Orochimaru stood before two prepared sacrifices, his hands moving rapidly through hand seals.
"Lord Tobirama, please watch carefully," he said hoarsely.
"These are the… laborers I have prepared for you."
"Edo Tensei!"
Orochimaru slammed his palms onto the ground.
Black sealing patterns spread like writhing serpents, rapidly crawling over the two White Zetsu sacrifices that were still screaming in terror.
Rumble!
The ground trembled violently.
Amid the rolling dust, two ancient, heavy wooden coffins slowly rose from the earth.
Carved clearly into the lids were two characters:
First.
Second.
Bang! Bang!
Two dull, heavy sounds echoed as the coffin lids slammed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
Two figures stepped out slowly.
The one on the left wore red layered armor, long hair cascading down to his waist. Even with his eyes closed, the immense pressure radiating from him was like a towering mountain, making it hard to breathe.
The one on the right wore blue armor. Beneath his forehead protector was iconic silver hair, with three red markings on each cheek. His gaze was sharp and cold, like a drawn blade.
They were none other than Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
The two legendary Hokage had once again set foot in the world of the living.
"Hm?"
Hashirama opened his eyes in confusion and looked down at his own hands.
"Where is this…? Why does my body feel so light?"
"Didn't I already die?"
"Brother, stop spacing out."
The Senju Tobirama beside him reacted instantly. His sharp eyes swept across the surroundings before locking onto Orochimaru, who was still forming seals.
"This sensation… I've been summoned back to the living world."
"Edo Tensei," he said coldly. "Hmph. I never expected that after my death, someone would dare use the forbidden technique I created to defile the dead."
His voice carried an inherent authority.
Even as a reincarnated corpse, his Kage-level presence was enough to crush an ordinary jōnin.
"Nice to meet you, former Hokage."
From the shadows, a figure in a divine robe stepped forward unhurriedly.
"I am the current Hokage of Konoha."
"As for my name…"
A playful curve formed at his lips.
"What a coincidence."
"My name is Uchiha Tobirama."
"Uchiha?!"
Senju Tobirama's pupils contracted violently.
He stared at the silver-haired, red-eyed young man before him—especially the Uchiha fan crest at his collar. Killing intent erupted instantly.
"An evil Uchiha brat… and you actually became Hokage?"
"And this chakra…"
As one of the greatest sensors in shinobi history, the Second Hokage could clearly feel it.
That cold, vast, terrifying power was countless times more ominous than Uchiha Madara's had ever been.
"An Uchiha using Edo Tensei… holding power…"
Blue chakra surged violently around Senju Tobirama as the temperature of the air plummeted.
"It seems Konoha has fallen."
"For the Village's sake, this dangerous Uchiha must be eliminated!"
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
Without hesitation, the Second Hokage raised his hand and unleashed a razor-thin, high-pressure water blade straight toward the protagonist's throat.
It was so fast that even Orochimaru failed to react in time.
"Tsk."
The protagonist didn't move at all.
He merely looked at his predecessor with cold disdain.
"Second Hokage, you still haven't understood the situation."
"Orochimaru," he said calmly.
"Yes."
Orochimaru grinned and tightened the control talisman in his hand.
"Restrain."
Hum!
Just as the water blade stopped less than a centimeter from the protagonist's neck—
Senju Tobirama's body froze completely.
Not just his movements, but even the flow of chakra within him was forcibly cut off.
The water blade instantly collapsed into a lifeless splash, scattering across the ground.
"What?!"
The Second Hokage's expression changed drastically as he struggled, but his body refused to respond.
"My body… how is this possible?!"
"A normal Edo Tensei shouldn't be able to control my will at all!"
"Times have changed, old man."
The protagonist walked up to him and casually patted his rigid cheek, the gesture dripping with humiliation.
"This is an enhanced Edo Tensei infused with Hashirama cells."
"You may have created the technique, but now—"
"I am your master."
"You want to kill me? Did I give you permission?"
"Bastard!!"
The Second Hokage's eyes burned red with rage.
As the creator of the technique, being controlled by it—by an Uchiha no less—was more humiliating than death.
"Brother! Do it!" he shouted.
"Don't let this brat destroy Konoha!"
Yet Hashirama did not move.
Instead, he studied the protagonist with curiosity, his expression open and sincere.
"Uh… Tobirama, don't rush."
"Even though he's from the Uchiha Clan, he doesn't seem like a bad person."
"And he said he's the current Hokage. How can we just attack him outright?"
Hashirama scratched his head and smiled warmly.
"Uh… young Uchiha."
"I don't know what's going on, but did you summon us because you need help?"
"If it's to protect Konoha, I'm willing to assist."
The protagonist glanced at him.
He had to admit—this so-called God of Shinobi might look like an idiot at times, but his presence was truly extraordinary.
"No difficulties," the protagonist said.
He turned around, sat on the chair Orochimaru had brought over, and crossed his legs.
"Konoha is doing very well now. Far better than when you were around."
"I summoned you for one reason only."
He raised a finger and pointed at the two of them.
"Konoha is expanding. The territory is vast, and manpower is insufficient."
"I need two high-level laborers—those who can fight, can work, and don't need a salary."
"In short, I summoned you to work."
"Huh?"
Hashirama froze, jaw nearly hitting the floor.
"Work?"
Resurrecting the First and Second Hokage… just to make them work?
Was this young man's thinking a little strange?
"Are you insane?!"
The Second Hokage roared, furious.
"Using the dead as tools—this is a desecration of life!"
"I will never work for an evil Uchiha! Keep dreaming!"
"Brother, don't listen to him! This kid definitely has an ulterior motive!"
"Ulterior motive?"
The protagonist sneered.
"I, Uchiha Tobirama, never rely on schemes."
"I only believe in absolute power."
He looked at Hashirama, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Hashirama, don't reject it so quickly."
"Besides work, I have a reason you absolutely cannot refuse."
"What reason?" Hashirama asked curiously.
"There's someone who's already been resurrected."
"He's currently serving as my Minister of War."
The protagonist leaned forward, locking eyes with him.
"Your old friend…"
"Uchiha Madara."
Boom!!
Hashirama's expression changed instantly.
A terrifying surge of chakra erupted, cracking the ground and even partially breaking through Orochimaru's control.
His hair fluttered wildly, and a blazing light filled his eyes.
"Madara?"
"Madara is alive?!"
"Where is he?! I want to see him!"
This was the obsession Hashirama showed only when Madara was mentioned.
Even resurrecting Uzumaki Mito wouldn't have excited him this much.
"Brother! Calm down!" the Second Hokage shouted.
"If Madara is resurrected, the ninja world is finished! This has to be this kid's trick!"
"If those two Uchiha join forces, they'll destroy everything!"
"No… you don't understand," Hashirama said quietly.
He took a deep breath, nostalgia and anticipation surfacing on his face.
"If it's Madara… I have to see him."
"Even if it's just working—if I can see him again, have a drink with him…"
The protagonist watched calmly and nodded in satisfaction.
As expected, once the Madara card was played, Hashirama became the most obedient enforcer.
"Very good."
The protagonist snapped his fingers.
"As long as you behave and help me flatten the disobedient nations—"
"I'll let you see Madara."
"I'll even let the two of you fight again, if you want."
"Deal!"
Hashirama agreed without hesitation.
Principles? Hokage dignity?
None of that mattered compared to seeing Madara again.
"Brother, you—!"
The Second Hokage was so furious he looked ready to die again.
He glared at the protagonist, eyes filled with defiance and disgust.
"He is him. I am me!"
"Even if my brother agrees, I never will!"
"I am Senju Tobirama! I spent my life guarding against the Uchiha!"
"You want me to serve an evil Uchiha brat?!"
"Unless my soul is destroyed, it will never happen!"
The Second Hokage's resolve was unyielding.
His hatred of the Uchiha was etched into his very bones.
"Oh? Never?"
The protagonist stood up and looked down at him from above.
There was no respect in his eyes—only the cold gaze reserved for tools.
"Second Hokage, you still don't understand."
"I'm not negotiating."
"I'm informing you."
He smiled coldly.
"That outdated prejudice of yours is worthless."
"You dare!" the Second Hokage roared.
"Watch me."
The protagonist gestured to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru licked his lips eagerly, pulling out a special talisman and moving to press it toward the Second Hokage's head.
"Hehehe… Lord Tobirama, pardon the offense."
"Wait!"
Hashirama shouted urgently.
"Please show mercy!"
"Tobirama is just stubborn! I'll persuade him—don't erase his personality!"
"If he loses that, he'll truly just be a tool. That would be too cruel!"
The protagonist raised a hand, stopping Orochimaru.
He looked at Hashirama, then at the humiliated Second Hokage.
"Fine."
"For Hashirama's sake, I'll give you one more chance."
"When you reach Konoha and see what the Uchiha are like now—"
"If you still refuse…"
"Then there's no need for you to exist."
"Take him away."
The protagonist turned and strode off.
Behind him, Hashirama sighed and patted the Second Hokage's shoulder.
"Tobirama, don't be so stubborn."
"This young man… is even stronger than Madara was back then."
"Let's observe first."
The Second Hokage clenched his teeth, staring at the protagonist's retreating back.
"Uchiha…"
"Sooner or later, I will eliminate you."
--------------Author---------------
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