The Return of an Old Friend

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen roared, the shuriken he threw rapidly multiplying into countless clones, blanketing the sky like a torrential downpour as they flew toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's expression remained icy; his hands moved in a blur of seals before he suddenly crouched and pressed his palms together.

"Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!"

Upon hearing the name of this jutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face drained of color, as if he had just recalled something truly horrific.

Even as the Third Hokage's thoughts raced, two coffins slowly emerged before Orochimaru.

A third coffin had already appeared halfway!

The previously launched shadow clone shuriken struck the coffins, embedding themselves deep into the wood.

"I must stop the third one from appearing!"

The Third Hokage gathered all his strength, lunging to suppress the third coffin.

Hum—hum—

The third coffin vibrated intensely, but under the Third Hokage's immense pressure, it failed to manifest completely.

"It seems the third person cannot appear. Well... so be it. Hehehehehehe."

Orochimaru sneered, unbothered. As he spoke, the two coffins before him slowly creaked open, and the third coffin gradually sank back into the ground.

Thud. Thud.

Two dull sounds echoed as the coffin lids fell to the ground.

The Third Hokage stared intently at the two figures slowly emerging from the white mist within the coffins.

"This is troublesome..."

High up in the stands of the Chunin Exams, Lin Mu felt his heart tremble, his eyes locked onto the two coffins.

"Long time no see, Monkey."

"It is you. You have aged as well, Sarutobi!"

Two figures stepped out from the coffins—one with black hair, the other with white. Upon seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen, they spoke in low, measured tones.

Cold sweat streamed down the Third Hokage's face, his body tensed to its absolute limit. He stared directly at the two men and said:

"I never imagined I would meet you two brothers in such a manner. I feel deep regret."

He then sighed:

"Lord First Hokage, Lord Second Hokage!"

Those outside the Four Violet Flames Formation heard the Third Hokage's words, their expressions shifting in disbelief.

These two were the very men who had built the Konoha Ninja Village as it stood today?

Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the white-haired Tobirama slowly turned his head to look at Orochimaru. "Impure World Reincarnation? Is this young man the one who summoned us using this forbidden jutsu? An impressive fellow!"

The black-haired Senju Hashirama also glanced at Orochimaru before turning to face the Third Hokage, saying in a low voice:

"If that is the case, Sarutobi, we have no choice but to fight you."

Before the Hokages could converse further, Orochimaru stepped forward and smiled:

"The chitchat between old men ends here. Let us... begin!"

Two kunai tipped with strange paper talismans appeared in his hands, and Orochimaru reached out toward the napes of the First and Second Hokage.

The skin at the back of the Hokages' necks rippled like water, allowing Orochimaru's hands to pass through without resistance as he embedded the kunai into their heads.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

The moment the two kunai entered their bodies, thick white smoke erupted from the Hokages.

After a long moment, the stiffness and pallor of their corpses faded, replaced by the appearance of living men.

Seeing the two Hokages restored to their former glory, Sarutobi Hiruzen's emotions surged, and a few tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.

He had followed by the sides of these two Hokages since he was a boy.

These two Hokages were, in fact, his teachers!

But following the sorrow and the memories, a boundless, intense rage welled up within him!

Both Hokages were dead, yet their souls had been dragged back from the Pure Land by Orochimaru, forced to become mere tools and machines for slaughter!

The Third Hokage clenched his fists tightly.

It was... unforgivable!

Seeing that the two Hokages had been fully restored, Orochimaru formed a hand seal.

The two Hokages stumbled toward the Third Hokage, but as they gradually adapted to their bodies, their speed began to increase!

Yet, facing the first two generations of Hokage, the Third Hokage found himself devoid of the will to fight.

The crowd outside the Four Violet Flames Formation was shocked, hurriedly shouting:

"Lord Hokage, even if their figures and faces are identical, those two are absolutely not the First Hokage and the Second Hokage!"

Hearing the shouts of the ninjas outside the formation, Sarutobi Hiruzen snapped out of his daze, but at that moment, Senju Hashirama's kunai had already been thrown, followed immediately by two heavy punches and a whip kick.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could not react in time and barely managed to block.

But by now, the Second Hokage Tobirama had arrived, his fists and elbows transformed into terrifying weapons, attacking Sarutobi Hiruzen like a violent storm.

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen had calmed down; he observed carefully, found a flaw in an instant, and then forced the Second Hokage back with a punch.

Taking advantage of the fact that the First Hokage and Second Hokage did not attack immediately, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly formed hand seals to use a ninjutsu.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Chakra accumulated and condensed within Sarutobi Hiruzen's body, and his chest expanded rapidly.

"Boom!"

A fierce fire erupted from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, rushing toward the First Hokage and Second Hokage like a tidal wave.

Facing the oncoming flames, the Second Hokage Tobirama formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

A wall of water spewed from his mouth, blocking the flames from Sarutobi Hiruzen, and steam shot into the sky instantly.

The Second Hokage pressed his advantage and continued to form seals.

"Water Style: Water Shockwave!"

A massive torrent of water surged into the sky, rushing toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly used a ninjutsu to defend, and a massive stone wall rose from the roof, blocking the impact of the water.

Just then, Senju Hashirama sprinted out, lunging straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The two Hokage clashed with fists and feet, engaging in a battle of taijutsu!

But after several rounds, Sarutobi Hiruzen had clearly fallen into a disadvantage!

After all, he was old; how could he compare to an Impure World Reincarnation body? Not to mention that Senju Hashirama possessed immense, monstrous strength to begin with!

Sarutobi Hiruzen used all his strength to force Senju Hashirama back and turned to leap onto the stone wall, but it was immediately shattered by the Second Hokage's water jutsu, causing him to fall.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was now powerless, kneeling on the water's surface, gasping for air.

But suddenly, a cracking sound reached his ears.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked; this was the First Hokage's Wood Style Jutsu!

"Secret Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

In the distance, the First Hokage pressed his palms together, and countless giant trees grew rapidly from the roof, attacking Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen dodged quickly, leaping up and down among the branches, but the attacks from the branches were everywhere.

Soon, he was tightly entangled by the branches and bound against the stone wall!