The Strongest Artist in Naruto

The Konoha Crush Plan!

Even Orochimaru, with his deep and calculating nature, couldn't help but appear momentarily dazed as memories of his past flashed through his mind like a fleeting montage.

Although he was born a civilian, he had been taken in as a disciple by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, from a young age. To the child he once was, Sarutobi had been a kind teacher, a hero who protected the village—a figure who, in some ways, filled the role of a father.

As he grew older and stepped onto the cruel battlefield, encountering the darker sides of human nature and politics, his perception of Sarutobi evolved. To his youthful self, Sarutobi was a brilliant commander, a respectable elder, and a Hokage who retained an untainted heart even in the mire of war.

But as Orochimaru himself entered middle age, the once-revered "Sarutobi-sensei," the pure-hearted Third Hokage, began to deteriorate in his eyes.

Allowing Danzo to grow unchecked. Turning a blind eye to Hatake Sakumo's forced suicide. Supporting Namikaze Minato as a puppet Hokage to maintain his own power. Showing weakness during the Hyūga incident. Standing by as the Uchiha Clan was annihilated.

All these actions painted a stark picture: the heroic father figure of his youth was steadily walking the same path as Hanzo the Salamander—a once-mighty legend reduced to a tarnished memory.

Was this the inevitable fate of humanity as they aged and approached death? To grow foolish and feeble?

This realization was one of the reasons Orochimaru sought immortality—a reason he had never shared with anyone. He vowed to ensure that the man he once viewed as a father would meet a hero's end, closing his story with a perfect final chapter. Not like Hanzo, whose name was disgraced in death, leaving nothing but curses and disdain from those who once revered him.

Initially, Orochimaru had planned to wait a few more years. But Konoha and Sunagakure's recent failed military campaign spurred him to act sooner.

He knew the power of the Akatsuki. If Konoha clashed head-on with them, the current village leadership—under Sarutobi's command—stood no chance of victory. The revered Third Hokage would inevitably face a grim downfall, tainting his legacy with an indelible stain.

That would not do.

"And while I'm at it, let this storm I unleash set Konoha's windmill spinning!" Orochimaru thought, his lips curling into a sinister smile. Konoha had been immersed in peace for too long. If it couldn't wake from its dream of being the "First Hidden Village," how could it survive the shifting tides of the shinobi world?

After all, even the Rinnegan had appeared. The mysterious figure from the Uchiha Clan's downfall and the Akatsuki's enigmatic Zetsu were lurking threats.

The waters in the shinobi world were deeper than ever.

"Tch! So this is that fool Jiraiya's 'bonds' he's always preaching about?" Orochimaru sneered. "Even someone as cold-blooded as me can't escape their influence."

Meanwhile, Deidara and Sasori were equally taken aback.

Konoha Crush Plan!

Deidara had been about to suggest it himself. Initially, he had expected Orochimaru to extort them for resources. Yet now, it seemed like they were receiving payment in advance. This arrangement was an absolute win for him.

"Deal!" Deidara agreed, nodding.

"However, I have one small request."

"Oh? What is it?" Orochimaru snapped out of his reverie, his usual soft-spoken yet ominous demeanor returning.

"I want this Konoha Crush Plan to pave the way for Danzo to secure the position of Fifth Hokage."

When Deidara voiced this condition, Orochimaru immediately understood that he had been too hasty. What should have been the other party seeking his aid had turned into him paying a hefty price instead.

Still, having made the offer, he couldn't back down now. Orochimaru wasn't one to renege on a deal.

"Fine!" he agreed, licking his lips with interest. "It seems the Akatsuki is preparing for something big."

Is the storm in the shinobi world finally about to pick up? Orochimaru thought gleefully. He detested stagnation more than anything else.

"How do we get close to the Third Hokage?" Deidara asked curiously. If they couldn't take a surgical approach and had to engage in an all-out assault, it would clash with his goal of securing an alliance.

If Konoha were utterly devastated, there would be no opportunity to strengthen ties. Moreover, the other four great villages would likely form an immediate coalition to crush their "terrorist organization."

"A delegation from the Land of Fire's Daimyo will visit Konoha in a few days to address the fallout from the failed campaign and discuss additional reconstruction funding," Orochimaru explained.

"We'll take their place."

"Alright. I'll return to Otogakure in three days for this operation," Deidara said. "Kakuzu and Hidan will be the main combatants."

With that, Deidara and Sasori departed.

Why Kakuzu and Hidan?

Deidara hoped to facilitate an alliance between Amegakure and Konoha post-operation. To achieve this, he couldn't afford to have Amegakure shinobi visibly involved in the attack. Otherwise, public outcry would make such a partnership politically impossible, even for Danzo.

Within the Akatsuki, recent battles had exposed several members. Deidara, Sasori, and Konan were all identified. Itachi was a spy, which indirectly compromised Kisame. Zetsu wouldn't act, and Nagato's condition made him a last resort.

That left only Kakuzu and Hidan.

When Deidara found them, the duo was at a bounty station in the Land of Fire, cashing in their latest haul.

"Kakuzu-sama, here's ten million ryo," the station manager said, verifying the corpse's identity and retrieving a suitcase from the vault.

Kakuzu didn't leave immediately. Instead, he opened the suitcase and meticulously counted each bill, one by one.

"Kakuzu's at it again," Sasori muttered irritably, his scorpion tail twitching with impatience.

"Not my fault!" Hidan shrugged helplessly. "Every time Kakuzu cashes in, he insists on counting each bill himself."

"You'd better hope he doesn't get into the mood to count twice—or even three times," Hidan added.

"Ugh, it's so annoying," Hidan grumbled. To him, money was pointless. If he wanted something, he'd just take it. The only thing that brought him joy was killing—a pure and straightforward pursuit.

"Hey, Hidan," Deidara whispered, leaning closer conspiratorially.

"Hm? What is it?" Hidan asked curiously, matching Deidara's low tone.

"Does Kakuzu know that Konan spends all his money on explosive tags?"

"What?! Are you serious?" Hidan exclaimed, his voice rising in shock.

He could already picture Kakuzu's reaction to this revelation—the miser might literally explode. And given his age, a burst blood vessel or stroke wasn't out of the question.

"Probably not," Deidara replied with a smirk. "But doesn't that make him the ultimate sucker?"

Unable to suppress his laughter, Hidan had to cover his mouth and quickly retreat outside to avoid blowing their cover.

Meanwhile, Kakuzu's sharp gaze flicked toward the commotion.

"Hidan, shut up," Kakuzu said coldly, his beady green eyes narrowing. "You're disrupting my counting."

"Of course! My bad! I'll head out!" Hidan quickly excused himself, leaving the scene before his suppressed laughter could burst forth again.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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