Sunagakure — Kazekage Office
Even though it was already deep into the night, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was wide awake—his face full of worry.
Sending Suna's rookies to Konoha for the Chunin Exams looked like friendly exchange on the surface…
but in truth, it was also a test of strength.
To show Suna's power, Rasa had selected thirty of the village's best genin, including his own three children:
Temari
Kankuro
Gaara
Yet even with that lineup, Suna still couldn't compare to Konoha.
Konoha continued to flourish.
Meanwhile, the Wind Daimyo had repeatedly cut funding—leaving Sunagakure more hollow than ever.
If this didn't change soon, then in a few years…
Suna being kicked out of the "Five Great Villages" wouldn't even be shocking.
Rasa thought of Suna's past:
The First Kazekage Reto, who once extorted Hashirama at the Kage Summit.
The Second Kazekage Shamon, who pioneered puppet techniques.
The Third Kazekage, master of Magnet Release: Iron Sand, who earned the title "Strongest Kazekage."
If he couldn't follow their footsteps, then what was the meaning of being "Fourth Kazekage"?
Through years of fighting Shukaku, Rasa had grown stronger.
He wanted to achieve something big—
but the truth was cruel:
Sunagakure was too weak to stir the world.
If he gambled and failed, Suna might be erased.
So he paced.
And he hesitated.
Orochimaru's Invitation
Just as Rasa's frustration peaked, a Suna ANBU arrived.
"Lord Kazekage—there is a visitor."
With approval granted, Yakushi Kabuto entered.
"An envoy from Otogakure visits your nation."
"My lord has a letter for the Kazekage."
Rasa opened the message.
The moment he saw the name—
Orochimaru—
his eyes sharpened.
"I understand your purpose."
"Tell Orochimaru… I will be there on time."
Three Days Later — Eastern Great Sand Dunes
Rasa arrived with two guards, meeting Orochimaru at a hidden site.
After brief pleasantries, Orochimaru went straight to the point:
"Kazekage-dono, I want Sunagakure to ally with us… and invade Konoha."
"I settle my grudge with the Third Hokage."
"You take profit from war."
"Each gets what they want. What do you say?"
Rasa was tempted—slightly.
But as a village leader, he couldn't be reckless.
"Invading Konoha is too risky."
"Konoha isn't easy prey."
Orochimaru smiled.
"Konoha only looks strong."
"Uchiha Yusuke has withdrawn from public affairs."
"Our only real opponent is an elderly Third Hokage."
That pushed Rasa further.
But he still resisted.
"The Third Hokage isn't harmless."
"He was once called 'The Hero of Shinobi.'"
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Leave that old man to me."
"You focus on conquering Konoha."
Rasa's mind raced.
If he could avoid facing Yusuke and keep Orochimaru pinned on Hiruzen…
Suna's odds improved dramatically.
Still, he asked the real question:
"Do you truly have the confidence to face the Third?"
Orochimaru's smile deepened.
It was time for the "medicine."
"Kazekage-dono… take a look."
He formed seals and summoned a coffin.
Rasa's face changed instantly.
"T-That is…"
"The Third Kazekage?!"
Orochimaru nodded.
"Yes."
"The legendary 'Strongest Kazekage.'"
"And I have more cards than just him."
"With this forbidden technique…"
"Even Uchiha Yusuke can't kill me."
Rasa narrowed his eyes.
"Summoning the dead…"
"Edo Tensei—the Second Hokage's forbidden jutsu."
"So you learned something this disgusting."
Orochimaru didn't care.
"Methods don't matter."
"Only victory does."
"Isn't that right… Kazekage-dono?"
Rasa snorted.
He hated it.
But he couldn't deny the power.
If Orochimaru could mass-produce Kage-class puppets, then the alliance might truly crush Konoha.
And if Suna could bite off even a piece of Konoha…
Sunagakure's status would rise overnight.
Not necessarily ruling the world—
but stabilizing "Five Great Villages" status?
Easy.
Rasa was no saint.
He had once sold out Suna's hero Pakura for village利益—no, for village profit.
Breaking an alliance wouldn't keep him up at night.
To many of Suna's elders—like Chiyo's generation—alliances were paper.
When disaster came, nobody would save you.
And Rasa trusted even his own son, Gaara, less than he trusted Konoha.
Suna had been friendly with Konoha only because it lacked the strength to wage war.
If Suna were stronger than Konoha?
Rasa likely would've started the war already.
Now, Orochimaru had handed him the confidence to try.
Rasa made his choice:
He would expand territory, win fame, and revive Suna's glory—
with Konoha as the first victim.
Orochimaru watched Rasa's posture and knew it:
the bait had been swallowed.
Orochimaru's Real Plan: Insurance
But Orochimaru's scheme wasn't as simple as it looked.
Even if Rasa agreed, would he truly commit his full force?
Hard to say.
So Orochimaru prepared one more layer of insurance.
The Ambush — "Unknown Valley"
On the way back, two young men attacked.
Rasa's two guards were instantly crippled—Kabuto's chakra scalpel severing their pathways.
Rasa erupted in anger.
"Who dares attack the Kazekage?!"
Kabuto immediately withdrew and handed the main fight to Kimimaro.
"The rest is yours."
Kimimaro's eyes were ice.
"Don't worry."
"I won't disappoint Lord Orochimaru."
The moment Rasa heard that name, he understood.
So this was Orochimaru's real intent:
Orochimaru wanted his life.
But Rasa was still one of the Five Kage.
He wouldn't die quietly.
Kimimaro stared at him.
"Fourth Kazekage… you will die here."
Rasa laughed with fury.
"You're young, but your mouth is huge."
Kimimaro answered with action.
Bones burst from his fingers.
Rasa's gaze tightened.
"A bloodline user…"
Interesting.
Rasa struck first—Magnet Release sand surging like a sea.
In the desert, the Kazekage's advantage was overwhelming.
While the sand roared, Kimimaro dodged at high speed—closing distance and counterattacking.
"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
Bone spikes shot forward.
But Rasa's sand was faster.
A sand shield formed instantly, stopping the strikes just half a step from his body.
Kimimaro's eyes narrowed.
"So it's offense and defense in one."
Rasa smiled, confident.
"In the desert…"
"Even if Orochimaru came himself, I wouldn't fear him."
"You chose the wrong opponent."
Kimimaro's expression turned heavy.
A desert Kazekage was indeed difficult.
Even if Kimimaro fought to the death, he might still lose.
But Kimimaro's faith was absolute.
Orochimaru was his religion.
If the order was suicide—
he would still charge.
He poured everything into the battle.
Rasa, however, grew increasingly alarmed.
Even with the terrain advantage, this young man refused to break.
Against a true death-seeker, even a Kage feels pressure.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!"
Kimimaro's assault became a storm.
Rasa's Magnet Release was balanced—
but he couldn't cleanly finish Kimimaro.
Then the next waves hit:
"Dance of the Camellia!"
"Dance of the Clematis!"
Rasa's chakra began to drain dangerously fast.
His eyes darkened.
I may still have to face Orochimaru after this…
I can't burn everything here.
So Rasa switched strategy—using experience to find a crack.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Funeral!"
Gold dust crushed down like a coffin.
A normal shinobi would be pulverized.
But Kimimaro's bones hardened like diamond.
Then—
he activated Orochimaru's Cursed Seal.
Under double enhancement, he forced his way out.
Rasa frowned.
He hadn't expected Kimimaro to be this stubborn.
The fight resumed—Cursed Seal Kimimaro pushing Rasa toward exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Kabuto lurked like a vulture—waiting for the moment to strike with the chakra scalpel.
From above, Orochimaru watched with satisfaction.
Kimimaro was the container he wanted—
if not for the incurable illness.
And beyond Kimimaro…
Orochimaru's true obsession remained:
the Uchiha body.
This Konoha invasion plan had multiple goals:
Revenge on Hiruzen
Seizing Konoha's forbidden jutsu stockpiles
And stealing a young Uchiha as a vessel
After a long, brutal exchange—
both Rasa and Kimimaro were nearing their limits.
Rasa might still be able to kill Kimimaro…
but he wasn't sure he could survive the full trap afterward.
That hesitation—
was the opening Orochimaru needed.
The Fourth Kazekage's Death
A shadow struck from behind.
Rasa's sand grabbed Orochimaru's body—
but Orochimaru's neck extended grotesquely.
The Kusanagi Blade shot out like lightning—
straight through Rasa.
Kabuto, who had waited forever to play the "hidden finisher,"
could only watch as his idol stole the kill in one move.
Rasa collapsed.
The Fourth Kazekage was dead.
Aftermath: Orochimaru Becomes the Kazekage
With Rasa eliminated, Orochimaru returned to Sunagakure…
disguised as the Kazekage.
Under his manipulation, Sunagakure and Otogakure quickly formed an alliance.
Two nations joined hands—
to overthrow Konoha's rule.
And thus, the gears of "Konoha Crush" began turning for real.
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