Chapter 334: Living as Konoha's People, Dead as Konoha's Corpses
When Uzushiogakure was destroyed, the Third Hokage's administration held power. So these Uzumaki clan members all recognized Hiruzen.
Now seeing the Third appear, everyone instinctively closed their mouths. All gazes focused on Hiruzen.
"Come on, Third—take a couple laps for us."
Yasushi flippantly tossed a pebble at the Third, like teasing a monkey.
Seemingly enraged by Yasushi's behavior, the Third's eyes suddenly snapped open—revealing pupils constantly shifting between human and beast forms.
Within those pupils, humanity and bestiality clashed violently. His irises flickered madly between human roundness and feral vertical slits—stretching, contracting. Colors rapidly switched between murky brown and violent golden-yellow like two pools of boiling water struck by boulders.
The Third's entire face kept melting and reforming accordingly.
Sometimes human. Sometimes beast.
Both forms alternated at extremely high frequency—presenting an extraordinarily unstable state teetering on collapse's edge.
"Oh my, not completely fallen yet!" Yasushi cheerfully raised his thumb in praise. "As expected from Lord Third Hokage—your willpower truly proves exceptional."
"Grrr..."
Yasushi's praise stabbed deeper than direct mockery. The Third's gaze locked onto Yasushi, eyes revealing overwhelming hatred.
That hatred proved so intense it nearly materialized into actual flames—erupting from those violently struggling eyes, practically burning Yasushi to ashes.
But Yasushi completely ignored his expression, instead raising his head proudly. "Please call me Lord Hokage!"
"What?" As though Yasushi had desecrated his most precious treasure, the Third immediately exploded with rage. "You—how dare you..."
The title "Hokage" represented the Third's lifelong faith and responsibility.
Yasushi's usurpation stabbed more thoroughly through his crumbling rationality than any physical harm—making his Edo Tensei body tremble.
But that blazing fury didn't strengthen his humanity. Instead, it became the final fuel thrown into bestiality's furnace.
Rage demolished already-fragile balance, providing the most violent nourishment for the demon within.
Under anger's influence, his remaining rationality was rapidly consumed by swelling bestiality.
The rational struggle lingering in his eyes flickered once before completely vanishing.
Traces of human pupils dispersed like ashes scattered by violent wind—instantly annihilated.
Replacing them came purely cold, golden-yellow vertical pupils filled with primitive predatory desire—no trace whatsoever remaining of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
His body rapidly swelled. Within an instant, the wooden coffin exploded like paper.
Edo Tensei fragments mixed with wood splinters scattered everywhere. Where the Third originally stood, an enormous monster covered in dark fur and bony protrusions thundered upright.
Part ape, not quite ape—twisted bone spikes covering its body, bone wings spreading left and right, radiating nauseating violent aura.
Everything belonging to the Third Hokage had been completely covered by this hideous demonic form.
The Third Enlightened descended upon the world once more!
"GRAAAAAAH..."
An ear-splitting roar saturated with infinite madness and destructive desire exploded from Third Enlightened's gaping bloody maw. Sound waves rolled, shaking all directions.
Third Enlightened spread both wings, casting enormous shadows before him. His body leaned forward, powerful hind legs slightly bent—seemingly about to pounce.
Everyone present immediately paled with shock, instinctively adopting offensive or defensive postures.
But Yasushi smiled while changing his hand seal. That invisible restraining force instantly descended like the most tenacious invisible shackles—comprehensively imprisoning the demon's every movement.
The rampaging Third Enlightened's body immediately froze, frozen mid-pounce like a statue—unable to move even slightly, forming an eerily silent contrast with the shattered ground beneath.
"UCHIHA YASUSHI!"
Third Enlightened's throat erupted with unwilling fury.
"You evil Uchiha!"
"I'll kill you!"
"I'LL KILL YOOOU!"
Facing Third Enlightened's impotent rage, Yasushi remained as calm as a gentle breeze.
He simply stood before Third Enlightened while facing the assembled Edo Tensei bodies. His arm lifted easily, thumb casually pointing over his shoulder toward the immobilized giant beast behind him—movements full of deliberate casualness displaying a trophy.
"See?"
"This is Sarutobi Hiruzen after entering the Box of Ultimate Bliss."
"Same person, same soul. Can still talk, can still curse. Only rationality is lost—completely transformed into a demon knowing only killing."
"From current appearances, this change affects the soul level. It's irreversible."
"Even after dying and using Edo Tensei again, or even resurrection—still looks like this."
"Of course, our experimental samples remain relatively few currently. Perhaps methods exist for removing this contamination eventually."
"I'll ask Orochimaru later whether he's interested in this research project."
"But if he's uninterested, then no helping it. The Third can only exist eternally as a demon."
After speaking, Yasushi glanced back at Third Enlightened still cursing endlessly behind him before smiling teasingly:
"You know what though? This form of Sarutobi Hiruzen actually looks somewhat more pleasing."
"Perhaps combining the Box of Ultimate Bliss represents Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation's proper usage method."
"So—anyone else willing to try?"
Yasushi's voice wasn't loud. His tone carried no threatening implications whatsoever. Yet everyone listening felt chills running down their spines—cold air surging from heart depths.
Even Edo Tensei bodies struggled maintaining composure facing such matters.
A mighty village Kage—once the strongest Hokage among the Five Great Nations—now reduced to such a fate. Just imagining it proved terrifying.
"Um..." Hyuga Hizashi raised his hand first. "Lord Hokage ended our Hyuga branch family's thousand-year suffering and sorrow. The Hyuga clan feels infinitely grateful. Naturally we're willing devoting ourselves completely to Lord Hokage."
"Moreover, living we are Konoha Village's people. Dead we are Konoha Village's corpses. Serving our own village is naturally proper."
"Lord Hokage, please issue tasks freely. We'll definitely complete them with quality and quantity guaranteed."
With Hizashi's lead, other Hyuga clan members hastily pledged allegiance.
"Yes, yes, exactly! Our Hyuga clan will definitely work diligently, repaying Lord Hokage's kindness toward the Hyuga!"
****
70+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces