When did the "Konoha Crush" plan for the Chunin Exams begin? The anime never gave a specific timeline! However, for a plan this massive and sophisticated, involving Orochimaru, Danzo, and the Kazekage, it couldn't have been a rushed action. Just building mutual trust takes time.
Yet Danzo had entrusted such an important mission to Allen, who had just joined Root. This was both a hidden test and a form of training. The ambitious Danzo couldn't wait to turn Allen into his sharpest blade. Of course, he didn't realize that by doing this, he was actually throwing a rat into a rice granary, a bear into a honey pot.
...
Time, like a programmer's hair, disappeared before anyone noticed. After brief preparations, Allen donned a flamboyant mask as a member of Root and left the village, taking Karin with him to the Land of Rice Fields.
Looking at the desolate landscape, the red-haired girl couldn't help but ask, "Can such a remote little country even afford a hidden village?"
"Heh, you might not believe it, but the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields doesn't need to spend money to maintain the Sound Village; in fact, he receives a bribe from the village every year," Allen explained with a smile.
"A... bribe?!" Karin's eyes widened as if she'd heard something impossible. In this world's current rules, the Daimyo provides funds to support the hidden village, while the village uses force to maintain national security and the rule of the Daimyo and nobles. A reversal like the Land of Rice Fields couldn't be found anywhere else in the shinobi world.
Allen nodded slightly. "Yes. Because this is the secret base of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. As an S-rank rogue ninja, if he didn't do this, he wouldn't be able to stand openly in the light and establish a village like this."
"Rogue... ninja? Orochimaru?" Karin had clearly heard that name in the Hidden Grass Village and was instantly terrified.
"That's right. Come on, let's go meet this legendary figure. If all goes as expected, we might be spending a long time with him."
With that, Allen led the way toward the Hidden Sound Village. Before they even reached the entrance, two figures leaped from their hiding spots, questioning them sternly: "Who goes there? What is your purpose in the Sound?"
"I have a letter here. Please deliver it to your leader, Orochimaru." Allen didn't waste words and handed over the reply Danzo had given him.
"A letter?" The man who intercepted them was clearly taken aback.
"I suggest you don't try to open it and peek at the contents. Otherwise, even God couldn't save your life. Also, you'd better be quick; my patience is limited," Allen warned meaningfully.
"You stay here and watch him! I'll report to Orochimaru-sama!" After a brief exchange, the man with the letter vanished into the dark tunnel at the entrance.
About five minutes later, Orochimaru, with his long black hair, pale skin, golden pupils, and a chilling aura, finally appeared. He sized Allen up before letting out a bone-chilling laugh: "Hehehehe... So you are the young man who killed Kitsuchi, then Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi, nearly fuming Onoki to death? I never imagined Danzo would be willing to send you on such a mission."
"It can't be helped. This is Danzo-sama's order; I simply execute it." Allen shrugged with a look of feigned helplessness.
"Interesting! I heard you possess a very special Kekkei Genkai? If you don't mind, could you demonstrate it for me?" Orochimaru, ever the mad scientist, was immediately eyeing the so-called "mysterious bloodline." After all, with Kabuto Yakushi as a premier spy, almost no information within Konoha could be hidden from him.
"I can. But who will be my opponent?" Allen curled his lips, glancing at the Sound Five behind Orochimaru, specifically Kimimaro, the wielder of the Shikotsumyaku.
Kimimaro noticed the gaze and immediately wanted to step forward to volunteer. But Orochimaru stopped him, saying with a half-smile, "I'll do it myself. You all are no match for him. After all, this is a genius who killed all his enemies unscathed while being surrounded by ten Jonin."
"Oh? Does Orochimaru-sama of the Sannin intend to take action personally? I'm truly honored. In that case, I shall show you a bit of the power known as Aura or Nen."
As he spoke, Allen switched from Chakra mode to Nen mode.
The next second...
BOOM!
A terrifying aura, invisible to the naked eye, erupted from his body! The nearest Sound ninja didn't even have time to react before being blown several meters away by the force, his eyes rolling back as he fainted.
The Sound Five, who had previously maintained an arrogant posture, all showed expressions of pure terror. In contrast, the battle-hardened Orochimaru reacted with excitement and curiosity, sticking out his snake-like tongue to lick his lips. "Hahaha! Fascinating! Truly fascinating! A Kekkei Genkai I've never seen? What is this energy that can't be seen by the eye? And what is Aura?"
"Aura, like Chakra, is the life energy contained within the human body. However, the difference is that Chakra must be refined from cells, while Aura is radiated at all times. Most people cannot feel it and let their life energy bleed away for nothing. But once you master the method to retain it, you can use it for combat."
Allen explained patiently. He needed Orochimaru's help to solve the problem of allowing Nen and Chakra to coexist simultaneously without interfering with each other. Only then could he continue to increase his combat power in "full output" mode. Although he hadn't used his bow and arrows since arriving in this world, spending his time learning and developing various Ninjutsu, he had never forgotten that Hunter mode was his strongest trump card.
"Aura... sounds quite impressive. Now, let me see just how strong this power called Aura really is."
The moment he finished speaking, Orochimaru swung his right arm, and a swarm of grayish-brown venomous snakes erupted from his sleeve, lunging forward at high speed.
But Allen simply stood his ground, letting those venomous snakes open their mouths to bite him with their sharp fangs. Yet, just inches from his body, all the snakes were blocked by an invisible force. No matter how Orochimaru urged them, not a single snake could advance even another millimeter.