Naruto: I Became Orochimaru's Apprentice-Chapter 33: Gaara Vs Shino

The battlefield was eerily silent after Teriyaki's shocking victory over Sasuke. The tension in the air was palpable as the next match was announced.

"Next match: Gaara of the Sand vs. Shino Aburame."

"Oh... It must be different because of Orochimaru's meddling..." Teriyaki muttered.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Shino adjusted his glasses, stepping forward with his usual calm demeanor. Gaara was already in the arena, unmoving. His sand gourd rested against his back, his expression unreadable.

In the stands, Kankuro clenched his fists. "Gaara is already unstable... He needs to win quick."

High above, the fake Kazekage, secretly Orochimaru, smirked. His plan was already in motion.

Genma Shiranui chewed his senbon before raising a hand. "Begin."

Shino wasted no time. He flicked his wrist, sending a cloud of kikaichu insects toward Gaara.

The insects swarmed, shifting in a dark wave to consume Gaara's body. But—

FWOOOSH!

Gaara's sand reacted instantly, forming a shield around him, preventing even a single bug from touching his skin.

Shino's face remained neutral. "As expected. That won't work against you."

Without hesitation, he signaled another swarm. This time, the kikaichu burrowed underground, moving beneath the battlefield.

Gaara raised his hand slowly.

"Sand Tsunami."

A wall of sand erupted from the ground, crashing toward Shino like a tidal wave.

Shino vanished, reappearing behind Gaara—his insects striking from multiple angles. But Gaara's sand moved before the attacks even landed, deflecting every attempt.

"Impossible... he doesn't even need to think about defending. But no strategy is perfect."

In the shadows of the Kage booth, Orochimaru made his move, he needed Gaara to be pushed to his limits. He needed to stir chaos now, he had a huge chance before him.

Beneath Gaara's gourd, a tiny, near-invisible snake slithered through the folds of sand. It was no ordinary serpent—it was one of Orochimaru's personal summonings, infused with chakra-draining fūinjutsu.

The snake bit into Gaara's ankle, silently siphoning his chakra away.

Gaara flinched.

Follow curr𝒆nt nov𝒆ls on fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com.

"An insect? It got through my defenses?"

A strange sensation rippled through his body. His sand twitched unnaturally. His breathing hitched.

Kankuro and Temari noticed immediately.

"Gaara...? What's wrong?" Temari muttered.

Gaara's eye twitched violently. Something was wrong. He could feel his control slipping.

"My chakra... it's being drained?"

But before he could react, Shino took his chance.

"Kikaichu: Swarming Devour!"

The underground insects burst upward, aiming straight for Gaara's exposed back.

For the first time—Gaara couldn't react fast enough.

The kikaichu latched onto his skin, draining even more chakra.

His body froze.

His fingers twitched.

And then—

Something inside him snapped.

A wave of killing intent flooded the stadium.

His hands shot to his head, clawing at his scalp. His breathing turned ragged—his eyes wild.

Sand began twisting unnaturally around him, no longer moving to his will.

The snake had done its job—by draining just enough chakra, Orochimaru had destabilized Shukaku's seal.

"No... no, not now..." Gaara stumbled back, shaking violently. His sand gourd cracked open, the grains within writhing like living things.

Shino hesitated. "Something's wrong."

The sand exploded outward.

"I... am... BLOOD... I NEED BLOOD!! DEATH. DESTRUCTION."

Gaara's voice warped, no longer human. His body twisted, sand rising around him in monstrous, inhuman shapes.

The stadium descended into chaos.

Temari stood up instantly. "GAARA, STOP!"

Kankuro's face turned pale. "It's happening too soon..."

Up in the stands, Kakashi and Gai stood at the ready, sensing the shift in energy.

The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed. "This... isn't normal. Someone interfered."

And in the shadows, Orochimaru grinned.

"Let the invasion begin."

The Stadium Erupted.

Gaara screamed as his body began transforming—the sand engulfing his limbs, forming a monstrous claw.

Shino immediately retreated, sending a final swarm to stop him—but the insects were crushed instantly.

Gaara lunged forward, faster than before. His sand arm swung violently, tearing through the arena floor.

"I... I NEED TO KILL!"

The entire stadium shook.

Kankuro and Temari jumped down into the arena, but it was already too late.

Gaara's entire body began shifting into the One-Tailed Beast.

And high above, Orochimaru licked his lips.

"Perfect."

The moment Gaara lost control, everything else fell into motion.

Explosions rang out from the far ends of the stadium. The Sand and Sound ninja disguised in the crowd sprang into action.

Teriyaki looked around in shock.

"Orochimaru... This is all him. He's attacking the village right now? In the chuunin exams?"

A massive genjutsu washed over the audience—causing many to collapse instantly.

From the Kage booth, the Kazekage turned sharply—only for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen to finally realize the truth.

"You're not the Kazekage..."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a wicked smile.

"It took you long enough. If only my teacher wasn't such an old fool these days."

And then—he struck at Hiruzen.

Down below, it was clear chaos was everywhere.

The Chunin Exams had become a battlefield.