Since Kaguya didn't want to return to the Land of Fire, Senju Haruto naturally didn't force her. After giving her a few simple instructions, he stepped through the portal and reappeared inside the Hokage's office.
At that moment, Kakashi was buried in paperwork while Koharu and Homura were in the middle of a heated discussion, each trying to press their point. When they noticed Haruto suddenly materialize before them, all three were visibly startled.
"Is that… some kind of new space–time ninjutsu?" Homura asked in disbelief, his face stiff with shock. In all his years, he had never seen a jutsu like this.
"You could say that," Haruto replied casually, not bothering to explain the difference between magic and ninjutsu.
"And Kaguya? Where is she?" Kakashi glanced around, even extending his chakra sense in search of her presence. But there was nothing—no trace of the overwhelming chakra that should have been impossible to hide. Kaguya, after all, wasn't just the so-called progenitor of chakra—she was also the Ten-Tails, a being of unmatched destructive power.
He had assumed Haruto would keep her close at all times. Could it be that Haruto had… eliminated her?
"She's somewhere else," Haruto said simply, unwilling to elaborate further on the matter. First, there was no real need—Kaguya posed no threat to him now. And second, after spending time with her, he had realized she wasn't the kind of person who hungered for domination or power. To him, she felt more like a girl who lacked a sense of security than the terrifying goddess the world feared.
"Anyway, where are the Tsuchikage and Raikage?" Haruto shifted the subject. That was the real reason he'd returned—to conclude the Three Kage Summit and finish unifying the shinobi world once and for all.
After all, this was the Marvel universe. Here, "nations" numbered in the hundreds, and the cosmos itself teemed with civilizations beyond counting.
"They're on their way now," Homura explained, stepping forward. "At most, they'll be here by tomorrow."
"One more day?" Haruto nodded slightly. That was fine. He could settle shinobi affairs here before returning. The next sign-in location wouldn't trigger for another week anyway, and the New York Sanctum had little left that could further his strength.
"Good. In that case… bring Mitarashi Anko to see me," Haruto instructed Kakashi.
Since there was time to spare, he might as well revive Orochimaru first. A mind like Orochimaru's could prove useful in a world like Marvel—perhaps even as a scientist of some renown.
Koharu and Homura exchanged a baffled look. They couldn't make sense of why Haruto wanted to summon Anko now of all times. But Haruto was the Hokage, and not just Hokage—he was the Shadow of the Land of Fire, wielding authority that eclipsed the village council. Their only role was to obey.
"What do you need Mitarashi Anko for?" Kakashi asked carefully.
Anko was a tokubetsu jōnin of Konoha. Her strength wasn't overwhelming, but she wasn't weak either. As one of Orochimaru's former students, she was fairly well-known in the village, even having served as an examiner during the Chūnin Exams.
But Kakashi couldn't understand what could draw Haruto's attention to her—especially now.
"It's a long story," Haruto said with a faint smile.
In truth, what he needed wasn't Anko herself, but the cursed seal at her neck. Orochimaru's followers were often branded with the Earth Curse Mark, but only Uchiha Sasuke and Anko bore the Heaven Curse Mark.
Officially, the Heaven mark had only a ten percent survival rate—but in reality, it was a one hundred percent guarantee. After all, only Anko and Sasuke had ever received it. With the flow of events altered, Sasuke no longer carried it. That left only Anko.
And with the Heaven Curse Mark, Haruto could channel Orochimaru's chakra into it—and bring him back.
"You mean to revive Orochimaru?" Kakashi's single visible eye widened in disbelief.
Orochimaru, who had become a rogue ninja of Konoha through his pursuit of forbidden techniques. Orochimaru, who had mastered Edo Tensei and Living Corpse Reincarnation.
And yet, given Haruto's overwhelming strength, Kakashi wasn't shocked at the possibility itself. What startled him more was the intent—why Haruto would choose to bring Orochimaru back at all.
"Yes…" Haruto said slowly. "While I was exploring other realms and gathering information about this world, I discovered they possess entirely different systems of power. Here, they have what's called magic—and advanced technology.
"Orochimaru may have toyed with the dead and delved into forbidden arts, but when it comes to scientific analysis and research, he has real talent. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
"As far as I'm concerned, unifying the shinobi world is neither difficult nor my top priority."
Haruto paused. Kakashi, sharp as ever, immediately grasped the meaning behind his words.
"I understand," Kakashi nodded. "Right now, we lack too much information about this world. We don't know the true strength of our potential enemies.
"Orochimaru is one of the Legendary Sannin. His personal power is formidable, and with Edo Tensei at his disposal, he could provide critical reinforcements in a decisive battle."
He exhaled deeply. The logic was sound, and yet… memories of Orochimaru desecrating the dead, and his attempt to destroy Konoha, stirred unease in Kakashi's heart.
Complicated feelings, yes—but only that. In the end, he would support whatever decision Haruto made.
As the two finished their quiet exchange, the door slid open. Mitarashi Anko entered, a puzzled look on her face.
"H–Hokage-sama!" she stammered. Though older than Haruto, rank demanded she address him with respect. And Haruto wasn't just Hokage—he was a living legend.
The thought that such a figure had summoned her personally sent her heart racing with both nerves and excitement.
"Hokage-sama, you wished to see me?" Anko asked respectfully, her voice lined with formal politeness that showed just how highly she regarded him.
"Sit," Haruto said plainly, gesturing to the floor.
Anko frowned slightly, uncertain what he intended, but as a tokubetsu jōnin, she could only obey. She folded her legs beneath her and sat cross-legged.
"Yes."
With a single step forward, Haruto pressed his hand against the curse mark on her neck, channeling Orochimaru's stored chakra into it.
A violent surge of pain ripped through Anko, and she cried out involuntarily. Kakashi immediately tensed, preparing to intervene—but against Haruto's will, it was meaningless.
The chakra flared, poured into the seal until it could no longer contain it. From Anko's body, a pale, naked figure slithered free.
Long black hair cascading down his back, his golden eyes gleaming with serpentine coldness—there was no mistaking him.
The Legendary Sannin. Orochimaru.
"Well, well… it's been a long time, Senju Haruto," Orochimaru drawled, collapsing to the floor with a thud. He cast a fleeting glance at Anko before fixing his eerie smile on Haruto.