But now that he had intercepted Shiki Uzumaki, Hyuga Ao no longer needed to keep pushing himself like this.
Then his right hand suddenly swung to the right, altering the direction of Shiki's sword thrust.
The violent chakra from both sides began clashing and shrieking at such close proximity.
Cursed Seal of Earth in Stage Two against the Limit Gate—Gate of Closing.
Feeling the tremendous force coming from his hands, Shiki couldn't help but feel slightly shocked. "Could this be the power of natural chakra?"
As someone who had read the original story, Shiki naturally understood the nature of cursed seals. Orochimaru based it on Jugo, who had the natural ability to absorb chakra.
Although it could cause the user to lose control to a certain extent,
it possessed a significant advantage compared to Sage Mode, which required cultivation—it didn't require actively drawing in natural chakra.
This had clear advantages over Naruto's Sage Mode, which only lasted five minutes, or Jiraiya's dependence on two sages.
But none of these were things Shiki needed to worry about right now.
He needed to stop the Sound Four—the Gang of Four—from completing the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier.
Just then, Hyuga Ao suddenly pushed forward with his left hand, releasing the gathered chakra with immense force.
[Palm of Trigrams: Empty Palm]
Shiki could do nothing but throw a punch, shattering the surge of chakra with his own.
He shifted into a defensive stance—not because he was losing the fight against Hyuga Ao, but because he could no longer stop the Sound Four from completing the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier.
That's right!
And what about that Anbu in white? Right now, all of Shiki's hope rested entirely on that figure. He had already held this position long enough.
Maybe—
Suddenly, the white-cloaked Anbu stood beside him, facing Hyuga Ao together with him.
"You're still just a genin. Leave this to me."
The White-cloaked Anbu said coolly. He still didn't dare to approach Kazekage—the kunai at the Third Hokage's throat made that impossible.
So he picked what he thought was the most crucial moment. In the end, they all aimed to strike down the enemies atop this pavilion.
But—
Damn it!
Shiki's heart now sank into despair. Although more Anbu followed closely behind and immediately launched attacks against the Sound Four,
It was already too late.
[Four-Corner Sealing Barrier!]
Four translucent purple barriers materialized, marking the final collapse of Shiki's hopes.
Because the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier wasn't merely each person defending one side—rather, their chakras were jointly condensed here.
No matter which barrier faced an attack, all four would share in defense.
Moreover, due to the effects of the barrier itself, this shared defense became even stronger.
A painful cry rang out as an Anbu member, completely hidden beneath a black cloak, accidentally collided with the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier.
Immediately, fierce flames ignited across his body, burning as though they could never be extinguished.
Yet, hardly anyone noticed him now—for this had become a battlefield.
No one would risk stopping to help the wounded unless they were certain it was safe.
"Your hesitation could cost more lives."
"Hahahaha!" Hyuga Ao suddenly burst into laughter, his eyes locked onto Shiki Uzumaki. "I don't know why, but I've always felt you had a keen sense of perception—like how you rushed here without hesitation. But in the end, the ones you try to save still can't be saved. Just like that pathetic one from the Hyuga clan."
There was intense anger in Hyuga Ao's voice.
"On second thought, this is better, Shiki Uzumaki. Ever since our days at the Ninja Academy, I've been waiting for a chance to finish you off once and for all. Don't you remember those days back when we were kids?"
In an instant, Shiki appeared beside Hyuga Ao. With the Limit Gate enhancing his strength, he threw a powerful punch that sent shockwaves through the air.
An instant later, Hyuga Ao didn't react in time and was blasted away by the force.
"Cut the crap already!" Shiki roared. "Want a fight? Or are you just begging for a slaughter? Either way—bring it!"
Shiki's eyes blazed with fury, his chakra erupting in a terrifying surge.
He'd fought so hard to protect them, but in the end, some stupid butterfly effect still doomed them all.
What even is Hyuga Ao doing here?
Why would Orochimaru go after Hyuga Ao specifically?
None of it mattered anymore.
Justice doesn't mean weakness. Maybe it's also judgment.
To be continued.
Chapter 197: War
"Report! A large number of giant snakes have appeared at the village's east gate, followed closely by about one hundred Sand ninja invading Konoha!"
A Chunin knelt on one knee before Ibiki Morino, and the information he delivered shocked all the ninja gathered on the rooftop.
The situation was getting worse and worse.
They actually picked this moment—the Chunin Exams, the most prestigious event in the ninja world—to strike Konoha.
After all, during these exams, Konoha had invited numerous important figures to attend this grand occasion.
If this isn't handled right, Konoha's credibility—and its standing among the nations—will be shattered. And if any of those VIPs get hurt, the fallout will be catastrophic.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>