Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice low and ominous:
"Don't credit yourself for controlling Kabuto's body. If that child—Hitomi—didn't possess the drive for power, I never could've taken control. Human hearts… You and I both understand them all too well."
He seemed to speak with complete awareness of the shinobi world's undercurrents.
Hitomi replied coldly:
"Yes, you know how the ninja world was thrown into chaos from the very beginning—and I do too. You've mastered Sage techniques; impressive. But your use of Edo Tensei… that my understanding cannot stomach. That technique may have been developed by the Second Hokage, but you have amplified it beyond comprehension."
Even the resurrected Second Hokage frowned at that. If not for his creation, Orochimaru wouldn't have had the opportunity.
Hitomi continued:
"The First Hokage dispersed the tailed beasts, but that left the jinchūriki bearing eternal wounds. The number of jinchūriki like Naruto or Bee is small. In truth… how many truly understand the tailed beasts? Even I don't—yet."
Death-laden chords of experience lay in Orochimaru's magnetic tone.
"Tailed beasts mean power. Some might seek power but don't know how to wield it. And some—like me—understand wielding it… Yet are too lazy to."
Hitomi sneered, then launched a massive strike: a palm-shaped energy mark hurled toward Orochimaru, and just then, the First Hokage appeared.
He had formed hand‑seals:
"Wood Release – Wood Burst Wall!"
With a heavy thud, his wooden defense took the blow. Hitomi jumped high, blades whirling in her hand.
The Second Hokage's shadow clones exploded nearby, but Hitomi didn't pause. He drew the "Wind God Sword," slicing destructive gusts.
His remaining shadow clones also erupted as he announced coolly:
"Three Moon Dance!"
He halted in midair with perfect poise as hand-seals formed more bear-paw wind strikes.
Suddenly, Naruto, in Nine-Tails cloaked form, whispered:
"Massive Rasengan Volley!"
Chakra arms sprouted and formed huge Rasengans—but before he leapt, the Fourth Hokage dashed in, delivering a single kick that launched Naruto away. Even Naruto's speed couldn't match the Fourth's Flying Thunder God Technique. The giant Rasengan slammed into the earth and detonated.
Sasuke, eyes rolling with Sharingan, thrust a lightning spear—Chidori Sharp Spear—into the Fourth's shoulder. Relief flickered—then Itachi materialized at Sasuke's side. His fully manifested SUSANOO with the Yata Mirror reflected the spear.
Sasuke scoffed, helping Naruto to his feet:
"You think mastering the Tailed Beast makes you invincible? You rushed in blindly—to you, this is semi-god‑level fighting. You're not qualified yet."
Even Itachi nodded. It wasn't just overwhelming power—it was encompassing combat experience. If facing the First, Second, and Third Hokage at once… only someone who studied their mystic arts and weaknesses could hope to survive.
Earlier, Hitomi dodged the Third's kunai—his Magenka Sharingan flickered to cast a phantom... only to be swallowed by the First's Dark Art Path.
Hitomi frowned, addressing Naruto urgently:
"Naruto, you, Bee, and Aoba... go rescue the Five Kage. I suspect Madara isn't here yet… he's probably targeting them. Right now, the Kage's combined strength isn't enough!"
At that moment, Obito appeared beside Naruto. Suddenly, Hidan was there too, slashing with his Jashin scythe—but Obito caught it mid‑swing. Then Deidara called out from above:
"Huh! Our boss isn't fair—making us deal with this kinda opponent. This is bullshit!"
Hidan agreed in anger, struggling to fight someone with space-time ninjutsu.
Then, Jinn Kinkaku and Ginkaku appeared. The two familiar faces even stunned Kyūbi.
Meanwhile, Hitomi launched body strikes through the First's Dark Art Path to duel all three Hokage in close quarters. The First's physical prowess was immense, the Second even more so thanks to the Sage's physique—but the Third, now without the assistance of Enma, was less formidable in taijutsu. Hitomi held the upper hand.
At the Five Kage battlefield...
Though they'd just formed the Allied Shinobi Forces, Madara had already appeared, with a large cadre of Edo Tensei with Hashirama-like wood chakra. Tsunade looked shaken: seeing such wood release, especially mastery of her grandfather's signature techniques, stunned her.
Shikaku grimaced:
"They weaved us into this. Hitomi and Nagato's villages were evacuated long ago... this is Edo Tensei. It's not the Akatsuki—they're using Orochimaru and the Masked Man."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, recognizing Madara's threat. He still didn't understand why Nagato collected the tailed beasts—but even if they opposed him, they'd be targeted by the Five Nations.
Madara scoffed, arms crossed:
"This is hilarious—these Five Great Kage are still being played by a child. No wonder I put so much effort into creating this wood release zone. Turns out you're not even my rivals."
From the newly grown wooden pillars around him appeared wood clones. Madara asked quietly:
"Now, do you want my wood clones with Susanoo? Or not?"
The Five Kage stood silent... except Jiraiya, who remained composed as he flung an enormous scroll open.
Sage power flowed inwards—the very technique Naruto had invented, now wielded by Jiraiya.
Jiraiya:
"If even the white-haired sage of Mount Myōboku—amn't afraid of you, why should five Kage tremble? To quote Hitomi: You're already a legend... but if you try to reappear, you'll become legend beneath others."
His words struck deep. Madara's brow furrowed slightly—"Hitomi"... even the Five Kage fear him? Who is this Hitomi?