Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 155: The Things No Human Would Do—Danzo Does Them All!

Alright...

As someone who had been friends with Shimura Danzo for many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew him well enough. This was exactly the kind of thing Danzo would do.

But...

Was this something a rational person would do?

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Do you even know who the Hokage is?

Do you even know who you're supposed to trust?

Sarutobi was so furious that his chest felt like it was about to explode. His mind was already racing with countless curses he wanted to hurl at Danzo.

A former Konoha advisor...

A man who had been part of Konoha's leadership for nearly forty years...

Had actually conspired with the Kage of an enemy village in secret!

And worst of all...

They had exchanged intelligence about Akatsuki without informing him, the Hokage!

This...

Was even more infuriating than outright treason!

That idiotic bastard!

Sarutobi's face twitched with rage, but his expression only seemed to please the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, who sat beside him.

That Kazekage...

Seemed to thoroughly enjoy seeing Sarutobi in distress.

Fortunately,

Sarutobi's fury only lasted for a moment before the crisis at hand forced him to refocus.

Konoha's current predicament was more pressing...

As for Danzo...

Sarutobi shot a sharp glare at the man still seated in the audience, but he could only suppress his anger for now. He would deal with him later—after this was over.

However...

While Sarutobi could endure it,

Nagato's group could not.

Just as Sarutobi and Rasa were beginning to reach a mutual understanding regarding Akatsuki's leader, a tall Konoha ninja discreetly approached Nagato amid the chaos and whispered into his ear.

"Lord Orochimaru says..."

"It's about time to retreat."

"This entire commotion was orchestrated by Sunagakure."

"Their goal is to clear the area."

"The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, has already identified Lord Pain. They intend to ally with Konoha to capture him and force him to reveal intel about Sunagakure's S-rank rogue ninja, Sasori of the Red Sand, and the whereabouts of the Third Kazekage."

Clearly,

This Konoha ninja was one of Orochimaru's subordinates.

Or rather, a hidden operative left behind in Konoha by Orochimaru.

After delivering his message, the ninja quickly withdrew, unwilling to linger in this dangerous situation.

"What?!"

Nagato and Konan were both stunned.

The fact that Sunagakure knew their identities and had even set a trap for them was completely unexpected!

No one...

Would have seen this coming!

After all, Sunagakure was weak. Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it had the least presence. Even their Daimyō did not care for them.

"We must retreat immediately!"

Konan didn't hesitate. She turned to Nagato, her voice full of urgency.

"Konoha is already a trap!"

"..."

Nagato remained silent.

Through Pain, he lifted his gaze and surveyed the arena.

The Konoha shinobi were efficiently evacuating the audience.

Jiraiya and Tsunade had already suppressed the rampaging One-Tail.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Rasa still sat atop the viewing platform, overlooking the chaos from their high vantage point.

And Danzo?

Danzo's gaze was fixed on Pain...

It seemed Konoha and Sunagakure had already identified them, setting up this entire Chunin Exam as a trap.

But...

At this point...

Did they really think retreating would be that easy?

And more importantly...

Did Konoha and Sunagakure really believe they could keep him here?

In this world...

Aside from that mysterious figure watching from the shadows, the one who also possessed the Rinnegan, Nagato was confident that no one in the ninja world was his equal.

Not even his former teacher, Jiraiya.

Of course,

Jiraiya didn't think that way.

Because at this moment, Jiraiya was feeling rather confident.

"Man, the One-Tail is weak..."

He watched as Tsunade leaped into the air and punched Shukaku straight into the ground. He couldn't help but complain, a little envious.

Seriously...

The One-Tail was way too weak!

The night the Nine-Tails nearly went berserk inside Naruto, both he and Tsunade had struggled against its immense power. They had been completely overwhelmed, barely able to hold their own, and had even risked death.

But now...

Fighting the One-Tail?

No...

It wasn't even a fight.

Tsunade was handling it alone!

Sunagakure really had such a weak-tailed beast? That was almost enviable.

If Minato had only needed to deal with the One-Tail twelve years ago instead of the Nine-Tails, neither he nor Kushina would have had to sacrifice themselves.

"Uh..."

Behind Jiraiya, Kakashi watched as Tsunade effortlessly restrained the One-Tail. He wasn't sure if they should even offer assistance at this point.

"Don't lower your guard, Kakashi."

Jiraiya glanced at him. He may have relaxed slightly because of the One-Tail, but he wasn't letting his guard down completely.

This was just a minor disturbance...

Orochimaru and Obito could still be lurking in the shadows.

"Understood."

Kakashi glanced at the dwindling crowd and asked,

"What about the Chunin Exam?"

"The audience is gone..."

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"The performers don't need to continue their act."

Jiraiya shook his head, turning his gaze toward the viewing platform.

"If nothing major happens, the old man and the Kazekage are probably discussing this One-Tail incident. Once they're done, we'll decide how the remaining examinees proceed."

"Kakashi-sensei!"

"The evacuation is complete!"

Naruto and Sasuke landed beside Kakashi, followed by their fellow genin.

But...

Their presence here felt awkward.

They couldn't participate in the battle, and they weren't needed to support anyone.

Yet they were still eager to fight.

"Naruto, Sasuke."

Kakashi pondered for a moment, then looked toward the Sunagakure shinobi watching from a distance.

"Go keep an eye on the Sand shinobi."

"Understood!"

Naruto accepted the mission, though he hesitated.

He looked at Gaara, who lay unconscious on Shukaku's chest as Tsunade continued her assault on the beast.

"Kakashi-sensei, about Gaara..."

Naruto had heard Gaara's story.

He knew why Gaara killed people.

He didn't want Tsunade to kill him.

After all...

They were the same.

Their fates were incredibly similar.

Naruto was lucky.

Gaara wasn't.

"Tsunade-sama won't kill him."

Kakashi seemed to understand Naruto's thoughts.

Gaara was Sunagakure's Jinchuriki.

Even if he had caused trouble in Konoha, as long as Konoha and Sunagakure hadn't completely severed ties, Tsunade wouldn't kill him. That would create an irreparable rift between the two villages.

No, she wouldn't kill him...

But the beating would be brutal.

Boom!

Tsunade's punches were relentless.

She fought with a ferocity completely unbecoming of a medical ninja, pummeling Shukaku into submission.

She single-handedly dominated the beast!

This battle...

Was entirely one-sided!

With Jiraiya supporting her, Shukaku had zero chance of fighting back.

It looked like the One-Tail's rampage was coming to an end.

However,

Jiraiya sensed something was off.

Despite everything, neither Sarutobi nor Rasa had intervened or given any orders.

Not about the One-Tail...

Not about the evacuation.

What were they waiting for?

Jiraiya turned to scan the battlefield.

Then he saw them—

The three Amegakure ninja who still hadn't left.

Pain, in the preparation area.

Zero and Byakko, in the audience.

They had stayed.

Neither the One-Tail's rampage nor the chaos of the evacuation had made them flinch.

Something was wrong!

Jiraiya tensed up.

Before he could react—

Pain suddenly leaped into action!

At the same time—

Sarutobi and Rasa sprang from their seats, intercepting him!

Two Kage had sat idle during the One-Tail's rampage...

But the moment this Rain ninja moved, they acted immediately!

Jiraiya's eyes locked onto Pain.

Who was he?

What secrets did he hold?

Why had he entered the Chunin Exams?

For two Kage to move against him...

He couldn't just be Hanzo...

Even Hanzo wouldn't warrant this reaction.

"Jiraiya-sama!"

A masked Anbu landed beside him, relaying Sarutobi's orders.

"The Hokage orders you to subdue the One-Tail and assist in capturing the enemy!"

"Enemy?"

Jiraiya's curiosity deepened.

What kind of enemy...

Required this much effort?

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