Confronting the Third Hokage! Kakashi to the rescue

Four days was neither a long time nor a short one.

Under Zuo Hao's careful care, Sasuke's injuries healed remarkably quickly. The Cursed Seal on his neck still ached faintly, but fortunately, Kakashi's Evil Sealing Method kept it suppressed.

The four members of Team 7 stood in the venue for the second round's preliminaries of the Chunin Ninja Exams, alongside the other teams that had made it through the Forest of Death.

This was the hall at Konoha's Training Ground. Its ceiling soared overhead, and the stands on either side were packed with Jōnin and ANBU who had come to watch.

Only seven teams, totaling twenty-two people, had made it through the Forest of Death.

Many contestants still bore unhealed wounds on their faces, but their eyes were entirely different from five days earlier.

A moment later, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped onto the arena floor, accompanied by two ANBU. With a pipe between his lips, he surveyed the room with a kindly expression, his gaze lingering on Team 7 for an instant.

"First, congratulations on passing the trial of the Forest of Death," the Third Hokage began, his aged voice echoing through the spacious hall. "Surviving such a brutal environment has already proven your strength and resolve. But the Chunin Ninja Exams involve far more than that."

He paused before continuing, "Next come the preliminaries. These will be unrestricted, one-on-one matches. The winners advance, and the losers are eliminated."

"There is only one rule: aside from surrender, there are no restrictions. Anything is permitted, so long as you don't kill your opponent."

Several contestants caught their breath at his words.

No restrictions, no protection, no intervention from the referee. This was the true brutality of Konoha's Chunin Ninja Exams.

"Now, anyone with an objection may speak," the Third Hokage said, slowly sweeping his gaze over everyone present. "If there are none, the preliminaries will begin immediately."

The entire hall fell silent.

Countless gazes crossed, some eager, others grave and somber.

Then Zuo Hao moved.

Under everyone's astonished gaze, he slowly took a step forward.

That step was steady and slow, yet it seemed to freeze the air throughout the hall.

"I have an objection."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every corner.

The Third Hokage's brow furrowed slightly, and the smoke rising from his pipe wavered.

"Sahiro Uchiha, what is your objection?"

Zuo Hao raised his head, his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan gleaming coldly beneath the hanging lights.

He looked straight at the Third Hokage and spoke each word distinctly, his voice heavy with deeply suppressed anger.

"Lord Third, I would like to ask you a question."

Every eye fixed on the boy. Even Gaara turned his head slightly.

"During the Chunin Ninja Exams, someone infiltrated the village and brought Orochimaru into the second round," Zuo Hao said slowly. "Someone also slipped in while we were fighting for our lives in the Forest of Death and tried to take my younger brother Sasuke away amid the chaos. Did you know about this?"

The hall erupted.

"What?! Someone tried to take Sasuke away?"

"They infiltrated the exam grounds? These are the Chunin Ninja Exams!"

Even quite a few ANBU began murmuring among themselves.

"Was it Root? Weren't those ANBU there to help?"

Amid the commotion, the Third Hokage's expression darkened.

He remained silent for a long time before saying slowly, "Zuo Hao, if you mean the matter involving those ANBU, I can explain. It was an emergency decision made after discussions among the senior leadership to ensure the contestants' safety."

"After discussions among the senior leadership?" Zuo Hao repeated, his gaze suddenly turning sharp as a blade. "Then tell me, was Danzo among that senior leadership?"

The air froze completely.

Every Jōnin's breathing stopped for an instant.

Danzo's name was an absolute taboo in Konoha. No one dared mention it in public.

Yet Zuo Hao had not only mentioned him, but asked about him outright in front of every contestant and the Third Hokage himself.

He's got some nerve!

Is he an idiot?!

The Third Hokage's expression finally changed. He stared intently at Zuo Hao, a trace of complicated emotion flickering through his aged eyes.

Zuo Hao seemed not to notice his expression at all. His voice only grew colder and harsher.

"Lord Third, my brother was injured and poisoned while fighting Orochimaru, and a Cursed Seal was planted in his body. Under those circumstances, shouldn't the Medical Team have taken over his treatment? Why did the ANBU come instead?"

"Why did those ANBU try to drag him away by force the moment they arrived? Why wouldn't they allow me, his own older brother, to accompany him?"

"Were those people there to save him or kidnap him?"

He took another step forward, his eyes locked on the Third Hokage.

"Lord Third, you said it was to ensure the contestants' safety. But if I hadn't arrived in time that night, Sasuke would already have been taken underground by those people, his whereabouts lost forever."

"All I want now is an answer."

Zuo Hao's voice suddenly rose, crashing like thunder in winter.

"Why did Danzo want to capture my brother?"

Everyone present froze.

Even Naruto stared blankly at Zuo Hao's back. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

Dead silence.

No one had expected Zuo Hao to suddenly challenge the Third Hokage at such a critical moment.

Neji Hyuga's pupils contracted slightly, and shock rocked his heart.

That was the Third Hokage, the highest authority in Konoha.

How does he dare question him like that? Can he really do this without getting into trouble?

But then another thought quietly arose, like light tearing a crack through the darkness:

If... if he truly has that kind of courage, does that mean I might one day break free of the Caged Bird Seal and shatter the shackles of fate too?

Zuo Hao's actions brought about a subtle shift in Neji's outlook.

Just then, Kakashi appeared beside Zuo Hao without warning. One hand discreetly covered his mouth, the motion as swift as lightning.

"Sorry, sorry, Lord Third." Kakashi wore a helpless smile, his tone apologetic. "This kid nearly starved in the Forest of Death. His head hasn't been quite right these past few days, and he keeps spouting nonsense. Please don't take it to heart."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave two dry coughs. His gaze lingered on Zuo Hao's face for a moment before he waved a hand. "Go on, then. If you haven't had enough to eat, go eat some more. Charge it to the Hokage's Office."

Because of this incident, the preliminaries were postponed until the following day.

An hour later, inside Yakiniku Q.

Meat sizzled over the charcoal, its aroma filling the air.

Kakashi picked up a slice of beef tongue and flipped it over. Looking up at Zuo Hao across the table, he lowered his voice. "Zuo Hao, you've got some serious nerve, talking like that right to the Third Hokage's face. Do you have a death wish?"

Zuo Hao chewed his grilled meat at a leisurely pace. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and an amused glint flashed in his eyes. "Oh? A death wish? Would the Third Hokage... really dare kill me?"