A few days later, Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, sat upright in the seat of honor in the conference room.
Sunagakure's senior elders and elite jonin, including Baki, sat on either side.
"Kazekage-sama, should we reconsider holding the Chunin Exams jointly with Konoha?"
An elder spoke cautiously.
"Reconsider? There is no need to reconsider." Orochimaru said coldly, imitating Rasa's distinctive authority.
"But... Kazekage-sama, given the village's current circumstances, we are simply not suited for exchanges with other villages."
Orochimaru smiled at that. He rose to his feet and walked to the window, gazing at the village eroded by wind and sand outside, as well as the barren land in the distance.
"No. The joint Chunin Exams are precisely an opportunity."
"Konoha is no longer the Konoha it once was.
It is already strong on the outside but weak within. The Fourth Hokage died in battle, Konoha White Fang committed suicide, the Uchiha clan was exterminated, and even Konoha's Three Sannin have fallen apart."
Using Rasa's voice, Orochimaru solemnly laid out Konoha's current decline.
"So now is precisely the time to attack Konoha!"
His gaze sharpened as he lowered his voice for that final sentence.
Everyone's pupils contracted slightly at those words, and they looked at their Kazekage in disbelief.
"This... Kazekage-sama, even a dying camel is larger than a horse. This... would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?"
Another elder spoke carefully.
"Inappropriate?"
Orochimaru abruptly turned around, his eagle-like gaze sweeping over everyone present. His voice carried an oppressive force that allowed no doubt.
"Then shall we wait until the children in this village are left to eat sand?"
"Look at our village! Look outside! Other than that damned yellow sand, what else is there?
The daimyo of the Land of Wind does not care whether