Atop the vast lookout in Konoha, sounds of flesh and blades could be heard from the blows of whom were engaging in mortal combat. Hiruzen socked Orochimaru in the face making him loose his balance and attempted to regain his stance already shocked that he had to deal with his ex-sensei do to interference from the old master of martial arts, Roshi. The elder kage didn't let up and opted to force Oro on a strict defensive end by striking his chest with four thrusts from Enma, but the snake Sannin saw the last attack coming and quickly placed forth Kisangani and parried the last blow horizontally as he then back dash to address the matter at hand.
"You seemed to have panic for that split moment sensei, you had a clear opening - yet you didn't act once again.", Orochimaru said as he licked his lips with anticipation of what his Sensei would say as of now.
"I'm am a man of peace and doesn't wish to end your life so needlessly, just stop this crazed road for revenge.", Sarutobi told to his student with wisdom and conviction in his words, self-conflicted inwardly to either deal with his fomer protégé or end his village's cause of suffering.
Orochimaru simply smirked as he got ready to battle his sensei once more. The old kage finalized that Orochimaru still choose the darkness instead of making amends and he too resumed in a fighting posture.
On the other side of the area the kage and student are fighting, Master Roshi and Hashirama and Tobirama, the past Hokages, were fighting. The First, extended his hand which protracted his wood style at the legend of martial arts - who barely dodged the wood impaling objects but didn't get a moment rest due to the Second using his impressive chakra control to use his water style to maneuver towards the perverted sage. Master Roshi was kicked in his exposed chest due to the First's attack and was sent skidding across the tiles of the roof, he rebounded by rolling and pushing off of the ground and once more reformed into his Turtle Hermit stance while.
'These two seemed to no know limits to how long they can fight. And at this rate, my stamina will began to decline if I can't get pass their seemingly unlimited endurance.', he thought as he made a quick dash to Tobirama and engaged the man.
Tobirama slapped away Roshi's punch and countered by aiming a mid-level strike for his stomach. Roshi, as he used the momentum and swayed with the fall and placed both hands on the ground and used his legs and crossed them onto the Second's arm, that was going to strike him. Hashirama didn't take too kindly to this as he pounced in the sky as he withdrawn his right fist and punched straight for the two men. Roshi, still gripping the Second, used his unprecedented leg strength to lounge the water user towards his older brother, making sure to dodge the radius of the First's punch to remain safe, a crashing sound evident.
Shikamaru prepared his Nara's clans secret technique and prepared to strangle the partial transformed Gaara, but a crow was seen from the corner of the Nara's eyes and exited the jutsu, Gaara slowly regenerating as a result. Apparently, his siblings has come to his aid, making Shikamaru doubt his chances of survival.
"Temari, we can't have Gaara unleash his demon within the confines of the village he's end up killing all of us, we should get to the outskirts at the very least.", Kankuro said to his older sister nervously.
"Agreed, I'll carry Gaara, you defend our flank okay?", she said getting a nod of confirmation from her brother as they soon left.
"Shikamaru right? It's time to see what you can really do the exams as of now are postponed until we'd dealt with the threat.", Genma seriously stated, Goku and Naruto finally arriving once more on the stadium grounds.
"Right proctor.", he said.
"I'm amazed that you held your own against Gaara.", Goku noticed.
"Well, it was no picnic, if those other two joined in on the fight ; I most likely would have died . Luckily, they retreated.", said the Nara as Naruto began to talk.
"Don't you think we should follow them? Besides, if they have three ninja on their side then allow Goku and I to even the odds.", Naruto said thrusting his fist to himself as he spoke.
"Make that four to three, for the Leaf…", a voice said. Sasuke revealing himself.
"You sure you're up to it, you and Naruto have already fought and you two must still be recovering.", Shikamaru asked, though he didn't miss the look on Naruto's and Sasuke's respective faces.
"We got this lets go guys before they get too far.", Goku said before Kakashi and Sakura appeared.
"You guys have the right idea, with that being said you guys are now bequeathed a mission on help stopping the invasion and protecting the Leaf.", he said as he made a few hand seals gesture and yelled, "Summoning Jutsu." he said, summoning Pukkan, his dog summon. "He will lead the way to the Sand ninja that headed up north of the village, now go. We're all counting on you guys.
With that said the five of them took off up north of the village in pursuit of the invading trio.
Forestry; North of the Konoha…
Tamari, and Kankuro, the eldest sister who was holding the damaged Gaara, were all just a miles ahead of the village as of now and paused in order to asset Gaara's wounds properly.
"Damn even his regeneration is barely holding itself together. At this rate he won't be healed enough and defend himself if the Leaf ninja decide to pursue us.", Tamari said as she panted slightly as she shifted her gazed to her younger and youngest brothers, biting her bottom lip.
"Tamari… Listen, you take Gaara few more miles ahead. I'll hold off as many of the Leaf I can and buy Gaara and you the time needed to win, you got that? Now go on ahead.", he said in finality with a hesitant Tamari to further carry the injured Jinchuriki into the woods ahead.
"Okay but don't you dare die.", she said as she vanished before Kankuro could even respond.
Forestry; half a mile south of Kankuro…
Pakkun, who took point was followed by Shikamaru, then Sasuke, and Sakura; along with Naruto and Goku, jumping and maneuvering around trees and branches.
"(Sniff).. (Sniff)… I'd say another ten to fifth-teen minutes before we arrive to confront one of the enemies.", the ninja hound spoke perking Sasuke's and Shikamaru's interest.
"What do you mean one? I thought there were three exactly before they fled?", Goku asked for the others who wondered along the same line.
"True, but it appears that two of the three continued on, and one of them was that sand wielder that Shikamaru was fighting.", Pakkun firmly explained.
"In any event we should be there in a short time.", Sasuke blandly said as he picked up the pace dramatically.
'What's wrong with Sasuke kun?', Sakura asked herself as he soon quickly eclipsed everyone and was now leading the way, Sharingan in his left eye blazing.
"We're nearly there guys, be prepared for anything.", Naruto said as he drawn a kunai, all the others, minus Sasuke and Goku, mirrored.
Once in the area, Shikamaru tripped over a tree that was severely disfigured.
"What the heck?", he said as he found some deception near this tree. "No, guys, look out! This is a trap!", he yelled for all his companions could hear, and they all heeded his caution.
The "tree" soon busted opened to reveal a scarecrow puppet that maneuvered and motioned towards Pakkun and Sasuke to kill them in one shot! Sasuke seen the attack and moved out of the way, abandoning the hound, who was saved by Sakura's timely intervention. The puppet was then at a stand still as it head was circling around to inspect it enemies. Sasuke, who still had the Sharingan active, saw a strand of chakra strings and seen them originate from the right. Jumping in the sky, he prepared a hand seal: Snake, Dragon, Rabbit, and Tiger.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!", he yelled as he blew the fire along side the chakra strings, which raced towards the owner of said strings. "Follow the fire's trail…", Sasuke simply said as he continued onward to Gaara's destination, leaving behind his comrades.
"Sasuke!", Naruto cried out as he too followed him out of instinct.
'Damn…', Kankuro swore as he abandon his current chakra strings in order to evade the attack the Uchiha sought up for him.
Sakura keenly kept track of the fire's trail. Quickly biting her thumb she quickly summoned her Naginata, and charged towards the trail.
"Goku, you trail after Sasuke and Naruto. I have a feeling they're not going have an easy time dealing with Gaara, while Sakura and I deal with the other here.", Shikamaru said as he looked over to the Saiyan.
"Are you sure? After all, it is still your opponent.", Goku said quickly afterwards.
"I'll be there as soon as possible after we deal with his ally.", he said as he quickly followed after Sakura, leaving Goku to himself, he smile shortly afterwards.
"Flying Nimbus!", he shouted as he jumped into the sky and to be taken away soaring at high speeds! "Alright, here we go!", he said en route to Naruto and the others.
Border of the Land of Fire…
Jiraiya had arrived just outside the village to continue his investigation regarding on regrouping enemy forces but once he exited his from his prior position, he noticed around twenty bodies that seemed to have been burn to a crisp. Shocked he went towards their bodies and noted that these WERE the reinforcement that were set to invade Konoha after everyone else defending the village were too tired to continue. He inspected the body by frisking them and noticed a slip of note paper near the deceased body. Quickly grasping it he opened it to reveal that a plan to capture both Naruto and Sasuke and to bring them forcefully back to Orochimaru's current hideout were a woman by a name that shook Jiraiya, La' Tanya. The note wasn't too detail and made do with what he had.
'Someone else was here before I arrived here and the bodies, are still dramatically hot. Still, whoever it was has some serious affinity for fire. I have to hurry to the Hokage.', he said as he took off back towards the village.
Konoha…
Master Roshi was now barely hanging on, his stamina vanishing by the minute as he was now struggling to hold off the past Hokages, waiting for Hiruzen to deal with their presence. Tobirama summoned three Shadow Clones to begin his next assault, Roshi huffed and puffed as he retracted into his stance. The clones each dash; one to Roshi's left, one to his right, and one in the middle. The one on the right was the first to engage the Turtle Hermit, landed a blow to his face and side kicking him on the hip. The one on the left grabbed onto the ragdoll Roshi's back and placed both his heels on him double kicking him into the air. The one in the middle jumped into the sky and formed a drilling shape of water on his left fist, within a yard distance in the air, Tobirama punched the exposed back of the elder Hermit making a loud explosion of water shown that was bigger than even the roof of the area.
"Haagh!", Roshi cried in pain as he was sent falling onto the cold tile roofing, a large scar on his back bleeding.
"Heheheh, it seems you misjudged your help sensei. That fool embraced his death challenging the past Second Hokage no? Though he managed to fight on par with them, it was unlikely the outcome was going to be in your favor.", Orochimaru mocked as he parried Sarutobi's staff and quickly followed with three slashes, though the Third defended against them all, once again in a stand still.
"He did exactly what any brave person would have done and now that he prepared that opening.", in a motion so fast, even Ororchimaru couldn't see them, he formed two Shadow Clones.
One of the clones latched on the sword and battled with Orochimaru, while he ran towards Hashirama. He prepared himself by making waves of wood come closing in on the tiring Hiruzen, but the Third managed to evade the attack and press on with his plan. Once he was within the personal space of the stoic Hashirama, he quickly utilized the hand seals: Snake, Boar, Ram, Rabbit, Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, and Snake.
"This is the end.", Hiruzen said firmly as he clasped his palms together. "Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal!", he finished as a supernatural entity was formed.
Forestry; North of Konoha…
"Ugghh – Where is… The Nara!?", a slightly abstracted Gaara said as he thrust aside his older sister before she could protest his activity, knocking her to a tree out cold. "I won't be held back by such insects, I will have mother satisfied…", he was saying as some thuds were made known.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but you're now going to face me.", Sasuke said pointing towards himself. Naruto walked forward as well next to Sasuke on a separate branch.
"As if… Kakashi sensei asked for us to work together Teme.", Naruto blurted out as he had an annoyed expression on his face.
"I don't need your help idiot, don't think because you gotten stronger, that you're in my league. With my eyes I can soundly beat you.", Sasuke said not taking his eye off of Gaara. Naruto was about to object but didn't as another thud was heard near the duo.
"Glad you guys didn't start the fight without me, so you all ready?", Goku asked as he got into his stance once again.
"Fine, whatever just make sure you two don't stand in my way.", Sasuke cockily said as he dashed towards Gaara, the others following suit. Naruto looked from behind Sasuke and was visibly worried, why? He had no idea.
"Be careful guys.", Naruto warned his teammates as they all advance towards Gaara.
Meanwhile up above the clouds, an airship lurks, another event is about to take place in a short while.