Naruto: Reborn as Neji Hyuga After Dying in One Piece-Chapter 86. Betrayal!

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Blood spattered from the cracks of the sand sphere.

Everyone watching instinctively knew it was Gaara's.

Temari and Kankuro both tensed. For the first time, their brother had been wounded... and during this moment of all times.

Suddenly a monstrous, clawed hand erupted from the sand orb.

Before Sasuke could react, it snapped around his arm like a vice, talons digging deep into his flesh.

"Damn it!" Sasuke winced, trying to pull back but the grip was too strong.

And then... it loosened.

Without knowing why, the monstrous hand suddenly retracted.

Wasting no time, Sasuke tore himself free and leaped back, clutching his injured arm.

That thing... what the hell was that?

The grotesque claw, gnarled and covered in demonic markings, retreated into the sand. Its brief exposure had sent shivers through the arena.

Kankuro went pale.

"That was his hand..."

Onlookers murmured, confused.

Was this a secret jutsu? A summoning?

No one could tell. But from the stands, both Kakashi and Guy narrowed their eyes.

"That chakra... something's wrong."

---

Back in the arena, the monstrous arm trembled, then vanished into the sand cocoon.

Sasuke's Sharingan spun to life two tomoe gleaming red. For a brief moment, he glimpsed something... watching him from within.

That wasn't Gaara.

With a crack, the sand sphere split open.

Sand fell like ash, revealing Gaara bleeding, injured, and unsteady. His eyes were lowered. His breathing ragged.

And then—

Feathers.

Glowing, hypnotic feathers rained down across the stadium.

One by one, spectators and ninjas alike slumped unconscious.

Neji's lips curled into a smile.

He reached out, pulling Hinata and Tenten close with one arm each. "Close your eyes. Don't move."

They obeyed without hesitation complete trust in his words.

Around them, the illusion fell like a curtain.

"Kakashi! What's happening?!"

"Genjutsu. Mass-scale."

Without hesitation, Kakashi and Guy made a hand seal.

"Release!"

All around the stadium, elite shinobi forced their chakra into motion, breaking free of the illusion. Even Sakura snapped out of it with gritted teeth and strong will.

Watching from the stands, the disguised Orochimaru smirked beneath his mask.

"Tch. Konoha's still sharp. They broke the jutsu faster than expected."

---

Neji didn't even bother to counter it.

The illusion never reached him.

Cradling the two girls in his arms, he simply waited as the chaos bloomed.

In the blink of an eye—

The stadium erupted.

From the outskirts, giant snakes crashed through the village walls, their roars echoing across Konoha.

On the main platform where the Fire Daimyōs were seated four cloaked figures shot into action.

Two Sand Ninja guards dropped dead before they even realized what happened.

And then Orochimaru, still disguised as the Kazekage, made his move.

"MOVE!" the ANBU barked.

"Team One—protect the Fire Daimyōs!"

"Team Two—intercept the attackers!"

But it was already too late.

Orochimaru and the four Sound ninjas landed atop the Hokage's observation platform.

With a flick of his fingers, the four ninjas scattered taking position at the corners.

They began weaving signs.

"Four Violet Flames Formation!"

The barrier erupted.

ANBU, who tried to break through, burst into flames reduced to cinders before hitting the ground.

---

Below, in the Arena

Kabuto, now surrounded by disguised Sound shinobi, smiled.

"What a show. The curtain has risen."

The Konoha jonin could only grit their teeth.

Kakashi glanced at Guy.

"Another traitor. That makes... nine."

---

Temari, Kankuro, and Baki dropped into the arena, surrounding their unstable brother.

Gaara trembled. Clutching his head.

The transformation wasn't going as planned.

Baki cursed.

"The signal wasn't given. Damn it... he transformed too early."

Temari's voice lowered. "So it's true. He's out of control."

Kankuro's fists clenched. "Without him, we can't move forward with the mission!"

Baki's expression hardened. He looked toward the chaos unfolding above.

Orochimaru's trap was already sprung.

But here on the ground, they were unraveling.

"Abort the mission. Retreat."

Temari and Kankuro gaped.

"What? Now?!"

"Take Gaara and leave. I'll buy you time."

---

Up above, Hiruzen's expression twisted.

"The Sand Village... betrayed us?"

Orochimaru dropped the façade, voice gleeful.

"All those treaties? Smokescreens, dear sensei."

"This festival of fools is over. It's time the wheel of history moved forward."

"You intend to start a war?"

"Oh, I intend to change the world."

"Peace is for the weak, Sarutobi."

The old Hokage's breath caught.

"That voice..."

"You've aged poorly, sensei."

"...Orochimaru."

---

Back in the arena, Baki stared down the Konoha jonin.

"Let's heat things up a little."

Neji, still holding Hinata and Tenten, gazed calmly as everything ignited around him.

So... this is it.

Konoha's fall... begins now.

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