The Hidden Mission: The Konoha Crush Plan

Zuo Hao narrowed his eyes, watching Danzo leave, then glanced at the Third Hokage, who had remained silent and shown no reaction.

In that instant, he understood everything.

The Third Hokage was protecting Danzo.

A chill swept through him. His expression darkened, and without bothering to say goodbye, he turned to leave.

"Wait, Zuo Hao. What are you doing?" the Third Hokage called from behind him.

Zuo Hao stopped but did not turn around. His reply was cold.

"Old man, one day I'll make you pay for what you did today."

It was an undisguised threat, delivered with utter conviction.

Kakashi's pupils contracted. He had never seen anyone speak so brazenly to the Hokage.

The Two Advisors exchanged stunned looks, too shocked by Zuo Hao's words to speak.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to watch him calmly. His voice betrayed nothing.

"Zuo Hao, do you think I was wrong?"

Zuo Hao slowly shook his head, then turned to meet the Third Hokage's gaze.

Perhaps the old man had truly gone senile. Perhaps he was simply a fool.

Danzo had tried to assassinate him twice: once during the bell training and again late last night.

If Zuo Hao had not been strong enough, Danzo would have killed him already.

Yet the Third Hokage still had not imposed any real punishment on Danzo. His tacit approval and indulgence could not have been clearer.

At the thought, rage surged through Zuo Hao's chest, and the last trace of warmth vanished from his eyes.

He gave a scornful laugh. "Heh. Lord Third Hokage, you're the Hokage. Do whatever you like!"

With that, he walked straight out of the Hokage's office. He did not want to spend another second there.

[Hidden mission triggered: Konoha Crush Plan]

[Mission description: Participate to a limited extent in Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan one month from now.]

[Option one: Provide limited assistance to Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan.]

[Mission reward: Chakra control increased by 50%.]

[Option two: Work closely with Orochimaru and kill the Third Hokage with your own hands.]

[Mission rewards: 1. Scroll of Seals. 2. Ryūchi Cave contract scroll. 3. Bond Link with Orochimaru.]

Zuo Hao looked at the two options before him, a sharp glint flashing deep in his eyes.

[Option one: Provide limited assistance to Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan.]

[Option two: Work closely with Orochimaru and kill the Third Hokage with your own hands.]

He chose the second option without hesitation.

If I'm going to do this, I'll see it through.

The Third Hokage might have spared Danzo today, but Zuo Hao had no intention of letting that old dog go.

And the moment the Third Hokage chose to protect Danzo, he had placed himself on the opposing side.

Konoha's decaying machine was rotten through, from Root to the Hokage.

Rather than wait for it to swallow him, Zuo Hao would tear it apart himself.

He suddenly understood Orochimaru from the original story a little better.

But killing the Third Hokage would put him irrevocably at odds with Konoha.

What about Sasuke?

What would Team 7 think of me?

Ino Yamanaka had confessed her feelings to him by the lake just yesterday.

Zuo Hao pushed those thoughts aside. This was no time to hesitate.

Rather than let future troubles tie his hands, he would make his move first.

He returned home and sat on the living room floor.

Closing his eyes, he began to work through what came next.

The Chunin Ninja Exams in a month. The Forest of Death.

That would be his only chance to find Orochimaru.

Orochimaru would enter disguised as a female ninja from Kusagakure and place the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Sasuke in the Forest of Death.

If Zuo Hao followed Sasuke, he would find Orochimaru.

But how could he earn Orochimaru's trust?

Orochimaru was no fool.

He had lived for more than fifty years. One of the Konoha Sannin, he had spent time in Akatsuki after defecting and had run Otogakure himself for years while secretly plotting Konoha's destruction.

A schemer like that would not readily trust an Uchiha kid who appeared out of nowhere.

On the other hand, Orochimaru's obsession with the Uchiha Clan was his weakness.

In the original story, Orochimaru had set his sights on Sasuke because he coveted the Uchiha bloodline and the Sharingan.

His own body had reached its limit after repeated reincarnations.

An Uchiha body, especially one that had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, was an irresistible temptation to him.

Zuo Hao's greatest bargaining chip was his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Showing it to Orochimaru would work better than any persuasive speech.

He reached back and touched the nape of his neck, feeling the three tomoe-shaped marks beneath his fingertips.

The Cursed Seal of Heaven, with none of its side effects. It was a reward from the system.

And the seal itself gave him a natural reason to approach Orochimaru.

Orochimaru had an almost obsessive need to control those who bore his seals.

Everyone marked with one was his test subject, a spare vessel.

A boy with Uchiha blood, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and mastery of Curse Mark Stage Two—and, crucially, a Cursed Seal Orochimaru had not placed on him himself.

Orochimaru could not help but be interested.

Zuo Hao opened his eyes, a cold smile curving his lips.

Orochimaru would come looking for him.

All Zuo Hao had to do was release the aura of the Cursed Seal of Heaven in the Forest of Death, and Orochimaru would follow it like a snake scenting blood.

But being tempting was not enough.

He also needed leverage.

Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan was a massive undertaking. It required all of Otogakure's fighting strength, Sunagakure's cooperation, and agents planted inside Konoha. Not one step could go wrong.

Why would Orochimaru stake that plan on Zuo Hao, a mere Konoha Genin?

The answer was simple: intelligence.

The aging Third Hokage had lost stamina and much of his chakra, but his mastery of ninjutsu and wealth of combat experience still put him firmly at Kage Level.

Without precise intelligence, Orochimaru might underestimate the Third Hokage's willpower as he had in the original story—and pay for it with both arms.

Zuo Hao would use that intelligence to open the door to cooperation.

But even that was not enough.

He needed something more concrete: terms Orochimaru could not refuse.

First, take part in the Chunin Ninja Exams as usual and make sure he entered the Forest of Death.

Second, release the Cursed Seal's aura there and approach Orochimaru.

Third, trade intelligence on Konoha for a chance to work closely with him.

Fourth, on the day the Konoha Crush Plan began, attack the Third Hokage alongside Orochimaru and deliver the final blow himself.

Zuo Hao ran through the plan three times in his head, making sure every step was workable.

He stood and walked to the window.

Just then, a hand suddenly came to rest on his shoulder.