Orochimaru's "corpse" on the ground melted into a pool of pus.
Evidently, this was yet another clone.
Ever since the last time he was crushed by Ryosuke, Orochimaru made up his mind, there was no way he would expose himself directly again within Ryosuke's shooting range... no, within Ryosuke's line of sight. He had long since hidden in the shadows.
Thud! Thud!
The heavy solid wood coffin lids smashed onto the ground.
Two corpses, covered head to toe in cracks, walked out of the coffins.
From the coffin marked with "One," walked out a long-haired man, square-faced, with rugged features, wearing layered red armor and a metal Konoha forehead protector on his head.
On the other side, from the coffin marked with "Two," walked out a tall and thin man. His entire body was wrapped in bandages, making it impossible to see his facial features. He wore a black silk forehead protector.
Ryosuke stared at the two old mummies walking out of the coffins, and slightly furrowed his brows.
These two's eyes were dull and gray, showing not a trace of vitality, clearly they had lost their thinking ability. They were nothing more than pure puppets on strings.
Yet Ryosuke could feel a thick sense of threat.
From the corner, some hidden scouts let out shocked cries, "First Hokage-sama?!"
"Second Tsuchikage-sama?!"
The ones who walked out of the coffins, shockingly, were none other than the First Hokage of Konoha, Senju Hashirama, and the Second Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Mū.
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, his name needed no further explanation.
The so-called "God of Shinobi" in legend. The establishment of the ninja villages across nations was thanks to this big shot. In his lifetime, it could be said he was undefeated across the world.
As for the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, though his fame wasn't as great as Senju Hashirama, in the history of Iwagakure, he was undoubtedly the greatest of all previous Kage.
The Bloodline Elimination technique he developed, Dust Release, could be said to be one of the strongest offensive techniques in the ninja world.
———
"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"
Deidara grabbed Itachi's robe and shouted excitedly, "Itachi, did you see that?! The dead have come back to life!"
Itachi glanced at the robe that was about to be ripped off by Deidara, slapped away his hand, and said solemnly, "Konoha has a forbidden jutsu, named Edo Tensei."
"Through an extremely evil ritual, using living humans as sacrifices, it summons the souls of the deceased back to the world of the living and controls them."
"The undead resurrected through Edo Tensei are nearly immortal. No matter how severe the damage, as long as the jutsu caster doesn't release the technique, they can regenerate unconditionally."
Konan had heard of Edo Tensei, but in decades, she had never seen anyone perform it and always thought it was just a legend passed around the ninja world.
'Never thought… this kind of jutsu actually exists.' She thought of Nagato's puppet control technique.
But the two had a fundamental difference.
Besides, Nagato was able to make corpses move again due to the power of the Rinnegan. The Rinnegan was unique in this world, but this jutsu, anyone who learns it can use it.
"This man is terrifying. No wonder Nagato insisted on capturing him alive."
Konan asked, "If that's the case, then isn't the person who controls this jutsu invincible? Just summon an army of immortals and they can sweep through every ninja village."
Uchiha Itachi slightly shook his head.
No matter how powerful the jutsu, it couldn't be without weaknesses.
For example, Itachi's Amaterasu could destroy the revived ninja.
Or in cases of teamwork, with multiple people using sealing techniques, the endlessly resurrecting corpses could still be sealed away.
Deidara pointed his chin toward Ryosuke and said, "According to what you said, isn't he dead meat?"
Itachi fell silent for a moment, thought from Ryosuke's perspective for a few seconds, and slowly nodded, "More misfortune than fortune."
Ryosuke's advantage lay in the absolute sense of pressure at close range and extremely powerful burst in a short time, but this had no use at all against the Edo Tensei'd Senju Hashirama and Mū.
In fact, considering Ryosuke's past battle experiences and that he could seize the enemy's Water Style techniques, Orochimaru had deliberately not chosen to summon the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Senju Hashirama's divine power and Wood Style ninjutsu were enough to counter Ryosuke's frontal assault.
Mū's Bloodline Elimination, Dust Release, was atomic-level disintegration and stripping. Even Ryosuke's defense couldn't withstand it.
Orochimaru had also investigated that Ryosuke could summon a "monster bird" capable of firing miniature shuriken and scouting enemy positions.
But this wasn't a forest, nor a desert. This was the Hidden Sound Village, there were people everywhere.
Some of them were ninjas.
But even more were ordinary people trying to make a living.
Orochimaru knew that with Ryosuke's personality, he would never do something like slaughtering an entire village just to find him.
Uchiha Itachi said quietly, "Ryosuke, how are you going to break this game?"
"Even if you break Orochimaru's setup, what will you do about us three?"
In Itachi's view, today's conclusion was already predestined.
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for Ryosuke to be defeated by the invincible powerhouses in their memories, just as they had planned.
But...
BOOM!
The Star Platinum and Senju Hashirama clashed together.
Their fists collided, contesting strength.
One was the embodiment of "power and speed" among Stands, the other the strongest monstrous strength in the ninja world. For a time, neither gave way even half a step.
"ORARARARARARARA!!!"
Star Platinum roared, and in an instant, threw a flurry of punches.
Senju Hashirama did not dodge. He braced his stance firmly, and his fists pounded forward like rapid cannon blasts. The impact of fist against fist echoed like a thousand horses galloping and killing on a battlefield.
Scorching wind swept from the battlefield where the two clashed, forcing the nearby scouts to hold their breath.
"Too… too strong?!"
Whether it was the resurrected First Hokage, or that god-like "evil spirit," both were beyond imagination in strength.
Senju Hashirama's strength was beyond doubt.
But…
'What the hell is that evil spirit?!'
Suddenly, Senju Hashirama took a step back.
The scouts were stunned.
They hadn't expected, the one retreating was Senju Hashirama.
After taking one step back came the second, the third… Hashirama's body was gradually disintegrating, turning into countless fragments.
"ORAAA!!!"
Star Platinum delivered a final punch, blasting Hashirama's body flying.
The legendary God of Shinobi was suppressed.
And it was a full-on, brute-force, body-shattering suppression, without the slightest resistance.
In Uchiha Itachi's eyes, the three tomoe slowly rotated.
"This First Hokage… something's off. Is it a flaw of Edo Tensei?"
His reaction, speed, even his use of strength, felt sluggish.
Itachi had never seen the real First Hokage, but he guessed that the Edo Tensei version likely only had about 70% of the original's strength.
Itachi's gaze moved upward.
Earlier, Mū had vanished using stealth. Now he reappeared, having used the time Hashirama bought to complete his jutsu.
Mū placed his hands in front of his chest, Wind, Earth, and Fire chakra gathered in his palms, forming a small yet extremely dazzling light ring.
"Dust Release, Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
A cylindrical, semi-transparent barrier shot toward Ryosuke like a cannon shell.
Wherever the barrier passed, even natural energy was annihilated. Ryosuke knew clearly, with his body and Ruin Greatsword, he could not block this attack.
He didn't plan to take it head-on. Just as he was about to escape the attack range, the ground split open, and trees grew, wrapping around his legs.
The Senju Hashirama who had just been blown up by Star Platinum had already reformed his body and, with hands clasped, cast Wood Style.
Ryosuke exerted force in his legs again and shattered the trees that bound him.
But that instant of delay, the Atomic Dismantling Jutsu had already descended.
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