The Backbone

Within Otogakure's underground palace.

"Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!"

With a soft shout, two complex Summoning Technique formulas spread across the ground. At the center of the two formulas, two coffins rose from the earth, their lids engraved with the characters "First" and "Second," appearing within the underground palace.

Crack...

With two successive crisp sounds, the coffin lids fell away, revealing the two corpses within.

At that moment, a dark figure emerged from the shadows.

It was none other than Yakushi Kabuto, the Ninja Academy instructor who had escaped from Konoha not long ago. The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu just now had also been performed by him.

Walking up to the two coffins, Kabuto examined the Impure World Reincarnation bodies of the First and Second Hokage within. A smile soon appeared on his face as he thought, I've finally mastered this jutsu!

Through that experiment, Kabuto confirmed that he had not only mastered the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, but had also successfully summoned the Impure World Reincarnation bodies of the First and Second Hokage created by Orochimaru, using the notes Orochimaru had left behind.

Before long, Kabuto suppressed the joy on his face and formed hand seals to undo the summoning.

Poof, poof...

Amid bursts of white smoke, the coffins containing the First and Second Hokage's Impure World Reincarnation bodies vanished before Kabuto's eyes.

Kabuto then entered a secret chamber with a grim expression. In the center of the chamber lay a Kumogakure ninja bound from head to toe in chains, while countless bizarre formulas had been inscribed across the floor around him.

Glancing at the terrified Kumogakure ninja on the ground, Kabuto said nothing. He steadied himself, then raised his hands and began forming hand seals with deliberate precision. Finally, he shouted, "Summoning Technique: Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!"

At Kabuto's