Konoha's unprecedented boom drew eyes from across the shinobi world—moths yearning for light, and vipers lurking in the dark, coiled with fear and greed.
Land of Wind, Sunagakure. Inside the Kazekage's office.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was receiving a "friend"—or perhaps a future "ally."
"Orochimaru-dono." Rasa regarded the pale-faced man before him. "Is this plan truly feasible? Konoha today is not the Konoha of old. Without absolute certainty, I can't afford to force a head-on clash. Forget military strength—economically they're already eclipsing the Fire Daimyo's capital. We…"
Orochimaru's tongue flicked. "Hehehe… Kazekage-dono, you're staring at the surface. Precisely because they are no longer the Konoha of old, it's necessary to probe them—no?"
His voice carried a fatal allure.
"No matter how prosperous Konoha's economy becomes, it won't change their present gap in top-tier combat power. Even if they're investing heavily in new shinobi, it will take years before those seedlings become trees. Once their growth truly bears fruit, we won't get our turn to strike."
"Minato may have returned for years, but he rarely meddles in state affairs. Hiruzen is old; his strength wanes. Can they truly guard a village that large? Moreover, great prosperity is sometimes the most fatal weakness—: fear of breaking the precious goods behind the rat."
He pierced straight through Rasa's hesitation. "I hear your Daimyo has slashed Sunagakure's budget, redirecting funds into commercial ventures with Konoha. At this rate, if I'm not mistaken, within three years you may not even be able to pay death gratuities to your shinobi. The crisis will only deepen."
"Will you really watch the sweat and blood once belonging to your own village pour into Konoha's pockets? Acting for your village is no sin. In our line of sight, there's no 'right' or 'wrong'—only interests."
Complicated light flickered in Rasa's eyes. Orochimaru's words stabbed every sore spot. The present malaise might pass for a season, but if it continued, who knew whether Sunagakure would still stand.
In recent years, Sunagakure's finances had deteriorated under the Daimyo's cuts. Konoha's rise pressed on Rasa like a mountain.
Sunagakure must not die in his hands. He had to move first.
"If our plan succeeds, not only will Konoha's economy take a grievous blow, the entire shinobi world will witness Konoha's weakness." Orochimaru sweetened the bait. "And the 'One-Tail' problem that has long plagued you will also be resolved. Several birds, one stone. All I ask is the child, Uchiha Sasuke—as a backup vessel for my next body. Mutual benefit, wouldn't you say?"
For Rasa, it was a high-risk, high-reward gamble. Win, and the gains were obvious. Lose, and Sunagakure would face Konoha's certain retribution—nailed to the wall.
Greed finally overcame reason; human nature seldom passes such tests.
"Very well." Rasa decided. "We proceed as you propose. Sunagakure will approach Konoha to co-host the new Chunin Exams. The venue: Konoha."
A colossal plot against Konoha was sealed with a quiet handshake.
Half a month later, a letter bearing Rasa's personal seal arrived in Konoha's council chamber.
Rasa first lauded Konoha's remarkable growth, calling it a "model of peace in the shinobi world." To strengthen "friendship" between the two nations and promote exchange among the new generation, he proposed jointly hosting a Chunin Selection Exam in Konoha—on an unprecedented scale.
The proposal sparked fierce debate among Konoha's leadership: to host, or not to host.
"Joint Chunin Exams? In our village?" a councilor objected. "Unusual timing, unusual venue—there's a fox in this henhouse. Flooding our heartland with large numbers of unknown shinobi is reckless. If chaos breaks out, our burgeoning commerce could be devastated. Outside investors will flee—and stay away for a long while."
Fugaku nodded; as head of the Police Force, he knew the risks. "Agreed. Sunagakure's finances have been poor for years. A sudden proposal like this is suspicious. Our Police Force is strong, but monitoring thousands of foreign shinobi—many with ulterior motives—would stretch us thin."
From a strategist's chair, Shikaku weighed in. "It does feel like a trap. They want to use this chance to probe the reality behind our reforms—perhaps worse. But refusal sends the opposite message to the world: that we're bluff and bluster, fearful of conflict—bad for the very commercial goals we champion. An open-handed scheme——that we nonetheless must treat with caution."
Most favored a conservative course—postpone, or relocate the venue, to defuse risk.
Hiruzen didn't answer at once. He turned toward the silent youth he'd invited to advise: Shinju.
Sensing the Sandaime's gaze, Shinju rose and walked to the great map of the shinobi world.
"Sandaime-sama. Everyone."
"This invitation—we should not only accept it."
"We should make it bigger. Invite Sunagakure, yes—but also Takigakure, Kusagakure, Otogakure. Invite anyone who wishes to come."
"What?!"
Chairs scraped as many sprang to their feet.
"Shinju-dono, that's far too dangerous! You're opening the gates to wolves!" Even Fugaku couldn't help protesting.
Shinju shook his head, eyes sweeping the room.
"You all see the risk, but not the opportunity."
He stood there with an air that looked down upon the world.
"Konoha needs a stage—a stage on which to show the entire shinobi world our absolute strength. We'll let them see our prosperity—and the iron hand behind it that can crush all petty villains."
"Orochimaru. Sunagakure. They want to test our bottom line. They think to launch their ridiculous 'Konoha Crush Plan.' I know."
Gasps circled the chamber.
Shikaku stared at Shinju, mind stumbling. He'd only barely inferred a scheme—yet Shinju seemed to know even the hidden cards?
"Since they wish to throw themselves to death, why shouldn't we… oblige?"
"This Chunin Exam, to me, is neither an exam nor a conspiracy."
"It is a public execution."
"On this stage watched by all, I intend to erase—at once—all enemies skulking in the dark."
"Let all would-be plotters understand: oppose the New Konoha, and there is only one outcome."
"Death."
The room fell still. This was not bravado. It was the natural gravity of someone with power enough to grind all opposition underfoot.
The Sandaime stood and delivered the decision.
"I agree with Shinju's plan."
"Send word to Sunagakure: Konoha accepts the joint Chunin Exams."
"And issue invitations to every shinobi village in the world."
When the council ended and the crowd filtered out, Shikaku and Fugaku remained.
Shikaku looked at Shinju with a wry smile. "Compared to you, Shinju-dono, this 'strategist' is like a boy fresh out of the Academy. How do you know so much—so clearly?"
Shinju only smiled and did not answer.
Fugaku felt only relief. He thanked fate that he had chosen allegiance instead of enmity with this unfathomable force.
A storm was coming. But this time, Konoha would not turtle behind its walls. They would be the hunters, casting a heavenly net and waiting for every creature to dive in of its own accord.
At the net's center, the true player of the board—Shinju—had already prepared the entire script for the approaching "feast."
(End of Chapter)
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