The events aligned almost too perfectly.
Just as Kaede was about to destroy Konoha, the Reanimation Jutsu was completed.
But was this really just a coincidence?
In a world like Naruto, so-called coincidences were nothing more than the arrangements of the strong.
Once again, in that void-like space, the shadowy figure curved his lips into a smile.
"So this will buy me a few more years, will it?
Then just keep developing quietly. When I descend, everything you've built will have been prepared for me."
Ten kilometers outside Konoha.
Kaede lifted his head slightly, sensing something from the village.
"What a… unique chakra. And this quantity…"
His lips curled. "Feigning death? The Reanimation Jutsu? The First Hokage?"
"Heh… to use Reanimation at a time like this… what a conveniently perfect coincidence."
He turned toward Orochimaru.
"How goes your research on the Reanimation Jutsu?"
Orochimaru was momentarily taken aback before replying, "I've always been missing something. Even if I can reanimate powerful dead shinobi, their strength is far from their peak."
"I see." Kaede's smile widened.
Even a scientist like Orochimaru had researched for years without perfecting the technique.
Yet somehow, those few stubborn relics in Konoha had managed, in a short time, to summon a First Hokage nearly at peak strength?
Only a fool would believe that.
And most importantly, the Sage of Six Paths—dead for over a thousand years—was a master at controlling the Pure Land.
Kaede sneered. "That decrepit Sage of Six Paths dares to meddle in my affairs."
The entire group was startled.
Tsunade and the others stared at him in disbelief.
By now, after their time with him, they had learned certain secrets from Kaede's own mouth.
They no longer regarded the Sage of Six Paths as just a myth.
But what had they just heard?
The being hailed as the Creator God actually intended to move against Kaede?!
Everyone swallowed nervously. After all, the Sage of Six Paths in legend was terrifying beyond imagination.
Kaede glanced at them with a half-smile.
"What's with those looks? Just hearing the old man's name scares you?"
He let out a short laugh. "If he appeared now, I'd have to give him some leeway."
"But he can't. So all he can do is work in the shadows, playing petty tricks."
"And when he truly has the strength to descend, my own power will have reached a level even he cannot fathom."
Hearing this, the group's tense expressions eased.
They would never betray Kaede—only for a moment had the Sage's legend shaken them.
Kaede waved his hand.
"Come. Let's see what kind of tricks Konoha's Reanimation Jutsu has produced."
"Reanimation Jutsu…" Tsunade and Orochimaru muttered almost at the same time.
They both knew exactly what that technique could do.
Tsunade clenched her fists tightly, anger flashing in her eyes. "Those people… they dare desecrate the souls of the dead!"
Orochimaru licked his lips with a sinister smile. "You should be used to it.
Among them, Danzō has even fewer limits than I do."
Tsunade said no more and followed Kaede toward Konoha.
…
"I didn't expect you to hide something like this from me," Hiruzen said, staring deeply at Danzō as they walked toward his base.
Danzō smirked coldly. "You can't save Konoha. Naturally, I will find a new path.
Watch, Hiruzen—this time, I will be the one to save Konoha, and under my hand, it will reach its peak!
And the position of Hokage will be mine!"
Hiruzen remained silent. This time, he truly could not match Danzō.
Seeing this, Danzō's grin widened. "It seems I've finally won."
Soon, they reached a prepared ROOT base.
Danzō immediately took the research notes and began absorbing the information.
He had already memorized every step of the Reanimation Jutsu.
Hiruzen stood quietly aside until Danzō put down the scroll, then asked,
"Danzō, who are you planning to summon this time?"
Danzō gave him a cruel grin. "This time, I will make sure Kaede never finds peace!
So, besides the dead Kage, I will raise an army of corpses!"
At his signal, his men placed a massive scroll in front of him and brought in hundreds of prisoners from Konoha's prison.
"Come forth, my warriors!"
Danzō laughed as he began the summoning.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Coffins erupted from the ground, their lids opening to reveal pale, reanimated puppets.
Hiruzen's eyes softened with a trace of nostalgia—many of them were shinobi he had once promoted or fought alongside.
Then came the main event.
Danzō took a deep breath and summoned six more coffins.
The first lid creaked open, and Hiruzen's eyes widened.
"Uchiha Kagami?!"
Before his shock faded, the second coffin opened.
"Shisui Uchiha?!"
The third—
"Sakumo Hatake?!"
Hiruzen was stunned. He never imagined Danzō would have prepared these three legendary figures.
But a dark thought crept into his mind. Kagami's body had supposedly been destroyed in battle—how could Danzō have his cells?
Could it be… Kagami had been killed by Danzō himself for his Mangekyō Sharingan?
Hiruzen's heart churned, but now was not the time to question him.
As for the last three coffins, he already knew who they would contain.
When the lids finally opened, the figures were revealed:
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
"Hahahaha!"
As the summoning ended, Danzō couldn't hold back his laughter.
"With this lineup, Kaede, what will you use to fight me?!"
Hiruzen, too, felt a surge of hope.
Even without the others, Hashirama alone could save Konoha.
Danzō spread his arms wide and shouted arrogantly,
"Awaken, heroes of Konoha's past!"
As his voice fell, the eyes of the reanimated shinobi slowly opened.
(End of Chapter)
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