Chapter 47 – The Dead Speak, and the Village Burns Brighter
"Do you really think a single S-rank missing-nin could plant that many explosive tags right under your noses?"
Orochimaru wasn't taking the fall for someone else's crime scene.
His denial doused Hiruzen's rage just long enough for logic to kick in.
He was right.
The sheer volume needed to turn half the village into a fireworks show was insane.
Money aside, hiding them in every corner without anyone noticing? Impossible.
Even for Orochimaru.
And the timing was too perfect.
Someone had hijacked his Konoha Crush to settle their own score.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips, eyes narrowing.
He hated being used.
And he already had a solid guess who the third party was.
Forest of Death flashbacks: Naruto and Sasuke hiding power, the cryptic parting words…
He was seventy percent sure those two brats just turned his invasion into their personal revenge party.
The motive?
He glanced at Hiruzen.
Even after years away, Orochimaru still knew Konoha's dirty laundry.
A jinchuriki treated like garbage his whole life.
An entire clan massacred overnight.
Both tragedies traced straight back to the man in front of him.
"Looks like we need to wrap this up quickly."
Orochimaru had planned to savor the moment.
Now he just wanted an exit strategy.
He loosened the Impure World bindings, restoring some free will to the reincarnated Hokages.
"Where… am I?"
Hashirama blinked away the fog, voice uncertain.
His gaze swept the area until it focused.
"Konoha?"
Then he heard a familiar voice.
"Big brother?"
He turned.
Tobirama stood beside him, cracked skin, dead eyes; same as himself.
"Tobirama, what is this?"
"Impure World Reincarnation," Tobirama answered coldly.
"Someone used the forbidden jutsu I created to drag us back."
His icy stare locked onto Orochimaru.
"You, brat."
"As sharp as expected, Second-sama. Guilty as charged," Orochimaru replied cheerfully.
"I'm up against an opponent I can't beat alone."
"So I'd appreciate it if you two gentlemen would kindly kill that old man over there for me."
Hashirama and Tobirama followed his pointing finger.
Tobirama recognized him instantly.
"You've gotten old, monkey."
"Monkey?"
Hashirama was slower. The last time he saw Hiruzen, the kid was still in diapers.
"First-sama… Sensei!" Hiruzen's voice cracked.
"The Sarutobi clan boy, right? Became Hokage, huh? Not bad, not bad!"
Hashirama laughed heartily.
Then he remembered they were supposed to be enemies.
He turned to his brother with a scowl.
"You created a technique that defiles the dead?"
"I told you not to mess with life and death! Look what happened!"
Tobirama just huffed, refusing to engage.
"Enough chit-chat," Orochimaru cut in, smiling.
"If you two want to catch up, there'll be plenty of time after you kill Professor Sarutobi."
......
Outside the village.
With Shukaku finally lured beyond the walls, Kakashi and Might Guy stopped holding back.
Kakashi went full technician mode, cycling through every element like a one-man arsenal.
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