The Land of Wind, in a desert canyon.
Squelch!
A sharp blade pierced his body. Fourth Kazekage Rasa's eyes widened, blood spilled from his mouth, and he stared at the person before him in disbelief.
"O-Orochimaru, you..."
Before he could finish, Orochimaru sneered and pulled out the Kusanagi Sword. Fourth Kazekage Rasa fell to the ground, his eyes still open in death.
The bodies of several Sunagakure Anbu Ninja also lay around the canyon.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Kaguya Kimimaro, who had white hair and green eyes, covered his mouth as sharp, pallid bone spikes slowly withdrew into his upper body.
"Kimimaro, has your illness gotten worse again?"
Orochimaru put away the Kusanagi Sword and turned toward Kimimaro, who was covering his mouth.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
Kimimaro struggled to suppress his coughing and managed to reply, "The medicine I took this time was very effective. My body can still hold out! This body will definitely be able to support your ambitions, Lord Orochimaru!"
Kabuto Yakushi stood behind them, the chakra around his hands gradually dissipating. Wearing an unsettling smile, he pushed up his glasses without speaking.
"Kabuto, well done."
"Those years you spent studying under Naraku weren't wasted. I'm really looking forward to seeing what Naraku will make of the teacher he hasn't seen in so long."
"Heh heh heh..."
Very pleased with the results of this ambush, Orochimaru laughed aloud.
Beside him, Kabuto Yakushi said, "Perhaps Lord Naraku will kill you himself, Lord Orochimaru."
"Is that so?" Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked the corner of his mouth, an irrepressibly sinister smile spreading across his face. "You're making me want to act right now. What a surprise."
Just then, a gust of sand-laden wind swept past, making them narrow their eyes.
Before the old wind had faded, a new wind