Chapter 278: The Previous Hokages Return, Encountering the Sannin of Konoha
Chapter 278: The Previous Hokages Return, Encountering the Sannin of Konoha
Sssssss~
A white snake slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeve, falling to the ground and rapidly growing in size before their very eyes.
Then, it opened its massive jaws, and out crawled four slimy White Zetsu clones from its serpentine belly.
In total, there were four of them.
Orochimaru injected each one with Hashirama's cells and implanted them with the DNA samples of the four Kage, before swiftly performing a series of hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu: Impure World Reincarnation!"
Whoosh~
Paper scraps fluttered in the air.
In Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shizune's attentive gaze, the gray paper scraps swiftly wrapped around the four White Zetsu clones.
Soon, after a slight ripple…
Both the paper scraps and the White Zetsu clones completely vanished.
And in their place…
Stood the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, clad in red armor, with black hair and eyes;
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, with silver hair, red eyes, and blue armor;
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing a black bodysuit and a ninja hat, his face weathered with age;
And the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, who had appeared earlier when the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path emerged.
"The four previous Kage have appeared simultaneously!"
Shizune's eyes widened, and she muttered in a daze.
Although they had anticipated this scene, witnessing it firsthand was still awe-inspiring.
Not only Shizune, but Jiraiya and Tsunade as well, stared at the four figures before them, momentarily transfixed.
"Back in the world of the living, I see," a calm voice echoed within the Hokage's office.
At that moment, the four Kage opened their eyes.
Tobirama Senju surveyed their surroundings, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before he spoke first.
Beside him, Hashirama Senju, who had been resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation twice and had endured less than pleasant experiences, noticed the familiar Orochimaru and said with a hint of gloom in his usually cheerful tone, "It's you again, young man!"
"Grandfather!" Tsunade's voice rang out.
"Eh?"
Hashirama Senju turned his head and was instantly delighted:
"Little Tsu…?"
"It's me!"
Tsunade's eyes lit up with emotion, and her eyes even turned slightly red.
Such an expression was rarely seen on her.
It was not only because she had seen her beloved grandfather again but also because of the joy of finally having someone to share the heavy burden that had been weighing her down.
"Little Tsu, I never expected you to grow up so much! Hahaha!"
Seeing his granddaughter, who had been a tiny child in his memories, now all grown up, Hashirama Senju laughed heartily. He first scratched his head with his right hand, then stretched it out, unconsciously comparing her current height to how she used to be when she was younger.
As the grandfather and granddaughter rejoiced in their reunion, they also pulled Tobirama Senju, who had been standing by, deep in thought and exuding a rather aloof aura, into their cheerful conversation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a solemn expression, turned his gaze toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, noticing this, licked his long tongue across his lips and gave a creepy smile to his deceased teacher before moving to the side to observe the heartwarming family reunion with a hint of amusement.
Seeing that Orochimaru had no intention of restricting their movements, Sarutobi Hiruzen withdrew his gaze and turned to Jiraiya, saying with a sense of emotion:
"Jiraiya, we meet again."
"Teacher Sarutobi," Jiraiya looked at the elderly man before him, his eyes suddenly moistening.
On the day of the Chunin Exams, until the very end, he had not been able to see Teacher Sarutobi one last time.
And now, he never expected that the two of them would meet again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted his disciple's shoulder and smiled, "I thought you would become the Fifth Hokage, but I never expected Tsunade to take on the role. I'm sure you've been through a lot trying to convince her."
"Yes… If it weren't for…" Jiraiya's thoughts flashed to Naruto's radiant face, and his voice trailed off as his expression darkened.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sensed the change in Jiraiya's demeanor and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Although he was delighted to see Teacher Jiraiya and the others, Minato's expression remained solemn as he managed to force a slight smile, thinking of the previous events.
"Minato!!"
Jiraiya patted Minato's shoulder heavily, his expression filled with joy and deep remorse.
"Jiraiya, what's going on? Why is Orochimaru here in Konoha, and why are you with him?" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded towards Minato and then turned to Jiraiya, finally unable to hold back his curiosity.
Jiraiya glanced at Orochimaru, who was not far away, and said, "It's a long story. The ninja world is facing an unprecedented crisis. Now, we have no choice but to rely on Orochimaru's power."
"Is it because of the Cloak of the Dark Side?" Minato asked.
Jiraiya nodded first and then looked surprised. "Eh? How do you know about the Cloak of the Dark Side, Minato?"
Hiruzen was about to help explain.
But Minato revealed news that surprised both Jiraiya and Hiruzen.
"I've met the Cloak of the Dark Side before."
Minato recounted everything that had happened, including the members of the Akatsuki, the Uchiha clan, the unconscious Cloud and Sand ninjas, the massive statue that absorbed the tailed beasts' chakra, and how his own Nine-Tails had been extracted. He left out no detail.
At that moment, due to Hashirama Senju's constant questioning of Tsunade—'Little Tsu, so you've become the Hokage?', 'Is Konoha bankrupt now? How much debt is there?', 'Little Tsu, are you married? How old is your child?', 'At your age, you're still not married?'—Tsunade's emotions finally broke through her stoic facade, bringing an early end to the heartwarming reunion between grandfather and granddaughter.
Thus, they had also heard Minato's recount of the events.
After hearing the story, Tsunade's initial joy vanished, and she furrowed her brows, "The Cloak of the Dark Side is acting faster than we expected!"
It had only been a short while since the Cloak of the Dark Side's failed attempt to capture Naruto. Yet, they were already making their next move, not giving Konoha or the ninja world any time to breathe.
The four summoned Hokage, unaware of the details, could only discern that everything was related to the Cloak of the Dark Side.
Tobirama Senju, with his arms crossed, remained calm and unsurprised. "As expected. After the Cloak of the Dark Side escaped the control of the Impure World Reincarnation Technique, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened."
During the Chunin Exams, he had specifically instructed Hiruzen Sarutobi to deal with the Cloak of the Dark Side.
However, Hiruzen had been preoccupied with Orochimaru at the time and lacked the strength to handle both threats.
Later, when the four Kage joined forces, they still failed to defeat the Cloak of the Dark Side, and Tobirama had already anticipated that this day would come.
"Now, can you tell us exactly what happened? Tsunade, you summoned us here, but I assume it wasn't just for a friendly reunion."
Tobirama looked at Tsunade.
Tsunade, who wasn't concerned about the passing minutes, nodded and repeated what she had said at the Five Kage Summit.
Jiraiya then added, "As Minato saw, the Akatsuki and the Uchiha clan are now under the control of the Cloak of the Dark Side. The unconscious Cloud and Sand ninjas are most likely Killer B and Gaara. As for the missing Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, they might be on their way or the tailed beast might have already been extracted. That massive statue that absorbs the tailed beasts is most likely the incomplete form of the Ten-Tails."
"Everything is just as the Sage Toad predicted."
Jiraiya looked at everyone with an unprecedentedly solemn expression and said, "Our time is truly running out."
(End of Chapter)
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