"Shuriken: Shadow Clone Technique!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared and hurled a shuriken. It quickly multiplied into countless copies, filling the sky like a torrential downpour as they shot toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's expression was utterly cold. His hands flashed through a rapid series of seals, then he suddenly crouched halfway and pressed his palms together.
"Summoning Technique: Impure World Reincarnation!"
When Sarutobi Hiruzen heard the name of the jutsu, his expression changed dramatically, as if he'd thought of something terrifying.
While the Third Hokage's mind raced, two coffins had already begun slowly appearing before Orochimaru.
A third coffin had appeared halfway, too!
The Shadow Clone Technique shuriken he'd launched earlier had all struck the coffins.
"I have to stop the third one from appearing!"
The Third Hokage gathered all his strength and pressed it down on the third coffin.
Hummm—hummm—
The third coffin trembled and hummed, but the Third Hokage's immense power held it back, preventing it from appearing completely.
"So the third person can't appear after all. But... never mind, then. Heh heh heh heh."
Orochimaru kept chuckling coldly, utterly unconcerned. The two coffins before him slowly opened, while the third gradually sank back into the ground.
"Thud! Thud!"
The lids of the open coffins toppled to the ground with two dull thumps.
The Third Hokage stared intently as two figures slowly emerged from the white mist inside the coffins.
"This is troublesome..."
Lin Mu, watching from the Chunin Ninja Exams stands, was also shaken. He stared fixedly at the two coffins.
"Long time no see, Monkey."
"So it's you. You've gotten old, Sarutobi!"
Two figures stepped out of the coffins, one black-haired and the other white-haired. When they saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, they spoke slowly in low voices.
The Third Hokage was drenched in cold sweat, his body tensed to the limit. He faced the two men before him and said,
"I never imagined I'd meet the two of you brothers this way. I regret that it has come to this."
Then he sighed.
"First Hokage, Second Hokage!"
The people outside the Four Violet Flames Formation changed expressions when they heard the Third Hokage's words.
Were these the First Hokage and Second Hokage, the men who had built the Konoha Ninja Village as it stood today?
Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the white-haired Tobirama Senju slowly turned to look at Orochimaru.
"Impure World Reincarnation? Is this young man the one who summoned us with a forbidden jutsu? Impressive!"
The black-haired Senju Hashirama glanced back at Orochimaru, then faced the Third Hokage and said in a low voice,
"In that case, Sarutobi, we have no choice but to fight you."
Before the Hokage could say anything more, Orochimaru took a slow step forward and smiled.
"That's enough reminiscing between old men. Let's... get started, shall we?"
Two Kunai bearing strange talismans appeared in his hands. Orochimaru reached out and pressed them against the backs of the First and Second Hokage's necks.
The backs of the two Hokage's necks seemed to turn to water, letting Orochimaru's hands pass through without resistance as he planted the Kunai in their heads.
Ssssss—
The instant the two Kunai entered their bodies, thick white smoke billowed from the Hokage.
After a long while, their bodies and faces changed from the stiffness and pallor of the dead to the appearance of living people.
Watching the two Hokage gradually regain their living appearances, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't hold back his emotions. A few tears slid from the corners of his eyes.
He had followed the two Hokage since he was a boy.
They had also been his teachers!
But after the sorrow and memories came a boundless, seething anger!
Both Hokage were dead, yet Orochimaru had dragged their souls back from the Pure Land and forced them to become killing machines and tools!
The Third Hokage clenched his fists tightly.
This was... unforgivable!
Seeing that the two Hokage had returned to normal, Orochimaru immediately formed a hand seal.
The two Hokage staggered toward the Third Hokage. Gradually, though, they seemed to grow accustomed to their bodies, and their speed steadily increased!
But the Third Hokage had no will to fight the two Hokage who had come before him.
The people outside the Four Violet Flames Formation were alarmed when they saw this and hurriedly shouted,
"Lord Hokage, even if they look exactly like the First and Second Hokage, those people absolutely aren't the real First and Second Hokage!"
At the ninjas' shouts from outside the formation, the Third Hokage snapped out of his daze. But by then, Senju Hashirama's Kunai had already been thrown at him, followed by two heavy punches and a sweeping kick.
The Third Hokage couldn't react in time and barely managed to defend himself.
But Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, had already joined the attack. His fists and elbows became terrifying weapons, striking at Sarutobi Hiruzen like a raging storm.
By now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had regained his composure. He studied the attack carefully, spotted an opening within moments, then drove the Second Hokage back with a punch.
Taking advantage of the moment before the First and Second Hokage could attack again, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly formed hand seals and used a jutsu.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Chakra gathered within the Third Hokage, and his chest quickly swelled.
"Hah!"
A torrent of fire burst from the Third Hokage's mouth, surging toward the First and Second Hokage.
Facing the oncoming flames, Tobirama Senju formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A wall of water burst from his mouth, blocking Sarutobi Hiruzen's flames. Steam billowed into the sky.
The Second Hokage pressed his advantage and continued forming hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
A massive torrent surged into the air and rushed toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
The Third Hokage quickly used a jutsu to defend himself. A huge stone wall rose from the rooftop and blocked the torrent.
At that moment, Senju Hashirama charged forward and lunged at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The two Hokage clashed fists and feet, trading blows with Taijutsu!
But after several exchanges, Sarutobi Hiruzen had clearly fallen behind!
He was old, after all. How could he compare to an Impure World Reincarnation body? And Senju Hashirama himself possessed monstrous strength!
The Third Hokage used all his strength to force Senju Hashirama back, then turned and leaped onto the earthen wall. But the Second Hokage's Water Release shattered the wall, sending him tumbling down.
By now, Sarutobi Hiruzen was exhausted. He knelt on the water's surface, gasping for breath.
Then he suddenly heard a cracking sound.
The Third Hokage's heart lurched. This was the First Hokage's Wood Release!
"Wood Release Secret Technique: Deep Forest Emergence!"
In the distance, the First Hokage pressed his palms together. Countless massive trees rapidly grew across the rooftop and attacked Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage dodged, leaping over branches and weaving between them, but the branches attacked from every direction.
Soon, they had wrapped tightly around him, pinning him against the stone wall!
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