The Large-Scale Instance: "Konoha Crush Plan"

[ Ding, this instance is a large-scale instance. Everyone may participate by paying gold coins.]

[Genin require 100 gold coins

Chunin require 1,000 gold coins

Jonin require 5,000 gold coins

Those with Kage Level strength are prohibited from participating, except those who obtained a spot by answering questions correctly.]

After hearing the news, the people of Konoha began discussing how to participate.

"I'm a Jonin now. The price I'd have to pay to get in is way too high," Kakashi said, looking exasperated.

Every time, the restrictions on Jonin were so severe that he practically had to bankrupt himself to get in.

"Kakashi, you have to come with me this time!" Obito said meaningfully.

The last time he had met the future Kakashi, his greatest regret had been not bringing Kakashi along. If Kakashi learned what he would be like in the future, Obito wondered what kind of expression he would make.

Come to think of it, he missed Naruto and Sasuke a little too. They had parted in such a hurry last time that he hadn't even had a chance to say a proper goodbye.

The only annoying thing was that his strength was somehow being counted as Jonin-level this time too. For heaven's sake, he, Obito Uchiha, was a genuine Genin!

"This time, the village does intend to send Kakashi into the large-scale instance as well," Minato Namikaze said as he walked over.

At that moment, Konoha's young ninjas were having a meal together when they saw Minato Namikaze approach.

"Minato-sensei!" Rin exclaimed in surprise. She hadn't expected to run into him here.

Minato smiled. "I'm here on Lord Hokage's orders too!"

As it turned out, Hiruzen Sarutobi had decided to get a grasp of the plan for this large-scale instance in advance. Every ninja village would certainly send its finest ninjas, and generally speaking, Chunin and Genin would make up the largest proportion.

As for Jonin, the price was too high for the village to afford for now.

By this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with regret. Why had he just had to gamble? Gambling and drugs really did ruin lives.

Soon, the other major ninja villages also finished making their arrangements. They all wanted to take first place in this instance.

[Ding, the participant list has been finalized.]

[Kirigakure: Mei Terumi, Ao, Hozuki Mangetsu]

[Iwagakure: Kitsuchi, Shu]

[Konoha: Obito Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, Rin Nohara, Mitarashi Anko, Might Guy, Orochimaru]

[Kumogakure: Yugito Nii, Cee, Samui]

[Sunagakure: Rasa (Why is it that I, a future Kazekage no less, haven't even reached Kage Level?)]

[Amegakure: Yahiko, Konan, Nagato]

When the list came out, everyone was stunned by Konoha's lineup. Konoha might have a lot of Genin, but how were the rest of them supposed to compete with Orochimaru there?

Every other village had scraped together the resources to send one Jonin, so how could Konoha send Orochimaru, one of the Sannin?

In fact, as soon as everyone heard "Konoha Crush Plan," they knew it had to be aimed at Konoha. Kumogakure's stance was that whoever was going after Konoha, it would be sure to lend a hand.

It was no wonder Konoha was being so cautious. Anyone who heard that name would have been worried.

Once everyone had assembled, the Inventory System would transport them to the instance again.

Unlike before, so many people had entered the instance this time that few participants ended up alone.

The first to enter the instance were Orochimaru and his disciple, Mitarashi Anko.

"Teacher!" Anko was delighted to be able to carry out a mission with her teacher.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, didn't care either way. None of the other participants were a match for him anyway.

Orochimaru first surveyed his surroundings. He had to admit that the so-called instance world was just like the real thing. Everything about the environment here was eighty percent similar to Konoha.

Orochimaru then noticed a scroll that had suddenly appeared on him. Presumably, this was the mission the Inventory System had mentioned.

Orochimaru slowly opened the scroll.

[Mission: The Chunin Ninja Exams being held by Konoha are riddled with conspiracies, and your future disciple is falling into danger. Come, go save your favorite disciple and let him feel his teacher's care. While you're at it, resolve Konoha's crisis. It really is just an afterthought.]

Orochimaru was utterly bewildered by his mission scroll. What was going on? His future disciple? As far as Orochimaru knew, more than two hundred Genin had come to take the exams. How was he supposed to find his disciple among them?

Orochimaru then turned his gaze to Anko and asked, "Anko, what does your mission scroll say?"

Anko looked embarrassed, but under Orochimaru's gaze, she slowly took it out.

[Mission: Your teacher Orochimaru's favorite disciple has fallen into danger. Guess who it is. Is it you? Wrong! Find this person and teach him a little lesson, so he understands that the title of teacher's little cotton-padded jacket belongs to you.]

Orochimaru's face was even more expressionless after reading it.

"Teacher, listen to me, it's not—" Mitarashi Anko thought Orochimaru had misunderstood and hurried to explain.

"It's fine, Anko. It seems our missions are the same. We both need to find my future disciple." Orochimaru saw the crux of the matter at a glance.

As for what was written on Anko's scroll, it seemed more like a joke. Didn't it say to teach him a little lesson?

"But first, we need to figure out what's happening!" Orochimaru then took several small snakes from his sleeve.

In no time, the snakes slithered off in all directions to scout.

As it turned out, this was the Forest of Death, the place where Naruto and the others had been attacked by Orochimaru. Of course, it wasn't the Orochimaru who had traveled here.

Meanwhile, the other ninjas also opened their mission scrolls.

Obito Uchiha was particularly unlucky this time. It was rare for anyone to end up alone in this instance, but as luck would have it, Obito was one of them.

Obito didn't have a single teammate this time and could only rely on himself to complete the mission.

"I wonder if I'll get to see Naruto and the others again this time," Obito muttered to himself.

Obito slowly opened his mission scroll.

[Mission: Returning to a familiar place, do you still miss the person you once were? Konoha is now facing a crisis. Whether you destroy it or do something else is entirely up to you.]

The words on the mission scroll confused Obito, but this time he couldn't figure out what the Inventory System was trying to do either.

"Forget it. How could I ever do anything to harm Konoha? I'm the future Hokage!" Obito decisively chose to help Konoha.

But what was he supposed to do now? Obito had no idea what to do next. All he knew was that this instance was called the "Konoha Crush Plan." Apart from that, he had no information at all.

Still, since he was here, he would just take things one step at a time.