"What was that just now?"
Pain asked, puzzled.
He was genuinely curious about why Shimoku had reacted so hastily to that Sarutobi clone earlier.
After all, one of Sarutobi's clones whose original body had already perished—shouldn't have warranted such serious attention from a brat like Shimoku.
That technique must be quite extraordinary!
"It's called Impure World Reincarnation, a forbidden summoning jutsu capable of bringing the dead back to this world to fight for you."
"If the old man Sarutobi had succeeded in using it just now..."
"Then what we'd be fighting right now would probably be The First Hokage Hashirama Senju and The Second Hokage Tobirama Senju."
"In other words, the original users of this Wood Release technique."
Shimoku pointed at the massive wooden vine beneath their feet as he explained.
Upon hearing this, Pain's Deva Path couldn't help but feel startled.
After all, just the Wood Release technique covering the entire Konoha beneath their feet already proved how terrifying the First Hokage truly was.
Unless absolutely necessary, he definitely didn't want to go up against someone of such caliber.
You see, he only claimed to be a god himself.
But that First Hokage was acknowledged throughout the ninja world as the Ninja God!
Fortunately though,
Shimoku had interrupted the enemy's spellcasting and prevented this monstrous forbidden technique from succeeding.
Meanwhile, on Pain's right side,
Orochimaru was unexpectedly laughing heartily.
"Hahaha! That old man indeed learned this technique after all!"
"He even scolded me back then, forbidding me from messing with these heretical techniques!"
"Never thought he ended up dabbling in them himself..."
To Orochimaru, seeing his former mentor tread the same forbidden path he once walked...
Of course filled him with immense delight and amusement.
...
However, just at this moment,
hundreds of meters away in the distance,
two shocking presences suddenly erupted into the sky.
Shimoku's eyes snapped toward the distant horizon.
Only then did he suddenly notice:
At the edge of the battlefield, hidden within the shadows covered by the massive wooden vines,
another Sarutobi clone had already spread open its scroll, prepared both medium and sacrifice, successfully activating the [Impure World Reincarnation]!
Clearly enough,
the Sarutobi clone that Shimoku had smashed away earlier was merely a decoy!
The real clone preparing to use 'Impure World Reincarnation Technique' was one sent by Sarutobi initially to evacuate the wounded.
Now, it was exactly this clone that initiated the [Impure World Reincarnation Technique].
Successfully reincarnating both the First Hokage and the Second Hokage through the Impure World technique!
...
Witnessing this, Shimoku's gaze sharpened instantly, a glint of intense focus flashing through his eyes.
Internally, he couldn't help but admire:
Interesting!
Now that's what I call a mastermind!
What deep calculation!
Truly worthy of the title Hokage!
What an excellent example of 'building an inn in front while sneaking through the pass behind'!
No wonder he managed to keep someone as cunning as Danzo beneath him for decades!
Even after death, he could still pull off so many tricks.
Incredible!
Thinking carefully, perhaps it wasn't so surprising after all.
A veteran ninja, an old Hokage, an aged politician who lived for six or seventy years...
If he lacked such calculation and depth, that would be strange instead!
Shimoku chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
As for Sarutobi's success in using the Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage, he wasn't afraid at all.
He had only stopped it to avoid unnecessary hassle.
So what if they succeeded in reincarnating the First Hokage?
Did they really believe resurrecting the First Hokage would make them unstoppable?
This was no longer the same Ninja World from those days.
With his [Sage Body], [Immortal God Body], and [Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan], he himself was nearly invincible below the Six Paths level!
At worst, they could just have an all-out battle!
Let's see who comes out on top!
After surviving so long like this, he had never fought with his full strength yet!
[Ninja God]?
Exactly the stepping stone he needed to slay a god!
Thinking of this, in an instant,
Shimoku's blood surged with excitement, his fighting spirit blazing.
A massive surge of chakra burst from his very body.
Even the pressure and aura he radiated at that moment stunned the two Pain forms beside him, sending shockwaves through their hearts.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side,
Before Sarutobi's clone,
Dust gathered together, quickly taking the forms of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
Two terrifying presences also radiated from their bodies, suppressing everything around.
Incomplete [Impure World Reincarnation], mediocre reincarnation sacrifices, and unskilled casting techniques...
Despite being under such unfavorable conditions,
The strength aura Hashirama Senju exuded right now was not inferior to any Kage-level peak ninja.
Just how powerful he must have been in his prime.
After their Impure World Reincarnation completed, the two immediately opened their eyes and surveyed their surroundings.
"This is... Impure World Reincarnation? My technique?"
"Monkey, it's you!"
"Was it *you* who summoned us?"
"You were strongly against this forbidden jutsu back then. I didn't expect you to use it eventually!"
Despite looking nothing like how he used to,
Tobirama recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately.
And couldn't help but tease him slightly.
"Lord Hashirama, Lord Tobirama!"
"I'm very sorry!"
"I had no choice but to disturb your peace with this technique!"
"Please forgive me!"
Sarutobi's clone apologized with a frown.
If not completely unavoidable, he truly wouldn't have wanted to disturb the dead!
Especially when these two were former Hokage whom he deeply respected.
Of course, to retain the consciousness and strength of the two leaders as much as possible,
Sarutobi's clone hadn't inserted kunai with talismans controlling them into their bodies.
Anyway, he wasn't afraid that these two might break free from his control.
Or rather, he secretly hoped they'd break free sooner rather than later!
"Oh! It's the monkey!"
"Long time no see."
"Unexpectedly, you've aged too!"
"Hahaha!"
Hashirama chuckled happily, scratching his head and greeting Sarutobi joyfully:
"Wait, why are you only a clone?"
"Where is your main body?"
Realizing something, Hashirama immediately asked.
...
"Sigh! It's hard to explain..."
"My original body was killed in battle not long ago..."
Sarutobi's clone regretted.
He couldn't bear to say more.
After all, the main body's track record really is quite shameful!
"You were defeated in battle too?"
"Wait a moment, what exactly is going on around me?"
"My Wood Release?"
"This wide-range technique—you've used the scroll I left behind?"
"Is the village facing destruction?"
"Has an enemy invaded again?"
Don't mistake Hashirama's easygoing personality for foolishness.
With just one glance at his surroundings, he guessed Konoha's current situation.
"Yes, the village is currently facing an unprecedented crisis!"
"We are powerless to resist."
"We had no choice but to seek aid from you two, honorable ones!"
"As for the enemy..."
Sarutobi's clone quickly explained.
"They're those three over there, right?"
Hashirama Senju calmly glanced toward the distant left and asked.
As soon as he appeared,
he could sense three powerful chakra signatures coming from that direction.
One of them,
even from this distance, sent chills down his spine.
Just how formidable these enemies must be!
"This aura? So strong!"
"Wait... it feels somehow familiar..."
"Damn it, could it really be them again?!!!"
Tobirama Senju crossed his arms, also staring toward where Shimoku and the others stood, frowning with displeasure.
And yet, *he*—thoroughly familiar with the Uchiha Clan—
seemed to realize something instantly.
"Yes, the enemy is indeed those three!"
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but one of them once studied under me."
"Still, he's not all bad. He even gave us a warning about the upcoming attack on the village. So I hope you two can show some mercy toward him."
"The man in the middle is leading the enemy forces. However, he's merely an undead puppet; his true body isn't here. Yet, he possesses the legendary [Rinnegan], making him extremely dangerous!"
"The boy on the right is a genius from the Uchiha Clan. He has already awakened the [Mangekyo Sharingan], possessing unfathomable strength!"
Sarutobi's clone tried his best to explain concisely and clearly.
Upon hearing that an Uchiha was among the enemies once again, Tobirama frowned deeply, showing clear dislike:
"Hmph! So it's the Uchiha scoundrels again, huh!"
"Brother, I told you back then—we should have—"
Hashirama: "Tobirama! Don't speak like that!"
Tobirama: "Hmph! The legendary [Rinnegan] combined with the [Mangekyo Sharingan], huh? No wonder they're difficult to deal with. Now I understand why the village ended up in such chaos..."
Sarutobi's clone continued, "That's the general situation as it stands."
"Second, there's no time to waste."
"I'm only a clone, and the Chakra I have left is nearly depleted."
"I know you should be able to reverse this jutsu and break free from the control of the [Impure World Reincarnation]..."
"Please perform the technique quickly!"
"Otherwise, when my clone dissipates, the [Impure World Reincarnation] will cease on its own..."
Sarutobi urged hastily.
Clearly, he understood perfectly well—
when it came to mastery of jutsu, no one could surpass Tobirama.
Even if he had only summoned a clone of himself, as long as the Second could appear,
he would quickly reverse the jutsu and break free from the control of the [Impure World Reincarnation].
He'd vaguely heard something about a reversal technique—something like Impure World Reincarnation Separation...
Even if this clone disappeared.
The First Hokage and the Second Hokage would still remain in the mortal world, helping Konoha repel enemies and save the village!
Tobirama nodded, closed his eyes, and activated his Sensor abilities for a moment.
He instantly grasped the situation and began performing the technique.
[Impure World Reincarnation Separation!]
In an instant,
the Ninjutsu reversed, the contract shattered.
Tobirama Senju tore himself free from Sarutobi's Clone Technique control, anchoring his presence firmly in the living world.
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