"Orochimaru, it seems that in your dying moments, you've rediscovered the Will of Fire you'd lost..."
Hashirama's arm, reduced to dust, rapidly reformed in mid-air, and he grasped the ring Orochimaru had thrown.
"Don't worry," he vowed with grim determination. "I'll definitely expose this organization plaguing the ninja world and avenge you!"
With the ring secured tight in his fist, Hashirama stood ready as his body finished reforming.
In the distance, Deidara had also seen Orochimaru toss the ring. Ignoring the rapidly dissipating form of Orochimaru, he flew above Hashirama's head.
"The dead puppets are still impossible to kill, just like before," Deidara muttered, hands already reaching into his pouch. "Only sealing techniques will work... and I'm almost out of clay. Can't keep detonating blindly."
A series of sharp explosions echoed as his nano-bombs detonated—then Sasori returned, puppet swarm in tow.
"That stinking snake actually died to Deidara's C4?" Sasori scanned the spot where Orochimaru had stood. His eyes caught a soft patch of earth—clearly disturbed, unlike the hard-packed ground around it.
Before he could investigate further, Deidara shouted down.
"Lord Sasori! Orochimaru threw the ring to this dead puppet. Now we just need to finish him off, hmm!"
Sasori looked up at Hashirama, now fully healed. "He tossed it away? That damned snake is still as repulsive as ever."
Even if he hadn't killed Orochimaru personally, the torture he'd just endured was enough revenge. But Hashirama Senju—the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi—was a different problem entirely.
Sasori knew about Orochimaru's invasion and his use of Impure World Reincarnation to resurrect the first two Hokage. He didn't understand how they'd broken free, but if the Third Kazekage could do it, then the God of Shinobi certainly could. And this wooden dragon? His nano-bombs had barely scratched it.
Best to try talking first. Fighting a non-mission target—and a dead man who could only be sealed, not killed—was far too costly.
With a gesture, Sasori pulled his puppet swarm closer. "First Hokage, hand over Orochimaru's ring. We don't want a pointless fight."
"We have a stronger ally who hasn't even moved yet. If he gets impatient... well, besides you and the Second Hokage, everyone else dies here."
The puppet swarm closed in from above, Nine-Tails chakra blazing across their weapons like flames. Sasori, newly appointed to lead, didn't want his first mission requiring the leader's intervention.
Hashirama raised an eyebrow. "A hidden partner? That explains why this ring is so important." He tucked it away carefully. "You and that aerial explosive user are both powerful. I'm bringing you both in."
Clap!
Hashirama's hands slammed together. Chakra surged, pouring into the wooden dragon beneath his feet. The dragon's long body retracted and spiraled upward. Thick limbs sprouted from its sides, and a massive torso formed in the center. Finally, a head with a gentle face but vicious fangs emerged beside the dragon's own.
"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"
A wooden giant, nearly twenty meters tall and coiled with a dragon, appeared with crushing force. Even diminished—perhaps a tenth of its true power—it was overwhelming.
Sasori felt his blood run cold. "Besides that dragon, he can create this?"
Before meeting Menma, he would have fled. But now? With Deidara and the Nine-Tails' power, maybe they could challenge the God of Shinobi.
Deidara, overhearing, grinned. "Hahaha! Kakuzu actually beat the First Hokage? No wonder he had such powerful Wood Release! But my art still killed him once!"
"Kakuzu?" Hashirama's eyes narrowed. "That Hidden Waterfalls ninja who tried assassinating me... the one who didn't realize my clone was real? The one I beat up before he fled?"
"I never thought Akatsuki had someone from my era," Hashirama said, his voice turning cold. "You know a lot."
The wooden dragon and human beneath him moved to attack. Hashirama felt the threat growing. This organization had too many powerful members. His and Tobirama's resurrection might be a sign of impending catastrophe.
"I don't want to kill you," Hashirama declared, "but to protect the village and the ninja world, I'll eliminate every destabilizing factor. Even if I can't bring back the living, I'll bring back your corpses!"
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