After lunch, Shishou and Pakura were ready to return to their room.
As they passed the small courtyard from earlier, Shishou noticed a woman with white hair walking out.
It was the same woman who had asked him for directions a few days ago.
Of course, Shishou's appearance had changed drastically, so she didn't recognize him. She merely glanced at him and Pakura before heading toward the dining area.
Shishou, holding Pakura, returned to their room.
Although he was curious about why she emitted a sage energy wave, he planned to check on it in a few days. Right now, the most important thing was to spend time with Pakura.
Over the next few days, Shishou stayed by Pakura's side, accompanying her around Konoha, shopping with her, and doing things she had never done before.
During these days, he also learned through his clones at home that the Chunin Exams' final rounds were scheduled.
Shishou's opponent in the final round was Haku from Kirigakure.
Shishou had little interest in the match, so he sent a clone to participate.
Currently, immersed in a blissful life with Pakura, he only cared about her.
Meanwhile, due to the upcoming final round of the Chunin Exams, many people had arrived in Konoha—officials, wealthy merchants, and civilians.
Although ninjas were common in Konoha, for ordinary people, seeing ninja battles required either visiting underground arenas to watch rogue samurai or ninjas fight or going to major ninja villages to watch their Chunin Exams.
These were the only two ways for civilians to witness ninja battles.
So, every time Konoha held the Chunin Exams, many outsiders would come to watch. Konoha seized this opportunity to sell tickets and various goods, boosting the village's economy.
...
The night before the final round.
In an uninhabited forest outside Konoha, Danzo Shimura arrived at the agreed location and saw Orochimaru waiting for him.
Seeing Orochimaru, Danzo asked in a deep voice, "Orochimaru, why is Sunagakure involved in this operation?"
If it were just Orochimaru, Danzo would dare to cooperate.
But with Sunagakure involved, if the plan were exposed, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade were killed, he wouldn't stand a chance of becoming Hokage.
"Kukuku," Orochimaru laughed coldly. "Danzo, Sunagakure is just cannon fodder. You don't need to worry. All you need to do is ensure Tsunade returns to Konoha; I'll handle the rest."
Tsunade usually stayed in Shikkotsu Forest to practice sage arts and rarely returned to Konoha.
To ensure the plan's success, Orochimaru needed Danzo to make sure Tsunade would be in Konoha tomorrow.
Otherwise, if he prepared everything only to find that Tsunade wasn't there, it would ruin his plan.
For this reason, Orochimaru chose to collaborate with Danzo.
Danzo coldly said, "Don't worry. I've convinced Hiruzen to ensure the safety of the Fire Country's daimyo. Tsunade will be in Konoha tomorrow."
The Fire Country's daimyo would be attending the final match tomorrow. Hiruzen, wanting Tsunade, the future Fifth Hokage, to meet the daimyo, agreed with Danzo's suggestion.
Hearing this, Orochimaru laughed, "Good. As long as you follow the plan, the Hokage position will be yours."
According to their plan, Danzo would provide Orochimaru with Konoha's defenses for tomorrow. During the destruction, Orochimaru would deal with Hiruzen and Tsunade.
In return, Orochimaru would get Tsunade, and Danzo would become Hokage.
After exchanging some information, Danzo left first.
Once he was gone, Raiko emerged from the shadows, looking at Orochimaru expressionlessly.
"His hidden body feels strange, like there's something off," Raiko said.
"That's the power of the Six Paths," Orochimaru explained, not surprised.
Danzo's Sharingan wasn't his own, so he couldn't deactivate it. It was natural for Raiko, a sage, to notice.
Raiko narrowed her eyes, having sensed that Danzo's right eye was different from the other Sharingan on his body.
It reminded her of a woman from the Uchiha clan who had once fought her in Ryuchi Cave.
But Raiko didn't say more, merely nodding, "I see."
Then she looked at Orochimaru, asking, "How's the situation with Sunagakure?"
"Kukuku," Orochimaru laughed hoarsely. "I've had your sage snake clone, posing as the Fourth Kazekage, mobilize Sunagakure's main forces. They are gathering at the Wind Country border, secretly heading toward Konoha."
"According to the intel from Danzo, the vanguard has already bypassed the Fire Country's border posts and is lying in wait near Konoha."
"By tomorrow noon, Sunagakure's entire force will be near Konoha, ready to attack."
"Then, the ninjas from the Land of Rivers will cause havoc inside Konoha while Sunagakure attacks from the outside."
Hearing this, Raiko nodded in satisfaction, "Good. That will work perfectly."
...
Konoha.
In Sunagakure's inn.
"Sensei, do we really have to do this?" Temari asked her teacher, Baki, with a frown.
They had just received a message from the Fourth Kazekage, ordering Sunagakure to attack Konoha during the Chunin Exams and create chaos inside the village.
Baki looked at the letter in his hand, sighed, and said, "Your father mentioned this plan to me a few years ago. But after Tsunade returned to Konoha and mastered sage arts, Konoha's strength increased, and he gave up on the idea."
"But now, he's suddenly pushing for it again. This urgency is unlike him."
Attacking Konoha with only Hiruzen might yield some benefits, but with Tsunade there, it could backfire.
What was the Fourth Kazekage thinking...
Kankuro, controlling a small wooden puppet, asked, "What should we do now?"
Baki frowned, thinking quickly. Finally, he said, "Let's wait and see. If the Fourth Kazekage really brings the main force tomorrow, we'll have no choice but to join the battle."
Hearing this, Temari sighed.
"Understood, sensei."
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POWER STONE!!!!
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This fanfiction is complete on my P@treon. If you want to read it, you can find it at p@treon.com/Betek.
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