Preparations for the Konoha Collapse

After Zetsu left, Orochimaru's expression darkened completely.

Akatsuki's mad plan to gather the Nine Tailed Beasts, destroy the world, and create a new one was something Orochimaru disdained from the bottom of his heart.

Although Pain possessed the Rinnegan and had Uchiha Itachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and other S-rank Missing-nin under his command, secretly stirring up wars among small countries was entirely different from openly confronting the Five Great Shinobi Villages head-on. If they truly took that step, they would be courting death.

But before they reached that point, Akatsuki remained one of the most powerful forces in the Ninja World!

Orochimaru had dared to secretly make a move against Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki partly because Uchiha Houka was at his side, and partly because he held leverage over Zetsu and was certain that Zetsu would not dare reveal his whereabouts.

But now, Zetsu had made it plain: if he made another move against Uchiha Itachi, the consequences...

But in this vast Ninja World, aside from Uchiha Itachi, whose Sharingan could he dig out?

Uchiha Houka?

Uchiha Obito?

Uchiha Shisui?

Or Kakashi?

Or perhaps... Uchiha Itachi's younger brother?

A trace of greed flashed through Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils.

In an instant, a bold idea quietly formed in his mind.

A mad plan that would both allow him to take revenge on Konoha and obtain a Sharingan!

For now, he would call it the "Konoha Crush"!

Orochimaru immediately returned to Otogakure and had someone write a letter to Hiruzen Sarutobi in the name of Otogakure's leader, expressing Otogakure's desire to participate in Konoha's Chunin Exams!

Over the past few years, in order to improve relations with Sunagakure, Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun jointly holding the Chunin Exams with them. Even shinobi from several nearby small countries had joined in.

The newly established