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Naruto Uzumaki lay unconscious. No one paid him any mind; besides those caught in the Genjutsu, everyone’s attention was focused on Hinata.
“Unbelievable power…” Orochimaru stared, slightly dazed. He felt that even if he used all his trump cards, he wouldn’t be a match for the eight-tailed Naruto earlier. Yet Hinata Hyūga, a twelve-year-old girl, had defeated him effortlessly.
Honestly, Orochimaru felt a twinge of jealousy towards Hinata’s power.
——
“Alas…” Shin sighed and shook his head.
“What’s wrong? Are you still not satisfied?” Kushina looked at Shin, unable to resist asking. “When I was Hinata’s age, I wasn’t nearly as strong as her. I think Hinata did great.”
Kushina was right.
At twelve, she hadn’t been as strong as the current Hinata. After all, Hinata had awakened the Tenseigan. With the Tenseigan’s immense destructive power, if Hinata went all out, even Hashirama Senju would have to take her seriously.
“It’s not that Hinata isn’t strong. I know better than anyone how powerful the Tenseigan is. But this battle… it really didn’t do much for Hinata.” Shin explained to Kushina.
Hinata hadn’t even needed to use powerful techniques like the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion to easily defeat the eight-tailed Naruto.
Could the eight-tailed Naruto even beat Hiruzen Sarutobi? Probably not.
Unfortunately, the Tailed Beast Naruto lacked intelligence, fighting purely on instinct and brute force. Being easily defeated was expected.
Perhaps the eight-tailed Naruto was stronger than Hiruzen Sarutobi, but if Hinata fought Hiruzen, she definitely wouldn’t win so easily.
Intelligence is crucial in battle.
Fighting an unintelligent opponent is too easy. Hinata hadn’t even had a chance to fully utilize her power before defeating her opponent.
——
Just then, Hinata returned to Shin’s side, her Tenseigan Chakra Mode deactivated. She asked shyly, “Shin-nii, how did I do?”
“Excellent! Hinata is the best!” Shin picked Hinata up and said with a smile.
Kushina watched Shin, dumbfounded. Weren’t you just shaking your head and sighing, looking dissatisfied?
Hinata blushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head due to embarrassment. However, she managed to stay conscious this time. It showed Hinata had changed considerably. Though, fainting from shyness was admittedly one of her cute points.
Shin put Hinata down. If he held her any longer, she might actually faint.
“Shin-sama, I want some encouragement too!” Karin exclaimed, lunging towards Shin.
Just as she was about to reach him, Kushina grabbed her, stopping her mid-air.
“Karin, what do you think you’re doing?”
Karin looked glumly at Kushina, then lowered her head like a wilted eggplant.
“Let’s watch Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s ‘master-student’ battle,” Shin reminded Kushina and the others.
——
Orochimaru and Hiruzen were already fighting.
Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Blade clashed against Hiruzen’s Adamantine Staff, creating a shower of sparks.
Honestly, the hardness of Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff was impressive, able to withstand clashes with a legendary weapon like the Kusanagi Blade without damage.
“Sensei, you’re still strong for your age.”
Orochimaru remarked coolly, looking at Hiruzen after being knocked back by his staff. Although Hiruzen was short and thin, his strength was surprisingly immense.
“Orochimaru, I will correct my past mistake today.” Hiruzen’s expression was grave, a hint of sorrow deep within his eyes.
Back then, he had momentarily softened, holding back when Orochimaru defected instead of trying his utmost to stop him. Now, Orochimaru had brought disaster upon Konoha.
The thought filled Hiruzen with immense pain.
“Orochimaru, this time I absolutely will not forgive you!” Seeing the devastation in Konoha through the Four Violet Flames Formation barrier, Hiruzen grew increasingly furious.
“Sensei, let me show you something interesting next. I hope you’ll be satisfied with the opponents I’ve brought for you.” Orochimaru bit his finger, then quickly formed hand seals, performing the Edo Tensei technique.
Instantly, one coffin rose from the ground, followed by a second, then a third coffin marked with the number four.
Seeing Orochimaru’s hand seals and the rising coffins, Hiruzen knew what jutsu it was and immediately tried to stop him.
“Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!“
Orochimaru seized the opportunity, attacking Hiruzen and successfully summoning all three coffins.
Unlike the original story, where Hiruzen managed to stop one coffin, this time Hiruzen had to face three reanimated individuals.
The coffins opened. A man wearing red Warring States period armor emerged—the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Then came Hashirama’s younger brother, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
As for the third, who didn’t appear in the original summoning, it was the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, whom Orochimaru had killed.
“Damn you, Orochimaru!” Rasa emerged, glaring hatefully at Orochimaru.
Just as Rasa was about to attack, Orochimaru unhesitatingly plunged a kunai etched with a restraining seal into the back of Rasa’s head, completely erasing his consciousness.
He had no choice. Otherwise, Rasa would have attacked him. Though this would reduce Rasa’s combat effectiveness, it was necessary. Even a controlled, weakened Rasa should be enough to handle the aging Hiruzen.
“Is this… Konoha?” Hashirama Senju observed the surroundings.
“Big Brother, pay attention to the situation! Someone is clearly hostile towards Konoha!” Tobirama Senju’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Was it you who used the Edo Tensei technique?” Tobirama’s icy gaze fixed on Orochimaru.
“Sigh… Tobirama, I told you long ago not to research such jutsu that tamper with souls.”
Hashirama looked at his younger brother, shaking his head slightly. He had advised Tobirama against it back then; such techniques shouldn’t exist.
Tobirama fell silent.
Honestly, he had researched Edo Tensei to leave Konoha a trump card. If faced with an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, they could use Edo Tensei to summon previous Hokage to defend the village. He never expected it would eventually be used against Konoha.
“First… Sensei…” Hiruzen’s lips trembled as he addressed Tobirama and Hashirama. Seeing them appear, Hiruzen knew he was doomed.
The legendary God of Shinobi, and his own teacher, Tobirama Senju… now they were his enemies.
“Sensei, are you happy with this grand gift I prepared for you?” Orochimaru asked with a smile, his grin somewhat unrestrained.
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