A Deadly Ambush! Poison in His Veins!

Moonlight spilled across the bluestone road at the mouth of the alley, stretching the slender figure's shadow long.

Ino emerged from around the corner, her blond hair glowing softly in the moonlight. She held a bouquet of Haku-colored wildflowers, tiny droplets still clinging to the petals.

She spotted Zuo Hao, gave him a faint smile, and hurried over.

"Zuo Hao, it's so late... I hope I'm not bothering you?" Her voice was soft and gentle, with a sweetness peculiar to a girl her age.

Zuo Hao looked her over. Her chakra felt mild and clean, without a trace of hostility, just as it always had.

His shoulders relaxed slightly. Leaning against the doorframe, he asked casually, "What is it?"

Ino pressed her lips together, then held out the bouquet as though she had finally worked up the courage. "The preliminary round is tomorrow... I brought you these. To, um... wish you luck."

Zuo Hao looked down at the flowers.

Haku petals, pale yellow centers, neatly wrapped. Whoever had prepared them had put thought into it.

After a pause, he reached out and took them.

The instant his fingertips touched a stem, something felt wrong. It was too stiff, unnaturally dry.

As he realized it, the corners of "Ino's" mouth curled into an unnatural smile, like a crack forced across a mask.

"Sorry, Zuo Hao."

A low, raspy male voice came from the girl's throat.

In the same instant, the bouquet burst apart. The petals crumbled to dust, and countless dust-fine venomous insects poured from the centers. They swept over Zuo Hao's hand, wrist, and arm like living water, engulfing most of his body!

At the same time, "Ino" released the Transformation Technique.

Torune Aburame.

He had disguised himself as Ino Yamanaka.

"You..." Zuo Hao's pupils contracted. His Three Tomoe Sharingan flared to life, but he was half a beat too late.

Countless insects had already burrowed beneath his skin, swarming along his chakra pathways and devouring his chakra like starving ants descending on a jar of honey.

A sharp pain ripped through both arms, followed by numbness. It spread swiftly from his fingertips to his shoulders and chest, until even breathing became a struggle.

He staggered back a step, only to find his legs weak and the muscles throughout his body twitching beyond his control.

Chakra surged wildly inside him, but the insects intercepted and consumed it. He could not gather enough to form a technique.

Torune stood where he was, watching him without emotion. "Those are Lord Danzo's orders. You disrupted the original plan. You must be removed before the preliminary round."

"A... Transformation Technique... for an ambush..." Zuo Hao gritted his teeth, tasting blood in his throat. "You really... spared no expense..."

"Your abilities are too dangerous. I couldn't guarantee victory in a direct fight," Torune said evenly. "But the insects have reached the chakra pathways near your heart. If I wish it, they'll devour your heart."

He paused. "Don't worry. I won't kill you. I'm only making sure you can't compete tomorrow. Lord Danzo knows you're too strong—strong enough to throw the Chunin Ninja Exams out of balance."

Zuo Hao swayed and dropped to one knee, bracing himself with his left hand.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing came fast and ragged.

The insects climbed higher through his pathways. The moment they entered his chest, pain exploded through him.

Zuo Hao stifled a groan. His knuckles went Haku, and his nails dug into his palm, drawing thin trails of blood.

Torune took a step toward him. "Don't struggle for nothing... Hm?"

He stopped short.

Zuo Hao's lips had curved ever so slightly.

It was the faintest, coldest of smiles.

"You said... you only wanted to keep me from competing?" Zuo Hao slowly raised his head. The light in his Three Tomoe Sharingan had not faded. If anything, it burned brighter through the pain. "Then why... are you using your sensory ability to target my heart?"

Torune's expression shifted.

Keeping Zuo Hao out of the preliminary round was not Danzo's only objective.

If possible, he was to destroy Zuo Hao's chakra pathways outright, leaving him crippled rather than dead.

"What have you figured out?" Torune's voice darkened.

"You... fool." Zuo Hao gave a low laugh, breathless and thick with blood, yet chilling to the bone. "You should have killed me outright."

Torune's pupils tightened.

At that instant, a dull thud came from the house behind Zuo Hao.

It was not loud, like someone rolling out of bed and hitting the floor. Hurried footsteps followed.

Sasuke's furious shout split the night.

"Brother!!"

Bang! The wooden door flew open from inside.

Moonlight poured through, illuminating the black-clad boy in the doorway.

Sasuke crouched low, one hand gripping the doorframe. He wore only the thin clothes he had slept in, and his feet were bare. His breathing was quick and heavy.

A frightening light shone in his dark eyes as he took in the courtyard: Torune Aburame, and Zuo Hao on one knee with blood at the corner of his mouth.

At the sight, Sasuke erupted with killing intent, as though a fuse had been lit.

The black Cursed Seal on his neck writhed like a living thing and spread rapidly along his veins.

"Who are you?" Sasuke's voice was icy, each word forced through clenched teeth. "You touched my brother... you're dead!"

Torune ignored Sasuke's roar and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

Zuo Hao gasped for air, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. "Sasuke!"

Hearing his brother's voice, Sasuke jolted. Much of his surging fury fell away at once.

He hurried over. "Brother, what happened to you? Just now, you—"

Before he could finish, Zuo Hao doubled over in a violent coughing fit and spat out a mouthful of bright red blood.

"Brother!" Sasuke's pupils contracted. He rushed to support him. "Hold on. I'll take you to Konoha Hospital right now!"

But Zuo Hao gripped Sasuke's wrist tightly, his knuckles white. He seemed to pour all his strength into the effort, his voice hoarse and strained.

"Don't... don't rush. Go find... Kakashi-sensei right now. Tell him what happened here. I'll explain the details to him myself. Don't... get involved in this."

"They're here..."

Sure enough, the moment Zuo Hao finished speaking,

three cat-masked ANBU appeared around them.