Summoning the Shinigami, Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze

Uchiha Tekka split open the doors of the Uzumaki Clan's underground shrine with one slash. A foul, stale smell hung inside the long-abandoned shrine. To save time, a Wind Release Ninjutsu blew away the stench and dust.

Orochimaru entered first. He looked at the dust-covered ritual implements and the rows of masks hanging on the walls, then said excitedly, "They really exist. I thought it was nothing more than a fanciful guess. Heh heh heh. If these offerings and masks can truly summon the Shinigami, then Lord Jobu's theory is entirely correct."

"The so-called Shinigami was merely a powerful ninja from the past."

Uchiha Tekka said, "The rest is up to you."

"No problem. But are the offerings ready? Summoning the Shinigami requires an offering. Without one, the summoning won't be accepted, and I won't be able to release the Fourth Hokage's soul as Lord Jobu requested."

"The offering's been ready for some time. A jonin from Kumogakure."

"Then we can begin."

Several villages had attacked the Uchiha one after another. They thought that, without Konoha's protection, the Uchiha would end up like the Uzumaki Clan, prey for them to divide among themselves.

But when the Uchiha showed their strength, everyone was stunned. Even Jinchūriki had become captives of the Uchiha Clan, let alone ordinary ninja.

They dragged out a Kumogakure jonin and waited for Orochimaru to summon the Shinigami. The other Uchiha activated their Mangekyō Sharingan at once, ready to attack if anything went wrong.

But nothing they had imagined happened. The offering's life was taken without a hitch, and Orochimaru, the summoner, immediately used Snake Flow Substitution. He opened his mouth and spat out a giant python, then emerged from its jaws with a brand-new body.

"Heh heh heh. It seems the experiment succeeded. Isn't that right, Fourth