"What?!?!"
Code, hurled into the ground, was momentarily dazed.
Where did that Buddha's palm come from? It nearly killed him in one strike…
Soon after, Code flew out of the cracked, shattered pit, his face filled with displeasure. He looked up.
There stood a massive, sturdy wooden statue, dragging Gyūki bound by tree roots, rapidly approaching from the distance.
Clearly, it was Edo Tensei Hashirama, who had successfully captured the Hachibi Jinchūriki and hurried back to the scene.
Meanwhile, Edo Tensei Hashirama's memories only extended to the Fourth Ninja World War. Though his memories were altered, with Naruto and Sasuke now recalled as Uzumaki Jigen, he didn't recognize Code!
He also didn't know Uzumaki Code was Uzumaki Jigen's son.
In short, he had no idea the person before him was Konoha's current temporary Hokage. Plus, with Orochimaru's clone instigating at his side and seeing Code attack Itachi and Shisui from afar, it was obvious—this guy was an enemy!
That's why he dared to strike, slamming Code into the ground with Wood Release, halting his attack on Orochimaru and the others.
"Hashirama-sama, this enemy is extremely evil and powerful. Not only does he aim to destroy Konoha, but he also plans to kill all humans! Such heinous crimes!" Orochimaru's clone, standing on the wooden statue's shoulder, continued to provoke Edo Tensei Hashirama.
Hashirama, hearing this, was instantly enraged. No matter who the enemy was, as long as they threatened Konoha, he would show no mercy.
"What? Such a vile enemy exists?"
"Someone like that is too dangerous; they absolutely cannot be allowed to harm the village!"
"Senpō: Mokuton: Shin Sūsenju: Chōjō Kebutsu!"
Edo Tensei Hashirama clapped his hands, instantly activating Sage Mode and boldly unleashing his strongest technique.
This wasn't a playful spar like with Madara; facing an enemy, especially one Orochimaru emphasized as powerful, Hashirama held nothing back.
*RUMBLE!*
The unmatched Thousand-Handed Buddha rose from the ground, dominating the entire battlefield. Kawaki and Boruto, high in the sky, were awestruck.
"So huge! It's even bigger than the Seventh Hokage's Kurama! Is this the First Hokage's power?" Kawaki exclaimed in amazement.
Gyūki, once massive in their eyes, now seemed as small as a palm behind the Thousand-Handed Buddha. The sheer size difference made Kawaki tremble.
"Hashirama-sama's Wood Release? Truly incredible, no wonder Dad called him the most revered God of Shinobi!"
Boruto's eyes sparkled with excitement, his heart thrilled, sighing—truly the First Hokage!
But hadn't the First Hokage's memories been altered too? Why was he attacking Code?
"Great! Hurry, finish off that Code!" Kawaki cheered eagerly. If not for protecting Boruto, he'd have jumped in to fight Code himself.
"Orochimaru, what are you really doing? Why is Hashirama-sama…" Boruto turned to ask Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru didn't answer, continuing to draw Kuchiyose formations. One Edo Tensei Hashirama wasn't secure enough.
Kind-hearted Orochimaru planned to revive Konoha's glorious tradition, summoning a few more great figures to spread the spirit of a righteous siege!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"First Hokage!!!"
Code roared in anger, turning into a black light, soaring back into the sky, charging at Hashirama atop the giant Buddha.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
He was met with thousands of massive palms covering the heavens and earth!
Each giant palm, Bijuu-sized, carried terrifying power equivalent to a Bijuudama, like meteors crashing relentlessly.
Code was once again pitifully slammed into the ground.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
The immense force shattered rock layers, melting the earth. Thousands of meters of surrounding land crumbled, repeatedly compressed and sunk, quickly forming a vast, bottomless valley.
Yet the assault continued, the earth still trembling. As countless giant Wood Release hands fell, each vibration sent chills down the spine and shook the heart.
Code's previous Claw Marks were also obliterated in the explosions, the wide attack range leaving him no time to dodge or escape.
Not far away, Edo Tensei Itachi and Shisui retreated, sighing in awe.
"This is Wood Release's power? Truly extraordinary!" Shisui was filled with gasps and admiration.
If he'd had this power, why would he have jumped into a river to die back then?
He could've turned around, killed Danzō, then grabbed Hiruzen by the throat, asking, "I'll be Hokage, I'll protect Konoha—who agrees? Who opposes?"
"It's not Wood Release that's strong, but the First Hokage himself!" Edo Tensei Itachi had seen Yamato's Wood Release.
Compared to Hashirama, it was like heaven and earth, not even on the same level. Clearly, Hashirama himself was the strength, not just his Wood Release.
"You're right, this is the power a village founder should have. With Hashirama-sama here, this battle should have no suspense, right?"
Itachi shook his head, his brows still furrowed: "Hashirama-sama is very strong, but victory isn't guaranteed."
"Such power still can't defeat that guy?"
"When he broke free from Totsuka no Tsurugi's seal earlier, I sensed another, far more terrifying power within him. It's likely Otsutsuki Isshiki's power…"
"Otsutsuki Isshiki? Who's that?"
"That's…" Itachi began to explain, but the battle situation behind them shifted.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
*BOOM!*
The hundreds of falling giant Wood Release hands suddenly shrank, turning into thigh-thick branches, their power drastically reduced.
Simultaneously, Code's figure slowly rose from the deep, dark pit.
But Code now looked drastically different. Not only was his body covered in Black Kāma, but Otsutsuki Clan horns sprouted from his forehead.
Clearly, Isshiki had forcibly activated Kāma, pushing Code into the strongest Phase Two Kāma form, granting explosive Six Paths-level power. All of Isshiki's Dōjutsu and abilities were now usable in this form.
"This is… Sukūnahikona?!?"
"It's Otsutsuki Isshiki!"
Kawaki instantly recognized the technique, unable to hide his shock and fear.
"Otsutsuki Isshiki? He's really not dead!"
"Could Code be parasitized by Otsutsuki Isshiki, like Jigen?" Boruto quickly guessed the truth.
Initially, after Isshiki's fierce battle with his teacher and escape, hit by Six Paths: Indra's Arrow, even Sasuke couldn't confirm if Isshiki was alive or dead. But now, it seemed this guy was indeed alive, likely parasitizing Code's body!
Orochimaru's memories hadn't recovered, so he didn't recognize Isshiki. But the terrifying pressure from Code's transformation made his sensitive instincts sense a deadly crisis. He immediately controlled the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release flying platform, taking the group to widen the distance again.
However, none of them noticed. Far on the battlefield, behind an unremarkable rock, another figure saw Code activate Phase Two Kāma and tapped a Kuchiyose toad on their shoulder. The toad exploded into a cloud of white smoke, vanishing.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Damn it, damn bastards!" Isshiki, hovering in the air, was furious.
He thought controlling Code to act personally would make capturing Kawaki and Boruto easy. Unexpectedly, Orochimaru's despicable Edo Tensei repeatedly thwarted him, summoning dead native ninjas and humiliating him multiple times. He was nearly killed twice.
Earlier, he was almost sealed by Totsuka no Tsurugi; now, he was nearly crushed by Edo Tensei Hashirama's saturation attack.
Code wasn't Jigen. Though Jigen's quality paled compared to Kawaki, he was a viable vessel; even if Jigen died, Isshiki could revive through his body. But Code was a failed vessel. If he died, Isshiki, parasitizing him, would die too.
With no choice, unable to defeat Edo Tensei Hashirama, Isshiki forcibly activated Phase Two Kāma, unleashing his full power. But this fully exposed his true form.
Initially, gravely wounded and nearly killed by Sasuke, Isshiki had no choice but to parasitize Code. After doing so, he always controlled Code to act, hiding his true form's existence.
As long as Sasuke couldn't determine if his true form was alive or dead and where it was, Isshiki was safer. Now, forced to reveal his parasitic weakness in Code's body, his risk skyrocketed.
This was why Isshiki was truly enraged!
Of course, forcibly activating Phase Two Kāma would drastically shorten Code's lifespan—a huge loss!
The furious Isshiki now only wanted to kill everyone and abduct Kawaki and Boruto!
"What's this ability?"
Seeing his many wooden hands suddenly shrink, Hashirama marveled at the wonder, but his attacks didn't stop. He controlled more wooden hands, striking Isshiki.
Meanwhile, Isshiki, unleashing his full power, gained terrifying Six Paths-level strength. Facing the Thousand-Handed Buddha's attack, he no longer flinched.
Code in Phase One Kāma was submissive; Isshiki in Phase Two Kāma struck hard!
*WHOOSH!*
Isshiki vanished, charging the Thousand-Handed Buddha at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
Countless giant Wood Release hands exploded, fragile like tofu hit by high-speed bullets. All giant hands along Isshiki's flight path couldn't stop him, shattering into pieces.
*BOOM!*
Isshiki crashed into the Buddha's chest, a force equivalent to a Juubi Bijuudama exploding!
The Buddha's chest shattered instantly, the terrifying force compressing air into tangible waves, then ionizing into a massive glowing orb.
With one strike, half of Hashirama's Thousand-Handed Buddha was destroyed!
Like Jigen once punching Kurama and kicking Susano'o apart, this was utterly abnormal.
Pure strength, pure numerical dominance!
He didn't even need to activate Dōjutsu or other abilities.
At this moment, except for Six Paths Sasuke, no ninja in the world could match Isshiki's full-power outburst; even Edo Tensei Hashirama was slightly outmatched.
"Damn lowly creatures, die!"
Isshiki erupted again, turning into blinding black light, crashing into the Buddha's head, obliterating it entirely, and arriving before Edo Tensei Hashirama.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Isshiki, now before Hashirama, unleashed numerous shrunken black rods.
Some rods suddenly enlarged, piercing and pinning Edo Tensei Hashirama's body; Isshiki knew Edo Tensei's regeneration, understanding only chakra-sealing black rods could restrain it. Once he dealt with Hashirama, Boruto and Kawaki would be easy prey.
However, Hashirama's pierced body quickly withered and transformed. It was just a Wood Clone! His real body had moved to the Buddha's right shoulder.
Hashirama's true body emerged from the shoulder, staring at Isshiki, unable to hide his shock and furrowed brows.
(This enemy has terrifying Taijutsu power rivaling Might Guy's Eight Gates Night Guy, plus that strange shrinking ability earlier. No wonder Orochimaru said we're facing a huge problem.)
Facing such a powerful enemy, Hashirama wasn't confident he could win!
But even if he couldn't win, stalling was still possible. Hashirama's combat experience far surpassed Isshiki's.
"Sly insect! Damn it!" Isshiki was furious, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
But he'd clearly never fought this Edo Tensei Hashirama before? Was it in a dream?
None of that mattered anymore.
Isshiki attacked again, flying to the Buddha's right shoulder, then obliterating it and Hashirama with one punch!
Yet Hashirama's body reappeared on the Buddha's left shoulder, luring Isshiki's attack again.
"Damn it!"
"Daring to toy with me repeatedly!"
"I'll make you pay!"
Enraged, Isshiki fully activated Sukūnahikona, drastically shrinking the entire Thousand-Handed Buddha.
Even if shrinking such a massive Buddha consumed much of Isshiki's chakra, he didn't care!
If he couldn't destroy Hashirama, he'd feel utterly stifled and frustrated!
Sure enough, as the Buddha shrank, Hashirama's real body could no longer hide within the Wood Release, fully exposed.
"Now let's see where you'll run!"
Isshiki locked onto Edo Tensei Hashirama's position, sneering and attacking at blinding speed, firing numerous black rods with incredible velocity.
*CLANG!*
The black rods didn't hit Hashirama but were blocked by a vivid red hue.
Edo Tensei Itachi and Shisui had arrived, activating their Susano'o to block the attack.
"You two are Uchiha ninjas?!?!"
Hashirama was slightly surprised seeing Itachi and Shisui, feeling relieved as if seeing his old friend Madara.
"Yes. Hashirama-sama, I'm Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's brother. This is Uchiha Shisui."
"Sasuke? How could Otsutsuki Sasuke be your brother?" Hashirama was shocked, his altered memories still incorrect.
Itachi had no time to explain; their true enemy still loomed from the air.
"Shisui?"
"Let's do it!"
They instantly reached an understanding, simultaneously activating their Susano'o.
But this time was different—their Susano'o stacked!
The red Susano'o enveloped the green one, forming a double-layered Susano'o armor. Susano'o could coat a giant Buddha or Bijuu… so why not another Susano'o?
At this moment, Itachi tightly embraced Shisui, their powers merging perfectly!