Orochimaru stepped into the center of the field and began drawing a complex pattern on the ground.
Everyone fell silent, watching his movements with confusion.
Only the people from Konoha Village seemed to understand something. Their expressions shifted slightly.
Tsunade suddenly stood up, her face filled with anger.
"Tsunade, don't act rashly. Just watch."
Jiraiya stopped her.
He shook his head slowly.
---
Konoha was only the organizer of this conference.
Now that everyone had gathered, the direction of events was no longer under Konoha's control.
It didn't matter whether someone was a Kage, an elite ninja, or just an ordinary spectator.
After what had happened to the Fourth Raikage, everyone understood one thing clearly.
The only person whose opinion mattered here—
Was the blond boy sitting at the front.
Because his fist was the strongest.
---
"Zetsu."
Naruto crossed his legs and spoke calmly.
"Bring out a White Zetsu."
Zetsu's expression became complicated, but he still bowed and complied.
Soon, a pale white creature floated onto the pattern Orochimaru had drawn.
The strange creature looked around blankly, like a fool who had no idea what was happening.
---
"Lord Fifth Hokage," Orochimaru asked politely.
"Are we only summoning the First Hokage?"
Naruto waved his hand lazily.
"Orochimaru, you can't rush things."
"Take it slowly."
"Let's go one at a time."
"Understood."
Orochimaru nodded with a sinister smile and began forming hand seals.
---
"What is he doing?"
"That's Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin!"
"Isn't this conference supposed to be about peace? Why does it feel like a war is about to start between Akatsuki and the entire ninja world?"
"War? Don't joke."
"Didn't you see what happened to the Fourth Raikage? Even he was helpless against that blond boy."
"If the Raikage doesn't dare act recklessly, who else would?"
"But Akatsuki is a terrorist organization!"
"And now they're talking to us about peace?"
"Stop talking and watch."
The spectators whispered nervously.
Even experienced ninja felt tense as they stared at the stage.
---
"Summoning Technique — Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru finally activated the jutsu.
The White Zetsu suddenly screamed in terror.
Its body twisted violently, as if something horrific had seized it.
A strange layer of dirt began spreading over its body from the feet upward.
It looked like paper-thin soil wrapping around it.
The screams stopped abruptly once the dirt fully covered the creature.
The entire scene made people shudder.
Many stared at Orochimaru with disgust and fear, as if he were some kind of demon.
---
Tsunade rushed forward.
At first her steps were fast.
But then she slowed down.
Her body trembled slightly.
The dirt continued shaping itself around the White Zetsu.
Slowly forming a human figure.
---
"Is that… the forbidden technique created by the Second Hokage?"
"Impure World Reincarnation?"
"I heard Orochimaru used it during the Chūnin Exams."
"He summoned the First and Second Hokage and fought the Third Hokage."
"That battle even resulted in the Third Hokage's death."
"But both Hokage were already dead… can this technique really bring them back?"
"It's impossible to truly resurrect the dead."
"It probably just summons their souls into a sacrifice body."
Ōnoki, Terumi Mei, A, and Gaara all watched carefully.
They had studied the intelligence reports about Orochimaru's forbidden jutsu long ago.
But seeing it with their own eyes still shocked them.
---
The clay figure gradually gained details.
First a silhouette.
Then facial features.
Finally—
A tall man appeared.
He wore a Konoha forehead protector.
Long black hair flowed down his back.
His armor was deep red.
His skin looked like cracked porcelain.
A strange aura surrounded him.
---
"Grandfather…"
Tsunade took another step forward.
Her expression was a mixture of anger, excitement, and disbelief.
Her eyes filled with tears.
---
"Is that really… the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama?"
"The God of Shinobi?"
"Can the Impure World Reincarnation truly summon the dead?"
"Look at the Fifth Hokage's reaction."
"She's his granddaughter."
"If anyone could recognize him, it would be her."
The crowd buzzed with disbelief.
Ōnoki even stood up.
His expression carried a trace of nostalgia.
---
Hashirama slowly opened his eyes.
At first they looked empty.
Then life gradually returned to them.
Originally he had been just a puppet.
But once his spirit awakened—
His presence completely changed.
It felt as if a different person had appeared.
---
Just one glance from him caused an invisible pressure to spread across the arena.
Many people felt their breathing become difficult.
---
"So it really is the First Hokage."
"That aura… it's far beyond ordinary Kage-level ninja."
"I've fought against Mizukage before."
"Compared to this man, the gap is enormous."
"Is this the power of the God of Shinobi?"
Ōnoki listened to the whispers around him and snorted.
"You're all ignorant."
"The true God of Shinobi is far stronger than this."
"The Impure World Reincarnation can't fully reproduce a person's strength."
"The Hashirama before us is clearly weakened."
---
Even the members of Akatsuki looked uneasy.
Nagato frowned deeply.
With the Rinnegan, he had long considered himself a god.
Aside from losing to Naruto, he had never respected anyone in the ninja world.
But facing Hashirama—
He felt pressure for the first time.
---
Hashirama looked around and sighed.
"It's you again, boy."
"You're still disturbing the souls of the dead."
"Don't you know when to stop?"
"And Tobirama too…"
"Why did he create such a troublesome forbidden technique?"
"It won't even let me rest in peace."
Then his eyes fell on Tsunade.
His expression suddenly brightened.
"Oh!"
"Isn't that little Tsunade?"
"You've grown so big!"
His serious demeanor disappeared instantly.
He burst into laughter.
The majestic aura of the God of Shinobi vanished completely.
Now he looked like a cheerful old man.
---
Tsunade was overwhelmed with emotion.
That tone.
That smile.
There was no doubt.
This was truly the grandfather she had lost decades ago.
The two of them began reminiscing about the past.
Hashirama laughed happily, completely forgetting he was technically a corpse summoned by a forbidden jutsu.
---
Naruto coughed lightly.
"Ahem."
"First Hokage-sama."
"Perhaps we should consider the occasion."
"If you want to catch up with your granddaughter, maybe do it later?"
The audience had been listening with intense curiosity.
No one dared interrupt.
After all—
This was Senju Hashirama.
The legendary God of Shinobi.
Every word he spoke was precious gossip.
Naruto had even allowed them a few minutes.
But eventually he had to step in.
---
"Oh?"
Hashirama scratched his head.
"What occasion?"
He looked around.
"Why are there so many people here?"
"Hm… their chakra isn't bad."
"They're fairly strong too."
His casual comment caused an uproar.
Many of the people present were Kage themselves.
And yet Hashirama had simply said their strength was "not bad."
---
Nagato raised an eyebrow.
He clearly realized that Hashirama's comment included him as well.
It didn't sit well with him.
---
"Grandfather," Tsunade explained,
"This is the Ninja World Conference."
"The five great villages are here."
Hashirama nodded.
But when his gaze fell on Naruto—
His expression changed slightly.
Everyone else present had chakra that felt like blazing flames.
Even Nagato's Rinnegan chakra was obvious.
But the blond boy in front of him…
Had no chakra presence at all.
It felt as if Naruto simply didn't exist.
---
"First Hokage-sama," Naruto said politely,
"This conference is meant to solve the conflicts of the ninja world once and for all."
"To achieve true peace."
"That's why your opinion is essential."
"So I asked Orochimaru to summon you."
"I hope you don't mind saying a few words."
His tone sounded respectful.
But Hashirama sensed something else.
A faintly aggressive undertone.
---
"So you summoned me with this forbidden jutsu…"
"Just to talk about peace?"
Hashirama scratched his head again.
"Yes," Naruto replied calmly.
"You and Uchiha Madara founded Konoha."
"You distributed the tailed beasts to create balance."
"You wanted to achieve peace."
"But unfortunately…"
"After you died, the ninja world fell back into war."
"So I want to ask you something."
---
Naruto's voice was gentle.
But his question was sharp.
"Do you regret the choice you made?"
"If you could start over…"
"Would you choose a different path?"
---
Hashirama looked around the crowd.
Countless people stared at him.
Their eyes were filled with hope.
They wanted an answer.
The God of Shinobi hesitated.
---
He wanted to say he had no regrets.
After all, everything he did was for peace.
But looking at the current state of the ninja world—
It was hard to claim his plan had succeeded.
Maybe…
He had made mistakes.
---
Finally, Hashirama shook his head.
"I don't know."
He was an idealist.
But reality was complicated.
Without his brother Tobirama, he might not even have been able to maintain Konoha.
---
Naruto nodded slowly.
"I see."
Then he turned.
"Orochimaru."
"Invite the other one as well."
---
"Yes, Lord Fifth Hokage."
Orochimaru performed the Impure World Reincarnation again.
Another White Zetsu appeared.
The ritual repeated.
Soon a new figure emerged.
A tall man with wild hair.
Black armor.
An overwhelming presence.
---
"Mada—"
"Hashirama!"
The two voices erupted almost simultaneously.
Hashirama's eyes lit up with excitement.
The other man had barely opened his eyes.
Yet his aura exploded across the arena.
He felt like a sharpened blade.
Just looking at him made people shiver.
---
"Uchiha Madara!"
"The legendary Shura of the ninja world!"
Even the crowd was stunned.
Today felt like a gathering of the dead.
First Hashirama.
Now Madara.
---
Zetsu pursed his lips nervously.
Obito subconsciously shrank back.
Madara's psychological shadow over them was enormous.
---
Naruto sighed.
"Alright."
"You two clearly care deeply for each other."
"But maybe save the emotional reunion for later."
"Let's get to the point."
---
Madara's eyes scanned the arena.
He frowned when he saw Zetsu and Obito.
Then his gaze locked onto Naruto.
Just like Hashirama—
Madara could not sense Naruto's chakra.
His vigilance rose instantly.
---
"Boy."
"Who are you?"
Naruto shrugged.
"Don't look at me like that."
"I summoned you here for a simple reason."
"I want to hear your opinion."
---
Naruto spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
"You and Hashirama fought at the Valley of the End."
"That battle shook the entire ninja world."
"You fought because you chose different paths."
"Now the First Hokage is uncertain about his own choice."
Naruto's gaze sharpened.
"So tell us, Uchiha Madara."
"Do you regret the path you chose?"
"Do you still believe your method could have succeeded?"
---
The entire arena fell silent.
Every person stared at Madara with burning curiosity.
After all—
This was the most legendary conflict in the history of the ninja world.
Two giants had fought for their ideals.
Now that they faced the world again—
Would they regret their decisions?
-------------------------
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