To Kakashi, Tobirama Senju's value was the highest among the four reanimated individuals, including Hashirama Senju.
Although Hashirama Senju was incredibly powerful at this stage, Orochimaru's restrictions on the Reanimation Jutsu meant his strength was far from his peak. As for Sakumo Hatake and Kushina Uzumaki, while their power was certainly respectable, they had not yet reached a level that required Kakashi's serious concern.
Kakashi estimated that those two only possessed about eighty percent of the strength they had when they were alive; under such circumstances, Hayama Shirakumo could likely solo both of them.
There was only Tobirama Senju.
Even though Kakashi felt a certain "like-poles-repel" friction with the man, he had to admit that the Second Hokage's brain was truly exceptional.
"I have established a scientific research institute. You can stay there for the time being."
This was the research facility Kakashi had previously arranged for Katasuke Tōno and Dotō Kazahana to design ground forces. Although those two were talented in their own right and had designed quite impressive ground combat units, the addition of Tobirama Senju would make Konoha—no, the Land of Fire's land combat units—significantly more powerful.
Furthermore, in Kakashi's view, Tobirama Senju's Sword of the Thunder God was the ninja world's first instance of a Scientific Ninja Tool; the man possessed his own unique insights into this field. Tobirama's involvement would allow the ground units to be upgraded at the fastest possible speed.
Of course, considering that the Second Hokage was currently a reanimated corpse who could work twenty-four hours a day without eating or drinking, Kakashi had no intention of giving him a vacation.
Tobirama had said it himself: this body could be maintained for half a year.
If he didn't rest, that effectively meant a full year's worth of labor.
There was plenty of time.
"A research institute?"
"It seems you've had designs on this old man for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Tobirama Senju did not object; instead, he nodded. He was the type of person who would always find something to do when idle; otherwise, he wouldn't have created so many Forbidden Jutsu. Tobirama felt that Kakashi's arrangement was quite reasonable.
Of course, if he knew that Kakashi intended to make him work continuously for six months straight, he likely wouldn't have said that.
"Alright, let's go."
"Hikari, take my father to see the children. I'm going to be quite busy for a while."
Seeing that the others had no objections to his arrangements, Kakashi waved his hand, preparing to return to the Chunin Exam arena to handle the aftermath.
Long after they had departed, a small white snake crawled out from underground. Looking at the patch of soil nearby stained with Kakashi's blood, a trace of human-like intelligence flashed in its eyes.
The lightning glow was shattered head-on by absolute power.
At this moment, the Raikage was in a wretched state. The white haori he had always worn was completely shredded, his body was covered in bloodstains and bruises, and even the metal bracers on his wrists were riddled with fist prints. His usually neatly groomed short hair was now disheveled, making him look utterly pathetic.
Heavy, ragged breaths escaped his mouth and nose as the towering man leaned against a shattered rock, struggling to stand.
His fierce, tiger-like eyes glared unwillingly at the green figure in front of him.
How did he do it?
In the Raikage's perception, the opponent before him was filled with a violent and terrifying power comparable to a Tailed Beast—a power even more horrifying than his own Lightning Style Chakra Mode. Under normal circumstances, chakra of this magnitude would surely cause the surrounding winds to surge and clouds to roil.
But...
Forget about such terrifying anomalies; the opponent's every movement didn't even disturb the surrounding grass or trees.
This level of chakra control...
His fists clenched tightly, his broad, dark knuckles cracking audibly. The Raikage was now at the end of his rope.
With Might Guy having opened the fifth gate, the Gate of Limit, and utilizing the Sage Seal, the Raikage was no match for him even with his Lightning Style Chakra Mode active.
"Twenty-four years ago, you plotted for the Nine-Tails. Nine years ago, you plotted for the Byakugan and started a war. And now, you have violated our alliance, joining forces with the Kazekage and Orochimaru against Konoha."
Calm words flowed from Guy's mouth as he stepped toward the Raikage, who was barely standing despite being exhausted.
Five years of practicing chakra control techniques had made his mastery over chakra arguably the best in the ninja world. Simultaneously, as the Commander of the Jonin, Guy's personality had become increasingly steady.
"Raikage of the Hidden Cloud, are you prepared to pay the price for this?"
Guy's voice was calm yet powerful. As he drew closer, the Raikage's broken body once again erupted with electrical arcs. He wanted to squeeze out the last drop of chakra for a final counterattack.
But...
A palm pressed against his scarred chest.
"I will not kill you," the man said in a voice so calm it bordered on cold.
"I will break your limbs so you have no strength to escape. The intelligence in your head will become an asset for Konoha."
"At the same time, your life is a bargaining chip for Kakashi to restrain the Hidden Cloud Village."
"Though, I suspect Kakashi might not even need a card like you."
Hearing Might Guy's voice, the Raikage suddenly snapped his head up to look at this cold and powerful enemy.
"In your dreams!"
"Lightning Oppression Horizontal—"
Startled and enraged by Guy's words, the Raikage surged upward, wanting to use his final strength for a desperate struggle.
But...
The moment his arm was raised, a hand firmly clamped onto it!
Accompanied by a scalp-numbing crack from his arm, his limb was twisted into a grotesque angle! His arm had been snapped by Might Guy through sheer brute force!
With an injury of this magnitude, even the Raikage couldn't help but groan in agony!
"Do not waste your efforts. You are simply not on the same level as I am."
"There are very few beings who can truly trade blows with me. Unfortunately, you are not among them."
The hand that had broken the Raikage's arm now pressed down on his shoulder. An irresistible force surged from that hand.
"Kneel. Atonement for your crimes."
Guy's dark eyes looked at the man without a shred of emotion.
"What?!"
Even with his chakra depleted and his arm broken, the Raikage was incensed by Guy's demand.
"I said..."
"Kneel!"
The irresistible weight on his shoulder spread through his entire body. The Raikage's eyes bulged with rage, but no matter how he resisted, how could he possibly withstand Might Guy in this exhausted state?
His body bent involuntarily, his knees letting out a pained groan under the pressure. The Raikage's eyes looked ready to burst as he tried to fight back, but his knees were forced down, inch by inch, toward the dust on the ground.
Ultimately, the man who had been proud his entire life knelt before the man standing in front of him.
Looking down at the Raikage, Might Guy's eyes shifted slightly.
Is this considered a humiliation?
No, this wasn't humiliation. At most, it was merely the interest the Hidden Cloud had to pay for their repeated violations of their word.
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