For an instant, to the eyes of ordinary spectators and many weaker Genin, countless black feathers suddenly filled the air.
A heavy drowsiness instantly swept through their minds, and one after another, the civilians in the stands slumped unconscious.
Elite shinobi such as Kakashi and Might Guy immediately recognized it as an illusion. Without hesitation, they formed hand seals, disturbing their chakra flow to dispel it.
But while they were regaining control, the true assault had already begun.
From the competitors' stands, Temari and Kankurō leapt down. At the same moment, Gaara unleashed violent waves of sand, causing the entire arena to quake. The surging tide of sand erupted like a storm, striking Moonlight Gekkō, the special jōnin proctor, and forcing him back in a single blow.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the three Sand siblings quickly retreated from the arena, rushing eastward toward Konoha's outskirts.
On the highest platform of the auditorium, the man standing "beside the Kazekage" suddenly moved. With startling speed, Jinnarō launched himself at Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, closing the five-meter gap in an instant.
Crack!
Two masked Konoha Anbu were caught off guard and sent flying with a single strike.
But as the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen was far from defenseless. The moment the Anbu were knocked aside, he reacted, slamming his palm into Jinnarō's right side.
A sharp crack rang out.
Agonizing pain shot through Jinnarō's body. His face twisted, and he was hurled across the platform, crashing heavily into the stone steps below.
"Lord Aizen!" Jinnarō spat blood, struggling to his feet, his voice ringing with desperate loyalty.
Yet before anyone could react further, a blade was already pressed against Hiruzen's throat.
"Lord Hokage!" Kakashi cried out, his eyes widening as he turned, just free of the illusion.
The figure holding the blade spoke coldly. "Forgive me, Hokage-sama. But you cannot be allowed to fall to the enemy. If you do, both our villages will suffer… isn't that right, Aizen-dono?"
At those words, Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. Even at his age, he quickly pieced the situation together.
The man calling himself "Kazekage" removed his hat, revealing beneath it not Luo Sha's face—but a pure white mask.
Gasps rippled among the Konoha shinobi, many of whom had not yet realized that the real Kazekage was already dead.
But the true shock was still to come.
Another Sand jōnin, Reiji, suddenly pulled a kunai and pressed it to Aizen's throat.
The audience erupted in confusion. Even Jinnarō froze.
"Reiji! What do you think you're doing?!" he shouted.
"Ah…"
The jōnin let out a low, chilling laugh. Then, with one hand, he tore off his false face.
The mask peeled away, revealing the snake-like visage beneath.
It was Orochimaru.
The crowd's shock deepened.
In the next instant, Orochimaru formed a hand seal. At the same time, four figures clad in Sound shinobi garb leapt out from hidden corners, surrounding the platform.
"Form it!"
Both Aizen and Sarutobi Hiruzen barked the command at once.
Rumble!!!
An overwhelming force surged up from the earth. In a blink, the three figures—Aizen, Orochimaru, and Sarutobi Hiruzen—were sealed atop the roof of the arena.
A dark purple barrier rose, encasing them within and cutting them off from the outside.
"Lord Aizen!"
"Lord Hokage!"
Konoha and Sand shinobi alike rushed to the rooftop. Jinnarō lunged forward, intent on shattering the barrier, but Aizen's calm voice stopped him.
"Stand down. That barrier cannot be broken by the likes of you."
Jinnarō clenched his fists, glaring at Orochimaru. "That bastard! Not only did he kill Lord Kazekage, but he even disguised himself as Leng Wan to deceive us!"
"Send the signal."
Aizen's tone was steady, unwavering. "The plan does not stop here."
"But Lord Aizen…" Jinnarō's face was tight with worry. "You're—"
"Even two against one, I will not lose. Go!"
The sharp command left no room for doubt. Gritting his teeth, Jinnarō shouted, "Yes, Lord Aizen!" He turned, rallying the Sand shinobi to strike against Konoha's defenders.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice thundered. "Kakashi! Stop the Sand and Sound shinobi! Do not let them rampage through the village!"
Kakashi hesitated only a second. Then he tore off the headband covering his left eye, revealing the Sharingan beneath.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." His voice was grim as he turned to the Anbu. "Stay here. Guy—let's go!"
With Might Guy and the other elite jōnin, Kakashi dashed after the enemy.
Inside the barrier, Orochimaru sneered. "So… has the ritual been prepared?"
"Of course," Aizen replied, his lips curving faintly upward beneath his mask. "Everything is proceeding as planned."
Hiruzen's face darkened as Orochimaru abruptly released his kunai from Aizen's throat. In that moment, the old Hokage understood.
"Aizen!" Hiruzen's voice carried both fury and grief. "So it was you… For the sake of seizing the Kazekage's throne, you even had Luo Sha killed?!"
The puzzle pieces fell into place. The Sand and Sound had joined forces to use the Chūnin Exams as a pretext to destroy Konoha.
But Aizen's scheme went further.
Three days ago, the Fourth Kazekage had already died—by Aizen's hand or at least by his order. By letting Orochimaru bear the blame, Aizen not only removed a rival but also earned Konoha's suspicion toward the Snake Sannin. To the Sand, he would appear innocent, a victim of Orochimaru's deception.
And when the dust settled, as the respected second-in-command, he would ascend naturally to the Kazekage's seat.
A ruthless, flawless plan.
But as Sarutobi Hiruzen spat his accusation, Aizen only laughed coldly.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen… my vision is not as small as yours."