Staring at the overwhelming scale of the Wood Release before him, Aoshi recalled the scenes stored deep within his memory.
He was certain that the two Hokage standing before him were far stronger than they had been during the Konoha Crush incident.
This could only be because Orochimaru had incorporated White Zetsu cells into the Edo Tensei technique.
These were weakened versions of the cells—samples that Aoshi and Tsunade had once deliberately allowed to leak.
They enhanced the physical strength of the resurrected bodies without exceeding the caster's control.
Otherwise, with Orochimaru's current level, he would never have been able to command two former Hokage at once.
It seemed Orochimaru had truly gone to extraordinary lengths just to deal with him.
Even so, Aoshi remained completely composed. With his current speed, he could easily use the Body Flicker Technique to evade the attack.
But he didn't move.
Nono and the three girls were right behind him. If he dodged, they would be the ones to suffer.
That was something Aoshi would never allow.
Shadow Clone Jutsu! In an instant, hundreds of Aoshi's clones appeared.
Each one formed a Great Ball Rasengan, charging straight into the incoming Wood Release.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The destructive power of the Great Ball Rasengan was undeniable—even Wood Release could not withstand it head-on.
With so many Rasengans detonating at once, the Deep Forest Emergence unleashed by Edo Tensei Hashirama was completely blocked, stunning everyone present.
The price, however, was steep. All of the shadow clones were wiped out by the Wood Release.
"That's amazing—he stopped it!" The worry on Nono and the others' faces instantly turned into excitement.
This meant Aoshi had a way to counter the attack. The outcome of the battle was no longer one-sided.
As unbelievable as it sounded, perhaps Aoshi truly could stand against the combined might of two former Hokage.
Unlike their excitement, the elders of the Grass Fruit Faction were filled with disbelief.
"How is this possible? That was the Wood Release of the God of Shinobi! How could anyone block it?"
They simply couldn't accept what they had seen.
Even Orochimaru frowned slightly, surprise flashing in his eyes.
In the common understanding of the ninja world, Senju Hashirama was synonymous with invincibility.
Once he acted, no opponent should be able to resist.
"Heh… Aoshi-kun, you really do keep surprising me." Even as he spoke, Orochimaru continued to control the two Hokage.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, hurled a barrage of kunai toward Aoshi—several of them marked with the Flying Thunder God Mark.
As Aoshi sidestepped the incoming blades, Edo Tobirama instantly appeared behind him, thrusting his kunai toward Aoshi's vital points.
Flying Thunder God Slash!
An ordinary ninja would never have reacted in time. But Aoshi had anticipated it.
Clang!
He spun around, blocking the strike with his sword.
And in that brief moment of close contact, he planted his own Flying Thunder God mark onto Tobirama's body.
After training with the technique he had obtained from Minato, Aoshi could now finally use it in real combat.
At the same time, Hashirama moved again.
The two Hokage closed in from both sides, trapping Aoshi between them.
Even Aoshi felt the pressure from their coordinated assault.
He was forced to use explosive tags, blasting apart their limbs to disrupt their movements and create distance.
Seizing that brief opening, Aoshi immediately began forming hand seals.
He intended to use Sealing Jutsu to bind them.
This was the most troublesome part of Edo Tensei—even if the caster was killed, the technique would not be released automatically.
That was why sealing was the best solution.
Naturally, Orochimaru wouldn't allow it.
"Don't even think about it!"
With a sharp command, he forced the reanimated ninjas he had summoned earlier to rush forward and interfere.
This bought Hashirama and Tobirama enough time to recover.
As for the remaining Edo Tensei ninja, Orochimaru had no choice but to abandon them, allowing Aoshi to seal them away.
Once restored, Hashirama and Tobirama charged again.
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!
Tobirama cast the jutsu, stealing Aoshi's vision.
In an instant, the world before him plunged into endless darkness. This was a terrifying visual genjutsu.
In battles between top-tier shinobi, every second could mean life or death.
To lose one's sight was to fall into absolute disadvantage—becoming nothing more than a target.
But Aoshi possessed something else.
He could sense malice. So even without sight, he relied on his perception to evade the attacks of Hashirama and Tobirama.
Watching this, Orochimaru's expression darkened. He hadn't realized that Aoshi also had sensory abilities.
Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!
As a raging sea of flames surged forward, Tobirama immediately formed seals and countered with—Water Style: Water Formation Wall!
It had to be said—he truly deserved the title of the Second Hokage.
Even Orochimaru couldn't block that technique alone, yet Tobirama managed to do it head-on.
Taking advantage of the moment, Aoshi dispelled the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and regained his sight.
What greeted him next was Hashirama's Wood Release.
Massive trees lashed out like living tentacles, surging toward him.
Channeling a Great Ball Rasengan instinctively, Aoshi smashed through one of the wooden constructs.
He then dodged again and again, barely evading the remaining attacks.
Water Style: Water Shockwave!
Tobirama followed up instantly.
Aoshi dodged Hashirama's Wood Release while forming a one-handed seal, raising a Water Formation Wall to block the incoming strike.
"This… this is a Hokage-level battle. It's terrifying…" Kurenai and the other two stared at each other, eyes wide.
Even Nono, a jōnin herself, felt the same. She knew that if she faced the two former Hokage head-on, she would fall in an instant.
She could never hold her ground the way Aoshi did.
"As expected of Aoshi—he isn't losing even against two Hokage…" She murmured in awe.
Kurenai, Rin, and Shizune nodded again and again.
On the other side, the faces of the Grass Fruit elders had turned grim.
At first, they could dismiss Aoshi blocking Wood Release as luck.
But now, there was no room for self-deception anymore.
"How can this man be this strong?"
"That's the God of Shinobi he's fighting!"
They simply couldn't accept it.
And worse—they didn't dare imagine what would happen to them if even this lineup failed to kill Hirakawa Aoshi.
What would become of them afterward?
"No… we can't just wait here to die. We have to do something." One elder spoke, and the others immediately agreed.
Then another elder turned his gaze toward Nono and the three girls, his eyes cold and sinister.
"If we can't handle Hirakawa Aoshi… then we'll deal with those girls instead."
His meaning was clear— capture Nono and the others to threaten Aoshi. The idea was accepted at once.
And so, the group of Grass Fruit elders charged straight toward Nono and her companions.
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