First Mizukage.
First Kazekage.
Second Mizukage.
Second Kazekage...
There were already six former Kage standing on this battlefield, and when you add the other renowned powerhouses present, there were at least ten individuals with Kage-level strength.
With a lineup like this, even one of the Great Ninja Villages could be effortlessly crushed. Even during the Second Great Ninja War, two allied villages working together wouldn't have stood a chance.
And yet… that Konoha ninja,
He actually said, "As long as the Hokage arrives, this will all be over."
What's more unsettling was that Tobirama Senju noticed the other Konoha shinobi, like Yuhi Kurenai and Nohara Rin, didn't doubt Kakashi's words at all.
"A Hokage with that much trust and authority... I'd like to see him with my own eyes," Tobirama murmured to himself.
But a part of him worried there might be no chance to see him, because his older brother, Hashirama Senju, might've already been reanimated and sent to Konoha. He could already be there by now.
Faced with the overwhelming pressure from the Edo Tensei army, even the Sunagakure shinobi, who had been fighting Konoha just moments earlier, were now forced to stand alongside their former enemies.
They'd been beaten.
Beaten badly.
And now, to survive, they had no choice but to stand shoulder to shoulder with the ones who had just pounded them into the dirt. It was a deeply humiliating position, even for Rasa.
But he had no doubt what he preferred: survival.
Because if you die, there's nothing left.
Maybe Sunagakure was doomed to become a thing of the past, but at the very least, he could preserve a few seeds of hope.
Even if they were absorbed into Konoha in the future, perhaps they could become a prestigious clan like the Uchiha or Hyuga.
SWISH!
Right around this time,
The brief pause in the former Kage's attacks ended. The onslaught resumed in full force.
"I use Water Release! Get someone who specializes in Earth Release to deal with me, don't try to fight me with long-range ninjutsu! Come in close, I'm terrible at close combat!" the First Mizukage bellowed while forming hand seals.
Even though the enemies before him weren't from Kirigakure, he understood clearly: once Konoha and Sunagakure were wiped out, Kirigakure would be next. The bigger picture was obvious.
"I use Wind Release, which is countered by Fire, but I don't have many weaknesses," added the First Kazekage, his own hands forming rapid seals.
BOOM! RUMBLE!
Torrents of water surged and stormy winds howled.
The two founding Kage launched massive-area jutsu that rained down over nearly the entire battlefield, engulfing Kakashi and his allies.
Kakashi exchanged a glance with Obito.
If Obito weren't here, Kakashi could've safely used Kamui to evacuate Kurenai and the others, even if he couldn't win, he could've secured their retreat. But now, that option was nearly impossible.
BOOM! BOOM!
The First Mizukage and First Kazekage's attacks were blocked by fully transformed tailed beast forms, Rin as the Three-Tails, Kurenai as the Seven-Tails, who retaliated with Tailed Beast Bombs.
But the other former Kage charged in close.
Though Konan, Uchiha Shisui, and the others were powerful, facing a several-times-superior force of Kage-level enemies meant they were quickly overwhelmed.
"No good... at this rate, we won't last."
"I don't know if Kotoamatsukami works on reanimated shinobi, but... I have to try!"
Shisui dodged Tobirama's assault using Body Flicker, then bit down in determination.
His Sharingan spun, the tomoe merging into a pinwheel shape.
WUMMM!
Tobirama's body froze in place for a moment.
Far away, Nagato suddenly jolted. His pupils shrank, his expression shifting.
He sensed he had lost control of Tobirama.
"Genjutsu? Well done, Uchiha..."
Tobirama realized that the mind-manipulating power of Kotoamatsukami had neutralized the Edo Tensei's control, granting him freedom once more.
Without hesitation, he teleported in front of Anko Mitarashi and unleashed a Water Release jutsu that forced back Chiyo and the Second Kazekage, who were attacking her.
Everyone, reanimated Kage included, immediately turned at this development.
Anko's eyes widened in disbelief.
"S-Second Hokage?!"
Tobirama turned to Shisui and said,
"You Uchiha... your genjutsu is powerful. If you can free a few more former Kage, we might be able to balance the scales."
But,
Shisui closed one eye. Blood trickled down his face as his complexion paled.
"I'm sorry... I can only use it once."
Both of his Mangekyo abilities were versions of Kotoamatsukami, the strongest genjutsu capable of altering a person's will. But the cooldown was incredibly long.
He had already used it with his left eye over three years ago, and it still hadn't recovered. Now, having just used his right eye, it would be a long time before he could use it again.
Tobirama's face darkened.
Originally, he'd planned to have Shisui use the jutsu to free Hashirama from Edo Tensei control, then join forces and turn the tide.
With Hashirama's power, unless Madara Uchiha himself were revived, the two Senju brothers could handle all the reanimated Kage combined.
But now, that plan was no longer possible.
SWISH! SWISH!
Tobirama flickered from place to place, assisting Anko, Guy, and Rasa in resisting the incoming attacks.
But the First Mizukage and First Kazekage had already completely overpowered the tailed beast forms of Rin and Kurenai.
Tobirama's return had barely stabilized the collapsing battlefield, but the tide was still turning against them. The power gap was simply too massive.
Even when Tobirama beheaded Chiyo with a Flying Thunder God Slash, he couldn't find a chance to seal her due to interference from the other reanimated Kage.
"This won't work…"
"Konoha and Suna shinobi, I'll teleport you out of here with Flying Thunder God!"
Realizing that continuing the fight would only lead to a total defeat, Tobirama made a swift decision.
SWOOSH!
With a flash, he appeared behind Konan, tapped one of her paper wings, and teleported her away instantly.
Next, he moved to the side of Guy, who had collapsed after overextending the Seventh Gate.
He teleported him out as well.
"As expected of the Second Hokage."
Shisui managed a weak smile.
At least now, even if Kaede didn't make it in time, there was a chance they could retreat safely.
But,
By removing Guy and Konan, Tobirama inadvertently freed their opponents: Chiyo and her group were no longer held at bay.
After a brief pause, Chiyo and the others launched a barrage of attacks directly at the nearest tailed beast, the Seven-Tails.
SCREEECH!!
The Seven-Tails let out a pained roar.
She'd been at her limit since Tobirama's earlier strike. Now, wounded and exhausted, she could no longer maintain her form.
Kurenai's full transformation collapsed instantly.
"Kurenai, I'm spent. I need to recover."
"Rin, I can't hold on either..."
The Three-Tails also let out a weak voice.
Its body dissipated, leaving only Rin to fall from midair to the ground.
Seeing this, Kakashi and Tobirama's faces changed drastically.
"Damn... they both hit their limit at the same time?!"
Tobirama gritted his teeth.
There wasn't enough time to evacuate both.
He didn't hesitate.
With a flicker, he appeared beside Rin and teleported her away.
But in that split second, Kurenai was exposed.
The First Mizukage, Chiyo, the Second Mizukage, and the Second Kazekage all struck at once.
"Too late—"
Tobirama looked toward Kurenai, but there was no time to move.
Chiyo's chakra threads wrapped around her limbs.
The Second Mizukage's water bullets and the Second Kazekage's wind blades slashed toward her.
Kurenai, also at her limit, could barely form seals to cast a jutsu in defense, but it clearly wouldn't be enough to block so many attacks from different angles.
And just then,
SWOOSH!!
A figure appeared silently behind her.
He wrapped an arm around her and, in an instant, severed Chiyo's chakra threads, pulling Kurenai away in one swift movement.
BOOM! CRACK! SLASH!!
The spot where Kurenai had stood was instantly torn to shreds by the combined attacks.
Everyone noticed the sudden development and turned to look.
Kurenai had been carried to the top of a ruined building dozens of meters away.
She realized what had just happened.
There was no resistance in her posture, only the quiet release of a long-held breath.
Under everyone's gaze, the figure behind her slowly let go and stepped forward.
His calm eyes swept over the battlefield.
The white Hokage cloak fluttered behind him in the wind, and the characters written on it gently swayed into view:
"Fifth Hokage."
Kaede... had finally arrived!
=============
Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria