[Konoha Village]
[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
[Orochimaru's Laboratory]
"Just a portion of the bodies will do?", Tsunade asked nervously.
After all, this was about bringing back the people she loved most.
Orochimaru didn't bother to comfort her; he continued arranging the seals and the sacrificial offerings.
"Don't worry, Orochimaru knows this technique very well. You can just sit tight."
Rengoku folded his arms. Today, he intended to squeeze out every last bit of value from the Rinnegan.
Tsunade couldn't stop pacing back and forth; after all, these were the two men she had loved most.
She had seen both of them die with her own eyes, buried them with her own hands.
And now, she had personally dug up their corpses again.
Naturally, her heart was unsettled.
Compared to Tsunade, Kakashi sat there like a statue.
Even though Sakumo Hatake was among those to be revived, one sentence from Rengoku had completely broken his composure.
"Your father, like Rin, never went to the Pure Land after death. He's stayed behind all this time, unable to let go of you."
T he thought that his father had lingered between worlds for over ten years because he worried about him filled Kakashi with guilt and unease.
After all, in those years, he'd barely been human himself, half-dead inside.
Meanwhile, the Minato couple stood quietly to the side, patiently waiting.
Since they were already preparing to bring people back, Rengoku took the time to explain to Kakashi and the others about the future enemies they might face.
Compared to Obito, who was obsessed with changing the world, Rengoku was far more pragmatic.
If someone died, then just find a way to bring them back.
By contrast, Rengoku's calmness was terrifying.
"Edo Tensei!"
At that moment, Orochimaru had finished all the preparations and began performing Edo Tensei.
It was worth mentioning that Sarutobi Asuma and Sarutobi Konohamaru were used as the sacrifices for Dan Kato and Nawaki.
The debt left by Sarutobi Hiruzen, it was only fitting that Asuma and Konohamaru pay it back.
Tsunade's only act of mercy was to knock the two of them unconscious first, so they would suffer less.
Now, the talisman papers fluttered and wrapped around the sacrifices.
As the papers scattered, Sakumo Hatake, Dan Kato, and Nawaki appeared before everyone.
Orochimaru's hands quickly formed seals, casting the control technique.
The three blinked their eyes, regaining consciousness.
Kakashi immediately walked up to Sakumo.
"Father."
Sakumo raised his hand, looked at his arm, then looked at his son in front of him, "Kakashi, you've grown up."
On the other side, Nawaki blinked a few times, waking from the haze.
The next second, his face was smothered by a familiar pair of enormous breasts.
"Nawaki!", Even though she knew this was an Edo Tensei body, Tsunade couldn't stop herself from hugging her brother tightly.
"Onee… san!", Nawaki's face was squished flat as he struggled and pushed her, "Let me go already!"
"Tsunade, what's going on?", A gentle voice sounded.
Tsunade finally released Nawaki.
Suppressing the surge of joy in her heart, she brushed her hair back.
"Dan, this is the Edo Tensei created by Second Grandpa, it can bring you back for a while," Seeing her former lover again, Tsunade's tone softened, her voice trembling slightly.
Nawaki, off to the side, couldn't help rolling his eyes.
He'd died pretty early, so besides Tsunade, the only person he recognized here was Orochimaru.
After all, Orochimaru hardly looked any different now.
"Teacher, I'm sorry… for making you sad,".Upon seeing Orochimaru, Nawaki's first words were an apology.
Back then, Orochimaru had been against him going to the battlefield. But Nawaki, persuaded by others, had insisted on going anyway.
His memory lasted right up until the moment of his death; he hadn't died instantly.
In that brief flash before dying, the people he thought of most were his sister Tsunade and his teacher Orochimaru.
He knew they would both be heartbroken.
Orochimaru, normally an extremely rational man, still reached out and ruffled Nawaki's hair gently.
His eyes flickered, and for a moment, his mind drifted back to that day, decades ago, when Nawaki had died.
"It's all in the past now."
Orochimaru had truly liked this student. If Nawaki hadn't died, perhaps Orochimaru would've turned out very differently.
Nearby, Dan heard Tsunade's words and smiled gently, "You haven't changed at all, Tsunade."
Tsunade pressed a hand to her chest, emotion swirling in her eyes, "Dan, I've always—"
But Dan interrupted her softly, "Don't say it, Tsunade. I can't stay for long. Even if I'm revived, what's the point? It'll only bring you more pain."
Dan already understood what Tsunade wanted to say.
But he was already dead, and more than anything, he feared Tsunade wouldn't be able to let him go.
"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! How sentimental," Rengoku commented from the side.
"Bringing you back with Edo Tensei is only the first step. You'll all be revived for real later," Rengoku didn't want Dan to suffer needlessly, nor Tsunade to hold back her words any longer.
The three newly revived were all visibly shocked.
Tsunade hurriedly said to Dan, "Dan, all these years, I've never forgotten you."
Rengoku added teasingly, "Ah! So that's why Tsunade never remarried all these years, she's been waiting for Dan Kato!"
Two red patches instantly bloomed on Tsunade's cheeks. She shot Rengoku a glare, flustered, yet shy before the man she loved.
Hearing that they could truly be revived, Dan's expression softened completely.
He reached out to touch Tsunade's face, "You've had a hard time all these years, haven't you?"
"Dan…", Tsunade couldn't help but throw herself into his arms.
Dan held the lover who had waited for him all this time, gently patting her back.
Nawaki, watching from the side, looked at Orochimaru in surprise, "Teacher, you can bring back the dead now?"
Orochimaru chuckled dryly, "I'm not that capable yet."
Kakashi, on his side, was far calmer.
"Looks like life's been rough for you too, huh," Hearing his son talk about all that had happened over the years, Sakumo's face grew thoughtful.
Regarding his own suicide after being slandered, Sakumo had long since realized, even in death, that it had been a mistake.
Because of that, his soul had lingered in the space between the living world and the Pure Land, worrying endlessly about Kakashi.
In the original timeline, it was only when Kakashi died at Pain's hands and met him again that Sakumo found peace and moved on.
But this time was different, he'd been forcibly summoned back by Edo Tensei.
Kakashi naturally told Sakumo the truth.
"Father, back then, all those accusations against you, it was Hiruzen's plot."
After listening, Sakumo fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking, "I see… no wonder Nakamura blamed me."
Kakashi comforted him, "Father, it's over. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo have both been punished."
"You need to stay strong. The village still needs us."
Sakumo gave Kakashi a light punch, "Brat, do I need you to tell me that?"
"If the village needs me, of course I'll do what must be done."
"Still… after all these years, you're not even married yet. Are you planning to end the Hatake line with you?"
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