Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata had already gained a decisive advantage over Temari and Kankuro.
The battlefield around them was in chaos. Explosions echoed in the distance, and smoke drifted through the ruined streets of Konoha. Despite the overwhelming destruction, Naruto's focus remained sharp.
Suddenly, he shouted, "Hinata! Sasuke!"
"Come quickly!"
Sasuke and Hinata turned toward him, both frowning.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked anxiously.
"Naruto, what are you planning?" Sasuke demanded.
Naruto spoke quickly, urgency clear in his voice.
"Gaara is on my back. He's the key to ending this war. We have to take him with us!"
He paused to catch his breath.
"I'm almost at my limit. I need both of you."
"This is also part of the mission Kakashi-sensei gave to Team 7."
"A top-tier mission."
Sasuke and Hinata exchanged a glance. Without hesitation, they nodded.
Meanwhile, Temari's face twisted with shock and fury.
"You bastards! Put Gaara down right now!"
But her threat lacked power.
She had already been overwhelmed by Shikamaru and Sasuke earlier. Her chakra reserves were depleted, and her movements sluggish. Kankuro was no better—his puppet strings hung loosely, his breathing uneven.
Even at full strength, facing both Sasuke and Hinata would have been difficult. In their current state, it was impossible.
Realizing they could no longer stop them, Temari clenched her fists helplessly.
Sasuke and Hinata swiftly disengaged and regrouped with Naruto.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said softly, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine… just a little tired."
Hinata shook her head gently.
"That's to be expected. You fought intensely, and you even battled the monster inside him. The Nine-Tails' chakra manifested again…"
"You haven't collapsed or completely exhausted your chakra. That alone is incredible."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I… I'll help carry him."
Naruto flushed faintly.
Even exhausted, he couldn't let Hinata carry Gaara.
"This isn't necessary. I can still handle one person—"
Before he could finish, Sasuke had already stepped forward, lifted Gaara from Naruto's back, and hoisted him onto his own shoulder.
"Naruto, there's no time for nonsense," Sasuke said coldly.
"What did Kakashi-sensei say about ending the war?"
Naruto frowned, thinking.
"He said Gaara was the key figure. But he didn't explain exactly how. He was fighting a Jonin from Sunagakure at the time."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"So what's our next move?"
Naruto paused. Then suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"Ah! I know!"
"As long as we find that person, everything will be fine!"
"Who?" Sasuke and Hinata asked simultaneously.
Naruto grinned.
"The Perverted Sage."
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
Both Sasuke and Hinata were startled.
They knew Naruto had once trained under one of the legendary Sannin. If they could find Jiraiya, their chances of turning the tide would increase dramatically.
Hinata spoke cautiously.
"Jiraiya-sama… one of the Legendary Sannin, on the same level as Orochimaru."
Sasuke nodded.
"If anyone can counter Orochimaru, it would be him."
Hinata looked worried.
"But Naruto-kun… do you know where he is?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"Not exactly. That's why you and Sasuke need to help search."
Hinata nodded firmly.
"I understand."
Without further delay, the trio moved out.
Searching Through Chaos
Hinata activated her Byakugan.
Veins bulged gently around her pale eyes as her vision expanded in every direction. She scanned rooftops, alleyways, and distant streets, carefully avoiding the most intense battle zones where Jonin-level combat raged.
Despite their talent, they were still Genin in a war between major nations.
Worse, none of them were in peak condition.
If they encountered a powerful enemy now, the consequences would be dire.
Hinata guided their route with precision, allowing them to bypass violent clashes.
Sasuke carried Gaara steadily, conserving strength while remaining alert.
Naruto used the time to recover chakra, regulating his breathing and stabilizing his energy.
Yet even as they avoided direct combat, the horrors of war were unavoidable.
Naruto's ears caught distant screams—cries of agony, desperate shouts, explosions tearing through stone and wood. Smoke rose like dark pillars into the sky.
Konoha had become a battlefield of carnage.
Naruto's heart tightened.
"Perverted Sage… where are you?!"
Finally, after sweeping nearly the entire village perimeter with her Byakugan, Hinata's eyes brightened.
"Naruto-kun! Over there!"
Naruto followed her gaze.
Near the village entrance, massive serpents were wreaking havoc. Their enormous bodies crushed buildings as they slithered forward. Some had two heads, others possessed strange mutations.
Morino Ibiki and several ANBU were desperately trying to hold them back.
But the serpents were monstrous—not only massive, but endowed with peculiar abilities that made them difficult to subdue.
Then—
"Hidden Technique! Crushing Toad Stomp!"
A bold, booming voice echoed from above.
A colossal shadow descended from the sky.
A gigantic toad—like a small mountain—came crashing down onto the serpents, smashing them into the ground. Blood sprayed as bones shattered beneath its overwhelming weight.
Standing atop the toad's head was a white-haired man wearing wooden sandals, arms crossed confidently.
"Ibiki," he said lazily, "after all these years, only your neck seems to have grown longer."
Ibiki's face lit up.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
"We're saved!"
The surrounding ANBU erupted in cheers.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata stared in awe.
"Incredible…" Naruto whispered.
"As expected of a Legendary Sannin," Sasuke muttered.
They rushed forward.
"HEY, PERVERTED SAGE!"
Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched.
"Don't call me that in public, you brat!"
Naruto ignored him.
"Hurry! Orochimaru has made his move at the Chunin Exam arena!"
Jiraiya's expression shifted immediately.
"I figured as much when I saw these snakes."
He turned serious.
"What exactly is Orochimaru planning?"
Sasuke answered calmly.
"Orochimaru's Otogakure formed an alliance with Sunagakure. They launched a coordinated assault to collapse Konoha from both inside and outside."
He adjusted Gaara's weight.
"The person on my back is Gaara, son of the Kazekage and the One-Tail Jinchuriki. Naruto defeated him. Kakashi-sensei believes he is the key to ending the war."
Jiraiya studied Sasuke carefully.
"You've grasped the situation well… You're Uchiha Sasuke, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Jiraiya leapt down from the toad.
"Gamabunta, I'm leaving the battlefield to you!"
"I'll return shortly!"
The giant toad snorted and continued crushing remaining serpents.
Jiraiya joined the trio, and together they sped toward the Chunin Exam arena—the epicenter of destruction.
The Battlefield of Legends
As they approached, Jiraiya examined the unconscious Gaara.
"Naruto… you defeated him?"
Naruto grinned despite exhaustion.
"Of course! He unleashed the monster inside him. But at the critical moment, I somehow activated the Adamantine Sealing Chains and suppressed him completely!"
Jiraiya froze.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains? You can already use them?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"I'm not sure. It just happened when I was desperate."
Jiraiya nodded thoughtfully.
"In life-or-death moments, ninjas often exceed their limits. Especially the Uzumaki clan… their potential is extraordinary."
He refocused.
"Enough talk. Take me to Orochimaru."
They hurried forward.
Soon, a massive purple barrier came into view atop the arena rooftop.
"The Four Violet Flame Formation…" Jiraiya murmured grimly.
Within the barrier, two figures clashed violently.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru.
Master and disciple locked in a deadly battle.
Below, the arena was devastated.
Buildings had collapsed. Corpses lay scattered. Blood stained the stone.
Konoha, Sunagakure, and Otogakure forces fought fiercely throughout the ruins.
The Sound Four maintained the barrier, preventing interference.
The Hokage's personal ANBU stood guard around it, powerless to break through, forced to watch as their leader fought alone.
Jiraiya's face hardened.
"Don't die, old man…"
His usual levity vanished.
The air grew heavier with each step.
The fate of Konoha hung in the balance.
And now—
A Legendary Sannin had returned to the battlefield.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)