In the Second Hokage's original conception, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was supposed to be a "reanimated corpse" type of ninjutsu.
It was only when combined with another forbidden jutsu created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, called "Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags," that it possessed the strongest destructive power.
"Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags," as the name suggests, involves summoning explosive tags through pre-buried explosive tag arrays at the moment of an explosive tag's detonation. These tags then summon more explosive tags, which explode again, summon again, explode again, summon again... as if endlessly.
In an instant, it could cause continuous, unending explosions over a large area!
Although it required preparing a sufficient number of explosive tags beforehand, the destructive power of such a large number of explosions in a short time was indeed formidable.
However, the caster of this ninjutsu would also be covered by the explosion range.
Explosive tags did not distinguish between friend and foe.
It could easily lead to a bad outcome of mutual destruction, where both sides perished.
However, if used in conjunction with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
By using the summoned ninja, whose bodies could instantly regenerate even if destroyed, to perform "Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags."
Then the drawback that "Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags" might harm the caster themselves, and the drawback that ninja summoned by Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu couldn't exert their full power as when they were alive, would both be eliminated!
Therefore, it is said that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was one of the greatest ninja geniuses to ever emerge in the shinobi world...
However, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, as conceived by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was indeed meant to be used in this way.
But he could never have imagined how future generations would utilize the forbidden jutsu he invented and created.
For example, Orochimaru. This fellow used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu on its inventor and creator...
Although the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu cannot truly revive dead ninja to their peak strength, it is still the strongest forbidden jutsu currently in existence.
However, for some top-tier, truly peerless experts, powerful ninja at the apex of the shinobi world.
Even if the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu could only borrow a portion of their power when summoning them back.
From a practical perspective, it seemed already sufficient...
For example, at this moment, the First Hokage and Second Hokage, both summoned by Orochimaru using the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, now existed in this living world.
...
"Who are they two? Are they famous?"
Compared to the shocked and astonished Asuma and Kakashi.
Luffy, being new here, naturally didn't know who these two people standing in front of him were.
"Of course they're famous..." Kakashi said with a wry smile.
"Mr. Luffy, you should still remember the Hokage Rock on the cliff behind the village, right?"
"I remember... Oh! They're those two people on the cliff! But... but aren't they already dead?"
Luffy recalled seeing one of Konoha Village's landmarks the awe-inspiring Hokage Rock.
The two ninja who had emerged from those coffins now standing in front of him seemed to be the first two faces on the Hokage Rock!
"Indeed, Lord First and Lord Second have already died. But this fellow, Orochimaru, used the 'Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu' to disturb their peace and summon them back!"
"They're dead people... so they're zombies?"
Luffy was not unfamiliar with this kind of ability, one might even say.
When Luffy first ventured into the Grand Line, he encountered countless Devil Fruit users with special powers.
Devil Fruits were bizarre and varied, with many different types.
And no two Devil Fruits possessed the same power.
Among them, there were quite a few Devil Fruits that usually didn't show off, but were terrifying and strange.
For example, Luffy had once encountered one such user on the Thriller Bark in the Grand Line. Gecko Moria, one of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea," was a clear example.
This fellow Moria possessed the power of the Paramecia-type Shadow-Shadow Fruit.
He could use his Devil Fruit power to revive the bodies of deceased individuals by inserting shadows into them!
Moreover, he could also use a portion of this corpse's inherent strength and a portion of the shadow's combat experience...
Now, it seemed that Moria's Devil Fruit ability was quite similar to the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was even more difficult. The reanimated bodies of these deceased individuals were almost indestructible.
This point far surpassed Moria's shadow zombies.
However, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was a forbidden jutsu after all, and its execution process was complex.
Mastering this ninjutsu was not a simple matter.
Compared to it, Moria's Shadow-Shadow Fruit ability was actually too simple to use effectively.
Just stuffing shadows into corpses, that's all.
He could easily control hundreds or thousands of corpses!
One focused on quality, the other on quantity. That was probably the difference. Luffy blinked his eyes.
"What's the weakness of this ninjutsu?"
He had already learned some characteristics of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu from Kakashi.
He knew it was a very powerful ninjutsu, and a forbidden one in Konoha.
However, no matter how powerful a ninjutsu, it would have weaknesses, and this one was no exception.
Just like no matter how powerful a Devil Fruit ability, it wouldn't truly be invincible.
"Weakness, huh..." Kakashi looked at Orochimaru.
"As long as the caster is dealt with, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu will automatically dispel."
"Oh?" Luffy slammed his fists together.
"That's a very simple goal to achieve..."
Orochimaru sneered.
"Go ahead and try... Try to see if you can break through the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and if you can get close to me under the watch of the two Hokage."
"I can't stay here any longer. You guys deal with the two Hokage..."
Orochimaru's ambition in coming to Konoha this time was laid bare.
The preparatory process for the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was not simple; on the contrary, it was extremely complex.
And he had already prepared the Impure World Reincarnation bodies of the First and Second Hokage. It seemed he had long premeditated this.
He feared that if Luffy hadn't attracted Orochimaru's attention this time.
Orochimaru might have used the reanimated bodies of the First and Second Hokage in other places that Konoha ninja would absolutely not want to see!
Kakashi, with his quick mind, almost instantly figured out the whole story.
He had even already deduced who Orochimaru's target was...
In the entire Konoha Village, the strongest expert still in the village was the Old Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And the Old Hokage was, after all, Orochimaru's teacher. He understood him very well.
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