The intense battle between Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara continues, though the attention of the Kage and high-ranking shinobi has shifted elsewhere.
The projected vision of the future, depicting the Five Kage Alliance, prompts a critical question:
Can this vision accelerate the formation of a unified force?
Simultaneously,
The leaders of Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village), Kumogakure(Hidden Cloud Village), and Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village) ponder whether the future events shown serve as a warning, urging them to forge a unified front.
However,
Is such a union truly feasible?
The centuries-old conflicts between the Hidden Villages, marked by countless casualties, present a formidable obstacle.
To unite based solely on a potentially uncertain future seems overly simplistic.
Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village),
"An alliance? Preposterous! My father have been slayed by Iwagakure's brutes. How could we possibly cooperate?" The Fourth Raikage, A, roared, shattering his desk with a powerful blow.
"My apologies, Raikage-sama!" Mabui bowed deeply, regretting her earlier suggestion.
Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village),
Onoki, the Tsuchikage, paced thoughtfully. A veteran of the ninja world, he had witnessed the legendary era of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
He understood, to some extent, why a future alliance might be necessary against Madara Uchiha.
However, he remained unwilling to commit without substantial incentives.
"There's always a way," he mused. "If an alliance is truly required, they must offer considerable benefits. Why should we unite otherwise?"
Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village),
Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, rested her chin on her hands, her gaze fixed on the unfolding events.
"Dealing with present realities while worrying about future possibilities is incredibly vexing,"
She sighed. "And it's interfering with my search for a suitable husband!"
Konoha Arena (Hidden Leaf Village),
Orochimaru watched Sasuke with rapt attention, his excitement growing. He was astonished by Sasuke's rapid progress.
Only a month prior, in the Forest of Death, Sasuke had been paralyzed by fear.
Now, his speed rivaled that of Might Guy's "Gate of Opening."
On the arena floor,
Sasuke replicated Might Guy's strategy against Gaara, using high-speed attacks to overwhelm Gaara's sand defenses.
Gaara was quickly forced to the ground, his sand armor cracking.
"Is this the 'Armor of Sand'? Pathetic!" Sasuke taunted, unleashing another flurry of rapid strikes, leaving Gaara gasping.
In the spectator stands,
Might Guy turned to Kakashi Hatake.
"What kind of training did he undergo? This level of improvement in just one month is astounding!"
Kakashi replied nonchalantly, "He simply imitated Lee's movements and trained diligently."
"What I'm more concerned about is what transpired here before our arrival."
Guy, reminded of the gravity of the situation, recounted the future events involving Madara Uchiha and the Ninja Alliance.
"Madara Uchiha? A Ninja Alliance?" Kakashi's expression grew serious. "No wonder the Third Hokage wanted to cancel the Chūnin Exams."
In the arena,
The battle reached its climax, a stalemate between Sasuke and Gaara.
Gaara transformed his sand into a spherical defense, an impenetrable barrier.
"Damn it, an absolute defense!" Sasuke cursed, blood dripping from his hand.
"I have no choice. I'll have to use that technique!"
Sasuke retreated, scaling the high wall.
He rapidly performed hand seals, and a blinding arc of lightning crackled in his left hand, accompanied by a piercing bird-like cry.
"That... that's! "
"Kakashi, how could you teach him that technique?" Might Guy demanded, his voice filled with concern.
"He's like me," Kakashi replied flatly. "It was inevitable."
Sasuke charged at Gaara's sand sphere.
Boom!
His left hand pierced the thick sand wall, impaling Gaara.
"Agh!" Gaara screamed in agony.
Orochimaru, watching from the Kage's platform, was ecstatic.
"I've found a treasure!" he thought. "With Sasuke's body, facing the Five Kage Alliance will be trivial! I'll unlock the full potential of the Uchiha clan, just like Madara in the future."
"Kazekage-dono, this must end!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, urged, fearing Gaara's potential death.
"Wait," Orochimaru interrupted. "That's Kakashi's..." He trailed off.
Just as the audience believed Sasuke had won, a monstrous arm emerged from the sand.
Sasuke recoiled in terror.
"He's lost control!" Baki cursed.
However, Gaara quickly regained his composure, clutching his injured arm.
"Continue this fight, and you will die," Gaara warned.
"Let us concede this match to Sunagakure," Orochimaru declared, fearing the loss of his desired vessel.
"Agreed," Hiruzen nodded, signaling Hayate Gekko to end the match.
Sasuke, overwhelmed by his sudden victory, accepted the outcome. The pride of the Uchiha clan would not allow him to refuse.