"This is Konoha? It looks so prosperous and lively."
Walking down Konoha's commercial street, Karin finally couldn't help but exclaim. For a world so long plagued by the ravages of war, the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire truly deserved to be called a rare paradise.
Excluding the Nine-Tails incident over a decade ago, this place had suffered almost no severe damage. Combined with its superior geographical location, it boasted incredibly developed agriculture, animal husbandry, and handicrafts. Merchants traveling from north to south formed a never-ending stream.
Beside her, Haku, who had been pulled in last minute to fill out the team numbers, nodded in agreement. "Yes. Compared to the poverty found elsewhere, Konoha is practically heaven."
"Heaven? You wouldn't think so if you knew about the political darkness and dirty deals hidden behind this facade of prosperity," Allen sneered with biting irony.
Currently, they were all disguised as ninjas from the Hidden Sound to enter Konoha. Nominally, they were here to participate in the Chunin Exams; in reality, they were here to ensure the smooth execution of the Konoha Crush plan.
"Do you hate Konoha?" Haku asked in an uncertain tone.
Allen shook his head slightly. "No, I just hate those two hypocritical old dogs, the Third Hokage and Danzo. During this operation, I'll eliminate them both, consider it my final parting gift to this village. You two find a place to stay first. I need to meet with Danzo and see if I can leave a Flying Raijin formula on him."
Without a doubt, compared to the Third Hokage who stood in the light, Danzo, lurking in the darkness, was the more troublesome foe. The old man possessed a razor-sharp sense of danger; once he sensed an assassination attempt, his first instinct was never to face it head-on, but to vanish into a secret safe house until the threat passed.
It was this extreme cowardice that had allowed him to survive crisis after crisis. Otherwise, given the Root's habit of making enemies in every direction, Danzo would have died a thousand deaths by now. If everyone who wanted him dead gathered together, the line would likely stretch from one end of Konoha to the other.
…
After presenting his credentials and secret code, Allen was quickly led by a Root ninja to the secret base deep underground. Danzo, who had been waiting for some time, got straight to the point.
"How is Orochimaru's plan progressing?"
"Everything is on track. The Hidden Sand's war machine, their Jinchuriki, has arrived in Konoha. I believe everyone will be in for a shock when the signal is given. However, there has been a small surprise: Orochimaru killed the Fourth Kazekage and is now disguised as him, intending to personally assassinate the Third Hokage."
Allen recounted everything he knew. In his eyes, Danzo was already a dead man, and there was no need to keep secrets from the dead.
"What? He killed the Fourth Kazekage? That means the Hidden Sand is completely under Orochimaru's thumb."
Danzo stood up abruptly from his chair upon hearing the news. To him, this was a massive advantage. If the news of the Kazekage's death were to break, he could use the Root's power to force the chaotic Sand to sign a series of harsh treaties, perhaps even turning them into a vassal of Konoha for years to come. Such a feat would provide unimaginable prestige for his bid to become Hokage.
However, Danzo quickly calmed himself and asked suspiciously, "Why would Orochimaru kill the Fourth Kazekage? There should be no benefit in it for him!"
"Because of the Reanimation Jutsu. Orochimaru has restored the forbidden technique invented by the Second Hokage. He has mastered the method to summon the powerful from the Pure Land," Allen answered without hesitation.
"The Reanimation Jutsu?!!"
Hearing those words, Danzo's pupils dilated, and his breathing grew shallow and ragged. As a disciple of the Second Hokage, he understood exactly what that technique signified.
It took several minutes for him to regain his composure before he commanded in an absolute tone, "Obtain that jutsu from Orochimaru at any cost! Remember! At any cost!"
"Understood," Allen nodded with feigned seriousness.
"Furthermore, you must ensure Orochimaru's assassination of the Third succeeds. If necessary, you may intervene personally," Danzo added with desperate urgency.
As the start date of the Konoha Crush approached, Danzo's nerves were frayed. He had fought the Third Hokage for a lifetime and had lost more often than he had won. The position of Hokage had become an obsession, a sickness of the heart. Every time he felt he was a step away, some accident would ruin his chances. This time, he refused to wait any longer.
Sensing the loss of emotional control, the corner of Allen's mouth curled into a mocking smirk. Bowing his head, he promised, "Rest assured. This time, the Third Hokage will die. No one can save his life, for his fate was sealed long ago."
"Good! I trust your abilities. Now, return to your duties. Once the Third is dead, I shall give you a gift, a precious gift you could never imagine." Danzo raised his hand to touch the bandage covering his right eye.
The "gift" he referred to was undoubtedly Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan and its ultimate genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami.
Hmph! You think you can use genjutsu to control me? You're dreaming!
Allen sensed Danzo's intent almost instantly. A hidden coldness flashed in his eyes before he turned and vanished into the darkness.
Just as he left the underground base, the Four-Tails, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up within his mind: "Be careful of that man, Danzo! His eye and arm make me feel two types of disgusting power!"
"Oh? You're finally willing to talk to me?" Allen stopped, his voice tinged with surprise.
"I may not like you, but I acknowledge that you have the qualifications to be a Jinchuriki and use my power," the Four-Tails explained.
"Qualifications? You really are a boastful idiot. Haven't you noticed your Chakra is constantly leaking away?" Vaelastrasz suddenly interjected.
"Who's there? Where are you?" The Four-Tails was stunned, never expecting another consciousness to exist within Allen.
"Stupid ape! You really are slow. I am Vaelastrasz! I am the manifestation of the necklace my Master wears," the Red Dragon introduced herself nonchalantly.
"Ah! I remember now. He calls your name when he consumes other ninjas, and you change your form," the Four-Tails marveled, its tone now filled with intense curiosity. It desperately wanted to know what secrets were hidden within this human body.
Especially that Nen ability that coexisted alongside Chakra...