"You brat—Orochimaru! I'll end you right here and now!"
Tobirama ignored his elder brother Hashirama completely and unleashed his chakra at full force.
But just as he prepared to charge forward and strike Orochimaru down, he suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure slam down on his body. His entire form froze in place. Not only was he unable to reach Orochimaru—he couldn't even lift a single finger.
"Wh–What?! Impossible…"
As the very inventor of Edo Tensei, Tobirama knew this forbidden technique inside and out. And yet, his strength was utterly shackled under Orochimaru's control, leaving him powerless.
Orochimaru, however, looked completely unfazed. He had deliberately avoided restoring Hashirama and Tobirama to their true prime, wary of resistance. At best, they could now use less than half of their original strength.
"Haven't you realized it yet, Tobirama?"
Hashirama, unlike his brother, seemed utterly unsurprised by the situation.
As Orochimaru had transplanted his cells, his chakra felt eerily similar to Hashirama's own. Even with the faintest sensory probe, it was easy to detect. That was likely why Orochimaru had chosen to summon them in the first place.
Thanks to his brother's reminder, Tobirama's eyes sharpened as he finally understood.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smile.
"After all, both of you stand far above me in strength. Especially you, Lord First—your very name is legendary to every generation of shinobi. Of course I had to make precautions. But… enough reminiscing."
He swiftly weaved hand seals. Orochimaru required only their power, not their will or knowledge. Their lingering consciousnesses were unnecessary.
With cold decisiveness, he severed their emotions and awareness, leaving only weapons—two perfect war machines.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened as he watched. Facing either of the Hokage alone was daunting enough. Against both, while under Orochimaru's command? Even with decades of combat experience, he knew the odds of victory were slim.
Though once hailed as The Professor of Ninjutsu in his youth, he was now an old man. His body could no longer endure what it once had.
"Haruto…"
Inwardly, Hiruzen whispered Senju Haruto's name, silently praying the boy would appear soon.
"Be careful, sensei," Orochimaru taunted, a serpentine smile spreading across his face.
"Your opponents this time are two Hokage."
"Damn you…"
Gritting his teeth, Hiruzen tightened his grip on the Monkey King Enma, transformed into the indestructible adamantine staff. With a swift motion, the staff elongated, slamming into Hashirama's stomach and hurling him back against the barrier of the Four Violet Flames Formation.
The barrier's blazing walls crackled with destructive force. If nothing else, perhaps he could use Orochimaru's own prison to damage the First Hokage.
But in that instant, Tobirama had already closed the distance with blistering speed. His fist clenched, his strike lashed out like lightning—
BOOM!
The blow sent Hiruzen flying, the adamantine staff splitting into dozens of copies midair.
"Adamantine Prison Wall!"
Even as he tumbled, Hiruzen spun his staff into a cage, trapping Tobirama within its unyielding bars. The barrier was renowned for its durability—anyone caught inside would find escape nearly impossible.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. He even clapped mockingly.
"As expected of my sensei. Even under assault from two Hokage, you keep your composure and form a strategy. Truly impressive."
But then his voice dropped into a chilling tone.
"Unfortunately, any wound dealt to one revived by Edo Tensei is meaningless."
Indeed, Hashirama's broken form slumped from the burning barrier—only to knit itself back together before Hiruzen's eyes.
"And let's not forget, sensei," Orochimaru continued smoothly, "Lord Second is the true father of modern ninjutsu. Even Namikaze Minato's signature technique was born from his genius."
He showed no concern for Tobirama's imprisonment. And sure enough, within moments, the cage stood empty.
In the blink of an eye, Tobirama vanished and reappeared behind Hiruzen.
"What—?!"
Cold sweat prickled his skin. When Tobirama had struck him earlier, he had discreetly marked him with the Flying Thunder God seal. Now, under Orochimaru's control, the Second Hokage was wielding that terrifying technique with precision.
It was as though Tobirama himself—his battle instincts intact—was fighting in earnest.
Forcing his battered body to twist midair, Hiruzen lashed a desperate kick behind him, striking Tobirama and using the rebound to fling himself clear.
But Tobirama's speed and taijutsu were not inferior to his pupil's. As Hiruzen's kick connected, Tobirama's kunai drove mercilessly into his shoulder.
CRASH!
The Third Hokage slammed into the rooftop, a crater bursting beneath him. He lay embedded in the rubble, blood soaking his robes.
And the worst part—Hashirama was already charging toward him again.
At the last moment, Enma broke free from his staff form, leaping to intercept. He wrapped his muscular arms around Hashirama's torso, wrestling him to the ground with raw force, preventing the finishing strike.
A narrow escape. But only just.
Orochimaru chuckled darkly, arms crossed as he admired the scene.
"How pitiful you've become, sensei."
To him, this was nothing more than a performance. Either Hokage alone could crush Hiruzen. Together, under his command, the outcome was inevitable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had no chance of victory.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bombs!"
Breathing heavily, Hiruzen spewed forth a colossal fire technique. The flames surged like raging dragons, splitting into three and barreling at Tobirama from every angle.
Lacking self-awareness, Tobirama made no effort to evade. Within seconds, the inferno engulfed him completely, consuming his body in a blazing storm.
Hiruzen panted, watching the flames rage and burn out.
When the fire finally died down, Tobirama's body had been reduced to ash.
He allowed himself a fleeting moment of relief—
"Useless, sensei."
Orochimaru's voice slithered behind him.
And then the fragments of ash began to swirl and reform, piece by piece, until Tobirama's body stood whole once more.
"The ones I've summoned are already dead," Orochimaru hissed with delight.
"No matter what you try… the dead cannot be killed again."