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 stepped out from around the corner, her blonde hair gleaming softly in the moonlight. She held a bouquet of white wildflowers, their petals still dotted with tiny droplets of water.

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 only a girl her age could have.

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

He relaxed his shoulders slightly and leaned against the doorframe. "What is it?"

Ino pressed her lips together. As if she had finally gathered her courage, she held out the bouquet. "The preliminary rounds are tomorrow... This is for you. Just... a little something to wish you luck."

Zuo Hao looked down at the flowers.

White petals, pale yellow centers, neatly bound together. Whoever had prepared them had put thought into it.

He paused, then reached out and took them.

The moment his fingertips touched the stems, unease flashed through him. They felt too stiff, unnaturally dry.

Just as he realized something was wrong, "Ino's" mouth curved into an unnatural smile, like a crack torn through a mask.

"Sorry, Zuo Hao."

A low, hoarse man's voice came from the girl's throat.

In that same instant, the bouquet burst apart. Petals disintegrated into powder, and countless dust-fine poisonous insects surged from the flower centers. They flowed over Zuo Hao's palm, wrist, and arm like a living flood, engulfing most of his body!

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

Torune Aburame.

He had used the Transformation Technique to disguise 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 and were devouring chakra along his meridians like starving ants swarming a jar of honey.

Agony stabbed through both his arms, followed by numbness. It spread quickly from his fingertips to his shoulders and chest, until even breathing became a struggle.

He stumbled back, but his legs had gone weak, and his muscles twitched beyond his control.

Chakra surged wildly inside him, only to be intercepted and consumed by the insects before he could gather it.

Torune stood where he was, watching without emotion. "Lord Danzo gave the order. You disrupted the original plan. You have to be removed before the preliminary rounds."

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

"You're too dangerous. I couldn't be certain I'd win in a direct fight." Torune's voice remained flat. "But the insects have reached the meridians near your heart. If I choose, they'll devour it."

He paused. "Don't worry. I won't kill you. I'm only making sure you can't compete tomorrow. That's what Lord Danzo wants. He knows you're so strong you'd upset the balance of the Chunin Ninja Exams."

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 his meridians. The instant they entered his chest, sharp pain exploded through him.

Zuo Hao grunted and clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white. His nails dug into his palm, drawing thin lines of blood.

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

He stopped.

Zuo Hao's lips had curved ever so slightly.

It was the faintest smile, cold as ice.

"You said... you only wanted to keep me out of the match?" Zuo Hao slowly raised his head. The light in his Three-Tomoe Sharingan had not faded. It seemed to burn brighter through the pain. "Then why... are you using your sensory ability to track my heart?"

Torune's expression shifted.

Keeping Zuo Hao out of the preliminary rounds was not Danzo's only goal. His orders went further.

If possible, Torune was to destroy Zuo Hao's chakra meridians and leave him a cripple rather than a corpse.

"What did you notice?" Torune's voice darkened.

"You... idiot." Zuo Hao let out a low laugh. It came between ragged breaths and tasted of blood, but held a bone-deep chill. "You should've killed me."

Torune's pupils tightened.

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

It was not loud, like someone had rolled out of bed. Then came hurried footsteps.

Sasuke's furious shout tore through the night.

"Brother!!"

Bang! The wooden door flew open from inside.

Moonlight poured in, illuminating the boy dressed in black at the doorway.

Sasuke crouched there with one hand against the doorframe, still wearing the light clothes he had slept in. He was barefoot, breathing hard.

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

At the sight, Sasuke was like a fuse set alight. A fierce killing intent erupted from him.

The black Cursed Seal on his neck writhed like a living thing, rapidly spreading 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 fury and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

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

Hearing his brother's voice jolted Sasuke, and much of his surging anger fell away.

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 up a mouthful of dark red blood.

"Brother!" Sasuke's pupils contracted. He grabbed Zuo Hao to steady him. "Don't worry. I'll take you to Konoha Hospital right now!"

But Zuo Hao gripped Sasuke's wrist tightly, his knuckles white. As if it took every bit of strength he had, he rasped out the words.

"Don't... don't rush. Go... find Kakashi-sensei right now and tell him what happened here. I'll explain the details to him. Stay out of this."

"They're here..."

Sure enough, the moment Zuo Hao finished speaking, three cat-masked ANBU appeared around them.