"Summoning: Impure World Resurrection."
After finishing his greeting, Orochimaru bit his thumb, formed hand seals, and pressed one hand against the ground.
Two coffins rose from the earth, marked with the characters "First" and "Second."
They contained none other than the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
'Clack, clack!'
The coffins opened, and Hashirama and Tobirama stepped out, dressed in armour from the Warring States Period.
They opened their eyes.
"Impure World Resurrection again."
Tobirama spread out his senses, and his expression immediately darkened.
He looked coldly at Orochimaru beside him.
"Is it this man again?"
Hashirama naturally sensed the situation as well. He could not help complaining to his younger brother, "This is all because of that Forbidden Jutsu you created, Tobirama. It looks like we are enemies of Konoha again."
Tobirama fell silent.
Could he truly be blamed for this?
It was Konoha's negligence that had allowed a rogue shinobi to learn such a Forbidden Jutsu.
"Great-grandfather, Second Great-grandfather."
Although Tsunade had already suspected the truth, seeing the two Hokage again still filled her with anger.
Her expression became grim as she stared coldly at Orochimaru.
"So it really was you who kept my Great-grandfather and Second Great-grandfather under your control all this time."
Tsunade had previously attempted to summon her Great-grandfather and Second Great-grandfather using Summoning: Impure World Resurrection.
Both attempts had failed.
The first possibility that came to mind was that Orochimaru had already summoned and controlled them.
After all, Summoning: Impure World Resurrection was still a form of Summoning Jutsu. Once someone had already been summoned by another caster, they could not be summoned again.
Priority was determined by who performed the technique first.
It had nothing to do with Chakra reserves or mastery of the Jutsu.
"It cannot be helped. My strength cannot compare to those two monsters over there, so I can only borrow someone else's power."
Orochimaru licked his lips and spoke leisurely.
"The only person capable of dealing with those two is the First Hokage."
Jiraiya spoke coldly.
"Orochimaru, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
Even after Orochimaru defected, Jiraiya had continued trying to find him during the war, hoping to convince him to change his ways.
"I simply do not wish to be eliminated. I am pursuing eternal life."
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya and spoke calmly.
"If I can understand every Kekkei Genkai, I will truly attain eternal life."
Looking toward Madara, Orochimaru curled his lips.
"Even the Sage's Eye, the Rinnegan, can be artificially created."
"Then can a true Sage also be created? Do you not find that possibility fascinating?"
The Senju, Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Hyūga Clans.
Ancient records suggested that all of these clans might be connected to the Sage of Six Paths.
If their bloodlines were combined, could they revert to their ancestral state and produce another Sage?
That was Orochimaru's goal.
A Sage might be the key to the immortality he had always desired.
"A Sage?"
Jiraiya frowned and stared coldly at Orochimaru.
"Have you lost your mind? How could something like that be possible?"
"Nothing is impossible. The Rinnegan truly exists, which means the Sage of Six Paths must also have existed."
Orochimaru spread his arms, his tone calm and filled with conviction.
"According to legend, the Sage possessed enough power to destroy the world. That represents a fundamental transformation of life itself. Possessing eternal life may not be impossible."
"Your perspective is far too limited, Jiraiya."
"I do not know exactly what you are planning, but I will stop you."
Jiraiya took a deep breath, his tone becoming resolute.
"I will defeat you myself and bring you back to Konoha."
Orochimaru revealed a playful smile.
"Hehehe. Your opponent is not me."
Hashirama's attention was focused on the distant battle.
Watching the fight, he rubbed his head with a troubled expression.
"It is Madara again. And this time, it appears to be his real body. He is even stronger than before."
Tobirama also looked toward the battle, and his expression changed slightly.
"Blood-red steam. The Eight Inner Gates Formation? Opening that technique leads to certain death."
He was naturally familiar with the person fighting Madara.
It was Uzumaki Seiryū, the young man betrothed to his granddaughter Tsunade and his future grandson-in-law.
To think Seiryū had actually opened the Eight Inner Gates Formation, a technique that normally guaranteed death.
Tobirama's expression became serious as he looked at Tsunade.
"Tsunade, why are you standing by while Seiryū uses that technique? Do shinobi of this era not understand the price of opening the Eight Inner Gates Formation?"
Tsunade quickly explained, "Do not worry, Second Great-grandfather. Seiryū's Medical Ninjutsu is very unusual. It can prevent the fatal consequences of opening the Eighth Gate: Gate of Death."
Tobirama was somewhat surprised.
"Prevent the consequences of the Eight Inner Gates Formation?"
For some reason, he recalled what he had seen while travelling through the passage to the Pure Land.
His future grandson-in-law, Uzumaki Seiryū, had appeared inside that passage just like them.
Then, after a flash of light, the boy had vanished.
Could there truly be Medical Ninjutsu capable of reviving the dead?
"Now is not the time for conversation."
Orochimaru interrupted them in a sinister voice.
He formed hand seals and spoke calmly, his tone playful.
"After improving the technique during this period, my current Summoning: Impure World Resurrection is almost perfect. It can restore the full strength you possessed while alive."
"Allow me to witness the power you possessed in your prime."
"Activate!"
As his voice fell, Hashirama brought his palms together and shouted in a low voice.
"Sage Mode!"
'Boom!'
Chakra erupted and swept in every direction, causing everyone who sensed it to feel their hearts tighten.
Sensing the terrifying Chakra, Tobirama looked at Orochimaru, his expression darkening.
"My brother at his prime. To think you improved Summoning: Impure World Resurrection to this extent."
This terrifying Chakra was almost identical to that of Hashirama in his prime.
The God of Shinobi who had once stood above the entire shinobi world had returned.
"Haa."
Hashirama exhaled and looked at the Konoha shinobi before him.
His gaze finally settled on Tsunade, and his expression became helpless and solemn.
"Be careful, Tsunade. I am no weaker now than I was when I was alive. Do everything you can to stop me."
"Sage Art: Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
'Boom, boom, boom!'
The earth shook as a vast forest erupted from the ground.
The trees surged forward with crushing force, twisting and strangling toward everyone in front of Hashirama.
"Super Shinra Tensei!"
Nagato's perception was also extremely sharp, and his expression changed slightly.
Facing the powerful Wood Style rushing toward them, he took a deep breath and mobilised all the Chakra within his body.
He unleashed the Rinnegan's Dōjutsu with all his strength.
'Rumble!'
The vast forest surged forward while an invisible repulsive force swept across everything in its path.
The two powerful Ninjutsu collided head-on, producing a roar that shook the entire area.
Light erupted, and shockwaves swept outward.
The force created by the collision alone drove the experts on the battlefield backward.
Nagato looked at the chaotic battlefield through the smoke and dust, his expression grave.
"Is this the power of the God of Shinobi? Even my full-strength Shinra Tensei could not completely destroy his attack."
Jiraiya appeared beside him and asked solemnly, "Are you all right?"
"I am fine, but I am afraid I am no match for the First Hokage. His strength surpasses mine."
"Be careful. I will deal with Orochimaru. As long as we defeat the caster, Summoning: Impure World Resurrection will be released."
Jiraiya focused his senses on Orochimaru's position and rushed toward him.
Tobirama flashed onto a protruding rock and looked toward Nagato.
"Is that the previous wielder of the Rinnegan? Has he become a shinobi of Konoha?"
Before he could think further, his body moved on its own.
'Swish, swish, swish!'
He drew several kunai marked with the Flying Raijin seal from his ninja tool pouch and threw them in every direction.
Then his figure flashed and vanished.
When Tobirama reappeared, he was already close to Ryota.
He immediately launched an attack.
This was not Tobirama's decision. Orochimaru was controlling his movements.
"You transplanted my brother's flesh as well? You Uchiha even dared commit such treachery!"
Tobirama's sharp perception allowed him to discover that Ryota had transplanted Hashirama's cells.
The discovery filled him with fury.
He already held a prejudice against the Uchiha Clan, and now that prejudice had become even stronger.
Even if Orochimaru had not been controlling him, Tobirama would have wanted to kill the Uchiha standing before him.
Watching Tobirama approach, Black Zetsu frowned.
"So we have been targeted."
Tobirama's killing intent left Black Zetsu unwilling to take any chances.
It had every reason to believe that Tobirama intended to destroy both Ryota and Black Zetsu together.
However, Orochimaru's Summoning: Impure World Resurrection was refined enough to restore Hashirama's full strength from when he was alive.
If Black Zetsu could obtain that technique, it might be possible to revive the Ten-Tails even without capturing the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails directly.
"Roar!"
Under Black Zetsu's control, Ryota moved as well.
The half-body Susanoo emerged once again and blocked Tobirama's Water Style Ninjutsu.
'Boom! Boom! Boom!'
On another part of the battlefield, an enormous Wood Style giant advanced through the smoke and dust.
Every step it took caused the earth to tremble.
Tsunade stood atop the wooden giant's head with Sage Mode active and the Yin Seal released.
Looking at Hashirama ahead, she spoke seriously.
"Great-grandfather, we will do everything we can to stop you. We will also defeat Orochimaru. This is my responsibility as the Fourth Hokage."
"The Fourth Hokage?"
Hashirama appeared surprised before laughing heartily.
"As expected of my granddaughter. I leave Konoha in your hands!"
Tsunade's current strength was formidable and had almost caught up to his own.
She had also become more decisive and resolute than before.
Under Tsunade's leadership, Konoha would continue to improve.
Hashirama felt deeply reassured.
'Swish, swish, swish!'
Fugaku, Nagato, and Sakumo also appeared nearby, intending to fight Hashirama together.
Tsunade alone could not stop him.
The terrifying Chakra emanating from Hashirama made their hearts tighten. Even if they joined forces, they might not be able to defeat him.
However, they could only fight with everything they had.
'Rumble!'
On another battlefield, Seiryū and Madara exchanged another attack.
A terrifying roar reverberated through the surroundings, and the resulting shockwave forced both of them backward.
'Boom, boom, boom!'
The Complete Body Susanoo stamped its feet against the ground to disperse the force, causing the surrounding earth to tremble.
It only managed to stop after retreating more than a dozen steps.
Standing within the crystal at the centre of the Complete Body Susanoo's forehead, Madara looked toward the distant battlefield.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"That Chakra is truly familiar. I almost feel like fighting Hashirama again."
Seiryū steadied himself as the blood-red Chakra aura around him flickered.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Then go. I am not stopping you."
Madara sneered.
"After I deal with you, I will fight Hashirama."
Seiryū clicked his tongue.
"Stop boasting. I have not even become serious yet."
"The Dragon Vein? I also wish to see the power you possess after completely controlling it. This will be the true pinnacle battle of the shinobi world. Whoever wins will become the strongest shinobi alive."
"The pinnacle battle of the shinobi world? We are nowhere near that level."
Seiryū continued, "You have not become the Ten-Tails' Six Paths jinchūriki, and I have not become the Soul King. How could this be called the pinnacle?"
"Although once I become the Soul King, I suppose even a Kekkei Mōra wielder would be no match for me."
Madara's eyes flashed when he heard those words.
"You truly know a great deal. Did you also enter the Uchiha Clan's Naka Shrine and read the stone tablet?"
Seiryū grinned.
"Guess."
"What is the Soul King? And what is a Kekkei Mōra?"
"Guess again."
Madara did not continue questioning him.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes.
"No matter what you know or what you intend to accomplish, there is only one outcome for you today. No one can stop my plan."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Madara formed hand seals, and white smoke rose across the battlefield.
A monster comparable in size to a Tailed Beast appeared.
Wings spread from its back, fangs protruded from its mouth, and its slender body possessed long, powerful arms tipped with sharp claws.
It was Satori, the monster from the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
The concentric rings of the Rinnegan appeared in Satori's eyes, making it clear that Madara was controlling it with Genjutsu.
A sinister and violent Chakra no weaker than that of a Tailed Beast radiated from Satori.
It also carried a strange and unsettling presence that seemed capable of stirring negative emotions.
"You speak as though you are the only one with a summon."
Seiryū looked at the ferocious Satori and performed the Summoning Jutsu as well.
"Come out, Ryūha!"
He summoned the small Dragon Vein he had left behind in Konoha as a precaution.
'Yip, yip.'
As soon as it appeared, the small Dragon Vein chirped happily and circled Seiryū.
It was clearly delighted to see him.
Seiryū patted Ryūha's head and pointed toward Satori.
"That one is your opponent. Tear it apart for me."
'Yip?'
Ryūha tilted its head blankly before nodding.
It had to obey its master's orders completely.
'Hum.'
A powerful Chakra fluctuation erupted from Ryūha's body.
Its originally purple Chakra gradually turned dark red, while its body rapidly expanded.
"Roar!"
A dragon's roar shook the surroundings.
In the blink of an eye, Ryūha transformed from a tiny serpent into a majestic dragon.
Its body stretched for more than a hundred metres, making it noticeably larger than Satori.
This was Ryūha's true form.
"Roar!"
Ryūha roared again and opened its mouth as purple Chakra gathered inside.
A Cero tore through the air and blasted toward Satori.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)