After confirming that Kakuzu was beyond dead, with all five of his hearts destroyed and his body reduced to a pool of black mud, Naoki Senju could no longer suppress his injuries and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Fortunately, given the angle and position, Tsunade shouldn't be able to see it, otherwise Sister Tsunade would have been terrified and then gotten a scolding from her...
Although he was certain that Kakuzu did not have the strength to fight the First Hokage, there was no doubt about Kakuzu's true strength. Apart from those who were overpowered, he was definitely in the top tier of the Shinobi World, no less than the Five Kage.
This battle with Kakuzu was also very rewarding, especially in terms of Taijutsu. This weakness that he used to have is gradually being addressed. Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist, Kakuzu's unpredictable moves, and Orochimaru's unpredictable attacks will all be valuable experiences for him to become stronger.
However, there's definitely no time for post-battle reflection now. Aunt Snake is destined to be the Shinobi World's leading scientist, and he can't let his Uchiha Clan body limit his path. Naoki Senju felt it was necessary to correct Orochimaru's course.
But as it turned out, Naoki Senju underestimated Uchiha Itachi at the age of twelve was capable of bearing the name of annihilating his clan.
The scorching waves of Fire Style engulfed the black Iron Sand Iron Sand, almost burning it black, but the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release: Iron Sand was reliable, showing no signs of melting and steadfastly protecting Orochimaru and the Third Kazekage behind the wall.
Orochimaru's last shred of worry dissipated, and he seemed somewhat impatient as he extended his long tongue to lick his pale lips.
" The Third Kazekage truly lives up to his reputation as the strongest Kazekage of all time; his Magnet Release: Iron Sand remains as powerful as ever. Itachi, do you have any other options?"
The crimson Sharingan remained calm as it observed the subtle changes in the Iron Sand. When the changes in the Iron Sand reached a certain critical point, Uchiha Itachi withdrew his Fire Style and walked step by step toward Orochimaru.
"Heh, Itachi, are you planning to surrender? How wonderful, indeed."
While maintaining his feigned politeness, Orochimaru manipulated the Third Kazekage to smash the massive Iron Sand wall towards Uchiha Itachi.
Based on his understanding of Uchiha Itachi, he knew that Uchiha Itachi would never give up the fight until the very last moment, so Uchiha Itachi definitely had other ways to win!
Just as Orochimaru had expected, Uchiha Itachi didn't even glance at the imposing Iron Sand wall, but instead walked unhurriedly toward Orochimaru.
Three, two, one.
As the countdown ended, the imposing Iron Sand wall instantly crumbled into a pile of tiny Iron Sand. No matter how the Third Kazekage used Magnet Release to control them, the black Iron Sand remained completely still.
(High-temperature burning can cause molecules to move randomly and violently, and the magnetic direction generated by the molecular current is disordered. The whole thing has no magnetism, which is commonly referred to as 'demagnetization'.)
"What's going on, Itachi? What did you do to disable Magnet Release? Was it Fire Style? Or is this a unique ability of your Sharingan?"
Orochimaru asked with a curious expression, seemingly unaware of his impending doom.
However, Uchiha Itachi was unwilling to give Orochimaru any more chances to struggle. He could only temporarily prevent a portion of the Iron Sand from being controlled by Magnet Release. If Orochimaru discovered the truth and extracted the Iron Sand again, it would be quite troublesome, and he might have to use the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan again.
The Mangekyō Sharingan is already a heavy burden, and it's unclear when Sasuke will be able to grow stronger...
After suppressing his thoughts, a bewitching red light shone forth, Orochimaru quickly succumbed to the Sharingan's Genjutsu.
Meanwhile, in an underground base more than twenty miles away, Orochimaru, who had been lying on the experimental table as if asleep, suddenly awoke with a start and muttered:
"As expected of Uchiha Itachi, as expected of someone with the Mangekyō Sharingan, which is extremely rare even within the Uchiha Clan. He found the weakness of Magnet Release so quickly and exploited it."
"That makes me want you even more, Uchiha Itachi." Orochimaru's eerie voice echoed from underground.
After trapping Orochimaru in the Genjutsu, Uchiha Itachi used the Genjutsu's hints to make Orochimaru release the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu himself.
A white coffin appeared from the ground. When the Third Kazekage stepped into the coffin, he regained some consciousness, immediately cursed a few times, saying things like "that stinking snake from Konoha deserves to die a horrible death," and then was forced to sink into the ground, returning to the space where the coffin was stored.
After doing all this, Uchiha Itachi seemed even weaker, but he still dragged his tired body to another battlefield. The Senju Clan's bloodline, the Wood Release user, the hope for Konoha's future resurgence—he could not die here.
Even if the Senju Clan who awakened Wood Release was brainwashed by Orochimaru and became hostile to Konoha, he still has a way to restore Konoha's glory.
For Konoha, for the village, for the continuation of the Will of Fire, everything can be abandoned, and everything can be used!
But on the way, the two, who were planning to help each other, met.
Both of them saw surprise in each other's eyes, as if they both found it hard to believe the result.
Naoki Senju is somewhat better off, since Uchiha Itachi possesses the power of Susanoo. Even if Orochimaru Impure World Reincarnation the Third Kazekage, he would still be no match for Uchiha Itachi. However, the real concern is if Orochimaru Impure World Reincarnation the Second Hokage.
As is well known, Tobirama Senju dedicated his life to fighting against the evil Uchiha, and his Genjutsu, Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, was specifically designed to counter the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan.
If Orochimaru Impure World Reincarnation Tobirama Senju, Tobirama Senju might not even have time to punish Orochimaru; he would probably prioritize eliminating the evil Uchiha!
Uchiha Itachi doesn't seem to have any serious injuries right now, so Orochimaru didn't use Impure World Reincarnation the Second Hokage. Uchiha Itachi's victory is to be expected.
But Uchiha Itachi was far more surprised than Naoki Senju. The fact that this Senju Clan, who had awakened Wood Release, could appear here meant that Kakuzu had already been killed by the other party.
Although he was able to suppress Kakuzu with his Genjutsu and Sharingan, Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear technique was strange and powerful. In actual combat, killing Kakuzu would still involve a certain risk.
His strength is terrifying, Water Release Ninjutsu is powerful. It's just unknown what level his Wood Release has reached. Uchiha Itachi calmly made this assessment.
The two sized each other up from a safe distance, and Naoki Senju made the first move.
" Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence ".
The most representative Ninjutsu of the Wood Release Ninjutsu, which Naoki Senju used with ease, involves giant trees growing wildly in the desert, starting from Naoki Senju and encompassing an area of several hundred meters in front of him.
The White Zetsu and Black Zetsu, who were eavesdropping underground, hurriedly retreated from the range of Wood Release. Their combat strength was not strong; they were only outstanding in their ability to hide. Wood Release, which could cover the ground, was a natural enemy to them.