The coffin disappeared, and Orochimaru retreated. The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, formed the "Snake" hand seal.
The next moment.
Thick, sharp vines, like giant pythons, rapidly grew from underground, erupting from the earth and binding the Susanoo's legs and arms as it leaped down, restraining it.
RUMBLE!
The unbalanced Susanoo crashed to the ground.
More vines emerged from the earth, encircling and entangling the Susanoo, or shooting down like great spears with sharp tips, creating constant roars and billowing dust.
Having retreated a significant distance, Orochimaru chuckled, "As expected of the Ninja God's power!"
In the Hokage's office.
Namikaze Minato and the others looked on with grave expressions.
This technique was incredibly powerful!
Sarutobi Asuma, however, remained calm.
Even though White Zetsu was used as a sacrifice, possibly even an enhanced White Zetsu, Senju Hashirama at this moment could hardly unleash his peak strength.
After all, Orochimaru wouldn't dare allow Senju Hashirama to possess his own will.
Otherwise, even if his own body was filled with Hashirama Cells and his control over the reanimated individual was greatly enhanced, that was still the Ninja God.
Orochimaru's current manipulation of Senju Hashirama would surely result in a significant reduction in power. It remained to be seen how much he could unleash.
After all, Impure World Reincarnation possessed the characteristic of infinite chakra.
...
On the battlefield.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others were astonished.
"Wood Release jutsu, the one that defeated..."
Uchiha Fugaku's expression was solemn.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, having just broken free from Senju Tobirama, manifested a Chakra Cloak around his body, followed by the entanglement of several Scorch Release Dragon.
Scorch Release Chakra Mode!
"Fugaku, leave the Second Hokage to me. You go help Yashiro!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
Uchiha Fugaku nodded, but as his Susanoo took a step, it suddenly turned around, its massive fist smashing towards Senju Tobirama.
Senju Tobirama dodged the attack.
But Uchiha Fugaku seemed to have anticipated this, and Susanoo's other hand precisely grasped him.
"Excellent!"
"I will seal him!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned a scroll using a summoning jutsu.
This had been prepared long in advance.
But at this moment.
Vines from underground burst through the earth, entangling Uchiha Fugaku's Susanoo and pulling it, causing the massive figure to stagger.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was also attacked. Unable to seal Senju Tobirama, he had to put away the sealing scroll, sling it onto his back, and continuously dodge and retreat. Finding an opening, he broke a finger to summon Enma.
Enma transformed into the Nyoi-bō, and Sarutobi Hiruzen wielded the staff, even infusing his Scorch Release Chakra Mode into it, with three Scorch Release Dragon swirling around.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Sarutobi Hiruzen swung the Nyoi-bō, causing the thick vines to explode, and then charged towards Uchiha Fugaku.
On the other side, accompanied by a brilliant radiance.
A large number of vines exploded.
Uchiha Yashiro's Susanoo, covered in Tengu armor and wielding twin blades, swept away all the surrounding vines.
"He's gotten stronger!"
"As expected, Uchiha Yashiro's Mangekyo is stronger than Uchiha Fugaku's!"
Orochimaru was not surprised at all. Instead, he became even more delighted. "Those eyes, they must be Asuma's arms, right?"
"These past few years, I haven't been idle!"
Uchiha Yashiro stared intently at Orochimaru, his Chakra Blades moving in his hands, slicing through all the vines blocking his path.
Wood Release of this caliber couldn't stop him!
"Let me see your limits..."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.
As the wisteria wood continued to grow, Senju Hashirama suddenly shouted.
The next moment, the wisteria wood under his feet grew rapidly, and a huge wood dragon appeared. The dragon's head met the Susanoo's Chakra Blade that was swung down, and it bit down on the descending blade.
Uchiha Yashiro scoffed, raising his left hand, the Chakra Blade was about to cut the wood dragon, but thick wisteria wood wrapped around his arm, holding him back.
"You wish!"
Uchiha Yashiro roared, and Susanoo struggled, tearing off the wrapped wisteria wood with his left hand, and slashed down again. With a boom, he severed the wood dragon's head.
Senju Hashirama, who was standing on the dragon's head, immediately retreated at full speed, while he cast another jutsu.
Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!
More giant trees grew out and continued to branch out, surging towards Uchiha Yashiro, and even Uchiha Fugaku and Sarutobi Hiruzen behind him, like a tide.
This overwhelming offensive made it hard not to feel a sense of helplessness.
The Konoha Jonin and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist fighting further away were all horrified.
Is this the power of the Ninja God?
And at this moment.
Kakashi and the others, who had already approached the battlefield, involuntarily stopped.
The scale of the battle was too terrifying!
"Susanoo and Wood Release..."
Kakashi's expression was solemn.
Naruto was a little confused and quickly asked, "Teacher Kakashi, what's going on?"
Sarutobi Shinya and others who had fallen behind also arrived.
"It's the Third Hokage, Clan Head Fugaku, and Orochimaru fighting. Orochimaru summoned the First Hokage and the Second Hokage using Impure World Reincarnation."
"That Wood Release must be the First Hokage's technique!"
Sarutobi Shinya explained.
This left Naruto and the other youngsters dumbfounded.
Akimichi Choji swallowed his saliva: "A battle at this level is completely beyond our participation, right?"
Kakashi said, "Orochimaru must have stayed behind to cover their retreat."
Just then, Yūhi Kurenai, who had caught up alone, also arrived and said, "Shizune, Kakashi, Shinya, and Guy, we need to split up."
"Sasuke changed direction with five people and headed towards the Land of Rain."
"The Fourth Hokage's order is that Shizune, Kakashi, and I will be responsible for pursuing the One-Tails Jinchuriki. Shinya and Guy, you will go help the Third Hokage and the others. Sasuke will be left to Naruto and the others!"
This order surprised everyone.
Shizune was a little worried: "Can Naruto and the others handle it?"
"According to the intelligence, those guys are not simple!"
Kakashi, however, said: "This is the best plan."
"Shikamaru, the mission to retrieve Sasuke will be handed over to you. You will be the temporary captain!"
Nara Shikamaru's expression became serious: "Understood!"
Naruto was already impatient and turned to head towards the Land of Rain.
Nara Shikamaru helplessly said, "Neji, Hinata, Shino, and Kiba, the pursuit relies on you!"
"Don't worry, leave it to us!"
Perhaps it was the first time leaving his teacher to undertake a mission alone, Inuzuka Kiba seemed very excited. Akamaru on his head also barked twice, showing great fighting spirit.
"Then... let's go!"
Nara Shikamaru led the group to chase after Naruto.
Watching them leave, Kakashi withdrew his gaze and said, "Well then, let's begin!"
Yūhi Kurenai and the others nodded, then disappeared from their positions.
They split into two groups. Yūhi Kurenai, Shizune, and Kakashi bypassed the battlefield and continued to pursue towards the Land of Rivers.
Sarutobi Shinya and Might Guy headed straight for the battlefield.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was preparing to try and seal Senju Tobirama again, failed once more.
This was because Senju Tobirama, who was controlled by Susanoo, had disappeared.
"It's the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, looking at the Wood Golem not far away that was on par with Susanoo, his expression solemn: "Orochimaru, he actually reached this point!"
Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Asuma raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Wood Golem Technique was indeed used, which was a bit of a surprise.
Namikaze Minato was getting restless.
The power displayed by the reanimated First Hokage was too immense, and with the Flying Thunder God Technique, Senju Tobirama easily dodged the sealing.
Given the current situation, even with two Susanoo, they wouldn't be able to defeat the First and Second Hokage.
And that was indeed the case.
Uchiha Yashiro's mastery of the Mangekyo Sharingan had indeed improved since his last battle against the Tenshin Group.
However, the moment the reanimated First Hokage unleashed the Wood Golem Technique, complemented by the Wood Dragon, his Susanoo was restrained.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Uchiha Fugaku, enduring the intense pain in his eyes, strode forward, closed the distance, and swung his blade down.
RUMBLE!
A thick layer of giant trees was cleaved apart, leaving a deep gully on the ground.
At the critical moment, the Wood Golem, carrying Uchiha Yashiro's Susanoo, fell, narrowly dodging the attack.
Blood streamed from Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. The searing pain made it impossible for him to maintain his Mangekyo Sharingan, and the Susanoo dissipated.
His Mangekyo Sharingan was not an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and it was nowhere near comparable to Uchiha Yashiro's.
"Leave it to me!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, activating the Scorch Release Chakra Mode, cut through the obstacles. He approached and leaped forward. The Adamantine Staff in his hand suddenly grew and extended, piercing through the giant trees blocking his path and striking the dragon head of the Wood Dragon coiled around the Wood Golem.
The dragon head of the Wood Dragon, which had bitten onto a Chakra Blade, was directly blown apart by the staff.
From behind, Orochimaru watched, raising an eyebrow and chuckling softly, "He still has it, even in his old age!"
At the same time, he sensed Sarutobi Shinya and Might Guy arriving. He raised a hand, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist vanished, leaving Sarutobi Shinya and Might Guy attacking empty air.
"A pity, they've reached their limit!"
With a smile, Orochimaru retreated, leaving the First and Second Hokage to cover his escape.
Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Asuma had also realized that the Wood Golem Technique was the reanimated First Hokage's limit.
He speculated that if the First Hokage's personality suppression were lifted, he might become even stronger, possibly unleashing ninety percent of his power from his peak during his lifetime.
"Minato-niisan, you and Kushina-neechan take responsibility for controlling the Second Hokage first."
Sarutobi Asuma said.
Namikaze Minato nodded, stood up, placed a hand on Uzumaki Kushina's shoulder, and then vanished.
Immediately after, Sarutobi Asuma also disappeared from the sight of Nara Shikaku and Uzumaki Miri.
On the battlefield.
Behind Senju Hashirama, who was still using jutsu to resist Uchiha Yashiro's Susanoo, Sarutobi Asuma suddenly appeared. He broke through Hashirama's body with a single move and forcefully pulled out his soul.
On the other side.
Uzumaki Kushina unleashed the Adamantine Sealing Chains, binding and sealing the reanimated Senju Tobirama, who was engaging Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.
The now-fleeing Orochimaru suddenly turned back, "This fast? As expected of Asuma!"
Although there was a slight reluctance, he did not regret losing the First and Second Hokage.
He bit his finger, summoned a giant snake, and had it swallow him. The summoning was then released, and the snake disappeared.
"Orochimaru disappeared!"
Uzumaki Kushina snorted.
Holding Senju Hashirama's soul in one hand, Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "He escaped using the Reverse Summoning Technique."
"Brother, you all continue pursuing Sasori of the Red Sand. You must retrieve the One-Tails Jinchuriki."
Sarutobi Shinya and the others nodded and continued their pursuit.
Watching them leave, Sarutobi Asuma reached out again and pulled out Senju Tobirama's soul as well.
"Let's go back!"
"We'll deal with the souls of the First and Second Hokage first."
Sarutobi Asuma said and disappeared.
Sage Domain.
Underground Experimental Base.
Inside a laboratory.
Shadow Clones had already prepared two clones here.
Sarutobi Asuma appeared here with the souls of the First and Second Hokage.
Immediately after, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina also appeared here.
Sarutobi Asuma directly used Multiple Spiritualization Clone Technique, splitting off two spirit clones to enter the clones and gain control of them.
This method was something even Namikaze Minato and his wife, as well as Sarutobi Hiruzen, had never seen before.
"Asuma, isn't there any risk in doing this?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked in a deep voice.
"Theoretically, no," Sarutobi Asuma chuckled. "If it doesn't work, I'll use White Zetsu as a sacrifice later."
"But it shouldn't be a problem. At the final stage of the jutsu, I'll release the spirit body, just like releasing a Shadow Clone."
Namikaze Minato frowned. "Then just use White Zetsu as a sacrifice directly. That way, there's no uncertainty!"
"I still want to try," Sarutobi Asuma explained. "These clones were specially prepared to allow the First and Second Hokage to fully unleash their power from their lifetimes."
Seeing his mind was made up, Namikaze Minato stopped trying to persuade him and nodded.
Inside the room, Sarutobi Asuma's Shadow Clone, which had been guarding the area, immediately had a thought. The talismans on the floor spread out, encircling the two clone bodies.
Reanimation Jutsu!
Sarutobi Asuma released the two souls he had been holding.
The souls of the First and Second Hokage immediately flew into the two clone bodies. The Reanimation Jutsu then enveloped the two clone bodies and began to reshape them.
As the transformation reached its final moments, the Multiple Spiritualization Clone Technique was released, the spirit bodies returned, and the Reanimation Jutsu was completed.
"It really worked!" Sarutobi Asuma let out a light laugh.
Were the clone bodies alive?
Of course!
So, there was no problem using them as sacrifices.
In fact, the beings used as sacrifices would not lose their souls.
Therefore, at the last moment, dispelling the Multiple Spiritualization Clone Technique would not cause the Reanimation Jutsu to fail.
"Is it that guy Orochimaru again?" Senju Tobirama slowly raised his eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was a bit embarrassed. "Second Hokage, it's not Orochimaru this time. It's my second son, Sarutobi Asuma!"
Shua!
The gazes of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama both fell upon Sarutobi Asuma.
"First Hokage, Second Hokage, I just retrieved you from Orochimaru. To prevent Orochimaru from using the Reanimation Jutsu again, I had to do it this way," Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile.
Namikaze Minato added, "This is the best method we have right now. Please forgive us!"
Senju Hashirama looked at him and blinked. "Who are you?"
Everyone looked at Namikaze Minato in unison.
"Uh..." Namikaze Minato gave an awkward smile and then turned around. "I am the Fourth Hokage!"
"Oh, you're the Fourth, I see!" Senju Hashirama suddenly understood, then looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato and laughed. "With the Third and Fourth here, it seems the village is very peaceful now!"
Uzumaki Kushina leaned closer to Sarutobi Asuma and whispered, "By the way, is this really the First Hokage? Why does he look..."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled. "Absolutely the real deal!"
At this moment, Senju Tobirama crossed his arms and said coldly, "Why is someone misusing the jutsu I developed? Is that ninja called Orochimaru an enemy of the village?"
"Uh..." Namikaze Minato looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Orochimaru was my disciple. He has currently defected from the village."
"Your disciple, Sarutobi?"
"You've done quite well, actually, to be able to forcibly restrain me and Tobirama." Senju Hashirama praised him highly.
Senju Tobirama yelled unhappily, "Brother!"
(⊙o⊙)...
Senju Hashirama immediately shut his mouth.
Uzumaki Kushina looked on, dumbfounded, and Namikaze Minato's eyes were wide with amazement.
Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile, "Second Hokage, although Orochimaru has defected, he shouldn't be considered an enemy of the village. We currently have a cooperative relationship."
"Retrieving your souls this time is also a tacit understanding between Orochimaru and me."
"Of course, the main reason is that I possess sufficient strength."
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