Chapter 116: The Crisis of Konoha

Orochimaru furrowed his brow slightly, murmuring to himself, “Where on earth did that iron giant come from? And why did it suddenly launch an attack on the Rain Village?” A flicker of confusion danced in his eyes as he pondered the myriad possibilities.

A vague intuition gnawed at him—he sensed this iron giant’s assault might be directed at Pain’s Six Paths. Yet, this was nothing more than a hunch, unsupported by any concrete evidence or clues. The feeling unsettled him, as if an invisible hand were clawing at his heart, stirring an unshakable irritation. He grew increasingly uneasy, suspecting that the meticulously crafted “Destruction of Konoha Plan” might not unfold as smoothly as anticipated. In fact, a pessimistic thought crept in—perhaps the plan would never come to fruition at all.

Since arriving in Konoha, one unexpected event after another had erupted like spring bamboo shoots after rain. First, he had accidentally discovered that the Akatsuki had launched an attack on the Hyuga Clan’s territory, attempting to abduct the ill-fated Hinata Hyuga. Recalling the scene, Orochimaru silently mused, “What exactly is the Akatsuki’s aim?”

Then mysterious forces began infiltrating Konoha one after another, like uninvited phantoms, injecting instability into the village’s fabric. And now, intelligence reported a covert assault on the Rain Village by unknown enemies.

Orochimaru’s unease deepened. He felt that at any moment, a new, unforeseen calamity could strike. The dread of the unknown made him restless. “Perhaps I should seek help from that fool,” he thought suddenly. The image of Jiraiya, the white-haired sage, flashed vividly in his mind.

Frowning, he considered, “The situation grows ever more perplexing. I must have him bring back Tsunade as well. Otherwise...” He left the thought unfinished, but knew well that without Tsunade’s strength, facing these tangled crises would leave them at a severe disadvantage.

Usually composed and shrewd, Orochimaru now found anxiety rare within himself.

For the first time, he could not discern how the situation was evolving; the intelligence at hand was far too scant. His instincts, normally unerring, told him an unidentified enemy had silently infiltrated Konoha. Meanwhile, not far from him, on another street...

Beneath a water tower atop a building beside a dark alley, a small but terrifyingly menacing iron figure emerged silently from the shadows. The iron man glided soundlessly over the alley like a swift shuttle, moving with uncanny speed through the village’s houses and streets.

Each of its movements carried an eerie yet natural fluidity, the product of extremely precise judgment and meticulous calculations. It landed silently on a rooftop, like a silent assassin, its metallic head bowing slightly as it surveyed the street below.

At that moment, Sarutobi Wedo, a special jonin of the Sarutobi Clan, strolled leisurely down the road. His spirits were high today, for he was enjoying a rare day off. With joy, he had taken the chance to visit a flower shop deep in the mountains and carefully selected a beautiful bouquet to present to his beloved girlfriend.

His steps were light and buoyant, his heart full of sweet anticipation. Immersed in excitement at the thought of seeing his love, he imagined the tender words he would speak and the romantic moments they would share. A mischievous smile crept across his face.

Unaware, he did not sense the danger silently stalking him.

Suddenly, the iron man struck like a black lightning bolt, attacking swiftly from behind. Its speed was like a shadow flickering on a wall—no warning, no time to react.

In an instant, the unsuspecting Sarutobi Wedo felt no pain, only confusion as a blade pierced his chest. His eyes widened in bewilderment.

Then his consciousness blurred; his body weakened, his legs giving way as he collapsed heavily to the ground. The bouquet slipped from his grasp, petals scattering across the earth.

The iron man stood silently beside his cold corpse, its mechanical head tilting slightly, as if contemplating. Its emotionless camera-like eyes scanned every detail of Wedo’s attire, leaving no thread unnoticed. Like a calm observer, it collected every piece of information about the body.

With practiced precision, it extended its mechanical arm and, without hesitation, severed his head.

Its body swiftly transformed into a slender, shuttle-shaped device, connecting precisely to Wedo’s spine. The scene resembled a skilled butcher expertly handling his prey.

Next, it began to manipulate Sarutobi Wedo’s body. Though its movements were mechanical, they were methodical and orderly. Carefully, it peeled off Wedo’s facial skin and wore it like a mask over its cold metallic face.

The disguise was near perfect; externally, it was almost indistinguishable from the cruelly slain Wedo, without a single flaw. Yet the counterfeit face remained blank and lifeless, devoid of the lively smile that always adorned Wedo’s vibrant countenance.

After completing the disguise, the fake Wedo opened its mouth and expelled a searing flame, instantly incinerating the severed head.

Then, with somewhat stiff steps, it proceeded toward the Forest of Death. Beneath its seemingly calm exterior, it likely schemed some hidden, nefarious plot.

If anyone saw its retreating figure now, they would hardly suspect that this seemingly ordinary “Sarutobi Wedo” housed a dangerous, terrifying iron giant.

Soon after, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the Hokage’s office, buried in a mountain of paperwork. Suddenly, an ANBU ninja hurried in, handing him an urgent report.

Hiruzen’s eyes quickly scanned the document. Upon spotting critical information, his brows knitted tightly as he murmured, “Someone witnessed Sarutobi Wedo entering the second exam site—the Forest of Death?”

His face reflected puzzlement as he pondered inwardly: “That boy isn’t even a proctor for the Chunin Exams. Why would he go to the exam grounds?”

He shook his head slightly, unable to fathom the reason.

Continuing to read, he muttered, “Besides, isn’t today his day off? He begged me for this rare break, and was so excited to see his girlfriend. Why would he suddenly abandon such a precious holiday to meddle in the Chunin Exams? That’s not like him at all.”

At that moment, the kneeling ANBU spoke cautiously, “Indeed, Hokage-sama. The ANBU have detected suspicious behavior. Our analysis suggests either someone has disguised themselves as him to infiltrate the exams, or he has defected. In any case, his conduct is highly irregular. The ANBU are preparing to act and seek your permission to proceed.”

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin thoughtfully before resolutely stating, “Proceed. But prioritize safety—avoid harming him if possible. Uncovering the truth is paramount.”