Konoha Crush

Because dignitaries from the Land of Fire would also attend the elimination rounds of the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Konoha therefore appeared relaxed on the outside while security was tight within during this period, and the Anbu members were worked like dogs.

Cao Ya was one of the few Anbu members with time to spare.

However, he had received orders from Danzo to reduce his outings over the next few days and not act without authorization, no matter what commotion he heard.

This order was somewhat unusual.

Danzo seemed to know what would happen next, so he had issued strict orders in advance forbidding Root members from going out!

He seemed to be creating a permissive environment for Orochimaru to launch the Konoha Crush.

"Besides Orochimaru and the Fourth Kazekage, Danzo is involved in this Konoha Crush too?" Cao Ya sneered. Danzo really had racked his brains and schemed for that Hokage position.

Unfortunately, all his calculations came to nothing.

The Fifth Hokage was Tsunade!

Danzo had taken the wrong path from the very beginning.

Root controlled far too many prodigies. Whether they were civilian prodigies or those from ninja clans, many had been forcibly demanded by Danzo and placed under his control with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.

Although the Third Hokage had tacitly approved these actions, you were the one who carried them out, Danzo!

After offending every faction in Konoha, both civilian ninja and clan ninja, you still wanted to become Hokage?

Dream on!

It could be said that from the moment Danzo established Root and reached for the prodigies among civilians and ninja clans, he had cut off his own path to becoming Hokage.

Danzo really had spent his entire life firmly caught in Hiruzen Sarutobi's schemes.

"The wind fills the tower before the mountain storm arrives!"

Cao Ya walked out of his room. A gentle breeze blew, the trees in the courtyard swayed, and occasional laughter came from beyond the wall as people eagerly discussed the Chunin Ninja Exams.

His gaze was unfathomable, his expression wooden.

"Lure Danzo out... fighting at the Root Base would put me at a disadvantage!" Cao Ya murmured.

The elimination rounds of the Chunin Ninja Exams were in full swing. Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, licked his lips.

"Lord Kazekage, your Gaara from Sunagakure truly is outstanding," the Third Hokage said admiringly. He could tell that Gaara was the One-Tail Jinchuriki, but didn't that just demonstrate Gaara's potential?

Orochimaru smiled, not bothering to respond.

Just wait a little longer, Teacher, and you'll know what outstanding means!

A hint of puzzlement appeared on the Third Hokage's face. This Fourth Kazekage was somewhat different from the one he had dealt with before, and even gave him a strange feeling.

However, the Third Hokage did not pay it much mind.

He and the Fourth Kazekage had never been well acquainted. Most of what he knew came from gathered intelligence, so some discrepancies were normal.

Besides, Gaara of Sunagakure was outstanding, but were Konoha's youths any worse?

Sasuke, who was fighting Gaara, was an orphan of the Uchiha!

The Uchiha, once the foremost great clan in the Shinobi World!

The Sharingan was a kekkei genkai that everyone coveted!

At that moment, Sasuke and Gaara were fighting in the arena, locked in a fierce battle with neither gaining the upper hand.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, a strange change swept through the entire Chunin Ninja Exams venue.

Most of the spectators fell asleep, as though they had been struck by an illusion technique.

Only a small number of ninja avoided the illusion technique and remained awake.

"Lord Kazekage..." The Third Hokage abruptly turned toward the Fourth Kazekage, his expression grim.

He was just about to demand an explanation when he saw the Fourth Kazekage's icy gaze. "Begin!" the man said coldly.

Two figures flashed past, and smoke burst out.

With a thunderous rumble, enormous snakes appeared and rampaged through Konoha.

"This is..." Kakashi, Might Guy, and the others were shaken.

Whoosh!

The Fourth Kazekage darted forward and actually took the Third Hokage hostage.

Several figures leaped out and stationed themselves at four corners. At the Fourth Kazekage's command, all four formed hand seals.

Four Violet Flames Formation!

"A barrier..." the Third Hokage said gravely,

"I never imagined that Sunagakure would betray Konoha." The Fourth Kazekage said coldly, "Treaties are nothing more than a smokescreen to make your opponent lower their guard. Now, these boring tournament games end here... the wheels of history are about to turn..."

"Do you intend to start a war?" the Third Hokage demanded.

He still had not realized that this Fourth Kazekage was Orochimaru in disguise.

Orochimaru laughed chillingly. "Heh heh, have you grown senile in your old age, Teacher Sarutobi?"

The Third Hokage's pupils contracted.

"You..."

In an instant, a name surfaced in his mind.

"Orochimaru!"

An uproar broke out among those still awake. The Konoha ninja were shaken. Orochimaru, once one of the Sannin, was now a rogue ninja from Konoha!

He had actually come back to attack?!

Meanwhile, the people from Sunagakure were rather bewildered. Orochimaru? What was going on? Where had their fully grown Kazekage gone?

Could it be... that the Kazekage had made another deal with Orochimaru? Had he let Orochimaru appear here in his place while Lord Kazekage went elsewhere?

Elsewhere.

Cao Ya remained concealed in the shadows, a blade hanging at his waist.

"As expected, Orochimaru has launched the Konoha Crush."

"Heh, it's time for me to act too."

Cao Ya turned and left.

This Konoha Crush would not inflict too many losses on Konoha, apart from the Third Hokage's death in battle and the deaths of some ninja and civilians.

Cao Ya had something more important to him to do.

The Forest of Death.

Whoosh!

Danzo appeared in the Forest of Death, where thick trees stood amid pervasive shadows.

"What is that brat Cao Ya up to?" Danzo frowned. He had received a special letter delivered by a subordinate. In it, Cao Ya said he had something extremely important to report, concerning the survival of Root and Konoha, but he could not do so at the Root Base.

The letter specified the Forest of Death.

He was not afraid of Cao Ya pulling any tricks.

With the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal in place, Danzo was actually quite confident in the Root members under his command.

Hearing the commotion in the village, Danzo's eyes turned cold.

"Orochimaru... after killing Hiruzen, you probably won't be in good shape either. Heh, that works out nicely for me. Who in the village can compete with me for the position of Fifth Hokage?" A flash of burning eagerness crossed Danzo's eyes.

The position of Hokage was his obsession!

Ever since the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had designated Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage, that obsession had stayed with him!

"Lord Danzo."

Cao Ya emerged from deep within the woods, his expression seemingly very respectful.

Danzo glanced at him and snapped, "Out with it. What have you discovered? If you're trying to fool me..."

As he spoke, he smiled. Every Root member knew his temper. Fool him? Heh, just how tired of living would someone have to be?

Cao Ya suddenly looked worried and glanced around, as though afraid someone else might discover him.

"With me here, who would dare eavesdrop? Speak!" Danzo barked, displeased with Cao Ya's cowardly demeanor.

Trash like this... looks like I'll have to find a pretext to make Cao Ya die in my service.

Danzo's eyes were filled with coldness.

"Y-yes." Trembling, Cao Ya trotted forward, approached Danzo, and spoke in a low voice.

Danzo could not help tilting his ear to listen.

"I said... go die!"

Cao Ya drew his long blade with his left hand, coated it in chakra, and slashed horizontally at Danzo.

His right hand formed a special palm seal, resembling a Buddhist hand gesture.

Seeing Cao Ya suddenly lash out and actually attack him, Danzo froze for a moment, then instantly flew into a rage.

"Cao Ya, has that bastard Orochimaru taken control of you?!"