Spirit Energy Slash!

Orochimaru's words sent a chill down Jimo's spine. He knew full well that with his current abilities, he probably couldn't take down Orochimaru.

So he instantly put distance between them.

On the other side, the First Hokage had already summoned Tree World Advent. Massive tree roots burst from the ground, piercing through the entire building.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Jimo split off a Shadow Clone and unleashed a combined ninjutsu. The intense flames obliterated the Wood Release.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

A curtain of water materialized out of thin air, dousing the great fire Jimo had started.

"You really are reckless..."

The Second Hokage, though his movements were controlled, couldn't help but praise.

"Is that kid really a chunin... The chakra extraction for those jutsu is terrifying, isn't it?"

Two Anbu outside marveled.

In the shadows, two others wearing Anbu masks watched everything inside the barrier.

"This man is a variable... Go inform Lord Danzo!"

With that, their figures vanished from the spot.

In the Root Organization's base, a man wrapped in bandages with a cross-shaped scar on his chin stood before a fire, his face full of sinister smiles.

"Hiruzen... Let's see how you survive this crisis... Then I'll become the hero of Konoha, the Fifth Hokage! The village will prosper under my leadership! Hahahahaha!"

Inside the barrier, the battle continued.

"Jimo! If you can get out, get out now!" the Third Hokage shouted, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

Those reincarnated by Impure World Reincarnation knew no physical fatigue, had no chakra limits, and even possessed powerful regenerative abilities. Unless a Sealing Technique was used or the caster released it themselves, even killing the caster wouldn't stop the jutsu.

"Don't make it so hard on me, old man... Haven't you noticed the Four Violet Sun Formation's walls have gotten thicker?" Jimo said awkwardly. Those ninjas had increased their chakra output since he entered. Now, even a Kamehameha would struggle to shatter this barrier.

Maybe it was the influence of the Saiyan Bloodline from his Little Goku template, but Jimo was feeling extremely battle-hungry right now.

"Fortunately, this jutsu wasn't fully developed while the Second Hokage was alive, so it can't bring out one hundred percent of his original power..." The Third Hokage wiped the blood off his body with a finger.

"Summoning Jutsu: Monkey King—Enma!"

An old white-furred monkey was summoned.

"Hiruzen, you've fallen into a tough fight..." Enma spoke in human tongue.

"That's why I said back then, you shouldn't have gone soft!"

"Jimo... I'm ordering you as Hokage: find a way out of here now! Leave this to me!" The Third Hokage's eyes showed a resolve that brooked no defiance.

"You really have a plan?"

"I am the Third Hokage of Konoha!" Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to regain the vigor of his days as the "Ninja Hero."

"Cut it out! With that look, you're probably thinking of some mutual destruction move..."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage fell silent. He had indeed found a way to deal with the First and Second Hokage—the Fourth Hokage's Dead Demon Consuming Seal... a Sealing Technique that traded with the Bleach... at the cost of one's own life.

"Brat, there's no way I'd die that easily. I'm the Third Hokage! Staying here will only get in my way!"

Jimo stared at the Third Hokage for a long time.

Yeah. Even if he stayed now, he couldn't do much...

"I'll go find Lord Jiraiya! Don't you dare use a jutsu with that big a price tag!"

Jimo raised his palm. A ball of light appeared in his hand. Gradually, it began to spin, emitting a sharp screech, and its shape slowly flattened. Within seconds, a massive disc of light rested in Jimo's hand.

"Spirit Energy Slash!"

Jimo hurled the Spirit Energy Slash straight at Orochimaru and the two former Hokage.

"Wind Style?"

Orochimaru frowned slightly, manipulating the two Hokage to shield him.

The next second, the Spirit Energy Slash cut all three in half at the waist. Even Orochimaru's prized Kusanagi Sword had its blade severed.

The Spirit Energy Slash slammed into the Four Violet Flame Formation. After a few seconds of stalemate, it once again carved an opening in the barrier.

Before Jimo could move, the Third Hokage kicked him straight out of the barrier.

"Don't die, old man!"

Elsewhere, Konoha Ninja were helpless against three giant snakes.

The area was too crowded for them to use large-scale destructive ninjutsu.

"Summoning: House Collapse Technique!"

A massive toad suddenly appeared, pinning the giant snake firmly to the ground.

"This snake... is it Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya's brow was nearly knotted into a lump.

"Pervert Sage!"

Jimo jumped down from the Flying Nimbus. After searching for Jiraiya's chakra signature among tens of thousands of people with no success, he finally spotted that giant toad!

"You're Naruto's teammate..."

"Lord Jiraiya, the Third Hokage is sealed inside a barrier by Orochimaru!"

Jiraiya was taken aback, especially upon learning that Orochimaru had used the forbidden technique Impure World Reincarnation to summon two former Hokage.

"Kid, I'll leave this place to you! I'm going to back up the Third!" With that, he rushed toward the distant Golden Summit Building.

Jimo sliced several giant snakes into pieces with Spirit Energy Slash. After confirming they were dead, he mounted the Flying Nimbus to regroup with Naruto and the others.

Along the way, he spotted Shikamaru and Neji locked in a tough battle. Nine Sound Ninja were more than the two of them could handle. Even someone as strong as Neji had taken damage from their attrition tactics.

"This is bad... I thought we could at least hold them off..." Shikamaru panted heavily as his Shadow Imitation Technique dissipated.

"You brats! Die!" The nine Sound Ninja hurled their shuriken all at once.

Neji's chakra was already too low to activate Rotation again.

"If only I'd asked Jimo for a few more of those beans..." Seeing the incoming kunai and shuriken, the two seemed to resign themselves and closed their eyes.

"Hey, don't be so down in the dumps!"

A clang of metal rang out. The shuriken and kunai didn't pierce them as they had imagined.

Jimo swung the Nyoi-Bo, deflecting the Sound Ninja's attacks.

Another figure flashed out and took down all the Sound Ninja in one go.

"Nice moves. No wonder you're Kakashi's student!"

Asuma praised.

"You'd better hurry back to Konoha. The Third Hokage's situation is very bad right now..."

Asuma frowned at that, then glanced at Shikamaru and Neji.

"I've got this. I'm a chunin, after all. I'll take them to pursue the Sand Ninja. You should head back quickly."

After seeing Asuma off, Jimo tossed a few Soldier Pills he'd swiped from other ninja to Shikamaru and Neji to replenish their stamina.

"Don't you have any of those beans from before?" Shikamaru and Neji looked at the foul-tasting Soldier Pills in their hands.

"Be grateful you've got anything at all! You think that stuff grows on trees? That I can just pull it out whenever?"

Jimo rapped each of them on the head with a knuckle.