Inside the gloomy underground chamber, a summoning ritual was underway.
Complex summoning seals had been drawn on the floor, and the sacrificial offering in their midst struggled continuously against its restraints.
In the heart-wrenching, bone-chilling cold, the muffled whimpers of the struggling victim echoed faintly.
This was the Impure World Reincarnation ritual.
"We've finally reached this step. First, let's summon the First Hokage."
Danzo spoke grimly as he leaned on his cane.
"Can you control the First Hokage?" the Uchiha Mask asked. "If it fails, it'll be a huge problem."
"There were still some minor issues in the previous tests. With the failure in the Sand Hidden Village, we don't have much time left."
"Then let's begin," the Uchiha Mask said.
Danzo formed the hand seals.
He completed them without the slightest error, crouched down, and slapped one palm against the ground.
"Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!"
Sand surged forth and wrapped around the offering. Amid its shrill, momentary screams, the jutsu proceeded according to its established sequence.
First came the construction of the Impure World Body to contain the dead soul.
The skin rapidly cracked, exposing sand-like fissures. As the fine sand fell away, the Impure World Body was completed. Next came the summoning of the soul. Crossing an immeasurably distant space, the soul descended here.
"Come! First Hokage!"
"The God of Shinobi! Hashirama Senju!"
A long, awkward silence followed.
The completed Impure World Body lay motionless on the ground.
What had happened?
Danzo blinked in confusion.
"What's wrong?" the Uchiha Mask asked after nothing happened for a long while. "Did it fail?"
What was going on?
Why hadn't the soul been summoned?
Danzo's mouth fell open.
Souls could be summoned from the Underworld because the Six Paths had never established a separating wall. There was no defense against this