Impure World Reincarnation…?
Senju Haruto's gaze immediately locked onto the coffin that Orochimaru had summoned.
Even before his defection, Orochimaru had already infiltrated the secret chambers where forbidden techniques were stored, uncovering many of the jutsu left behind by Senju Tobirama. Impure World Reincarnation was one of them.
"If I'm not mistaken… at this point in time, that technique should still be unstable," Haruto murmured inwardly.
In fact, not just at this time—even when Orochimaru later invaded the Hidden Leaf, Impure World Reincarnation was far from perfected. The First and Second Hokage that had been summoned back then possessed less than ten percent of their original strength.
The technique only reached its peak during the Fourth Great Ninja War, after Orochimaru transplanted Hashirama's cells into himself. Only then was he able to call forth versions of the First Hokage that came close to their true power. But even then… only close.
Still, Haruto couldn't help but wonder which figure Orochimaru planned to resurrect this time to pit against Kakashi.
"Three, is it…?"
The ground trembled violently as the coffin rose higher and higher from beneath the earth. And etched into its front was a single, bold kanji: Three.
Kakashi's expression instantly turned grave. Never before had he encountered a technique like this.
"It's Impure World Reincarnation," Haruto said flatly, choosing to share the intel outright.
"Impure… World Reincarnation?" Kakashi muttered under his breath, his single eye narrowing as he kept his guard on Orochimaru. "What kind of jutsu is it?"
Just the sight of that coffin filled him with unease. No—more than unease. A sense of dread.
He didn't know exactly what technique Orochimaru had mastered, but something about it screamed of the forbidden arts the Third Hokage had once warned about.
"This is an S-rank forbidden technique created by the Second Hokage himself," Haruto explained calmly.
"It requires taking a certain portion of the deceased's remains and then using the body of a living person as a vessel. The soul of the dead is pulled back from the Pure Land and forced to fight for the summoner."
"In other words, the living vessel is sacrificed like an offering. Because it desecrates the dead, and robs them of peace, the Second Hokage sealed this jutsu away as forbidden."
Kakashi's eye widened at the explanation, a sharp fury rising within him.
The thought of the dead being denied peace… instantly brought back memories of Obito, of Rin.
"Orochimaru…" Kakashi's voice was low and cold, carrying the weight of a vow. He had clearly resolved to kill the Snake Sannin here and now.
But Orochimaru's interest had already shifted away from Kakashi. His golden eyes gleamed as they lingered on Haruto.
"So… you actually recognize Impure World Reincarnation."
Even the higher-ups of the Leaf didn't know the full scope of Tobirama's forbidden jutsu. Yet this boy had recognized it at a glance.
"Well, of course," Haruto replied evenly, locking eyes with him. "After all, the one who created that technique was from the Senju clan."
The words struck Orochimaru like a thunderbolt.
"You're… a Senju?"
For a moment, he simply stood there, stunned, eyes flicking over Haruto in disbelief.
To stumble upon a living Senju outside of Tsunade…
Unbidden, memories of Nawaki surfaced—Tsunade's younger brother, who had once served under him in battle, only to die in a trap so gruesome that even his organs were never recovered.
But Orochimaru only let the surprise linger for a breath.
He had already suspected this boy wasn't ordinary. That he was Senju blood made things even more interesting.
Excitement curled across Orochimaru's lips. He had long since immersed himself in his research of the human body. Living Corpse Reincarnation demanded constant replacements of vessels. Before acquiring the Sharingan, perhaps this boy's body would make for an ideal transition host.
What fortune…
"It seems today is my lucky day," Orochimaru hissed in delight. "Not only the little girl, but a descendant of the Senju clan as well."
With a dramatic flourish, he spread his arms wide.
Boom!
The coffin lid fell away with a crash.
And the figure revealed inside made both Kakashi and Haruto's eyes narrow.
White robes with a blue shinobi garb beneath.
Spiky black hair.
And an aura that pressed against the air itself.
The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure.
"The Third Kazekage," Haruto muttered in a low voice, speaking the man's identity aloud for Kakashi's sake.
The strongest Kazekage in the history of the Sand. A master of Magnet Release. A shinobi so formidable he was said to hold natural advantage against taijutsu-based opponents.
And Lightning Release Chakra Mode, at its core, was nothing but an advanced form of taijutsu.
The information made Kakashi's blood run cold. He had heard the legends of this man—how he had mysteriously vanished from the Sand Village with no corpse ever recovered.
Never in his life did he expect to see him here, resurrected by such an abomination of a jutsu.
"Orochimaru… so it was you who killed the Third Kazekage," Kakashi spat.
"Me?" Orochimaru chuckled softly, unfazed. "Why would I bother with such needless work? I merely stumbled across some of his remains. As for who truly killed him… well, they were far crueler than I."
A twisted smile stretched across his pale face. Producing a kunai affixed with ofuda talismans, Orochimaru plunged it into the back of the Kazekage's head.
The act allowed him full control. It would weaken the Kazekage's strength somewhat—but it ensured his soul could not resist or escape.
The moment his body reanimated, the Kazekage's hands blurred into seals.
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!
Particles of iron sand materialized into the air, swirling like black grains of death. They gathered and compressed, layer upon layer, until they had formed massive, spear-like constructs sharp enough to pierce through stone.
Whssshhh—
Whssshhh—
Without hesitation, the Kazekage unleashed them.
Dozens of deadly lances shot forward, aimed squarely at Kakashi and Haruto.
It was exactly what Orochimaru wanted.
He was curious to see how this Senju boy would handle an assault from the famed Third Kazekage. If Haruto faltered, then he was nothing special—unworthy of being chosen as Orochimaru's next vessel.
Kakashi's eye whirled, the tomoe of his Sharingan spinning. He activated his Lightning Release Chakra Mode in an instant, his entire body bursting with speed. The Sharingan tracked the trajectory of each spear with clinical precision, allowing him to weave through the barrage with ease.
"Raikiri!"