Hiruzen's decades of questionable decisions had already sown the seeds of ruin. And now, those seeds had blossomed into poisonous fruit, giving birth to the chaos unfolding tonight.
The original "Konoha Crush Plan" wasn't much different. Even with Sound and Sand ninja sneaking into the village under the guise of the Chūnin Exams, if Konoha had truly united, would Orochimaru have succeeded?
Forget everyone else—just Jiraiya alone. If he truly wanted to save his teacher, would a small Four Purple Flames Formation really stop him? Was Sage Mode just for show?
But Naruto is a shōnen manga. The plot can't be written too deeply. If you only see hot-blooded battles and youthful passion, it simply means you are exactly the target audience shōnen magazines dream of.
Ten minutes after the war began, every clan—except for the ANBU—focused solely on guarding their own territory. No one had the intention of supporting Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Meanwhile, after all the Sound ninja entered Konoha, Uchiha Rokuro closed the spatial gate and leapt onto a rooftop, quietly admiring the grand spectacle he had orchestrated.
"What a noisy night. Many will die before dawn, but for Konoha and the entire Land of Fire, every one of them must die. And as expected, the clans made no move. Sarutobi Hiruzen… your moral standing has long fallen into the negative. Tonight, you will not escape death."
As he spoke, Rokuro sensed a squad of ANBU heading toward him—reinforcements.
As expected of the Hokage's direct unit—there were still a few loyalists.
"Oh? Quite a few familiar faces."
Rokuro put on his Root mask, activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and teleported with Flying Thunder God to the outskirts of the Sarutobi compound.
The moment he appeared, an ANBU captain rushed at him.
"Out of the way!"
The captain pulled out his blade, wreathed it in Fire Release chakra, and slashed down.
But before the strike landed, Kakashi's warning came from behind him.
"Careful—that man!"
Before he could finish, Rokuro vanished and reappeared behind the captain, driving a hand-chop straight through his heart.
A jonin–level ANBU captain—killed instantly.
The eight-man squad froze. Kakashi tore off his mask, exposing Obito's Sharingan.
"Everyone be careful! He can use Flying Thunder God, and his strength is close to the Fourth! Absolutely do NOT fight him one-on-one!"
Rokuro withdrew his hand from the corpse and glanced at them.
"Kakashi, Might Guy, and Kurenai… quite a reunion."
In the blink of an eye, Rokuro appeared behind another ANBU. The man reacted immediately, leaping back—but Rokuro disappeared again and reappeared behind him, beheading him with a single hand strike.
"Flying Thunder God — Rapid Flash."
He became a streak of lightning, blinking continuously between the squad members. Anyone with the slightest opening was killed instantly.
It resembled Namikaze Minato's "Rasenflash Super-Circle Dance Howl Stage Three," a technique that combined Flying Thunder God kunai and flash bombs to slaughter multiple enemies.
But Rokuro's technique was stronger. Using Konoha's sensory barrier as a guide, he didn't even need kunai—he could lock onto every enemy's position instantly.
Combined with Lightning Release Chakra Mode and Sharingan-enhanced reaction speed, Rokuro was easily comparable to Minato—even without using Mangekyō.
Moments later, five ANBU were dead. Only Kakashi, Guy, and the helpless Kurenai remained.
Guy and Kurenai weren't ANBU, but had come out of camaraderie. Their moral backbone was far stronger than the clans'.
Thus Rokuro spared them. Otherwise, Guy might survive a bit… but Kurenai was a one-hit kill.
Lightning sparked from Kakashi's right hand—Chidori. He was enhancing his cells to boost his reaction speed, trying to keep up with Rokuro.
Rokuro didn't strike immediately.
"Kakashi. After tonight, Konoha will never be the same. Your position will become… complicated. If I were you, I'd go home and think about your future instead of jumping into this mess."
Rokuro distorted his voice so Kakashi wouldn't recognize him.
"Who are you? Years ago you stole the Nine-Tails' chakra. Then you attacked Lord Third and even Jiraiya-sama. What is your purpose?"
"Heh. Your intel work is impressive. You even know about my battle with Jiraiya. Since you know my strength, you should understand—if I attack, you will die."
At that moment, Guy let out a roar, green chakra exploding from his body as he opened—directly—the Sixth Gate.
He vanished in a blur, flame-like aura raging around him as he kicked at Rokuro.
Rokuro ducked, but Guy flipped midair and unleashed a flaming kick.
Rokuro teleported above him and chopped downward.
Lightning crackled—Kakashi charged in with Chidori, aiming for Rokuro's back.
Rokuro blinked away and reappeared ten meters off.
"The Eight Gates, huh? Might Duy once fought seven members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen alone and nearly wiped them out. But his son… can only open six gates? Or do you really think the Sixth Gate is enough to handle me?"
Kakashi stood beside Guy—Kakashi grave, Guy burning with fighting spirit.
"You're right. It would be rude to hold back against someone like you. Hachimon Tonkō… Seventh Gate — Open!"
A blue aura erupted—sweat evaporating instantly from sheer force.
Rokuro's Sharingan spun, evolving into Mangekyō behind the mask.
"Interesting… your chakra amount hasn't increased, but its quality has intensified. Which means… the Eight Gates aren't a boost in quantity, but a refinement in quality. A way to change chakra nature through forbidden means."
Rokuro had recently shifted his research focus—from increasing chakra quantity to evolving its quality.
He had concluded that true chakra evolution only came from Bloodline Limits or Bloodline Elimination.
But the Eight Gates… might be the only traditional ninjutsu capable of achieving chakra quality transformation.
Lightning exploded across Rokuro's body, his hair standing on end—if he dyed it, he'd look like a Super Saiyan.
"To witness the Eight Gates firsthand… it's an honor. Mighty Guy—show me your strength. Show me how much of Duy-senpai's power you've inherited!"
Guy disappeared—so fast he rivaled Flying Thunder God.
Most jonin couldn't react. Even Kakashi could only follow with Sharingan.
Rokuro counterpunched.
BOOM.
A crater over ten meters wide erupted. Stone shattered, fragments firing like bullets. Kakashi retreated and shielded Kurenai, smashing stones beyond her reaction speed.
Guy unleashed Leaf Hurricane—legs spinning like wheels, every kick detonating the air, producing sonic booms.
Rokuro copied it instantly. For a Uchiha, duplicating Konoha's basic taijutsu was trivial.
BANG BANG BANG
Their kicks collided, both flying apart before charging again.
"Morning Peacock!"
A storm of flaming punches—Guy's Sixth Gate technique further empowered by the Seventh Gate—erupted like a burning sky.
Unless Rokuro used Flying Thunder God, there was no escape.
But he didn't dodge. Dodging now would be admitting weakness.
He formed both hands into blades, unleashing a barrage of lightning-infused strikes.
Fire and lightning collided midair, detonating everything within hundreds of meters. Buildings ignited instantly, turning into blazing ruins.
Kakashi fought to block the debris.
"Guy… your strength has reached this level?"
Tossing aside a door-sized chunk of burning debris, Kakashi whispered to Kurenai:
"Kurenai… this battle depends on you."
"Huh? M–me?"
At this moment, Kurenai Yūhi was forming hand seals, preparing her genjutsu.
However, Rokuro's rapid-fire Flying Thunder God teleports had startled her earlier, disrupting her concentration. Only afterward had she re-established her flow of chakra.
"Yes. Eight Gates are powerful, but far too straightforward. Against an enemy who wields the Flying Thunder God, his taijutsu alone can't secure victory.
If we want to help Guy defeat him, we must create a moment when the opponent cannot use the technique
And only your genjutsu can make that opening."
Cold sweat formed on Kurenai's brow. She understood Kakashi's tactical intention clearly, yet the pressure was immense.
"Don't worry. I'll create the opportunity. You just focus entirely on your genjutsu."
"…Understood. Leave it to me."
Kurenai gave a slight nod, shutting out everything else as she poured herself into preparing the illusion. Chakra surged through her whole body. Her crimson eyes locked tightly onto Rokuro in the distance.
BOOM
Across the battlefield, Rokuro's fist slammed into Might Guy's face, while Guy's kick struck Rokuro's chest simultaneously. The explosion of force sent both men skidding back.
Guy was panting, and Rokuro felt waves of numb pain surging through multiple parts of his body.
"Hahahahaha! As expected of the Eight Gates!
In pure taijutsu alone, you're the strongest among all the masters I've ever fought—
Even stronger than the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Jiraiya.
Might Guy, your talent has already surpassed your father's.
To honor that strength… I will defeat you using taijutsu alone!"
Rokuro's Lightning Armor intensified—its form and nature transformation advancing simultaneously.
The blue lightning gradually shifted into gold…
And to everyone's shock, it solidified into an actual suit of armor.
A helmet.
Shoulder plates.
Chestplate.
War skirt.
Gauntlets.
Greaves.
A full set of ancient heavy battlefield armor.
The helmet was the most striking—two human faces flanking each side:
One gentle, almost kind.
The other twisted and malicious—an unmistakably evil expression.
Rokuro had, of course, recreated the Gemini Gold Cloth for his own amusement—he himself was a Gemini, and he always thought the Gemini Cloth looked the best.
Naturally, this was a parody. It couldn't compare to the "real" Gemini Cloth.
But compared to his original Lightning Armor, this was vastly superior.
Now possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan, Rokuro's total chakra output had reached the super-Kage level. His chakra control had also improved dramatically—allowing him to surpass both the Third and Fourth Raikage in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
More astonishing, the golden armor wasn't just made of Lightning chakra
He had fused Earth- and Fire-nature chakra into it.
Together, they produced a pseudo–Kekkei Genkai: Metal Release.
That metallic nature gave the armor tangible solidity far beyond a normal chakra coat.
"Come. Show me where your limits truly lie."
Rokuro vanished with twice his previous maximum speed, appearing before Guy instantly.
His fist drove into Guy's gut—then a second punch, third punch, fourth—
In just a single second, Rokuro delivered one hundred blows, each at supersonic speed.
Guy flew backward like a fired shell, smashing through over ten buildings before finally stopping.
In the rubble, blue aura swirled violently. Guy burst free, charging at Rokuro again.
Unbelievably, after taking a hundred punches, he was… only bleeding from the mouth.
"As expected of the Eight Gates.
Your speed, your power—even your defensive durability has skyrocketed.
Of course it must—without a body this tough, you wouldn't survive your own strength.
Good! Then let's fight to our hearts' content!"
Rokuro became a battle maniac, unleashing another flurry of supersonic strikes.
Guy seemed to have adapted—meeting Rokuro's blitz with blows equally fast.
Their fists collided midair—
The earth split.
The sky shook.
A kilometer of buildings disintegrated from the shockwaves.
Seeing this, Kakashi rapidly formed hand seals. Blinding lightning twisted into the shape of a wolf and lunged toward Rokuro.
"Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!"
The wolf shot forward at impossible speed. Rokuro, locked in combat with Guy, couldn't dodge in time.
"Petty tricks!"
Still trading blows with Guy, Rokuro lashed out with a sweeping kick, striking the lightning wolf aside.
At that precise moment, Kakashi shouted toward Kurenai—
"Now!"
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
The genjutsu she'd prepared for nearly a year finally activated.
To those watching, Kurenai's body vanished—
A massive tree materialized beside Rokuro, its thick branches wrapping around him and restraining him completely.
"Daytime Tiger!"
Though he hadn't planned with Kakashi beforehand, Guy's combat instincts were impeccable.
He would never waste such an opening.
He unleashed the strongest technique available in the Seventh Gate—Hirudora.
The tiger-shaped shockwave detonated like a miniature nuclear blast, slamming into Rokuro point-blank.
A blinding flash—earth-shattering sound—an overwhelming shockwave.
Kakashi and Kurenai retreated instantly, avoiding the destruction.
When the dust settled, a 500-meter-wide crater scarred the ground—its destructive force comparable to a tailed-beast bomb.
Guy gasped violently. The blue aura faded as he fell out of the Seventh Gate.
Agonizing pain tore through his body—
Even a breeze felt like needles stabbing into him. He screamed uncontrollably.
"Guy! Are you badly hurt?"
"N-No… I'm fine. I still have strength left t-to… support Lord Hokage…"
Despite the pain twisting his face, Guy forced a thumbs-up, flashing his bright white teeth.
Kakashi and Kurenai both exhaled in relief.
Kurenai said, "We finally took down that monster. With that speed and power… if you hadn't held him off, Guy, neither Kakashi nor I would've had a chance to act."
Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, Guy. You really impressed me. I didn't expect the Eight Gates to be this strong… Good thing you never use it during our sparring, or I'd have lost long ago."
Guy stood on trembling legs, pride swelling at his rival's praise.
"My father taught me
The Eight Gates are a forbidden art… and must never be used on comrades."
Just then
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A slow, mocking applause echoed from afar.
The trio froze and turned sharply.
"My, my. Well said.
A forbidden technique shouldn't be used on comrades.
But tell me
How do you expect to master a technique…
If you never use it?"
Footsteps approached.
Rokuro—wearing the cracked Gemini Golden Cloth—walked toward them.
With each step, the armor repaired itself rapidly.
By the time he stood five meters before them, the armor was completely restored.
"Kakashi… Your strategy was brilliant. You fully utilized your comrades' strengths and created a perfect kill opportunity.
Against anyone else, the battle would indeed have ended there.
But you underestimated me.
And overestimated that woman's genjutsu.
Did you truly think that level of illusion could affect me?"
Rokuro suddenly turned toward Kurenai.
Instantly, Kurenai felt countless blades pierce her body
Her limbs ripped apart
Her mind shredded by overwhelming genjutsu.
She collapsed, screaming and clutching her head.
"Gate of Opening — OPEN!"
"Chidori!"
Kakashi and Guy charged again.
The battle ignited for a second time.
END OF CHAPTER
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