As the dangerous sensation that had felt like countless needles pricking his entire body gradually faded inside the stone sphere, Kabuto Yakushi immediately brought his hands together. The solid sphere split open down the middle, revealing him and Orochimaru hidden inside.
As air rushed in, Orochimaru and Kabuto greedily took several breaths of fresh air.
To completely block Deidara's "C4: Garuda" microbombs, the stone sphere Kabuto had created with "Endless Reincarnation" had not left even the slightest gap. It had kept the air out, too.
If they hadn't both been top-tier shinobi, suffocation alone would have killed them.
Once his vision cleared, Kabuto looked at the forest, nearly leveled by the sea of sand, and the dense, horrifying black Iron Sand spears embedded in the ground. He couldn't help exclaiming, "As expected, you can't let your guard down against any member of the Akatsuki Organization!"
Orochimaru nodded.
He had indeed underestimated Scorpion and Deidara a little. They had clearly come prepared this time. If Kabuto, who wielded Senjutsu, hadn't been at his side, the two of them might have finished him off.
At the thought, he grew irritated. He formed Hand Seals and set the Impure World Bodies of the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage into motion, launching an attack.
Soon, under Orochimaru's control, the Impure World Bodies of the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage charged forward and attacked Scorpion.
The First to strike was, naturally, the First Hokage.
He rushed forward while forming Hand Seals. The battlefield, which had only just quieted, erupted into turmoil once more. Countless vines thrust up from underground, swaying as they gathered into a sea of trees.
The Second and Fourth Hokage darted among the vines, moving erratically as they closed in on Scorpion.
"Damn it!"
Scorpion's expression darkened at the sight.
The First