Chapter 102

Seeing the Konoha shinobi rapidly approaching, the trio of Mist Swordsmen exchanged knowing glances and made a series of hand seals: "Suiton: Hiding in the Mist Technique!"

Following their synchronized scream, a thick white fog rose in the surrounding area.

“Our task is to contain or... kill them all before the main forces arrive! – a bloodthirsty whisper rang out in the fog, and then immediately gave way to a loud scream. “Konoha, know the full horror of Kiri!”

***

Near the Konoha arena, almost all the Genin from the so-called “Konoha 12” had gathered, only Neji and Tenten were missing.

From there, they watched with sincere shock and fear the battle of the Third Hokage with Orochimaru, as well as the coordinated attempts of numerous Anbu to restrain the enraged One-Tail.

Just a few minutes ago, the green Genin, who had never seen war with their own eyes, could not even imagine that this, as it turned out, incredibly fragile world could collapse in an instant.

- Kurenai! Take them to the civilian shelter! And don’t worry, nothing will happen to the old man. It’s better for us to help the Anbu contain the One-Tails, because if he gets to the center of Konoha...” Asuma grimly addressed Kakashi and Kurenai standing nearby.

“Damn, I don’t want to admit it, but what a difficult situation... Now both protecting our Genin and containing the One-Tail are equally important to us,” Kakashi sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead when Kurenai was also about to answer.

“Exactly, exactly, they are the future of Konoha!” – Guy nodded energetically and smiled with his entire shining mouth.

- You are all following me! – Having heard the opinion of the other Jounin, Kurenai, who was standing next to her, regretfully swallowed her words and turned to the Genin.

From these words, Shikamaru immediately perked up, and then suddenly changed his face and hastily tried to shut Naruto’s half-open mouth.

He could still easily pretend that he was caught in that Genjutsu if it weren't for damn Naruto. So he allowed his hopes for a peaceful life away from the battlefield to be destroyed again!

Unfortunately, Shikamaru was a little late, and before his hand could cover Naruto's half-open mouth, sounds were already coming from there...

- How can you escape at such a moment? We are already full-fledged shinobi, and not ordinary students of the academy! – Without thinking for a second, Naruto exclaimed energetically in response to Kurenai's words.

After these words, he turned his trembling gaze to the giant One-Tail, who was fighting with many Anbu nearby. Who would have thought that Gaara is just like... him!

At the same time, Shikamaru removed his raised hand and hit himself on the forehead with his palm, saying with all his appearance: IT’S ALL OVER!

Then almost all of the Genin, as he had predicted, responded to Naruto's statement with nods of agreement and cheers.

“Exactly, exactly, we can’t run away with our tails between our legs when the village needs help, right, Akamaru?” – Kiba nodded approvingly.

- Bow-wow! – Akamaru supported his partner.

“He was supposed to be my opponent, right?” “I didn’t agree to cancel the fight...” Sasuke added, looking belligerently at Shukaku.

This reaction from the Genin confused Kurenai, so she cast a confused glance at Kakashi and the rest of the Jounin.

Then Hatake frowned slightly and was about to answer, but suddenly he glanced intently in a certain direction.

Not only him, Asuma and the rest of the Jounin did the same.

Rust! Rust! Rust...

From there came the sound of leisurely footsteps!

“The advantage is clearly not on my side, but I still have to detain you...” Kabuto narrowed his eyes and smiled politely.

After these words, Baki, Temari, and Kankuro joined him, along with several more Suna shinobi and Orochimaru's subordinates.

At their appearance, all the Konoha shinobi became nervous, and Naruto and several other genin cast surprised glances at Kabuto.

- Why? – Uzumaki asked with doubt mixed with anger.

- Naive! – Kabuto answered coldly.

“It’s too late to leave now, this is war!” – Kurenai said, turning to the Genin, the former softness in her voice replaced by determination.

- So that's great! – exchanging glances, Naruto and Sasuke exclaimed at the same time.

All the Genin present, with the exception of the clearly worried Shikamaru and Hinata, showed some degree of readiness to fight.

Compared to the excited Genin, Kakashi and the rest of the Jounin had extremely dark and stern expressions on their faces. After all, this was not the Chuunin Exam, but a real bloody war, where shinobi from all sides would die one way or another!

***

A series of explosions reached Jiraiya's ears, but what was worse, he sensed unusually angry and huge chakra from the old man Hiruzen.

Bijuu Chakra!

Suna released the One-Tail right into Konoha!

With such thoughts, the Sannin cast a cold glance at Suna's defeated squad below.

They no longer had the will to fight...

It's time to end here!

"Gamabunta!" – Jiraiya exclaimed thoughtfully, after which the Toad Boss, without further questions, opened his mouth and shot a huge stream of oil in the direction of the surviving Suna shinobi.

Cato: Toad Oil Flame Shot!

Along the way, the Sannin ignited this oil using fire elemental ninjutsu, which led to the formation of a terrifying jet of flame of enormous power and size, burning everything in its path.

The demoralized and exhausted Suna shinobi, no matter how much they wanted, could not evade such a large-scale ninjutsu.

Moreover, flames with toad oil as a catalyst are much more difficult to contain with Suiton than normal Cato.

This attack finally plunged them into despair.

“Suiton: Soap Bubble Technique...” - but then a quiet, even lazy voice reached the ears of the Suna shinobi, followed by a stream of myriads of soap bubbles rushing over their heads.

Boom! Boom! Boom...

A moment later, a huge jet of hot flame collided with an endless stream of small soap bubbles.

Upon collision, each soap bubble immediately exploded, gradually weakening the raging red-hot flame until it went out completely.

After that, Jiraiya took a closer look at the tree behind the Suna shinobi, where he saw a lazy young man in a blue long kimono with an orange belt and a bubble pipe in his hand.

“Hmm, I certainly shouldn’t have hoped for at least some help from Suna, in fact they turned out to be complete weaklings...” he lowered his gaze to the Suna shinobi and Utakata sighed in disappointment after exchanging glances with Jiraiya on the head of the Toad Boss.

"Saved... We are saved!" – With difficulty coming out of their stupor, they wiped the sweat from their foreheads and the stunned Suna shinobi exhaled in unison with relief.

At the same time, Jiraiya narrowed his eyes sharply, noticing the forehead protector casually hanging on the stranger's blue kimono.

And then he immediately remembered the suspicions about Kiri’s actions, once voiced by the awakened Kakashi in the Hokage’s Office.

He turned out to be right, and now Konoha is in big trouble!