Chapter 106: The War Begins

Inside the Duel arena,

A Grass ninja bowed respectfully, facing the god-like, massive figure in the sky, and asked: "Respected Mr. Fang Yi, may I withdraw from the game event?"

"Of course you may. The Samsara Game operates on absolute voluntary participation; even for game events, you may withdraw halfway through."

"However, as a penalty for passive play, one piece of equipment, a skill, or an item will be randomly deducted from the player."

Fang Yi chuckled inwardly,

Never expecting Orochimaru to be so clever, actually thinking to use the Samsara Game to achieve his goals.

The entry fee had already been collected, and the Reward Points were in hand.

Even if all players withdrew, he would not lose anything.

"Thank you for your magnanimity."

Orochimaru wore a smile as he rolled the dice.

A ferocious-looking skeleton cavalryman appeared, its skeletal horse neighing as it swung its blade toward Orochimaru.

Level 9, Skeleton Cavalryman.

Orochimaru was a Level 15 Necromancer, controlling a Level 15 ghoul; killing the monster before him was effortless.

Yet he chose to open his arms,

*Squelch. *

The skeleton cavalryman's blade severed Orochimaru's head. He didn't even use his life-saving ultimate technique, the Orochimaru Substitution Technique. As a burst of white light dissipated, Orochimaru died and was eliminated, kicked out of the Duel arena.

【You have been judged for passive play; the Ninjutsu 【Living Corpse Reincarnation】 has been deducted.】

"Truly terrifying."

Orochimaru clearly perceived that the memories in his mind regarding Living Corpse Reincarnation were gradually blurring.

Until they were completely forgotten.

Although it pained him, Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief and whispered: "Fortunately, he didn't take the White Scale Giant Snake or the plague ghoul I painstakingly cultivated."

Summoning Technique: Giant Snake

A burst of smoke erupted, drawing everyone's attention.

The massive long snake from Ryuchi Cave swayed its tail and flicked its tongue, scaring the nearby eliminated ninjas into retreating repeatedly.

"Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya roared as he looked at the familiar figure standing on the giant snake's head.

"Don't be impulsive, there's a Purple Flame Barrier!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed the furious Jiraiya, his attention entirely focused on the enemies confronting them inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.

His heart sank,

None of them were opponents that could be easily dealt with, and furthermore, they were at a numerical disadvantage.

"Jiraiya, don't forget what I taught you. Do not be distracted during battle; focus on the enemy!"

"I understand, Old Man."

Inside the Duel arena,

Temari said with a face full of worry: "Kankuro, should we also withdraw from the game event?"

"No, we will continue the event."

After watching the video, Kankuro's expression was pained as he said: "Since Father has already been ambushed by Orochimaru, this war has nothing to do with Sunagakure. Baki will make the correct choice."

It's fine, there is still a Resurrection Coin.

As long as Gaara is willing, he can resurrect Rasa, and Sunagakure will not fall into chaos.

"Kankuro, take this Resurrection Coin!"

Gaara revealed a bloodthirsty look; when he saw Rasa die, his whole body trembled with excitement.

Following that was an endless void.

The person he hated most had clearly already died—the Fourth Kazekage, the bastard who sealed a monster inside his body and constantly sent people to assassinate him, had been killed by the even more evil Orochimaru.

Should he not feel happy?

It must be because he didn't kill him with his own hands; it must be that. Since that's the case, he would resurrect him and then kill him!

Kankuro took the Resurrection Coin, his expression stunned,

Having thought he would need to spend some effort to get the Resurrection Coin from Gaara, he never expected the other party to take it out voluntarily.

Gaara said with a ferocious expression: "Since the value of my existence is to kill, only by killing the strongest person can my value be realized, right?"

Kankuro remained silent.

His younger brother, Gaara, was sinking deeper and deeper into a path of paranoia and madness.

He wanted to place his hand on Gaara's shoulder, but was blocked by sand that suddenly surged forth.

This was a manifestation of being viewed as an enemy.

These automatically defending sands were not controlled by Gaara, but were infused with his mother's chakra and will at the moment of her death, protecting Gaara in this way.

As long as Gaara felt danger and fear, the sand would passively defend.

Are even we being treated as enemies?

Kankuro was full of disappointment, turning the Resurrection Coin in his hand.

【Please select the person to resurrect; strength must not exceed Tier 1】

"Fourth Kazekage, Rasa."

Without any dazzling or flashy effects, a burst of speckled white light lit up, and the bewildered Fourth Kazekage appeared, his face still holding the resolute look from before his death.

Before he could react,

Kankuro's fist had already heavily imprinted onto his face, smashing him into the ground.

"Father, this punch is for Gaara."

Hyuga Clan grounds,

"It's such a pity that Lord Neji was eliminated right at the start. Lord Neji is clearly so strong; it's all just bad luck!"

A girl from the Branch House with a gentle appearance, one of Neji's subordinates in the game squad, spoke up to comfort him.

"The luck is actually not bad."

After Neji said these inexplicable words, he knelt in the center of the training ground, eyes slightly closed, waiting quietly.

"It's clearly terrible, Lord Neji. Even in the Chunin exams, with your strength, you would definitely be able to obtain the title of Ninja God. By then, the Hyuga Clan would shake the ninja world!"

The Branch House girl chattered on.

Neji opened his eyes and asked, "Rinko, do you have a reason to fight?"

"A reason to fight?"

Hyuga Rinko was somewhat puzzled and did not understand why Lord Neji would ask this suddenly, but she still answered as a matter of course: "Fighting for the Main House and protecting the Main House is our reason for fighting; even if we must sacrifice all our flesh and blood, we will not hesitate."

She envied Lord Neji for being able to gain the appreciation of the Main House.

But soon, she would be able to do the same. Thanks to her status as a player in the Samsara Game, the Hyuga Clan had obtained many exchange items, and the Clan Head and Elders had seen all of her contributions to the Main House.

"Is that so? In that case, I cannot take you with me..."

As Neji's voice fell,

Suddenly, the sky erupted with blinding white light, intermingled with a giant dragon of water and fire, as well as exploding thunder.

A giant snake raised its head, a toad swung its blade...

A chaotic aura of chakra permeated all of Konoha; buildings were destroyed, and the ground caved in.

Boom.

The sounds of roars and slaughter began to boil!

Figures with veins bulging at their temples walked into the training ground and knelt beside Neji. The leader whispered, "Lord Neji, the elite of the enemy villages have begun their move; we can take this opportunity to leave."

"Leave?"

Neji was puzzled, then raised his head to look at the Hokage Rock.

As long as one is in Konoha, anyone can see the cliff face at the high point of the terrain; only the strongest ninja who inherit the Will of Fire are carved onto the cliff face to become Hokage.

Nen Qi Orbs scattered, circling around him like satellites.

Neji, in a rare display of disregard for the etiquette of the Hyuga Clan, grinned and said, "Konoha is our home; why should we leave? We only need to sweep away the filthy dust to start anew."

Hyuga Rinko's expression changed, as if she had realized something.

Until she saw the members of the Hyuga Branch House following Neji's movements, tearing off their forehead protectors to reveal their smooth, fair foreheads...

"Lord Neji, you are actually betraying the clan?"

Hyuga Rinko's voice trembled, her face full of disbelief.

Lord Neji, who treated others with gentleness, was polite and humble, willing to help his teammates grow, and known as Hyuga Rongyao, had actually chosen to remove the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird and betray the clan.

"We clearly all worshipped you, wanting to become as strong a ninja as you to protect the Main House, but... why?"

"Sorry to disappoint you; worship is the distance furthest from understanding."

A jade orb containing violent Nen Qi pierced through Hyuga Rinko's chest.

"When we were hunting Pollution Monsters, I instructed you to exchange for a set with recovery effects. With this kind of injury, you should be able to move by tomorrow if you lie down."

"Let's go. For the Caged Birds willing to resist, it is time to tear apart the iron cage!"

(End of chapter)