Akio couldn't be more familiar with the Reanimation Jutsu.
Back when he first learned it from Tobirama, he failed to connect to the underworld because the Sage of Six Paths had blocked him.
More than a year ago, after stabilizing his skyrocketing power from mastering Kekkei Mōra, Akio tried again but failed once more. After all, the underworld was the Sage's domain.
"Damn you, old Six Paths geezer. Just wait until I hit max level, then I'll drag you out of the afterlife and beat you up a hundred times over!"
Inside the space, Akio grit his teeth as he watched Orochimaru easily perform the jutsu.
And as if deliberately mocking him, Orochimaru summoned three coffins, arranged in a neat triangle.
Each was labeled simply: No.1, No.2, No.3.
"This jutsu… we must stop him!" Hiruzen roared, clearly recognizing the technique after all, the Book of Seals was guarded by the Hokage of every generation.
At once, a barrage of jutsu erupted from the assembled shinobi. But Orochimaru calmly formed hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Rampart!"
Not too much, not too little, just enough to perfectly block the onslaught from the Anbu.
But Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Got him!"
From a hidden corner, a massive Fūma Shuriken burst through the dust, heading straight for the frontmost coffin. It was too late to intercept.
Orochimaru's face darkened. "As expected of my teacher, your battle sense never dulls. Looks like I'll have to"
Before he could finish, the shuriken made a sudden, unnatural curve, straight toward his forehead.
Orochimaru ducked in alarm, a few strands of his long hair sliced clean off.
"As expected of my teacher… Wait, the target was me?"
Hiruzen blinked in confusion. "???"
I didn't make it curve!
In the void, Akio chuckled quietly, he'd secretly manipulated gravity.
He was simply curious. The back coffins labeled "1" and "2" were obviously Hashirama and Tobirama.
But the front one marked "3"… Hiruzen was still alive. So was it the Third Kazekage? The Third Raikage?
The group tensed as the rear two coffins slowly opened.
"It's…"
"The First and Second Hokage!" an Anbu shouted.
"Hashirama and Tobirama… long time no see," Akio sighed. "Well, this trip wasn't a waste after all."
"This is… the Reanimation Jutsu?"
Tobirama was the first to grasp the situation.
Hashirama glanced around, stretching his limbs. "Tobirama, this time it wasn't you summoning me, it looks like we were both called together."
Then, noticing Hiruzen, he smiled. "Monkey? You've grown old. So many years have passed…"
"Lord First…" Hiruzen's expression was complex.
"Orochimaru, how dare you toy with the souls of the dead! Where did you even learn"
He froze mid-sentence as the front coffin began to creak open.
"Has the plan succeeded?" a voice came from within. "No… this isn't Rinne Rebirth?"
Akio's face hardened. Emerging from the coffin was none other than Uchiha Madara.
"How did Orochimaru even get Madara's cells? Judging from his words, the 'plan' seems identical to the original timeline only this time, Akatsuki's the one executing it. Maybe they handed Madara's genetic material to Orochimaru. That would explain his defection. And with his current strength… don't tell me he fused both Hashirama and Madara's cells?"
"If he goes on like this, he'll grow strong enough to rival me once he develops the Rinnegan."
Akio sighed. Science Lord Orochimaru, can't mess with that guy.
"But wait… Madara's coffin was labeled '3' and placed between Hashirama and Tobirama. So… he's the little brother now?"
Akio's serious thoughts began to wander again.
Outside, the three resurrected legends had already begun "catching up."
"Madara, it's been a while hahaha!"
Madara glanced coldly at Hashirama, ignored him completely, and turned to Tobirama. "So this is your filthy jutsu, huh?"
Only to be ignored in return.
"Big Brother, focus on the current situation first," Tobirama said flatly.
Their relationship triangle was instantly clear.
Scanning Hiruzen's group, Tobirama saw only two familiar faces, Jiraiya and Sakumo.
"Monkey, what's going on? Where's second grandfather?"
Hiruzen's face darkened. "Your forbidden technique was stolen by my student Orochimaru… and as for Elder Akio he passed away three years ago."
"That old man died?!" Madara shouted. "About time!"
"Impossible," Hashirama murmured in shock.
Tobirama, however, stayed calm. "Did anyone actually see the body?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "No… but that's what Tsunade said. The slug contract with him was severed."
"I see," Tobirama said, not pressing further.
"The caster is Orochimaru, huh? A remarkable genius indeed." His tone shifted. "But to summon all three of us at once, and grant us more than half our strength, you've overestimated yourself. After all, this jutsu was my creation!"
He prepared to act, only for his body to suddenly freeze.
"I believe I can control you," Orochimaru said slowly, his eyes gleaming.
Madara flexed his arms. "I think not."
"Hashirama, stop pretending. Let's finish our fight right here!"
Hashirama chuckled. "Madara, this isn't the time or place. Let's settle things afterward."
"You bastard…"
The two carried on as if no one else existed, while Tobirama looked utterly defeated. He was the one who'd boasted earlier and now, he was the only one completely immobilized.
Orochimaru frowned, forming the Ram seal. The control talismans glowed brighter, tightening their hold.
"A truly remarkable successor," Hashirama said as his movements ceased again. "Monkey, looks like this will be trouble for you."
Hiruzen's expression hardened. "Jiraiya, Sakumo this time, we fight with everything we have. Everyone else, fall back! You can't interfere in this battle!"
The Anbu who'd come with Sakumo had officially become spectators.
"Haha! Hashirama, already giving up?" Madara laughed. "Looks like I win this time!"
He was about to activate the Rinnegan and break free when Orochimaru suddenly gathered natural energy, entering Sage Mode.
"So hard to control…" he muttered, exhaling. Then he reached for a kunai etched with a sealing talisman and brought it toward Madara's neck.
Halfway through the motion, another hand appeared out of thin air, snatching the kunai away.
"After watching this whole show, it's finally my turn to shine," came Akio's voice.
Orochimaru instantly leapt back several meters. "Elder Akio, you really are still alive."
"Oh? So, you've already dug up my grave?"
He smirked, turning to Madara. "And you surprise, surprise. I'm not dead after all."
Madara's expression twisted. "You damned old man…"
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