Naruto :Madam, You Don’t Want Anything To Happen To Sasuke, Right?

There was no need for a difficult choice.

Between Iwagakure and Konoha, Uchiha Haru chose Konoha.

The reason was simple. Here were people he knew.

People he could still call friends.

More importantly, Haru hated Konoha—not the village itself, but the corrupt, shadowy upper echelon.

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo Shimura, and those senior advisors.

As for the majority of others, he neither liked nor hated them.

"I appreciate Akatsuchi's suggestion."

"But as of now, the Hidden Mist Village has no intention of forming an alliance with anyone."

Haru's voice was cold and calm, steady with no emotional fluctuation—the same tone as always.

Akatsuchi's pupils narrowed sharply at Haru's words.

He searched for a hint in Haru's expression or voice.

Was Haru bluffing, refusing just to gain leverage? Or truly disinterested?

It shouldn't be the latter.

Judging by Haru's deep-seated resentment toward the Third Hokage, there should be no hesitation.

With a chance for revenge, why refuse to act?

Akatsuchi found it puzzling.

After a moment, he gave up trying to understand.

"Uchiha Haru, you must know what I just said comes from treating you as a friend."

"Unfortunately, it seems you have no intention of being friends with Iwagakure."

Akatsuchi's tone turned threatening.

Everything he had just revealed was a secret—one not easily shared.

Now that it was out, Haru could not refuse.

Haru glanced at Akatsuchi coldly. "Are you threatening me?"

Before this, Akatsuchi had shown a decent attitude, which allowed them to talk.

Others might have smiled their way in, but Haru was not someone to be trifled with.

Now... was Akatsuchi looking for death?

"I wouldn't dare."

Akatsuchi sneered. "I just want you to think carefully."

"The shinobi world is changing. If the Hidden Mist Village wants to secure a foothold and keep its place among the Five Great Shinobi Countries, it needs the right allies."

"Otherwise, today's Konoha could become tomorrow's Mist…"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Suddenly, dozens of thick vines erupted from the ground where Akatsuchi sat.

They twisted, coiled tightly, and bound him fast.

One razor-sharp vine pressed against his jaw.

A sharp sting spread instantly.

At the same time, the tavern around them transformed into a blood-red nightmare.

The sky, the walls, the world outside—all deep crimson.

Across from him, Uchiha Haru became a massive black silhouette.

He seemed to merge with the blood-red environment.

Only his glowing crimson Sharingan pierced the darkness, vivid and terrifying.

Akatsuchi was stunned.

His mind blank, terror filling every corner.

What kind of monster was Uchiha Haru?

He had just threatened someone like this...

He didn't even think about how or why he was trapped.

He was utterly terrified.

The black shadow that was Haru stepped forward.

It wielded a spear and struck down with brutal force!

Puff!

Blood splattered everywhere.

Akatsuchi's head flew off, soaring through the air.

He saw his own decapitated body.

Snap!

The severed head rolled on the floor.

Akatsuchi snapped out of it instantly.

The terrifying Uchiha Haru was gone.

But he remained drenched in cold sweat, haunted by the lingering fear.

The image of the blood-red Sharingan and that monstrous shadow haunted him like a nightmare.

"Thankfully... thankfully it was just an illusion..." he gasped, wiping sweat from his brow.

"The Uchiha's Sharingan is strange indeed—able to be used unconsciously."

"But... still, he feared the strength of our Hidden Mist Village enough not to act."

At that moment, a faint sting hit his jaw.

He instinctively touched the spot.

If he hadn't touched it, he might've been fine.

But as soon as he did, unbearable pain surged.

Hiss!

Akatsuchi clenched his teeth and looked at his hand.

Blood.

It was blood.

His mind immediately flashed back to the sharp vine.

Uchiha Haru...

He had intended to kill me...

Akatsuchi's fear deepened.

It seemed the plan had changed.

At this moment, the masked man, Nagato, Konan, and Zetsu arrived near Konoha Village. Though Zetsu lacked much combat strength, he was an expert in gathering intelligence and began reporting his latest findings.

"Madara, Nagato, guess who I spotted in Konoha?" Zetsu said with a faint, cold smile.

The masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara and Nagato ignored him completely, not even glancing Zetsu's way.

Konan shared their disinterest, her face impassive.

Zetsu felt a little disappointed. "You guys are so boring… If Deidara were here, he'd definitely engage with me."

"Alas, there's nothing I can do." Zetsu sighed helplessly. "I'll just say it straight—I saw Orochimaru!"

"But he's not in his usual form. He's disguised as the Fourth Kazekage and sitting with the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Uchiha Haru."

"You tell me, isn't that hilarious? Hahaha!"

Still, there was only silence in response.

Zetsu's frustration grew. No way… such juicy news, and they couldn't care less? They really are wooden.

He inwardly grumbled at their dullness.

After a brief pause, the masked man spoke with his usual imposing and detached tone. "Nagato, what do you make of this?"

"Orochimaru must have some plan behind coming here," Nagato replied. "It looks like this Chunin Exam will be quite interesting."

He knew exactly who Orochimaru was. Especially now, with Akatsuki hunting him down as a traitor, Orochimaru's daring visit to Konoha meant something serious. No one would believe he came empty-handed.

"It's easy enough to guess."

"Yeah," the masked man nodded. Nagato's thoughts aligned with his own—exactly what he had suspected.

"But what exactly does Orochimaru want in Konoha?" the masked man pondered aloud.

"If this were normal, it wouldn't be a problem."

"Uchiha Haru is attending this Chunin Exam. Isn't Orochimaru afraid of being discovered?"

"Such a terrifying insight; even I dare only glance from afar. But Orochimaru sat right beside Uchiha Haru. Is he really fearless of death?"

"Maybe Uchiha Haru already saw through Orochimaru?"

The masked man said calmly, "Zetsu, you don't think Uchiha Haru can't see what you see, do you?"

Zetsu was stunned. He hadn't seriously considered that before.

"If he saw through it, why hasn't he exposed Orochimaru?" Zetsu asked, still puzzled.

"Because there's no need," the masked man replied, one hand behind his back.

"This is Konoha. Orochimaru knows well Uchiha Haru's abilities. Of course, he wouldn't be so bold as to provoke him."

"What does Orochimaru care if he attacks others? Why meddle in Uchiha Haru's affairs?"

"So…" Zetsu mulled it over. "Orochimaru must have considered this and dared to show up before Uchiha Haru. He doesn't think Uchiha Haru can't see through him; instead, he believes that even if Haru sees something, he won't expose it."

"Orochimaru… is truly extraordinary."

Zetsu took another deep look at the masked man and finally understood why he was chosen as hier to madara plan.

Nagato and Konan nodded in agreement.

In terms of strength, Orochimaru might not top the Akatsuki.

But when it comes to cunning and skill at conspiracy, he's on par with the best.

"Then, should we attack Orochimaru?" Konan asked.

Orochimaru and Uchiha Haru had no deep hatred between them, but Orochimaru was still a traitor to Akatsuki, giving them enough reason to move against him.

"No need," the masked man said. "We have already completed many tasks this time. There's no reason to stir more trouble."

"Capturing the Tailed Beasts is more important than punishing a traitor."

"Zetsu, have you identified the Jinchūriki?" the masked man asked.

Zetsu smiled. "Of course."

"The One-Tail Jinchūriki is Gaara from the Hidden Sand Village. The Six-Tails Jinchūriki is a young girl named Uzumaki Karin."

"But the most interesting is the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—Uzumaki Naruto."

"Oh?"

"What's so special about this Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" Nagato inquired.

Zetsu answered mysteriously, "Of course there is. But you'll only understand after you see it."

Nagato nodded, committing the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's identity to memory.

"Additionally, we must also pay attention to Konoha's current combat strength," the masked man continued.

This strength is of the highest level—elite jonin or nearly Kage-level.

For example, someone like Hatake Kakashi.

"I've already investigated this," Zetsu said confidently.

As Akatsuki's intelligence source, he wouldn't overlook such vital information.

"Among the notable figures are Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Root's leader Danzo, Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, the copy ninja Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha Haru!"

"Orochimaru…" the masked man muttered quietly.

The situation they faced was basically what they had expected.

Except for Orochimaru.

.

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