Impure World Reincarnation

Ye Wuyue was speechless when he heard Orochimaru's words. You had already called me excellent research material, and you still wanted me to follow you? So I could become your research material?

"I'm the one negotiating terms with you, aren't I? And don't tell me you think your side has the advantage in combat strength?" Ye Wuyue said calmly. Though he was indeed a little nervous inside, he did not show it.

It had been so long. They should be here by now.

Caw—caw—caw—caw!

Ye Wuyue was not disappointed. A flock of crows landed before him and transformed into two figures.

"Long time no see, Sasuke. I didn't expect you to have become this strong."

A bright, cheerful voice sounded beside Ye Wuyue. A figure draped in a green hooded cloak appeared to his right.

"Sai went to settle those children. You weren't hurt, were you?" Itachi stood to Ye Wuyue's front left, shielding him behind himself.

"No. I'm not weak, you know." Ye Wuyue replied with a smile.

The young man in the green hooded cloak looked toward Orochimaru and Uchiha Setsuna across from them.

"I never expected two S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha to join forces. Uchiha Setsuna, you won't escape from my hands again this time!"

As he spoke, the young man removed his cloak and drew the short sword strapped to his back.

"Uchiha Shisui!"

Uchiha Setsuna watched the young man before him warily. Though Shisui was more than a generation younger than him, his strength surpassed his by an entire tier. After defecting from Konoha, Setsuna had suffered at this junior's hands many times and had even nearly been captured and brought back by him.

Ye Wuyue was not surprised by Shisui's appearance at all. After Uchiha Setsuna led others in defecting, Shisui had taken on the task of pursuing the defecting clansmen alone. He had captured and brought back nearly all the Uchiha Clan's rogue ninja. For this, he had spent the past six years sleeping rough outside the village, but it had also greatly reduced the attention certain higher-ups in both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha paid him.

Even Itachi still did not know just how strong his friend had become.

The day before Ye Wuyue and the others accepted this mission, Shisui had sent Itachi a message saying that he seemed to have found traces of the Uchiha Clan's remaining rogue ninja in the Land of Rice Fields. However, the situation there was somewhat complicated, and Shisui hoped Itachi could come help him.

As it happened, Itachi and the others received this mission to the Land of Rice Fields the next day. Itachi, who had originally intended to request leave, simply accepted the mission.

Orochimaru did not panic at the sight of the situation before him. Instead, he seemed rather excited.

"Hehehehe! I never expected so many pleasant surprises to arrive one after another. As for what you said about having the advantage in combat strength, that is indeed true. You are the weaker side. Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"

Orochimaru clasped his hands together, and two coffins slowly rose from the ground. One bore the character for "First," while the other bore the character for "Second."

Three tomoe appeared in Itachi's eyes as he cast a Sharingan genjutsu on Orochimaru, but it had no effect. Orochimaru's vertical pupils had also changed into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Hehehehe, Sharingan genjutsu? Unfortunately, I have it too. Now then, how do you think your strength compares to that of the previous Hokage?" Orochimaru said with a raspy, sinister laugh.

The coffin lids opened, revealing a long-haired man in red armor and a white-haired man in blue armor before everyone.

Itachi and Shisui were both stunned upon seeing the two figures.

The First Hokage... the Second Hokage...

Ye Wuyue naturally knew of Orochimaru's abilities, but he had not chosen to tell Itachi and Shisui in advance. Some things required Orochimaru and the others to help put on an act.

"Orochimaru, how dare you defile the souls of the dead!" Shisui shouted at Orochimaru.

At that moment, the First and Second Hokage opened their eyes.

"Where is this? I... have been revived?" Hashirama Senju moved his hands and muttered in disbelief.

"This feeling... is this Impure World Reincarnation?" Tobirama Senju sensed his current condition the moment he awakened.

Hashirama Senju raised his head and saw Ye Wuyue and the others.

"Eh, are you Konoha ninja? How is Konoha doing now?" Hashirama Senju asked Ye Wuyue and the others, waving his hand.

Tobirama beside him heard his voice.

"Big Brother, even you were reincarnated?"

Only then did Hashirama notice Tobirama beside him.

"Oh, Tobirama was revived too? Hahahaha! I don't know what's going on, but how about the two of us return to Konoha and take a look?" Hashirama scratched his head and said to Tobirama with a laugh.

Tobirama felt his anger rising nonstop. Unable to endure it any longer, he shouted at his elder brother, "Big Brother, are you an idiot? Isn't it obvious that someone summoned us from the underworld into the world of the living? Do you think whoever summoned us would kindly let us move about freely?"

After being scolded by Tobirama, Hashirama instantly became dejected, hanging his head with both arms drooping at his sides.

The corners of Itachi and Shisui's mouths twitched when they saw Hashirama's behavior. Every image they had of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, had just been shattered.

Orochimaru was somewhat dumbfounded as well. If this man's appearance had not been identical to the face on Hokage Rock, and if Orochimaru had not reincarnated him using Hashirama Cells, he would not have dared believe this was the legendary God of Shinobi. This guy could grab the Nine-Tails with one hand—would you believe it?

"Alright, enough catching up. I still need the two of you to help me deal with these people."

Orochimaru took out two kunai with sealing talismans attached, formed hand seals to control Hashirama and Tobirama's movements, then inserted the two kunai into the backs of their heads.

To ensure he could control them after reincarnating them, Orochimaru had used merely two chunin as sacrifices. As for how much strength they could display now, even Orochimaru had no idea.

"Setsuna, you don't want to be captured and taken back to Konoha, do you? I hope we can continue working together happily." Orochimaru turned to Uchiha Setsuna, his tone carrying a hint of threat.

Uchiha Setsuna was now riding a tiger he could not dismount. Other than continuing to cooperate with Orochimaru, he had no other choice. The ever-arrogant man felt a sense of powerlessness at this moment.

It was all because of this brat. If he had obediently let me kill him, I would never have needed to defect. If not for him, the Uchiha Clan would have become Konoha's most powerful noble clan under my leadership, and my name would have been recorded in the Uchiha Clan's history!

Uchiha Setsuna said nothing, merely glaring at Ye Wuyue with venomous eyes.

"It's all because of you, you damned brat! Die!" Uchiha Setsuna roared. Three tomoe appeared in his eyes as he drew the long sword from his back and charged at Ye Wuyue.

Just as Itachi and Shisui were about to intercept Setsuna, one red and one blue figure blocked them.

Ye Wuyue smiled as he watched Uchiha Setsuna charge toward him. Though Setsuna's appearance had caused a slight deviation from his expectations, nothing had happened that was truly beyond them.

Big brother, you won't blame me, will you?