"Shisui, bring it down!" Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately called out upon noticing Shisui's arrival on the battlefield.
His staff had already been knocked away by the Seven-Tails' insect-like legs, and the beast was rapidly ascending, clearly intending to use its flight advantage to suppress the ninjas below.
Hiruzen, lacking effective aerial jutsu, had no choice but to rely on Shisui.
Shisui, of course, didn't hesitate.
He moved to a suitable position, activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, and summoned his Susanoo.
This time, the Susanoo wasn't for defense—it was for offense!
The ribcage of the Susanoo opened, and a massive, glowing orange magatama formed within it.
In the next moment, the magatama was plucked from the ribcage by the Susanoo's giant hand and hurled at the Seven-Tails with incredible speed.
The orange light streaked across the night sky like lightning, striking the unprepared Seven-Tails!
A blinding flash erupted in the dark sky, and the tremendous force of the impact sent the beast plummeting to the ground.
Its massive body crashed into the earth, sending shockwaves of dust and debris in all directions.
Despite the chaos, Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, charged forward instead of retreating.
Shielded by Enma, he plunged into the expanding shockwave, rushing straight toward the Seven-Tails.
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"
He quickly formed hand seals and slammed his hands onto the ground.
Chakra surged from his palms, transforming the ground beneath the Seven-Tails into a vast, muddy swamp.
Due to the tailed beast's immense weight, its body began to sink into the mire.
No matter how much it flapped its wing-like tails, it couldn't free itself.
"As expected of the Professor. Even a basic Earth Style jutsu can be used to such great effect," Orochimaru remarked, standing atop the Seven-Tails' head.
Watching the green Susanoo and Hiruzen closing in, a sinister smile crept across Orochimaru's face.
"In that case, let me give you a second gift." As he spoke, his hands moved rapidly through a series of hand seals.
An eerie aura filled the battlefield as two wooden coffins rose vertically from the ground in front of Orochimaru.
Seeing the coffins, both Hiruzen and Shisui felt a sense of foreboding.
Hiruzen, in particular, recognized the technique.
As a direct disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, he was familiar with the forbidden jutsu his teacher had created.
This scene looked all too familiar...
"Damn it, it can't be that technique, can it?" Hiruzen stared at the coffins, silently praying that it wasn't what he thought it was.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru seemed oblivious to his teacher's prayers.
Under Orochimaru's control, the coffins slowly opened, revealing the figures inside.
"That's... the First and Second Hokage?!" Every ninja on the battlefield, including Shisui, wore expressions of disbelief as they saw the two figures.
They glanced between the figures in front of Orochimaru and the Hokage Monument in the distance.
The resemblance was uncanny!
The only difference was that the bodies of the two Hokage were covered in dense, crack-like patterns.
"Is this a joke...?"
"Orochimaru actually summoned the First and Second Hokage..."
The ninjas exchanged uneasy glances, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
"What's going on, Lord Third?" Shisui appeared beside Hiruzen, his expression serious.
Hiruzen's face was dark as he explained, "This is the Impure World Reincarnation, a forbidden jutsu created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama-sensei. It summons the souls of the dead from the Pure Land to fight for the caster. I never thought Orochimaru would secretly learn this technique."
Hiruzen's heart burned with anger toward Orochimaru.
How many things had this former student done behind his back?
Hearing this, Shisui's expression grew even more grave.
After all, the strength of the First and Second Hokage was legendary throughout the ninja world.
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, was the God of Shinobi, a super-ninja who dominated an era.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was the undisputed King of Forbidden Jutsu, having created half of the techniques in the Scroll of Seals.
More importantly, these two were the founders of Konoha—figures revered by every villager.
Having such legendary figures as enemies would undoubtedly deal a massive blow to morale.
Perhaps sensing Shisui's concern, Hiruzen quickly added, "Don't worry too much. The strength of those reincarnated through this technique is limited by the quality of the sacrifices used. Generally, they won't exceed their strength in life. Moreover, the technique has a weakness. If we kill the caster, the reincarnated souls will be released."
Hiruzen's voice was filled with killing intent.
This time, he was truly resolved to kill.
Orochimaru's heinous actions had completely enraged him.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru seemed completely unaware—or perhaps he simply didn't care about his teacher's feelings.
He gazed down at the ninjas with a mocking expression. "Although I've completely erased their wills, it should still be quite entertaining to watch the villagers of Konoha witness their beloved former Hokage destroy the village they once protected with their lives."
With a crazed expression, he waved his hands and shouted, "Go! Destroy the village you once gave your lives to protect! Crush this rotting windmill!"
As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, Hiruzen's furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Stop this madness, Orochimaru!!" Hiruzen's figure darted through the ruins, wielding the Adamantine Staff, and in an instant, he was in front of Orochimaru, bringing the staff down with full force!
But at the same moment, a blue figure flashed out from one of the coffins.
A massive wave of water appeared out of nowhere, crashing down like a tidal wave and forcing Hiruzen back, turning half the battlefield into an ocean!
"This is Tobirama-sensei's Water Style!" Hiruzen quickly retreated, landing on a collapsed wall, his expression grim as he watched the scene unfold.
But worse was yet to come.
After Tobirama's stunning display of Water Style, the figure in red armor from the other coffin also moved.
With a blank expression, he clapped his hands together, and thick, dense tree roots erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling as they surged toward the surrounding area!
"Is this the power of the former Hokage?" Shisui stared at the transformed battlefield, his heart filled with awe.
Only now did he truly realize the gap between himself and the Hokage-level ninjas.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Danzo, who had been observing everything with his Byakugan, couldn't help but frown.
"Orochimaru actually pulled out the Impure World Reincarnation, his trump card... This is getting troublesome."
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