In the arena,
The audience, previously enraged by the lack of a Gaara vs. Uchiha Sasuke match, was now struck dumb with fear.
A chilling silence fell over the arena.
It was clear to everyone that within a few years, the five great nations would unite to face Uchiha Madara.
The sheer pressure emanating from the man in the black, form-fitting combat attire with red layered armor was palpable, even through the projection.
'Is this vision real?'
They struggled to believe it.
This must be a trick, a manipulation by Konoha to intimidate the other villages.
"Hahaha! Is that me? I look so cool!" Naruto, seeing himself on screen, struck a pose, brimming with excitement.
Shikamaru, beside him, sighed at Naruto's oblivious enthusiasm, then turned his attention to analyzing the situation.
"These scenes on the screen are likely future events."
"The five villages are uniting to fight Uchiha Madara."
In the waiting area,
Gaara, still processing the image of himself standing alongside the others, fighting as an ally, found it absurd.
Ridiculous.
[The scene continued—]
[Uchiha Madara advanced towards the allied forces, his pace quickening into a run.
Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, shouted, "Don't look into his eyes!"]
[The allied shinobi roared, a mix of fear and defiance, charging towards Uchiha Madara in a unified wave.]
"The five great nations are truly united!"
"A prank? Who's behind this?" Baki's jaw dropped.
"Unbelievable!" Yura echoed.
Simultaneously,
Dozens of identical projection screens appeared across the shinobi world, displaying the same real-time footage.
In the Land of Earth, Iwagakure,
Ōnoki's apprehension mirrored his on-screen self, his teeth clenched, his back drenched in sweat.
He, more than anyone, understood the overwhelming presence of Uchiha Madara.
When he faced Madara alongside his mentor, he felt as insignificant as an ant.
[The scene continued—]
[Uchiha Madara plunged into the allied ranks, effortlessly cutting down shinobi. Thousands were unable to halt his advance.]
[Gaara prepared to unleash ninjutsu, but Temari intervened, "Gaara, Tsuchikage, you must heal first."
She then turned to Naruto, "Naruto, change to that mode!"]
[Naruto waved helplessly, "I can't. My chakra's depleted."]
[Uchiha Madara, his long hair flowing, moved with deadly grace, his taijutsu an art form, intimidating those around him.]
[A Cloud Shinobi Jonin, chakra-enhanced blade in hand, charged forward, but his attack was futile against Madara. With a swift motion, Madara seized the Jonin's neck, lifting him high.]
["Do you want to dance too?"]
"The true power of the Uchiha… my curiosity continuous to grows," Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, mused, eager to possess Sasuke's body.
His encounter with Itachi had left an unforgettable impression, and now, he had found a suitable vessel.
In the stands,
Gaara saw Temari's undisguised concern for him on the screen. He glanced at the real Temari, wondering if his "sister" truly cared.
'Did she?'
His memories were filled with solitude. Even his siblings instinctively kept their distance.
In the Land of Lightning, Cloud Village,
The Fourth Raikage, A, glared at Uchiha Madara, his anger flaring at the sight of his elite shinobi being slaughtered.
"Damn it!"
"That bastard, Uchiha Madara!"
Mabui attempted to calm him.
"Fourth Raikage-sama, please, calm down. These images may not be real!"
"It could be a Konoha trick, an attempt to intimidate us with Uchiha Madara."
But the shinobi in the cloud ninja uniform, C, shook his head.
"Konoha shinobi are also being killed on screen."
"It doesn't seem like a conspiracy."
Darui, arms crossed, muttered, "This is troublesome."
Beyond the major nations,
Smaller countries like the Land of Rain, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Waves also felt the oppressive weight of these images.
They knew that when the sky fell, the weak would bear the brunt.
But they also knew:
When the nest falls, the eggs break!