Chapter 278: A Flashy Entrance
Masahiko was more than familiar with the Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu).
After learning it from Tobirama back then, he had failed to successfully connect with the Pure Land because of the Sage of Six Paths' interference.
About a year or so ago, after stabilizing the explosive increase in strength from his Kekkei Mora, Masahiko tried one more time, but still ended in failure... The Pure Land was, after all, the Sage of Six Paths' home turf.
"Damn old man Six Paths. Just you wait until my 'main account' reaches max level. I'll drag you out of the Pure Land and beat you a hundred times over!"
Inside the space, seeing Orochimaru use this jutsu so easily, Masahiko gritted his teeth in hatred.
Moreover, as if corresponding one-to-one, Orochimaru summoned three coffins, arranged in a triangular formation.
They were labeled Coffin No. 1, Coffin No. 2, and Coffin No. 3... That's exactly what was written on them.
"This jutsu... we must stop him!" Hiruzen shouted loudly. He clearly knew what this ninjutsu was; after all, the ones who guarded Konoha's Scroll of Seals were the successive Hokage.
In an instant, an overwhelming barrage of ninjutsu was unleashed by everyone. Orochimaru, however, calmly formed hand seals. "Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"
Neither too much nor too little, it perfectly blocked the ninjutsu released by the Anbu crowd.
Hiruzen's heart, however, settled. "Got him!"
From a hidden corner, a giant Fuma Shuriken broke through the dust, striking directly toward the foremost coffin. It was already too late to intercept it.
Orochimaru's expression changed. "As expected of Teacher, rich in combat experience. It seems I can only..."
Halfway through his sentence, he found that the Fuma Shuriken took a bizarre turn and flew straight toward his forehead.
Orochimaru hurriedly ducked, having half his hair chopped off.
"As expected of Teacher... So I was the target?"
Hiruzen: "???"
I didn't make it turn!
Inside the space, Masahiko snickered. He had just covertly utilized gravitational force.
He was truly curious. The two coffins in the back were labeled 'One' and 'Two'. Barring any surprises, they should be Hashirama and Tobirama.
But the coffin in the front was labeled 'Three'. Hiruzen wasn't dead yet, so was it the Third Kazekage or the Third Raikage?
Hiruzen's group went on guard. The two coffins in the back slowly opened.
"It's actually..."
"It's the First and Second Hokage!" Someone among the Anbu exclaimed in shock.
"Hashirama and Tobirama, long time no see..." Masahiko sighed. This trip wasn't a waste.
"Is this... Edo Tensei?"
Inside the coffins, Tobirama was the first to understand the situation.
Hashirama looked left and right, stretching his limbs. "Tobirama, you aren't the one summoning me this time, but we were summoned together?"
He then noticed Hiruzen. "Is that Monkey? You've grown old too. It seems many years have passed."
"Lord First..." Hiruzen's expression was complex.
"Orochimaru, you actually dare to toy with the souls of the dead! How did you get your hands on Edo Tensei..."
Before the questioning was finished, Hiruzen's words caught in his throat, because the foremost coffin had already slowly opened.
"Has the plan succeeded?" The person in the coffin spoke slowly. "No, shouldn't it be Rinne Rebirth?"
Inside the space, Masahiko's expression finally turned grave, because the person appearing in the third coffin was Madara Uchiha!
"Where did Orochimaru get Madara's cells? Listening to Madara's words, the 'plan' shouldn't be any different from the original story, just that it's being executed by this Akatsuki. Was it also Akatsuki who gave Madara's bodily tissues to Orochimaru? Saying it like that... the defection makes sense. Also, with Orochimaru being this strong, could he have simultaneously fused Hashirama and Madara's cells?"
"In a few more years, if he produces a Rinnegan, wouldn't he be able to match me?"
Masahiko was speechless. Uncle Snake of Science... can't afford to provoke him, just can't.
"Then the question comes: Madara's coffin is labeled 'Three' and placed in the middle of Hashirama and Tobirama. Does that mean he... is the third wheel?"
Masahiko thought about serious matters for a while, and then his train of thought started to derail.
Outside, the three dead men reanimated by Edo Tensei had already begun "catching up."
"Madara, long time no see, haha."
Madara cast a faint glance at Hashirama and decisively ignored him, instead looking at Tobirama. "This should be your jutsu, you bastard."
Afterward, he was ignored by Tobirama...
"Brother, let's deal with the trouble in front of us first."
The love triangle between these three was clear at a glance.
Tobirama scanned Hiruzen's side; only Jiraiya and Sakumo were familiar figures.
"Monkey, what is the situation now? Where is Second Grandfather?"
Hiruzen revealed a sorrowful expression. "Your forbidden jutsu was secretly learned by my disciple Orochimaru. As for Elder Masahiko, he passed away three years ago."
"The old geezer is dead?!" Madara shouted loudly. "That old geezer is finally dead too!"
"Second Grandfather... how is that possible?" Hashirama revealed a look of shock.
Tobirama was actually very calm. "Did anyone see the body?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "No, but Tsunade said this. The contract between Elder Masahiko and Katsuyu was severed."
"Is that so?" Tobirama asked no more.
"The caster is Orochimaru? A remarkable genius indeed." Tobirama turned his head and spoke, "However, you actually dare to reanimate the three of us at the same time, and even gave us over half of our power. You are overestimating your capabilities too much. Edo Tensei is a jutsu I developed!"
Tobirama was just about to move, but found his body suddenly stiffen, unable to move at all.
"I think I can control you," Orochimaru, who hadn't spoken until now, said slowly.
On the side, Madara moved around a bit. "I think not."
"Hashirama, stop pretending. Let's fight again!"
Hashirama smiled and shook his head, no longer pretending to be controlled. "Madara, the current situation isn't suitable for us to spar. Let's resolve things here first."
"You guy..."
The two acted as if nothing was wrong, while Tobirama wanted to cry but had no tears. He was the one who talked big, but in the end, he was the only one who couldn't move at all.
Orochimaru revealed a grave expression. His right hand formed the Hare seal, and an even stronger binding force was imposed on the two.
"Truly a remarkable junior," Hashirama spoke. He also couldn't move anymore.
"Monkey, I am afraid we are going to cause you trouble this time!"
Hiruzen's face looked grave as he looked at Jiraiya and Sakumo. "We have to fight desperately this time. Everyone else, evacuate! This is not a battle you can interfere in!"
The Anbu who followed Sakumo successfully played the role of mere spectators.
"Haha, Hashirama, is this all you've got?" Madara burst into laughter. "It seems I win this time..."
Madara was just about to switch to the Rinnegan to break free of the binding, but Orochimaru had just finished gathering senjutsu chakra, transforming into Sage Mode...
"Truly difficult to control." Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief. His left hand slowly took out a kunai with a talisman attached, about to press it into Madara's neck.
Halfway there, the kunai was snatched away by another hand that appeared out of thin air.
"Having watched the show for so long, it is time for me to make a flashy entrance." Masahiko's voice appeared.
Orochimaru rapidly retreated a few meters. "Senior Masahiko, you really aren't dead yet."
"What, have you dug up my grave?"
"Also, Madara, I'm not dead. Are you surprised? Did you expect this?"
"Damn old geezer..." Madara gritted his teeth and turned his head.
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