Testing Hashirama

Orochimaru led the way with his seductive serpent-like gait, an excited smile lingering at the corners of his mouth.

Fei Yun secretly wondered, Is Great God Bay a man or a woman right now?

I really want to sneak a peek and find out!

Fei Yun could not help asking, "Orochimaru, what kind of treasure are you going to show me?" Orochimaru slightly turned his head. "We're almost there. You'll find out soon enough."

The two arrived, one after the other, in a spacious underground chamber. Orochimaru opened the door, and Yakushi Kabuto was busy operating something inside. Seeing them arrive, Kabuto respectfully spoke.

"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Fei Yun, everything you requested has been prepared."

Fei Yun looked at Orochimaru.

"Everything?"

"What exactly is it?"

Orochimaru let out a low laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Konoha's greatest forbidden technique: Edo Tensei."

"What do you think?"

"Not much."

Orochimaru grew excited and continued, "Fei Yun, haven't you always longed for Hashirama Senju's power?"

"Today, we will summon that great man—the First Hokage of Konoha, the God of Shinobi."

"Hashirama Senju. What do you think?"

Fei Yun calmly blinked.

"It's alright."

Orochimaru's excited expression froze, his limp hands seeming to have nowhere to go.

Why was this brat's reaction so calm?

Was this normal?

By all rights, who would not be thrilled at the prospect of meeting the God of Shinobi?

Who was that man?

He was the number one person in the Shinobi World, whose every drop of blood and every mouthful of saliva was worth a fortune!

Orochimaru was annoyed and turned to make preparations.

"Hmph, you really have no sense of romance!"

Though Fei Yun talked big, he was actually looking forward to it.

Edo Tensei, the ultimate forbidden technique developed by the master of forbidden jutsu, Tobirama Senju. It could summon souls from the Pure Land, revive the dead, and control them. It required a certain amount of the deceased's flesh or bones, as well as a living person to serve as a vessel for the dead person's soul.

Hashirama's body was certainly not a problem for Orochimaru. As for sacrificing a living person as an offering, that was even less of a problem.

Orochimaru lacked nothing except perhaps fewer evil experimental subjects.

In the Shinobi World, human lives were worthless. Fei Yun, who had experienced Clan Massacre Night, understood that better than anyone.

Yakushi Kabuto dragged a man controlled by genjutsu to the center of the chamber and forced him to kneel.

Judging from the man's clothing, he was probably a ninja from the Sand Village.

His forehead protector was gone, but Fei Yun had seen this man not long ago. He was a Missing-nin whom Orochimaru's people had captured in a black market.

Orochimaru licked his lips. "What a lucky fellow. To become the vessel of the God of Shinobi and merge with him."

Lucky or unlucky, this man would soon become a vessel for Hashirama's soul.

Orochimaru spread a scroll inscribed with mysterious formation patterns across the floor, then placed a lump of flesh in the center of the technique.

As Orochimaru formed hand seals, mysterious runes and blood spread from the scroll, forming a glowing circle around the sacrificial man.

Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei! Orochimaru slammed one hand onto the ground and let out a low roar. The light within the formation grew increasingly bright. A force of soul energy surged forth with fragments of ash, and the halo slowly spread over the sacrificial man, soon covering more than half his body. A shrill scream rang out.

"Gaaah!"

It was the scream of the sacrificial man's soul being crushed by another soul. No one could endure the agony of having their soul ground apart and erased.

In the blink of an eye, the ash completely covered the sacrificial man, and he became Hashirama Senju, dressed in red armor from the Warring States Period.

Edo Tensei had succeeded!

The First Hokage had returned to the Human Realm. Orochimaru was beside himself with excitement!

He had come!

The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the man who had founded the village system during the Warring States Period.

The summoned Hashirama Senju looked lifelike, identical to the records. However, the cracks covering his body and his pitch-black, lifeless eyes reminded everyone that he was not a normal human.

Orochimaru stepped behind Hashirama Senju and inserted a kunai bound with a control talisman into the back of his head.

After a puff of white smoke, Hashirama's soul stirred. He slowly opened his dead eyes.

"Oh, this is the Edo Tensei technique, isn't it?"

"Honestly, I never thought I'd have a day when I was summoned by this technique too!"

"Tobirama, that's why I said this technique should be forbidden, right?"

"My decisions can't possibly be wrong!"

Hashirama's muttering echoed through the chamber. He raised a hand to inspect his palm and flexed his fingers. "And this technique has no real combat power at all. It's harmful to the natural order and completely useless!"

Fei Yun was curious and activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to observe him. Feeling that familiar power, Hashirama finally looked toward the three people in the chamber.

"Oh, Sharingan?"

"What familiar and nostalgic eyes!"

"Young man of the Uchiha Clan, how old are you?"

"Have you eaten yet?"

Hashirama wore a gentle, elegant smile, his face filled with concern.

"You three are all Konoha ninja, right?"

"Why did you summon me?"

"Has Konoha encountered some trouble?"

It had to be said that Hashirama Senju was truly a sunny and gentle person. Having been summoned through Edo Tensei, he did not care about anything else. Instead, he worried about the people who summoned him and the village that remained constantly on his mind. Fei Yun and Orochimaru exchanged glances, and Fei Yun could not help laughing.

"Konoha may really have encountered some incredible trouble."

Fei Yun paused before continuing. "And the three of us are no longer Konoha ninja. They've given us a new title now."

Hashirama pursed his lips. "A new title?"

Orochimaru nodded and smiled. "The people of Konoha call us Konoha Missing-nin."

Hashirama sighed. "So the village isn't very harmonious."

"Then, who are you people?"

"Uchiha?"

"Fei Yun? Orochimaru? Yakushi Kabuto?" Hashirama asked in confusion. "Why would a young man from the Uchiha Clan defect from the village?"

"Though I never liked Madara Uchiha, he would certainly have treated the Uchiha Clan fairly!"

Hearing this, Fei Yun gave a signature Uchiha laugh. "Fairness?"

"Hahaha! First Hokage, the Uchiha Clan has already been exterminated, and I crawled out of a grave."

"No, Konoha never built graves for the Uchiha Clan. I crawled back from hell."

"The Second Hokage may indeed have treated the Uchiha Clan fairly well, but he died long ago. His fine disciples were truly capable—they led Konoha through decades of barely surviving, until it became the weakest of the Five Great Nations and had to ally with the impoverished Sand Village just to protect itself."

Hashirama stared in shock.

"How could that be?"

Orochimaru spread his hands. "There is nothing impossible about it. Of the nearly sixty clans from the era when Konoha was founded, more than half have now perished. Even your Senju Clan has been exterminated, leaving only your granddaughter."

Fei Yun gave a wicked smile.

"And in Konoha's sixteenth year—more than forty years after your death—most of the time has basically been spent fighting Shinobi World Wars!"

Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses and added, "The Uzumaki Clan was also exterminated by Konoha."

The amount of information was too great. Hashirama Senju, whose mind was not especially quick to begin with, was momentarily dazed and shocked. What was going on?

My great Konoha was the number one village in the Shinobi World, proudly overlooking all lands!

It now had to ally with the Sand Village just to survive? And the three great clans of the Shinobi World—the Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan, and Uzumaki Clan—had all been exterminated?

Even without the foundations left by me and Madara Uchiha, they should still have been immensely powerful. Who could possibly have wiped out those three clans?

Hashirama sank into a despondent state, deeply depressed.

Fei Yun chuckled. "So, how about joining us? Let's bring an end to rotten Konoha and change the atmosphere."

Hashirama's expression turned serious. "I cannot listen to only one side of the story. I must uncover the truth. Anyone who dares threaten the village, I will not spare them—whether they are friends, family, or even my own children."

Orochimaru impatiently waved a hand. "Enough talking. Let's go outside and test the purity of this Edo Tensei resurrection."

Fei Yun nodded and turned to leave with Orochimaru.

Hashirama continued speaking.

"Hashirama?"

They had never intended to ask Hashirama's opinion. They had only said so much because they wanted to see what profound views the God of Shinobi and Konoha's First Hokage might offer.

But now, it seemed there was no need to waste words on him at all. Summon him, make him obey commands, and that was enough. He was only a puppet—who cared about his will or thoughts?

"Wait."

"Young Uchiha, Orochimaru, at least tell me what has happened to Konoha!"

"Who is the Third Hokage?"

Hashirama stretched out an arm and called after them, but the three ignored him and continued walking outside.

Orochimaru smiled. "I also used this technique to revive the Second Hokage, but for some reason, I could not revive him no matter what."

Fei Yun slightly turned his head.

"I'm curious. Why are you so obsessed with the Hokage?"

"Wouldn't it be better to revive other powerful people who are more useful and easier to control?"

Clearly, Fei Yun had overestimated Orochimaru's talent.

How could Orochimaru possess such ability?

He was not omnipotent, unlike certain people who could see the whole picture and know every detail.

Every step Orochimaru took had been difficult. His path was paved with countless trials, errors, and failures.

Orochimaru had only just begun using the forbidden technique Edo Tensei. How could he know all those messy applications and choices? At present, he had merely succeeded in summoning a soul.

However, as a pioneer of the Shinobi World, Orochimaru naturally would not reveal his ignorance.

After all, when it came to face, one's head could be cut off, but one's hairstyle could not be messed up.

Orochimaru revealed a bewitching smile.

"Nothing much. I simply want to see Third Hokage's expression when he faces the Hokage of past generations."

Fei Yun laughed as well. "That really would be interesting. How did I not think of something so entertaining?"

"After learning this Edo Tensei technique, I want to learn the Reanimation Jutsu too!"

"Leave it to me. I'll make those old bastards in Konoha face attacks from members of their own families!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Their wicked laughter echoed from time to time, reaching the ears of the utterly confused Hashirama Senju behind them.

They made their way to the back mountain of Shadow Village. Orochimaru formed hand seals and summoned the coffin containing the First Hokage.

"Then, Fei Yun, you should be his opponent. Test Hashirama Senju's strength."

Fei Yun did not refuse. He was also very interested in Edo Tensei.

Hashirama Senju opened his pitch-black eyes once more.

"What exactly are you three trying to do?"

Fei Yun slowly stepped forward. "Want to know?"

"Defeat me, and I'll tell you."

Hashirama Senju sighed. "If you want to fight, then let us fight. A member of the Senju Clan fears no challenge."

"There's no helping it."

"Then come at me, young man. Let me see how well you wield the Sharingan, the Bloodline Limit of the Uchiha Clan."

Hashirama Senju assumed a stance and spoke with a smile.

"The Uchiha Clan's Bloodline Limit is among the finest in the Human Realm. In ninjutsu and genjutsu alike, it is outstanding and without weaknesses."

Fei Yun drew a katana. Chakra surged forth, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan instantly formed. He flashed before Hashirama Senju, who clasped his hands together and unleashed the strongest technique he could currently use: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!

Countless shoots burst from the ground around them. In the blink of an eye, they grew wildly, enormous vines spreading in every direction.