Inside the underground cavern.
The Wood Release wreckage outside had yet to be cleared.
Hinata, expressionless, activated the improved Edo Tensei array once more. This time, what she placed at the array's core was the contents taken from the jar belonging to Senju Tobirama.
Clear light flowed again; motes of spiritual crystal gathered elegantly.
Compared to the First Hokage's vibrant, life-filled figure, the form now taking shape was taller, colder. Spiky silver hair, a stern face, deep-blue Sengoku-era armor—precisely the Second Hokage who had once struck fear across the Ninja World as the "Forbidden Jutsu Great Master" and "God of Water."
The dust-crystal solidified completely; Tobirama slowly opened his sharp eyes.
Unlike Hashirama's grogginess upon first awakening, he snapped instantly into analysis, sweeping the cavern like a scalpel before locking onto Hinata.
"An improved Edo Tensei?" he asked, voice calm and low, carrying a researcher's caution.
"Troublesome technique."
Then he looked at Hinata, brows knitting slightly.
"A little Hyuga girl? I remember you."
His gaze brimmed with curiosity.
"So, why summon me this time? To show off your refinements to my jutsu, or to have a dead man solve some problem?"
Hinata spoke.
"This summoning is first to verify the improved formula's effectiveness, second to consult you on questions about the Soul, space, and the essence of energy."
"Consult?" Tobirama folded his arms, tone flat.
"By 'consulting' like this? Fine—seeing as you've greatly optimized my incomplete jutsu. Verification begins, then."
"Let's start with a simple spar."
Instead of striking like Hashirama had, Tobirama lifted a hand, Chakra condensing at his fingertip.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A high-pressure water line shot toward Hinata like a laser, incredibly fast and sharp.
Unhurried, Hinata raised a single finger; flame danced at the tip.
Sss—!
The steel-cutting water jet met the seemingly frail fire and, like snow in spring, vaporized instantly—hardly even steam remained.
Tobirama: "…"
A hairline crack appeared in his composure; Water Severing Wave was one of his proud techniques, erased casually—by fire, no less?
Unconvinced, his hands flashed through seals.
"Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"
He tried to rob her of sight.
Hinata's pale eyes blinked, faintly helpless.
"Won't work on me…"
Tobirama: "…"
He resolved to get serious.
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
He vanished, reappearing behind her, Kunai stabbing toward her back—where, unnoticed, a Flying Thunder God Mark had been set amid the earlier water-mist disturbance.
Yet the Kunai stopped an inch from her clothes, as if plunged into glue; an invisible spiritual barrier held it fast.
Hinata didn't even turn.
"I've picked up a few things about Flying Thunder God."
She flickered, producing five Shadow Clones. The five Clones plus her main body lit up with pale-blue spiritual lines.
Six Hinatas blinked randomly about the cavern, swapping places at extreme speed, leaving after-images everywhere—as though dozens of her moved at once.
Tobirama stood frozen, Kunai in hand, red eyes wide, his stern face shattered and stamped with "Impossible!"
"You… you improved not only Edo Tensei but Flying Thunder God as well? And you know Multiple Shadow Clones?"
His pride as the Great Master of Forbidden Jutsu had never been so battered; he hadn't seen her place a single Flying Thunder God Mark.
Her main body re-formed; the six images merged. Watching the Second Hokage whose worldview seemed shaken, she kindly explained.
"I tweaked how coordinates are anchored—no need for something as bulky as a Kunai."
Tobirama: "…"
He drew a deep breath, forcing himself calm.
"Hmph. Seems the monkey's done well managing Konoha, training a Ninja like you. Then—Soul Domain: your Edo Tensei refinements clearly touch the essence of the Soul."
He sought to salvage pride in one of his last strongholds.
"I do have questions about the Soul," Hinata nodded, asking earnestly.
"How strong is the barrier between the Pure Land and the living world—can it be quantified? Where's the limit of using Chakra as a Soul vessel? Also…"
She rattled off questions, each hitting the core and venturing into realms Tobirama had never deeply pondered.
Listening to her ask, in the same tone one might discuss lunch, things that could overturn the Ninja arts system, the super Genius who'd created countless Forbidden Jutsus felt his CPU about to fry.
He opened his mouth to retort "The secrets of Forbidden Jutsu aren't child's play," but meeting her pure white, sincerely inquisitive eyes, swallowed the words.
He realized most questions had no perfect answers; he could only hedge from experience and guesswork.
What he'd expected as "academic guidance" became complete "academic steamrolling."
Finally, Hinata asked curiously.
"If I keep refining it, could I truly resurrect someone completely?"
Tobirama fell silent a long while. Honestly, he didn't know; the power she'd used to summon him was something he'd never seen. At last he squeezed out a sentence.
"Little Hyuga girl… did you haul me back just to crush a dead man's self-confidence?"
Hinata looked innocently at him.
"Of course not, Nidaime-sama. I'm sincerely asking."
Tobirama: "…"
(Internally: Big brother, I think I finally get the complicated mood you had when you were sent back last time…)
The "pleasant" academic exchange ended with the Second Hokage's life-shaken expression as Hinata released the jutsu. Before dispersing he left her with:
"Konoha's future… handed to a monster like you—who knows if that's blessing or curse. Conduct yourself well, little girl."
The cavern fell silent once more.
Hinata tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Seems Nidaime's understanding of Souls and space is limited. I'll have to run my own experiments to find answers."
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