"Uchiha Itachi!"
Sasuke's eyes burned crimson, rage surging straight to his brain.
That night—he had lost everything.
And the man who caused it all stood right in front of him.
Without hesitation, without restraint, Sasuke charged.
"Hey!"
Kakashi hadn't expected things to spiral so quickly—but he also didn't dare act rashly.
Obito.
Orochimaru.
Kakuzu.
Uchiha Itachi.
Jūzō.
Just running through the names made his scalp tingle.
No wonder Ren had been acting strangely before they departed. He had known exactly what they would face.
How were they supposed to fight this?
Kakashi's hand slid into his pouch, fingers brushing against a Flying Thunder God kunai Ren had given him. At the same time, he muttered quietly—
"Karin. Now. It's bad."
She nodded subtly.
First mission, and it's this intense?
On the other side, Kakuzu glanced at Sasuke and smirked at Itachi.
"Looks like you. That your little brother? Want me to deal with him? Quick and painless."
"My affairs are none of your concern."
Itachi stepped forward instantly, red eyes flashing. He caught Sasuke's wrist mid-strike, face cold.
"This is all you've improved? Disappointing."
"Don't preach to me! You don't deserve to!"
Sasuke roared, Sharingan activating unconsciously.
"I've lived for one reason—killing you! You want my eyes? Then come take them!"
But rage alone could not bridge the gap.
The massacre hadn't just destroyed the Uchiha—it had erased centuries of accumulated training methods and combat philosophy.
Sasuke was talented.
But he lacked the foundation.
He didn't even fully understand the power in his own eyes.
"Decent talent. Reckless execution."
Obito observed lazily, gaze shifting toward Kakashi.
"Long time, Kakashi."
"…Obito."
Kakashi's voice was steady this time.
Years ago, the truth had shattered him.
Now—
His resolve had hardened.
"If possible, I'll bring you back," had become—
"You will answer for your crimes."
"This time," Kakashi said clearly, raising his kunai, "I'm taking you in."
Obito tilted his head slightly.
"Try."
He glanced at Orochimaru.
"Let's see what he can do."
Orochimaru formed hand seals instantly.
A coffin burst from the ground.
"Perfect timing to test the results."
The lid creaked open.
Silver hair.
Red eyes.
Blue armor over a black combat suit.
And a Leaf headband bearing the old spiral emblem.
Kakashi froze.
Naruto blinked.
"Sensei… why does he look familiar?"
"…Statues," Karin muttered darkly. "Second Hokage."
Naruto's jaw dropped.
"But he's dead!"
"Death is negotiable," Karin muttered.
She remembered overhearing Ren and Tsunade once—
"Wouldn't it be convenient if Edo Tensei were standardized? No food, no wages, no sleep. Perfect labor force."
"You deserve to be hung from a lamppost."
Now it wasn't funny.
Tobirama's consciousness returned swiftly.
"Edo Tensei…? Leaf shinobi? And… rogue ninja?"
He felt the compulsion.
Target—Leaf team.
Rage flared instantly.
"Move!"
Kunai rained down.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
The environment of the Land of Waves amplified the technique immensely.
Kakashi and Karin raised Earth Walls in tandem—but they shattered immediately.
In an instant, Tobirama appeared behind them.
Flying Thunder God.
His kunai thrust forward—
"Dodge, fool!"
He shouted at them while attacking.
Karin's chains erupted.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
They wrapped around Tobirama.
He recognized it instantly.
"Uzumaki?"
Kakashi locked blades with him.
"Borrowed eye," Kakashi grunted.
"Your friend must be dead. Uchiha never surrender their eyes."
"…He's behind you."
Naruto shouted innocently—
"He's not dead! He turned bad!"
Tobirama's eye twitched.
"Born evil, Uchiha!"
Then he lowered his voice rapidly.
"He can't suppress my will. I'll guide you. React fast. I'll call out Flying Thunder God coordinates—"
"We just need to stall," Kakashi replied.
"Stall? You think backup matters? I—"
"If someone else uses Flying Thunder God?"
A calm voice cut in.
Tobirama froze.
The pressure in his body wavered.
Obito stiffened.
"…Ren."
Ren walked forward unhurriedly.
Each step seemed to press down on Akatsuki's hearts.
"Lively gathering."
He glanced at Kakashi.
"You look rough."
"I'll live."
Ren's gaze shifted.
"Edo Tensei, huh? Impressive. Too bad Pain isn't here. Hard to entertain me with just this."
Obito's jaw tightened.
"You're still arrogant."
"And you still misunderstand yourself."
Ren raised two fingers.
Tobirama's eyes widened.
"Flying Thunder God—"
The air distorted.
Dozens of Root operatives materialized.
Hidden Mist shinobi appeared alongside them.
"Leaf… and Mist?"
Tobirama blinked.
The world had changed more than he'd expected.
"Uchiha Obito!"
Mei Terumi's voice rang out.
Zabuza and the others advanced on Jūzō.
Root members surrounded Kakuzu.
Hikari stepped forward—no mask.
Her eyes met Itachi's.
He took half a step back involuntarily.
Sasuke stared.
Another Sharingan.
Another Mangekyō.
Who was she?
On the battlefield—
Ren faced Tobirama and Obito simultaneously.
Fast.
Strong.
Teleporting freely.
Neither could pin him down.
Tobirama observed everything.
Mist efficiently suppressing Jūzō.
Root toying with Kakuzu.
And—
Hikari overwhelming Itachi.
That Uchiha woman's taijutsu was lethal perfection.
When she unleashed Amaterasu—
She reshaped it.
Black flames coiled upward—
Forming a blazing dragon.
Even Itachi stared in disbelief.
Amaterasu… could do that?
Back with Ren—
Tobirama was blasted through the chest.
Obito's arm severed.
Tobirama regenerated.
"This is the moment! Seal me! Use Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags—"
Ren didn't move.
"Relax."
He smiled faintly.
Then—
Chakra exploded outward.
The ground split.
Water surged.
Vines erupted.
Towering trees grew instantly, forming an ancient forest.
"Wood Release…?"
Tobirama stared.
"Where did you get this?!"
Ren shrugged lightly.
"Thank the man beside you."
He gestured at Obito.
"He used it on me once. Activated mine."
Awakened naturally?
Tobirama's gaze burned.
So that resemblance…
It wasn't imagination.
Then—
A massive crimson Susanoo manifested nearby.
Hikari floated within.
Tobirama's face twitched.
Senju Wood Release.
Uchiha Susanoo.
Side by side.
"…Is this some kind of cosmic joke?"
He looked between Ren and Hikari.
The aura.
The chakra.
The synergy.
"…Don't tell me…"
He swallowed.
"Hashirama and Madara… walked the same path?"
And this time—
Literally together?
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