Before Kakashi could speak, Tsunade cut in, "Don't try to weasel out with excuses about power drops during critical periods. The Mangekyou Sharingan is powerful, but for you, it's actually a limitation!"
Kakashi opened his mouth, then firmly stated, "This eye represents the bond between Obito, Rin, and me! Though Obito isn't the person I once knew, if I let go of that bond, I'll lose any hope of saving him."
Tsunade sighed, "I knew you'd say that! I won't persuade you anymore, but you must be careful. The Mangekyou Sharingan reaches its greatest power only when used as a pair. To achieve this, Obito might very likely come after you!"
Kakashi nodded, "I'll be cautious!"
Changing the subject, he said, "Naruto, you mentioned earlier that you're going to the Uzumaki shrine?"
Naruto replied, "Yeah! Lord Seiki is taking us there to release the souls of the four Hokage sealed inside the Shinigami, and then perform the Impure World Reincarnation to bring them back as part of our forces!"
Kakashi and Tsunade's eyes widened in shock—they couldn't believe they hadn't heard about this crucial matter until now.
Unlike Sakura, they weren't worried—just confused, "Souls sealed by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal can actually be liberated?"
"Lord Seiki said so!" Though their time together had been brief, everything Seiki had shown—his miraculous abilities and genuine care for them—was enough for Naruto to fully trust his words.
It wasn't just Naruto; even Kakashi nodded without any doubt, "If Lord Seiki says it, then there shouldn't be a problem!"
Tsunade drifted into memory, "Great-grandfather, Second grandfather..."
"Lord Tsunade, Tsunade-sama?"
Hearing Kakashi's voice, Tsunade snapped back to reality, "Kakashi, we're going with you!"
"Huh?" Kakashi hesitated only briefly, "Alright, it might be good. Having all four former Hokage return to the village together will definitely create a greater impact and help everyone realize how serious this situation truly is!"
Then, the entire group made their way cheerfully toward the Uzumaki shrine.
The shrine, which had been cold, quiet, and lonely for years, felt alive for the first time in a decade.
Looking at the creepy masks lining the walls, Xianglin and Naruto felt no fear—only a strange sense of familiarity.
As Seiki took a mask from the wall, he explained, [The method to release the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is this: first use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal technique to summon the Shinigami onto the caster, then cut open the caster's abdomen. The Shinigami will mimic the action, and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal will be broken!]
As he spoke, Seiki placed the mask over his face.
Understanding his words, the group suddenly snapped to attention and rushed to stop him.
"Wait! Seiki, are you planning to use yourself as the sacrifice?"
"Lord Seiki, this is far too dangerous!"
"We're talking about the soul-reaping Shinigami here..."
With a swift motion of his hand and blade, Seiki still found time to comfort them, "Don't worry, it won't affect me at all!"
After the Shinigami's abdomen was sliced open, it deflated like a punctured balloon, and dozens of souls flew out.
As for Seiki, the wound on his lower abdomen healed instantly. If not for the Shinigami being present, everyone would've believed the earlier hara-kiri was merely an illusion!
Then, the now-diminished Shinigami began collecting offerings, dragging behind Seiki as if attempting to pull his soul out.
However, Seiki showed no signs of distress at all. In contrast, the Shinigami's spiritual glow had noticeably dimmed!
Seiki glanced back at the Shinigami and tapped the mask lightly.
After a moment of silence, the Shinigami obediently returned into the mask.
Witnessing this scene, everyone fell silent.
Strangely enough, they could feel the Shinigami's resentment. In that moment, they actually felt a bit of sympathy for this pitiful death god!
"If even the legendary soul-reaping Shinigami fears him, he's not just rivaling gods—it's surpassing them!" Suigyuu screamed inwardly.
Sasuke also took a deep breath, finally grasping the true horror Xianglin had warned about earlier.
After dealing with the Shinigami, Seiki walked over to Sasuke's side, placing his right hand on Sasuke's shoulder and injecting [Sage Art] Chakra.
Instantly, six White Zetsu were forced out of Sasuke's body.
Anyone who didn't know better might've thought they were mold growing on someone who hadn't bathed in years!
This disgusting sight made everyone frown. "Why does Sasuke have these things on him?"
Sasuke's expression turned grim. "Were these creatures left inside me by Obito Uchiha to monitor me?"
The White Zetsu shrieked, "How did you find us?"
Seiki gave no reply, speaking instead, "Now the offerings for [Impure World Reincarnation] are ready. Souls, offerings… Only the genetic information of four individuals remains!"
"Genetic information?" Tsunade asked. "So now do we have to return to Konoha and dig up graves?"
Seiki shook his head. "No need for such trouble. Based on the intelligence you've provided, there's someone who should be quite fond of collecting these things—he likely already possesses the genetic information of the four Hokage."
With such an obvious clue, everyone quickly realized.
"Orochimaru!"
As the initial major villain, Orochimaru had left a deep impression on everyone.
Seiki nodded. "Exactly him."
Suigyuu asked nervously, "Isn't he dead already?"
Sasuke's expression grew complex. "I killed him once, then Itachi killed him again. Finally, his soul was sealed into the Sword of Totsuka!"
"Use Itachi's eyes to release him temporarily!"
Suigyuu and Xianglin shivered in fear, shrieking, "Wait a second—that's Orochimaru we're talking about!"
Jugo held the two back. "With Lord Seiki present, why are you afraid?"
The two hesitated, then nodded. Indeed, under current circumstances, there was absolutely no need to fear!
Sasuke silently retrieved the glass bottle, activating the eye within using his own ocular power.
Although he hadn't transplanted the eyes yet, since he and Itachi were brothers, and he merely needed to summon the Sword of Totsuka temporarily, he could still accomplish it using his ocular power.
In an instant, a long sword engulfed in flames appeared in his hand. With a single swing, a gelatinous creature dropped from the heart of the flames.
"Hehe, I didn't expect I'd experience Revival one day..." The slime gradually took shape, and eerie, effeminate laughter came from the monster's mouth.
Suigyuu and Xianglin quickly hid behind Sasuke. They weren't really scared, but that deep-seated fear wasn't so easy to shake off!
"Hehe, what familiar faces—Sasuke, Naruto, Tsunade, Kakashi..." Even surrounded by so many people, Orochimaru didn't show the least bit of fear. He just laughed arrogantly, his gaze lingering slightly on one particular figure.
This man gave him a spine-chilling sense of dread he'd never felt even against Itachi Uchiha!
"Who are you? I don't recall ever meeting you!"
Before Seiki could speak, Suigyuu stepped forward boldly, trying to intimidate with borrowed power. "Before you stands the Ruler of Another World, the God of Ninja, the King of Death who defeated the Shinigami, and the Leader who brings peace and hope—Lord Seiki Shimaseki!"
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