The scorching sun baked the golden sands, and the air warped beneath the intense heat.
An unremarkable convoy was crossing the desert.
It was Fourth Kazekage Rasa and his entourage, returning from negotiations with the daimyo.
Rasa sat upright inside his palanquin, his brows slightly furrowed as though pondering something.
On the small table before him lay a letter from Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He was considering whether to accept Konoha's proposal to jointly hold the Chunin Ninja Exams.
And whether this exam could bring any value to the village.
"Ah." Rasa sighed and ultimately decided to write back with a polite refusal.
However, he had no idea that a deadly crisis was already closing in.
As the convoy reached a massive sandstone canyon, a sudden change occurred!
From both sides of the canyon, countless kunai bearing Explosive Tags rained down upon the center of the convoy.
"Enemy attack!! Protect Lord Kazekage!!"
The accompanying Anbu members reacted swiftly, immediately forming hand seals to use Wind Release or raising their weapons to block.
Explosions thundered, smoke spread everywhere, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa was the first to rush out.
"Hmph, cowardly vermin hiding in the shadows." Rasa wore the Kazekage's robes, standing atop Gold Dust. His hawk-like gaze swept the surroundings.
Yet when three figures appeared above the canyon, even Fourth Kazekage Rasa's pupils contracted.
The leader wore a black-and-yellow robe. His face was pale, and his distinctive golden vertical pupils and purple eyeshadow made him appear cold and vicious.
And that person was...
"Orochimaru! How dare you!!!"
"Hehe... It's been a long time, Lord Kazekage."
Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked his lips, his voice hoarse and malicious.
"I'll be taking your life and your identity."
"Summoning Jutsu."
As soon as he finished speaking, he bit his finger and slapped one hand against the ground.
Bang!
A gigantic purple serpent appeared before everyone's eyes.
It rapidly charged at the Sand shinobi, while Rasa hurriedly gathered Gold Dust to block the serpent's first assault.
With a bang, Rasa and his Gold Dust were sent flying.
Fortunately, he was unharmed. He could no longer concern himself with his subordinates below and chose to gather Gold Dust once more and flee first.
But at that moment, a voice sounded beside his ear.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Countless venomous snakes shot from Orochimaru's sleeves at astonishing speed, instantly wrapping around Rasa's restrained body as their fangs sank down viciously.
The venom took effect at once, causing him to fall from the air.
"Orochimaru, you!... Aah...!"
Rasa forced himself to stand. Before he could finish speaking, Orochimaru pierced his chest with a single strike.
The Anbu had also been dealt with by Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro.
"Lord Orochimaru, everyone in the surrounding area has been eliminated."
Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro knelt on one knee as they reported.
"Very good. Now we only need to cut off his face."
"Yes." Yakushi Kabuto took out a scalpel and began cutting Rasa's face.
Before long, a complete sheet of facial skin was presented before Orochimaru.
"Vanishing Facial Copy Technique."
Orochimaru attached the facial skin to his own face. After forming several hand seals, the bloodstained skin seemed to come alive, automatically adhering to Orochimaru's originally pale face.
Before long, the new Fourth Kazekage walked out of the canyon.
He adjusted the Fourth Kazekage's robes and looked at the Third Hokage's letter in his hand with a smile.
"Konoha Crush Plan... the first step is complete." The Kazekage muttered softly, raising his head to look in Konoha's direction.