426. Kabuto's Plan

As teams were deployed into the vast Forest of Death, the Chunin Exam finally began in earnest.

"The rules set by the higher-ups are basically forcing us to fight each other," muttered Chinō, chewing on a blade of grass, her Konoha forehead protector hanging loosely around her neck, her expression one of playful defiance.

"The purpose of this exam is to select outstanding talents with Chunin-level abilities," Kabuto replied calmly, unfazed by Chinō's complaints.

"And fighting each other is undoubtedly the best way to showcase strength. The participation of other nations has turned this into a stage for each country to display their power."

While Chinō grumbled, Kabuto was busy analyzing their location using the sun and the surrounding trees, a scroll in his hand.

Meanwhile, Itachi had summoned a flock of crows to scatter around the area, taking on the role of lookout.

Bored, Chinō propped her chubby cheeks on her hands and asked, "So, what's the plan? Where do we go to steal someone else's scroll?"

Kabuto replied without looking up, "No need to rush. The exam lasts three days. Once we figure out our location, we can set up an ambush near the finish line and wait for our prey to come to us."

Chinō smirked and asked another question, "What if we run into other Konoha teams? Do we let them go, or...?"

She left the question hanging, her sly grin making her intentions clear.

Kabuto sighed at his mischievous junior.

"The teacher said you're free to do as you please. If you manage to defeat a Konoha team without our help, then it's their own fault for being weak."

Hearing this, Chinō's eyes lit up.

She spat out the blade of grass and said excitedly, "In that case, I won't hold back!"

Soon, Kabuto finished determining their location and plotted a reasonable route.

Just as they were about to set off, a violent explosion interrupted their plans.

"Over there!" Itachi, who was on scouting duty, immediately pointed in the direction of the explosion.

The three of them quickly moved toward the source, with Chinō leading the charge, eager for action.

When they arrived, however, they were met with a grim scene. A Konoha team had been completely wiped out. The three genin sat next to a crater, covered in dust and looking utterly defeated.

Itachi and the others quickly approached them. "What happened?"

Seeing that they were fellow Konoha shinobi, the leader of the team shook his head bitterly.

"We ran into Iwagakure's Deidara. That guy came alone, boasting that he'd take out all the Konoha teams. We couldn't stand it, so we fought him."

"And we lost..."

"More like got completely destroyed."

"If it weren't for these tree roots that suddenly grew out of the ground, we'd have been turned into mincemeat."

At this, Itachi and the others noticed the fragments of wood scattered around the genin.

'Was it the teacher?' The three of them exchanged glances, all thinking the same thing.

A moment later, a broadcast echoed throughout the Forest of Death.

"Attention! Konoha Team 15 has been eliminated!"

"Eliminated by Iwagakure Team 1."

The announcement struck a nerve with the Konoha shinobi in the forest, while Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, smirked slightly, clearly pleased.

He glanced toward Danzo's direction and noticed the elder still sitting calmly, unfazed. *What's he playing at?* Ōnoki thought to himself.

Danzo, as if sensing his thoughts, suddenly turned and met Ōnoki's gaze.

The two exchanged a brief, awkward smile.

Back in the forest, after the broadcast, a Konoha proctor quickly arrived to escort the eliminated team out of the exam area.

But Deidara's rampage wasn't over. Using his flight advantage, he continued to patrol the skies above the Forest of Death, bombarding any team he spotted with a Konoha forehead protector.

If it weren't for Danzo's intervention, Konoha would have suffered heavy losses.

What was most infuriating was that, since Deidara remained airborne, the Konoha teams could only endure the attacks with no way to retaliate!

This situation left the Konoha spectators on edge, itching to jump into the arena and confront Ōnoki themselves.

Meanwhile, the spectators from the Land of Earth wore satisfied smiles.

'You from the Land of Fire always boast about how strong and advanced you are, don't you?'

'Looks like you're not so impressive after all!'

'One of our genin is giving you a hard time!'

The frustration wasn't limited to the spectators. The Konoha shinobi inside the forest were equally displeased.

"The teacher intended for this exam to be a showcase of Konoha's strength. If we let that Iwagakure guy keep causing trouble, Konoha's reputation will take a huge hit," Itachi said, narrowing his eyes.

"We need to find a way to take him down!"

Chinō nodded eagerly. "Yeah, we have to deal with that annoying guy!" Both of them then turned to Kabuto, seeking his opinion.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a cold glint reflecting off the lenses. "Since the teacher wants us to showcase Konoha's strength, why don't we go big?"

"Go big?" Itachi felt a sudden sense of foreboding at Kabuto's eerie smile.

Chinō, on the other hand, looked excited.

No one understood her second senior brother better than she did.

While he usually seemed indifferent and unmotivated, when he got serious, the results were always beyond anyone's imagination!

Under their expectant gazes, Kabuto finally spoke. "Since all participants need to reach the finish line, why don't we just go there and wait for them?"

"Isn't that our original plan?" Chinō tilted her head, confused.

But Kabuto smiled and continued, "Unlike the original plan, this time, we're not just after one Earth Scroll..."

"We're after all of them."

"If Iwagakure wants to target us, and the other teams are happy to watch..."

"Then let's make sure none of them advance."

A terrifying light flashed in Kabuto's eyes.

"Let's make this the end of the exam!"