The former Uchiha district was already packed to the brim.
Large and small, there were a total of thirty shinobi clans.
All the ninja clans Fugaku had spoken of as defecting to their side had been settled here.
Thirty clans sounded like a lot, but in reality there weren't many people. Most were medium- and small-sized clans like the Kurama or Izuno-clans that had neither shown hostility nor kindness toward Naruto. Not a single clan on the scale of the Hyuga was present.
Who had wronged Naruto in the past, and who had not, was all carefully recorded in Naruto's little notebook.
This place was far from the center of Konoha. It wouldn't be attacked by Suna-nin, wouldn't be assaulted by Oto-nin, and certainly wouldn't be affected by tailed beast rampages.
What's more, guarding this area was someone who had once been a household name throughout Konoha.
"Clan leaders, keep a close eye on your people. Don't let anyone wander off," said Minato clad in a white Hokage cloak as he appeared before them. He immediately began assigning tasks. "Izuno clan leader, your clan excels in speed. I'll need you to arrange your members to handle perimeter patrols."
"Yes, Fourth Hokage!" the clan leader replied loudly, excitement written all over his face.
"It really is Minato."
"Minato is truly alive! This time, we'll follow in his footsteps again."
"More than ten years have passed, and Minato hasn't changed at all."
After seeing Minato, the clan leaders couldn't hide their excitement, and discussions about the future quickly followed.
"Fujin, Raijin!"
Minato arrived at the gate of the Uchiha district and called out to two brothers who were stuffing themselves with food. "Guard the entrance well."
"Not a single person will get through here," Fujin shouted, gnawing on a massive pork meat.
Raijin, chewing on a roasted beef, added, "Anyone who dares force their way in will get smashed into minced meat."
As they spoke, the two wiped their greasy hands, flexed their thick arms, and showed off their bulging muscles to Minato.
He nodded, then turned his gaze toward the distance.
"They're here," he said softly.
Not long after, a vast group of shinobi dressed in white came into view.
The Hyuga clan.
"Fugaku, you've worked hard," Minato said when he saw them.
"Everything is for our shared ideal," Fugaku replied with an almost cult-like fervor.
At first, it had just sounded powerful and fun to shout, but over time some Uchiha had taken it seriously. Now, nearly all of them treated it as an unquestionable truth.
"Fourth... Hokage?" Hiashi's expression wavered the moment he saw him.
Not just him-every Hyuga behind him wore the same look of disbelief.
Who stood before them? Minato who should have died on the night of the Nine-Tails attack.
If this weren't Konoha, if this weren't the Shinobi World, it would have felt like a ghost story.
First Fugaku, then Minato... so who's next?
The First Hokage? Or Madara Uchiha?
Hiashi fell into deep thought.
"To think the First Hokage's power was this overwhelming," Mui said with a sigh. Through the barrier, they watched as Hiruzen fought several Kage-level opponents alone. The most eye-catching of all was the Wood Release of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Deep Forest Emergence, a jutsu capable of creating an entire forest, was being displayed in the First Hokage's hands. The tree trunks were not only incredibly tough but also possessed the special ability to absorb chakra.
Even through the barrier, they could feel the immense chakra surging through those trees.
Even Sasuke, arrogant and convinced he was nearing invincibility, nodded in agreement.
He acknowledged Hiruzen's strength in being able to contend with so many powerful enemies at once.
Truly worthy of the title "Strongest Hokage."
Just how strong the First Hokage really was, the new generation of Konoha didn't know.
At the very least, Sasuke's generation had all been taught that Hiruzen was the strongest of all.
"Powerful?" Naruto raised an eyebrow and stated calmly, "Orochimaru didn't fully release the restraints of Edo Tensei. The First and Second Hokage aren't even using 10% of their true power right now."
Not even 10%?
Sasuke glanced at Naruto.
If anyone else had said this, Sasuke would have thought they were lying. Strength far beyond an ordinary Kage, and you're telling him that isn't even ten percent?
Then how terrifying was the real Hashirama Senju? Wouldn't it mean he could slap down anyone he disliked?
"The true power of the God of Shinobi?" Sasuke wasn't the only one shaken, Nagato was as well.
Nagato believed that, facing the First Hokage inside the barrier, he could definitely win. But if this truly wasn't even a tenth of his power, then Nagato knew he would stand no chance.
The battle inside the barrier was nearing its end.
Hiruzen used the Shadow Clone jutsu, splitting into four and forming a square formation around Orochimaru.
Each clone wielded Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff, blocking the attacks of the previous Hokage.
Relying on the staff's indestructible nature made the shadow clones far less fragile.
Orochimaru watched with a sinister grin as Hiruzen held off three Kage-level opponents.
Two Hokage and one Kazekage. First Hokage, Second Hokage and Third Kazekage (also known as 'Strongest Kazekage').
If Orochimaru were truly attacking at full force, Hiruzen would never have been able to withstand a four-Kage assault. Yet Orochimaru merely directed the three Edo Tensei bodies casually, occasionally harassing him with the Kusanagi Sword.
"Hiruzen-sensei, how do you like my technique? Pretty impressive, right?" Orochimaru spoke like a child showing off a new toy, his tone practically saying, 'I'm amazing, aren't I? Praise me!'
"And what new jutsu have you learned over the years, Hiruzen-sensei? I'm really looking forward to it."
Hiruzen replied sternly, "This kind of technique that disturbs the dead... Orochimaru, you have completely fallen into darkness."
"Orochimaru, since you're so eager to see ninjutsu," he continued,
"Then witness a technique you've never seen before!"
With that, Hiruzen began forming hand seals.
"Snake-Boar-Ram-Rabbit-Dog-Rat-Rooster-Horse-Snake!"
Finally, he clasped his hands together.
"Forbidden Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal!"
The moment he activated it, Hiruzen felt as if something within him was being grabbed. Then he saw a massive white-clad monster appear behind him.
"Sensei, did you just use something?" Orochimaru asked casually. "Or are your eyes simply failing you, and you messed up the seals?"
He spoke unhurriedly, not the least bit anxious, watching Hiruzen complete the jutsu. Unfortunately for him, that carelessness would cost him dearly.
At the end of his life, Hiruzen would teach his student one final lesson.
Because of the nature of the Reaper Death Seal, Shinigami was invisible to outsiders, only the caster and the target could see it, even for the target, Shinigami is only visible after making contact with target's soul. So even though Hiruzen successfully summoned Shinigami, Orochimaru saw nothing.
Naruto could clearly see what appeared behind Hiruzen, a blue-faced, fanged being that looked more like a demon (a hannya) than any god.
Before Shinigami, a milky-white humanoid form slowly appeared, like a sacrificial offering.
That was Hiruzen's soul.
As soon as his soul manifested, dense, seals appeared along Shinigami's arms. Before Hiruzen could even discern their meaning, Shinigami plunged its hand straight into his soul.
Hiruzen felt a strange sensation surge through his body, as if something were about to burst out from within.
His three shadow clones rushed toward the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and the Third Kazekage. Shinigami's seal-covered claws burst from the stomachs of the clones, grabbing the three Edo Tensei bodies. Three milky-white humanoid souls, identical in form to Hiruzen's, were ripped free.
Their souls were forcibly torn from their Edo Tensei vessels.
With their souls gone, Edo Tensei collapsed instantly, leaving only dirt and corpses on the ground.
The sudden dissolution of Edo Tensei finally made Orochimaru panic.
'So this really is a jutsu I've never seen before.' In that brief lapse of attention, Hiruzen seized him, and Orochimaru personally felt the terror of the Reaper Death Seal. True panic set in.
Wrapped in a strong force, Orochimaru realized in horror that he couldn't activate any ninjutsu.
The Reaper Death Seal created an inherent anti-chakra domain. Once caught, escape was impossible-
Unless the caster released it... or died.
Only then did Orochimaru finally see Shinigami behind Hiruzen.
"So the Nine-Tails was sealed with this jutsu?" Orochimaru recalled the forbidden jutsu used by Minato on the night of the Nine-Tails. His gloomy gaze fixed on Hiruzen. "Old man, you're willing to die just to drag me down with you?"
"Orochimaru, you're too dangerous," Hiruzen said, struggling to maintain the seal as he stared at his wayward student. "Come to Shinigami's stomach with me!"
"The one going there is you!" Orochimaru refused to die like this. In the next instant, the sharp Kusanagi Sword pierced straight through Hiruzen's chest.
"Just a little more... just a little more..." Hiruzen felt his strength slipping away bit by bit. Summoning every last ounce of power, he roared, "Even if I can only take your hands, I will stop you!"
Shinigami's cleaver swung down.
Both of Orochimaru's soul-hands were severed and then swallowed whole by Shinigami.
"Agrh! My hands!?" Orochimaru screamed, feeling his arms suddenly become unbearably heavy.
"That screaming is truly unpleasant, Orochimaru-san." A sound like shattering glass rang out. The Four Violet Flames Formation that had left Konoha Anbu completely helpless was smashed apart from outside. A teasing voice echoed beside Orochimaru.
"It's only your hands that have been sealed."
Orochimaru stared at the newcomer and shouted, "It's over. The Konoha Crush Plan is finished."
"No, Orochimaru." In Orochimaru's eyes, the man known as Hattori raised a finger and waved it gently before bowing elegantly. In a chilling tone, he continued, "It's only 'your' Konoha Crush Plan that has ended."
"'Our' Konoha Crush Plan... is just beginning."
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