The white feathers of the Nehan Shōjō no Jutsu (Temple of Nirvana Technique) began to drift from the sky, a beautiful, lethal lullaby meant to put the entire stadium to sleep. My Three-Tomoe Sharingan immediately perceived the rhythmic pulse of the genjutsu. With a sharp flare of my Chunin-level chakra, I broke the illusion before it could settle over my mind.
"Kai!" I whispered, my voice lost in the sudden, panicked screams of the crowd.
Around me, spectators slumped in their seats. Akio and Ren were already swaying, their eyes glazing over. I reached out, grabbing their shoulders and surging my chakra into them to snap them awake. "Wake up! The invasion is here!"
They jolted upright, gasping as the sound of battle erupted throughout the village. Giant snakes had already been summoned near the north gate, their massive forms visible even from the arena. On the roof of the Kage box, the Four Violet Flames Formation barrier flared into existence, trapping the Third Hokage with Orochimaru.
The Evolution System pinged with frantic urgency.
New Event Mission: The Konoha CrushObjective 1: Protect the civilians and the orphanage children (0/1).Objective 2: Intercept the Sand and Sound infiltration units (0/5).Objective 3: Complete 'Serpent's Head Hunt' (2/3).Reward: 250 EP, Random Skill Card (A-Rank), Village Reputation (Massive Boost).
"Akio, Ren! We can't stay here," I commanded, my A+ Taijutsu and Superior Perception allowing me to dodge a volley of kunai thrown by a disguised Sound ninja in the stands. "The orphanage is in the direct line of the north gate's breach. We have to move!"
"But our mission—" Akio started, his face pale as he watched a group of Sand ninja engage Konoha Chunin on the arena floor.
"Our mission is to survive and protect our home!" I snapped.
We leaped from the stands, my Three-Tomoe Sharingan tracking the trajectories of the dozens of battles unfolding simultaneously. I saw Sasuke already leaping toward the exit, pursuing Gaara, who was being carried away by Temari and Kankuro. Kakashi and Gai were back-to-back, a whirlwind of blades and thunder, carving through the invaders.
As we sprinted toward the orphanage, my 185 EP felt like a safety net I needed to deploy. I couldn't afford to be slow.
"System," I thought as I vaulted over a collapsed building. "Purchase Speed Boost (Moderate)."
Purchase Confirmed: Speed Boost (Moderate) (80 EP). Current EP: 105. Skill Progress: Speed (C -> B-).
The world seemed to slow as my leg muscles thrummed with new, explosive energy. I surged ahead of my teammates, my eyes catching a group of four Sound ninja moving toward the residential district—the same district that housed the orphanage.
"I'll take the lead! Protect the rear, Ren!"
I closed the distance in a blur. The Sound ninja didn't even have time to form seals. Using the Three-Tomoe's precognition, I flowed between them like a ghost. A precise strike to the temple, a dislocated shoulder, a kunai through a chakra pathway—three were down before the fourth could even scream.
The fourth ninja, however, bore the angular serpent tattoo on his neck.
Serpent's Head Hunt: Progress 3/3 (Subdued a ranking officer of the infiltration unit and secured their operational orders).Mission Objective Complete: Serpent's Head Hunt. You have been awarded 150 EP. Current EP: 255.You have acquired a Major Intelligence Boost and a Title: 'The Hidden Hunter'.
I didn't stop to celebrate. I ripped a small, encoded scroll from the fallen ninja's belt. My Sharingan scanned it instantly, cross-referencing it with the map from the rogue in Chapter 20.
"They're not just attacking," I realized, a cold dread pooling in my stomach. "They're hunting for the Kyuubi's vessel, but they're also looking for me. My interference with the rogue network has made me a priority target."
Just then, a massive tremor shook the ground. One of the giant snakes had broken through the inner wall, and it was heading straight for the orphanage. I could see the children, led by the matron, trying to flee toward the shelters, but they were trapped between the snake and a squad of Sand ninja.
My Three-Tomoe Sharingan blazed with a fierce, protective light. My EP was back up to 255. It was time to stop being a ghost and start being a guardian. The serpent had struck, but the Uchiha was ready to bite back.