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A creaking sound echoed as three coffin lids toppled over on their own.
"Grandfather..."
Tsunade stared at the three figures revealed after the coffins vanished, her gaze fixed on the long-haired man clad in red armor standing on the left.
"That's..."
"It's the First and Second Hokage, and the Third!"
"This is incredible!!"
Among the crowd behind her, the shinobi of Konoha erupted in excitement at the sight of the three figures.
The three Hokage opened their eyes and surveyed their surroundings.
"So it's you again, Orochimaru," Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke first, locking eyes with his once most promising student.
"Little Tsunade, you've grown so much!" Hashirama beamed at her with grandfatherly affection.
"Brother! This is a battlefield—stay alert!" Tobirama snapped, his expression grave as he took in the monstrous, kilometer-long creature in the distance. "Tsunade, what is that?!"
"That's the Ten-Tails," Tsunade replied, watching as the beast gathered another Tailed Beast Bomb. "A man with the Rinnegan has taken control of all the Tailed Beasts."
"The Five Great Nations have actually joined forces?" Hashirama's eyes swept over the allied formations behind them before he burst into laughter. "How rare!"
"Incoming!!" Tobirama suddenly shouted a warning.
In the distance, the Ten-Tails had closed its massive maw.
"Got it."
Hashirama leaped forward in an instant.
The next moment, the Ten-Tails opened its jaws, and the Tailed Beast Bomb transformed into a devastating crimson beam, hurtling toward them.
"Summoning: Quintuple Rashōmon!!"
Hashirama had already completed the hand seals. He slammed his palms onto the ground.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Five towering demonic gates materialized in a row, intercepting the Tailed Beast Bomb.
As the Rashōmon barriers were obliterated one after another, he clasped his hands together again.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!!"
A colossal wooden giant, a hundred meters tall, erupted from the earth beneath him.
The wooden titan emerged halfway before thrusting out its right arm, blocking the Tailed Beast Bomb that had smashed through all five gates.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted—the Wood Human's right arm and the Tailed Beast Bomb vanished simultaneously.
A violent gale swept across the battlefield, forcing the frontline shinobi to shield their faces with their arms.
A second later, the Wood Human rose to its full height, its right arm rapidly regenerating. It took massive strides toward the center of the battlefield.
"Let's move too, Saru."
Tobirama shot a glance at Hiruzen before vanishing in a Body Flicker.
"To think things have come to this..."
Hiruzen sighed and sped after him.
"I'll be joining the fight as well," Tsunade said, turning to Orochimaru. "What about you?"
"Against a monster like that, I doubt I'd be of much help," Orochimaru replied with an amused smirk, unmoved.
"Hmph."
Tsunade averted her gaze and sprinted toward the battlefield without another word.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The Wood Human's thunderous footsteps shook the earth as Hashirama rode atop it, positioning himself at the forefront.
"So you're the current Five Kage?" he called down to the battered figures below.
Covered in dust, Jiraiya shouted up, "First Hokage! The other four are Kage, but the Fifth Hokage is Tsunade—I'm her comrade!"
"Little Tsunade?!" Hashirama nearly stumbled before hastily steadying himself, forcing a wry smile. "Is Konoha doing well?"
"Don't worry about it!" Jiraiya gave a thumbs-up, though inwardly, he winced.
'I'm totally lying right now.'
As he looked up at Hashirama, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel guilty, remembering Tsunade's current state.
"Good!"
Hashirama had no time for further questions and turned his attention to the Ten-Tails.
"You there—who are you?"
He glared at Nagato, who stood atop the beast's head.
"So you're the First Hokage," Nagato replied coolly. "I am Nagato."
Recognizing Hashirama's arrival, Nagato halted the Ten-Tails' assault.
"That's me," Hashirama said, scratching his head in frustration. "Mind telling me why you're doing this?"
"Why shouldn't I?" Nagato countered icily.
Hashirama pressed on earnestly, "I heard you've gathered all the Tailed Beasts and started this war. I want to know your reason."
"My reason?"
Nagato answered as if it were obvious: "For world peace."
"…What?"
Hashirama nearly lost his balance at the response, blinking in bewilderment.
Tobirama and Hiruzen, who had just arrived, shot questioning looks at Tsunade.
She gave them a firm nod.
The two immediately exchanged exasperated expressions.
"You don't understand?" Nagato's Rinnegan scrutinized their reactions.
"Well…" Hashirama resumed scratching his head before breaking into an awkward laugh. "Haha… yeah, I really don't get it."
Nagato stared at the legendary "God of Shinobi," his lips twitching in disdain.
This is the great First Hokage, Hashirama Senju?
His tone dripped with contempt.
Big Brother's acting like an idiot again.
"Brother!!" Tobirama bellowed, slapping a hand over his face.
"Hoho," Hiruzen chuckled, opting to stay silent.
Only Tsunade maintained her composure. "Yes, this is him."
Though she, too, wanted to facepalm, she had to uphold her grandfather's dignity.
"…"
Nagato fell silent for a few seconds before continuing calmly, "First Hokage, I've heard you once sought peace by founding Konohagakure. So let me ask you—why has the shinobi world known nothing but endless war since the village system began?"
Hashirama's expression sobered as he regarded Nagato silently.
"For years, the Five Great Nations have waged war on a whim, driven by greed," Nagato declared. "And we, the smaller nations caught between them, have been forced into becoming battlegrounds. Shinobi and civilians alike have suffered endlessly!"
The battlefield fell eerily quiet, Nagato's frigid voice cutting through the wilderness.
"I know this: only through experiencing pain can people truly yearn for peace." His words resonated across the field. "So now, it's your turn to suffer."
He spread his arms passionately. "With the ultimate weapon, the Ten-Tails, I now possess the power to crush any nation. Only when you've all tasted agony will true peace be achieved!"
A cold wind howled, chilling the hearts of every shinobi on the battlefield.
In the vast valley, tens of thousands of allied forces listened in stunned silence to Nagato's speech.
Damn it, morale's going to plummet at this rate.
Kakashi grimaced, sensing the shift in the soldiers' resolve.
"Keh keh keh…" Orochimaru chuckled ominously. "How noble, Nagato. And yet…"
He turned to Kakashi, smirking. "It seems many here also share his… ideals for peace."
"…" Kakashi's brow furrowed.
"So that's it!"
Hashirama's voice suddenly boomed from the battlefield's center, breaking the tension.
"Y'know, as your elder, I actually admire your determination to seek peace."
His words instantly drew all eyes back to him.
"However…"
He shook his head firmly.
"This method of achieving peace—I do not approve!"