Due to Orochimaru's weak control over the reanimated bodies, both Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama retained their full consciousness. Hearing someone below mention his name, Hashirama curiously focused his attention on the battlefield.
He could swear he held no malice; he simply couldn't remember ever having an opponent like Kakuzu.
"Tobirama, do you remember him?" he asked his younger brother, the one who was always interested in studying strange things. If it weren't for Tobirama developing the Edo Tensei technique, he wouldn't be disturbed even after death.
If you asked Hashirama, what was the point of such research? Nothing could surpass his own method of clapping his hands together.
Senju Tobirama, clad in blue armor, was the complete opposite of his older brother. While Hashirama was honest, naive, and carefree, Tobirama was cunning, calculating, and deeply strategic.
With a cold expression, Tobirama looked down at Kakuzu and shook his head. "Never seen him."
He said "never seen," not "don't remember," because his memory was excellent, and he could confirm that Kakuzu had never fought his brother.
"That's strange! But he claimed to have fought me. Could it be that he disguised his identity back then?" Hashirama scratched his head, puzzled.
The tension among the Konoha ninjas below eased slightly after this exchange. No matter how strong the enemy was, they didn't seem entirely invincible. There was still hope.
Hidan swung his scythe horizontally, using the momentum to retreat to Kakuzu's side. He shouted loudly, "Hey, Kakuzu! You're always bragging about fighting the First Hokage. You didn't make that up, did you?"
Damn it!
Kakuzu wanted to tear his teammate into pieces. Couldn't Hidan just pretend he didn't hear anything? Did he really have to shout it out loud?
"Hmph! Senju Hashirama! Such a forgetful deity of shinobi!" Kakuzu sneered.
"Well, I suppose to someone like you, I was just a nameless nobody back then. After all, so many people came to assassinate you!"
Kakuzu decided to lower the grandeur of his story, hoping to muddle through.
"Oh! So you were one of those assassins back then?" Hashirama's expression lit up with realization, and Kakuzu finally breathed a small sigh of relief.
"But how are you still alive after all this time?" Hashirama asked curiously.
This time, Kakuzu didn't even have to answer. Tobirama, the expert in strange research, immediately deduced the truth.
"It's because of the Earth Grudge Fear technique from the Hidden Waterfall Village. This technique allows the user to take the hearts of others and use them as their own. As long as they replace their aging heart with a new one before it stops beating, they can achieve a form of immortality."
"Tobirama, how do you know so much about this?" Hashirama asked, surprised.
"I wanted to experiment with it back then, but you wouldn't allow it," Tobirama replied coldly.
"If you had let me bring Earth Grudge Fear to Konoha, we wouldn't have this enemy today."
It seemed Tobirama still harbored resentment toward Hashirama's constant interference, even after all these years.
"So, Kakuzu, you were originally a ninja from the Hidden Waterfall Village?" Hashirama continued to chat casually.
A sense of foreboding rose within Kakuzu. Stop talking already! You're exposing all my secrets!
"Orochimaru!" Kakuzu shouted, trying to redirect the situation. "Hurry up and control your jutsu to kill the Third Hokage already! I'm getting tired of this fight."
Without waiting for a response, Kakuzu unleashed the full power of his five hearts, launching an all-out attack on the Konoha ninjas.
"Hey, Kakuzu!"
"You still haven't clarified—did you actually fight the First Hokage or not?" Hidan yelled as he chased after him.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A massive flaming dragon emerged, engulfing Hidan in an instant. The roaring flames drowned out his voice.
"Hot! Hot! Hot, hot, hot!"
Hidan, now charred black, ran out of the fire, complaining loudly. "Kakuzu! Watch where you're aiming your jutsu! I may not die, but it still hurts like hell!"
"Sorry, Hidan," Kakuzu replied flatly.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
A bolt of lightning shot out from the Lightning Release heart creature, striking Hidan just as he escaped the flames and knocking him to the ground again.
"Sorry, Hidan." I'll do it again next time.
The battle resumed. Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the Third Hokage was showing signs of fatigue, and the Konoha ninjas outside fought with everything they had.
"Lightning Cutter!"
"Ahhh! That hurts!" Hidan screamed as Kakuzu grabbed him and used him as a shield to block Kakashi's Lightning Cutter.
With so many enemies around, Kakuzu wasn't about to let his guard down like he did in the original story.
"Kakuzu, can't you dodge these jutsu yourself?" Hidan complained, his chest pierced through.
"Sorry, Hidan."
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
Kakuzu kicked Hidan, sending him and Kakashi flying into the air. The Fire Release heart creature unleashed a torrent of scorching flames, engulfing both Hidan and Kakashi.
"Sorry, Hidan." I'll do it again next time.
"Now it's time for Konoha's Blue Beast to take the stage!"
"Gate of Pain, open!"
Might Guy opened the fifth gate, causing his complexion to turn dark red as blood rushed through his body. Green chakra steam erupted around him, and his aura skyrocketed several times over.
The Eight Gates!
Kakuzu's eyes widened. This was a forbidden technique that had been passed down for generations. Even during the Warring States Period, there were those who practiced it—as evidenced by Uchiha Madara's later battle with Might Guy.
As someone from the Warring States Period, Kakuzu was naturally familiar with this technique.
This was a terrifying forbidden art. Anyone who mastered it could unleash unimaginable power.
No wonder Deidara had specifically warned them to be cautious. Judging by the green-clad man's normal combat strength, Kakuzu could handle him if he only opened five gates. If he opened six gates, Kakuzu would face significant danger. If he opened seven gates, Kakuzu would undoubtedly die.
"Hidan, be careful!" Kakuzu warned.
"Your job now is to keep that green-clad man occupied. Otherwise, we're both in trouble."
Seeing Kakuzu's serious expression, Hidan reluctantly got up from the ground. With so many enemies around, if Kakuzu fell, even Hidan's immortality wouldn't save him.
"Hidden Lotus!"
With a loud shout, Might Guy dashed forward at an incredible speed, appearing in front of Kakuzu and Hidan in an instant.
So fast!
Both of them were stunned. At such speed, Hidan couldn't react at all. Kakuzu, with slightly faster reflexes, managed to respond.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
A water prison formed just in time to shield Kakuzu from Guy's incoming kick.
Kakuzu didn't use the Hardening Technique because he needed to counterattack with other jutsu rather than simply endure the blows.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Orange-red flames surged toward Kakuzu, Guy, and Hidan. Kakuzu's proficiency in ninjutsu was indeed exceptional—among similar ninja, he was perhaps second only to the Third Hokage.
As the searing flames approached, Might Guy was forced to retreat temporarily. After all, Kakuzu had the water prison for protection, but Guy didn't.
As for Hidan…
"Sorry, Hidan." I'll do it again next time.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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