Chapter 41: Tobirama: I Had a Bad Feeling About You from the Very First Look.
"Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!"
With Orochimaru's hoarse declaration, three coffins bearing the numbers "One," "Two," and "Four," radiating a dense, ominous aura, rose slowly from beneath the ground like specters ascending from the abyss, accompanied by billowing smoke and dirt!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The three coffins stood heavily in the center of the barrier, like three cold tombstones, exuding a suffocating silence.
"The first... the second..."
Orochimaru's snake-like pupils glinted with cruel, excited light. He savored the growing shock, pain, and rage spreading across the face of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Teacher, guess who... might be inside?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's body trembled slightly. His eyes, which had witnessed countless vicissitudes, were filled with an almost unbearable pain. He stared fixedly at the two coffins, his lips quivering as a horrifying suspicion took shape in his mind.
"No... impossible... Orochimaru! You madman! How dare you..."
The Third Hokage's voice was hoarse, choked with fury and grief.
"Hehehe... why wouldn't I dare?"
Orochimaru licked his lips, his smile twisted.
"This is a 'surprise' grand enough for a funeral worthy of you, the 'Professor of Ninjutsu'! Now then, the third one..."
The moment Orochimaru's chakra was about to pour into the third coffin—
"Don't even think about it!"
The Third Hokage erupted with astonishing momentum! Though aged, his resolve as the "God of Shinobi" remained intact! In an instant, he summoned his summoning beast, Enma, transforming him into the Adamantine Staff.
His staff shot forward, extending with a piercing shriek, and slammed violently into the yet-unsummoned "Four" coffin!
BOOM—!!!
The tremendous force shattered the "Four" coffin into splinters! Wood chips flew everywhere! A blurry humanoid shape barely visible inside dissipated before it could fully form.
"Tch... quick reflexes."
Orochimaru clicked his tongue, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper malice.
"But... having the first two is more than enough!"
He shifted his hand seals, and powerful chakra surged into the two remaining coffins!
"Open!"
The coffin lids crashed down!
Amidst the swirling dust, two figures in ancient battle armor slowly stepped out from within.
On the left stood a man with a resolute face, long black hair tied behind his head, clad in red layered armor. His gaze was calm yet carried the authority to survey all beneath heaven—the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju!
On the right stood a man with silver, needle-like hair and a stern countenance, also clad in blue layered armor. His eyes were sharp as blades, filled with scrutiny and coldness—the Second Hokage, the Master of Forbidden Arts, Tobirama Senju!
Their bodies bore the characteristic cracks of Impure World Reincarnation, and their eyes were vacant and lifeless, like exquisite puppets.
"Lord Hashirama... Lord Tobirama..."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, gazed upon these two former leaders who had built Konoha and guided his growth, now standing before him in such a desecrated form, turned into weapons by his own disciple... The overwhelming grief crashed over him like a tsunami!
This old man, who had weathered countless storms, could no longer hold back. Hot, murky tears streamed down his weathered face like broken pearls.
"OROCHIMARU!!!"
The Third Hokage's voice roared like an enraged lion, dripping with blood, tears, and killing intent.
"How dare you defile the dead like this! How dare you desecrate the founders of Konoha!"
He pointed his Adamantine Staff at Orochimaru, trembling slightly from the sheer intensity of his wrath.
Orochimaru watched the Third Hokage's anguished, tear-streaked face and wore an expression of perverse delight and satisfaction. This was exactly what he wanted!
"Hehehe... Teacher, your expression is truly moving..."
Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely, running his long tongue over his lips.
"Don't rush. This is only the beginning. Soon, you'll be able to reunite with the esteemed First and Second Hokage... forever!"
However, just as Orochimaru was reveling in the Third Hokage's suffering, his peripheral vision caught sight of Rubik standing diagonally behind the Third Hokage.
That kid...
Unlike the Third Hokage, Rubik showed no trace of sorrow, anger, or shock. Instead, a faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
The smile was subtle but unmistakable. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and deep within his eyes seemed to flicker with something indescribable... excitement? Anticipation?
It was as if a hunter had finally seen his long-awaited prey fall perfectly into a carefully laid trap.
This eerie smile formed a jarring, almost dissonant contrast with the Third Hokage's heart-wrenching grief!
Orochimaru's smug expression froze instantly.
A faint, almost imperceptible unease crept into his heart.
Why? Why that expression? Facing the reanimated First and Second Hokage, facing this almost inescapable deadlock... what gave this kid the right to smile?
Orochimaru's snake-like pupils locked onto that faint smile on Rubik's face, desperately trying to decipher its meaning.
This Uzumaki Rubik—from their very first meeting, he had defied expectations time and again. And now, in the face of the Impure World Reincarnation, this abnormal smile only magnified the unease festering in Orochimaru's heart.
"Uzumaki Rubik..."
Orochimaru's voice dropped, laced with barely concealed vigilance and curiosity.
"What... are you smiling at?"
"Nothing."
Rubik's voice was calm.
"I just think the timing is right."
The words were cryptic, yet they sent alarm bells ringing wildly in Orochimaru's mind! Timing is right? Right for what?!
The Third Hokage overheard Rubik as well. Suppressing his grief and wiping the tears from his face, he looked at Rubik with a hint of confusion, but more so with resolve. Whatever Rubik had in mind, they had to face the immediate crisis first!
The reanimated bodies of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, slowly raised their hands under Orochimaru's control, their gazes locking onto Hiruzen Sarutobi and Rubik. An overwhelming oppressive presence filled the entire Four Violet Flames Formation!
Hashirama looked around, frowning slightly, a trace of confusion in his voice:
"This is... Konoha? It feels... different."
His eyes fell on Hiruzen Sarutobi—the wrinkled, tear-streaked face made him pause for a moment, then he broke into a warm, wistful smile.
"Ah, it's you, Hiruzen... you've aged too. Time really does fly."
Tobirama's gaze was far sharper. He immediately sensed the restraints on his body and the foreign chakra emanating from Orochimaru. His cold eyes locked onto Orochimaru, his voice icy as frost:
"An art that toys with the souls of the dead... Impure World Reincarnation! Sarutobi, is this snake-eyed fellow the caster? What a... repulsive technique!"
He made no effort to hide his disdain and disgust for Orochimaru.
Hashirama also turned to look at Orochimaru, a hint of helplessness and reproach in his eyes:
"Toying with the power of departed souls will only bring calamity. I warned you long ago, Tobirama, not to develop such a jutsu..."
He sighed softly, then shifted his gaze back to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Rubik, his eyes becoming gentle and concerned.
"Sarutobi, is Konoha... doing well now? Is everyone in the village safe?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the genuine concern in the eyes of his predecessors—expressions that belonged to them, not mere puppets—and his heart ached even more. Fighting back the tears threatening to spill again, his voice was bitter and heavy:
"Lord First, Lord Second... this disciple... this disciple has failed! I failed to protect the peace of Konoha, allowing the village to fall into such peril, and even disturbing your rest... I have betrayed your expectations!"
He bowed his head deeply, consumed by self-reproach.
"Lord Hokage, there's no need for self-deprecation."
Rubik's calm voice cut through, interrupting the Third Hokage's self-flagellation. His eyes swept over the two reanimated Hokage, his tone steady.
"Konoha's prosperity today is greatly due to your efforts. Compared to that rat hiding in the sewers, you are Konoha's true hero. Now is not the time to lose morale."
Rubik's words jolted Hiruzen Sarutobi. He lifted his head, meeting Rubik's steady gaze. The grief and fury in his heart eased slightly, and his fighting spirit reignited.
However, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, kept his gaze firmly fixed on Rubik. With those sharp crimson eyes, he scrutinized the young man carefully. From the moment he laid eyes on Rubik, Tobirama's attention had been largely drawn to him.
"You..."
Tobirama's voice carried a note of scrutiny and a faint, lingering suspicion, breaking the brief silence.
"Boy, what is your name?"
Rubik met the Second Hokage's piercing stare, his expression composed:
"Uzumaki Rubik."
"Uzumaki?"
Hashirama's eyes lit up at the name, a look of pleasant surprise spreading across his face, his tone growing warmer.
"Are you one of Mito's clansmen?"
He thought of his wife from Uzushiogakure, Uzumaki Mito.
However, Tobirama's frown deepened. He shook his head slightly, his sharp gaze seeming to dissect Rubik's very essence:
"No."
His voice was resolute and final:
"The hair color is wrong, and more importantly..."
Tobirama's eyes bore into Rubik, enunciating each word deliberately:
"Your chakra does possess the distinctive traits of the Uzumaki clan, but far more prominent is a repulsive, cold chakra signature!"
He paused, then continued:
"That is the chakra of the Uchiha! You are... a member of the Uchiha clan, aren't you?!"
BOOM—!!!
The Second Hokage's words crashed like a boulder thrown into a still lake!
The one most shaken was not the First Hokage—who simply wore a look of surprise and confusion—nor was it Rubik himself. The most shaken was the caster of the Impure World Reincarnation—
Orochimaru!
"Wh... what?!"
Orochimaru's smugness and composure shattered instantly! His snake-like pupils contracted into thin slits, trembling like an earthquake, as he stared in utter disbelief at Rubik!
Uchiha?!
Uzumaki Rubik... is a member of the Uchiha clan?!