"What Konoha Crush Plan? Explain yourself!" Hiruzen demanded.
With Konoha's safety at stake, he no longer cared about executing Mizuki.
Danzō's eyes flickered, "Hiruzen, don't be fooled by him. This so-called Konoha Crush Plan is fabricated. He's trying to create panic and use false intelligence to gain merit and escape punishment. You cannot trust him."
Mizuki smiled, "Elder Danzō, why are you so anxious? Could it be that you're also involved in the Konoha Crush Plan?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. He turned his head, his gaze like a hawk's, staring fixedly at Danzō.
Danzō's face remained expressionless, but his eyes flickered with momentary evasion.
"Mizuki, I am an elder of Konoha, yet you dare slander me!" He shouted. Then he turned to Hiruzen, "Hiruzen, Mizuki shows no respect for his superiors. Someone like this should be executed immediately."
Hiruzen had already realized something. He looked deeply at Danzō, then turned back to face Mizuki.
"This concerns the village's safety. This matter must be investigated. Mizuki, tell us everything you know."
Danzō quickly shouted, "Hiruzen, you can't fall for this."
"Danzō!" Hiruzen said in a low, stern voice, "The village's safety takes precedence over everything! In light of your repeated inappropriate comments, leave the conference room now. You are no longer suitable to attend this meeting."
Danzō's eyes widened, "Hiruzen, I'm doing this for the village. If you don't convict and execute him, you'll regret it!"
Hiruzen said coldly, "Danzō, I am the Hokage! Now, leave immediately!"
Danzō was furious. He stood and pointed at Hiruzen, wanting to say more. But the two council advisors couldn't watch any longer.
Koharu said, "Danzō, you are indeed no longer suitable to attend this meeting. You should follow the Hokage's order and leave!"
Homura also said, "That's right, Danzō. The village's safety is most important. Whether it's true or false, it must be investigated thoroughly, so Mizuki cannot die right now."
Danzō was outnumbered three to one. But he still wasn't willing to give up.
"Him stealing a look at the Scroll of Seals and learning the Flying Thunder God technique is an indisputable fact. He must be executed. If you want to know what the Konoha Crush Plan is, why not kill him first and then have Inoichi probe his memories? Wouldn't that better confirm the authenticity of the intelligence?"
The Jōnin present all showed subtle changes in their expressions.
Setting aside whether Mizuki really stole a look at the Scroll of Seals, even if it were true, it wasn't necessarily a capital offense. Even someone who committed a crime deserving death should be given a chance to redeem themselves through merit, right?
Hiruzen slammed the table, "Danzō, be quiet and get out right now!"
Seeing that Hiruzen had made up his mind, Danzō knew nothing he said would matter. He had no choice but to turn and leave.
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
After these final words, Danzō slammed the door and left.
Hiruzen said, "Mizuki, now tell us everything you know. If what you say is true, the charge of stealing a look at the Scroll of Seals can be dismissed."
Mizuki revealed a slight smile.
This hurdle was passed. So, Orochimaru, I'm sorry!
"That day, Orochimaru suddenly appeared in the Land of Waves, accompanied by a youth named Kimimaro. That youth possessed the Kekkei Genkai of the Shikotsumyaku, from the Kaguya clan of Kiri… Orochimaru's target was Sasuke Uchiha. He killed three Anbu members and planted a curse mark on the Uchiha…"
He recounted the events of that day selectively, altering some details.
"I hid in the dense forest and overheard Orochimaru's plan. During the Chūnin Exams, he will ally with Sunagakure of the Land of Wind to launch the Konoha Crush Plan and completely destroy Konoha."
Hiruzen's expression didn't change.
He was confident that even if Sunagakure came out in full force and allied with Orochimaru, it wouldn't be enough to destroy Konoha. Even completely unprepared, Konoha would never fall. The foundation was there.
But he also understood Orochimaru's character. If Orochimaru said he would destroy Konoha, he must have a trump card.
Hiruzen asked, "Besides this, what else did you hear?"
Mizuki continued, "There's someone inside Konoha providing support, and Sunagakure will deploy their strongest weapon!"
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. Someone inside Konoha providing support — who? And Sunagakure's strongest weapon — the One-Tail Shukaku?
If even a tailed beast was involved, this wasn't just a minor skirmish.
Hiruzen finally became serious, "Is there more?"
Mizuki frowned, "At that time, Kimimaro asked Orochimaru: 'Lord Orochimaru, it's rumored that the Third Hokage is the strongest in the shinobi world and the strongest Hokage. Can we succeed with just us and Sunagakure?'
Orochimaru smiled and replied: 'If it were just us and Sunagakure, success would be impossible. But I have two trump cards. Even though the Third is strong, he absolutely cannot defeat me.'."
Hiruzen asked urgently, "What are the trump cards?"
Mizuki smiled slightly and stopped answering. Anger flashed across Hiruzen's face, but he was helpless.
"Tell us everything you know, and I will announce that the charge of stealing a look at the Scroll of Seals is pardoned."
Mizuki looked at him calmly, "I have never stolen a look at the Scroll of Seals. The so-called Flying Thunder God technique — I don't know it. The technique I possess is called Body Swap, an advanced form of the Substitution Jutsu. Third Hokage, a false charge needs no pardon."
Hiruzen was anxious to know Orochimaru's trump cards. But Mizuki was using this information to force him to change his statement, filling his heart with rage.
He ultimately compromised, "Demonstrate it and let everyone see whether it's the Flying Thunder God. That will prove your innocence!"
When he said this, Hiruzen's heart filled with frustration.
Mizuki smiled slightly. He looked around and fixed his gaze on Asuma. The next moment, Body Swap activated, and he and Asuma switched positions.
Everyone's pupils constricted, including Hiruzen's. Though he had learned about Mizuki's Body Swap through intelligence reports, witnessing it firsthand brought a completely different shock.
At this moment, everyone's perception of Mizuki changed. With this single technique alone, he possessed the killing power of a Jōnin — or even beyond.
How did Minato Namikaze earn his illustrious military achievements during the Third Shinobi War and smoothly ascend to Hokage? Wasn't it precisely because of the Flying Thunder God technique?
"It is indeed not the Flying Thunder God technique!" After Hiruzen finished speaking, he announced, "The charge that Mizuki stole a look at the Scroll of Seals does not stand."
When he said this, his heart bled.
How many times now? Why does Mizuki always survive? Why?
"Thank you, Lord Hokage, for giving me the chance to prove my innocence."
Hiruzen waved his hand, "Now, tell us about Orochimaru's two trump cards."
Mizuki nodded, "After Orochimaru mentioned having two trump cards, Kimimaro asked what they were. Orochimaru smiled and replied: 'Everyone says the Third is the strongest Hokage, but he isn't. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze — he's no weaker than the Third. And the First and Second Hokage are far stronger too.'."
Hiruzen frowned, "Why did Orochimaru suddenly bring up the relative strength of past Hokage?"
Mizuki smiled, "Kimimaro asked the same thing. Orochimaru replied: 'Since they're trump cards, they must be stronger than the Third Hokage. Tell me, who is stronger than him?'
Kimimaro said: 'According to what Lord Orochimaru just said, those stronger than the Third Hokage are the First and Second Hokage, but they're already dead!'"
At this point, Hiruzen seemed to realize something, but hadn't fully grasped it yet.
Mizuki continued, "In response to Kimimaro's question, Orochimaru answered: 'They are indeed dead, but who says the dead can't fight?'"
Hiruzen shot to his feet, his face grim. No one else present understood why he reacted so strongly.
Some Jōnin began discussing among themselves.
"This sounds so unscientific. How can the dead fight?"
"Could Orochimaru have a way to resurrect the First and Second?"
"Could it be that the bodies of the First and Second were stolen and made into puppets? I've heard that Sunagakure has puppet masters who've mastered the method of making puppets from corpses and can even replicate the abilities the corpses had when alive."
"Where did you hear that? Puppet masters aren't that powerful."
…
Hiruzen's brow was deeply furrowed, his whole demeanor showing great agitation.
Homura spoke up, "Mizuki, did Orochimaru say anything else? Did he explain the technique for using the dead to fight?"
Mizuki shook his head, "He only said this much."
Homura wanted to ask more, but Hiruzen interrupted, "That's enough. No need to ask further. I already know Orochimaru's plan."
By now, he was ninety-nine percent convinced of the Konoha Crush Plan Mizuki described. Much of what he said contained information that couldn't be fabricated.
For example, making the dead fight. Even the two advisors didn't know about such a thing, so Mizuki couldn't possibly know either. But since he did, it couldn't be something he made up on the spot.
"Today's meeting ends here. The contents of this meeting must not be leaked by even a single word. Mizuki has brought back crucial intelligence — he has rendered great service. I announce that Mizuki is awarded 1,000,000 ryō, the Earth Release: Earth Spear Technique, and Mizuki's ninja rank is promoted from Chūnin to Special Jōnin. Meeting adjourned!"
{T/N: Special (Tokubetsu) Jōnin is a small grade below Jōnin per se. They almost have the same authority, but not the same strength.}
Watching Hiruzen leave the conference room first, a trace of mockery flashed across Mizuki's lips.
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T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
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