Bang—!
The heavy coffin lid crashed onto the cracked bluestone pavement, kicking up a cloud of murky dust.
Thick deathly aura spread outward like tangible cold mist. Amid countless flecks of dust swirling together like scraps of paper, a tall, burly figure slowly stepped out of the dark coffin.
Dark crimson layered armor, waist-length black hair, and a face that, even covered in the cracks of Impure World Reincarnation, still radiated an aura of looking down upon the world.
At that moment, even the sound of breathing vanished from the entire scene.
The civilians, who had been filled with righteous indignation moments ago, now looked as though someone had seized them by the throat. Their wide eyes were filled with disbelief and utter terror.
"F-First Hokage-sama?"
Uchiha Fugaku sucked in a sharp breath. His three-tomoe Sharingan trembled wildly, and his legs instinctively went weak. It was the fear of that man engraved into the bones of the Uchiha clan!
"Ha ha ha ha!" Danzo leaned on his cane and let out a mad laugh like a screeching owl. "Senju Sosuke! Did you think awakening Wood Release meant you could do whatever you pleased? Before the true God of Shinobi, your meager strength is utterly worthless! Today, I'll use the power your Senju Clan is most proud of to crush you completely!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tightened his grip on the Golden Cudgel, his gaze complicated as he looked at that familiar figure. In the end, it became a heavy sigh. For the stability of the Hidden Leaf, he could only watch as his teacher's elder brother was desecrated.
Hidden in the darkness, Orochimaru licked his lips and rapidly formed hand seals.
"Though the sacrifice is merely ordinary White Zetsu spores and cannot bring out the First Hokage's power at his peak, it