Seeing the undisguised excitement on Terumi Mei and Ao's faces, Chojuro blinked, revealing a puzzled expression:
"By the way, isn't Orochimaru a rogue ninja from Konoha? What does he have to do with us?"
"Originally, there was no connection, but now there is."
Ao gave a slight smile, his eyes gleaming with intense brilliance.
Chojuro noticed Ao's expression and saw the approving look on the Mizukage's face. He was certain of one thing—these two were definitely hiding something from him.
At that moment, Terumi Mei's voice reached Chojuro's ears:
"Alright, Chojuro, I have a task for you."
Chojuro's expression turned serious, and he immediately stood up straight.
Seeing his stern demeanor, a hint of amusement flashed in Terumi Mei's eyes, though her face remained calm:
"You'll be in charge of the affairs of the Mist Village for now. If anyone asks about my or Ao's whereabouts, just make up an excuse to brush them off."
Without waiting for Chojuro's response, Terumi Mei and Ao turned into two afterimages and vanished.
"Huh?!"
Chojuro's expression changed drastically. He rushed to the window, looking out at the two afterimages rapidly heading toward the Mist Village's gates.
…
In a dense forest, two figures moved swiftly forward at an incredible speed.
"Lady Mizukage, why not bring Chojuro and the Shadow Guard? Their presence would ensure your safety."
Ao's face carried a trace of doubt.
"If all three of us left, who would manage the Mist Village? Those old geezers?"
"Besides, everyone in the Mist Village knows you and Chojuro are my trusted aides. If neither of you were here, those old geezers would definitely figure out I left the village without permission, and that would cause unnecessary trouble."
Terumi Mei spoke in a calm tone, glancing back at Ao before looking ahead again:
"Orochimaru is a rogue ninja from Konoha. No matter what, the fewer people who know about our meeting with him, the better."
The two moved at a remarkable speed, the surrounding trees rapidly retreating as they advanced.
After more than an hour had passed—
"We're here!" Ao's face showed that his Byakugan was already activated, scanning the surroundings.
Terumi Mei stepped onto a sturdy branch, her expression cold as she asked,
"Have you noticed anything?"
"Just a few small ants."
A faint sneer appeared on Ao's lips as he suddenly spoke toward a certain direction:
"Since you're already here, why keep hiding, Orochimaru?"
Rustle! Rustle!
The sound of leaves brushing against each other echoed.
A pale-skinned man wearing a kimono, with a large purple knot tied behind his back, appeared before them at a leisurely pace.
"I never expected the Mizukage of the Mist Village and the Byakugan Killer to come in person. I'm truly honored."
Orochimaru glanced at Terumi Mei, licking his lips, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Orochimaru, I don't have time to exchange pleasantries. Everything you wanted is here. Now fulfill your promise."
Terumi Mei had no intention of wasting words. She reached into her ninja pouch, pulled out a scroll, and tossed it directly to Orochimaru without the slightest concern that he might go back on his word.
Seeing the scroll thrown toward him, Orochimaru was momentarily stunned, but the smile on his face grew even wider.
This Mizukage named Terumi Mei was far more straightforward than he had imagined.
However, if he could truly break the seal of that legendary figure, what were a few items to the Mist Village?
Yuto! That name was a taboo in every village except the Mist Village. Nearly all records about him had been destroyed.
Even in the Mist Village, after the reign of the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, most of the records about Yuto had been eradicated.
Orochimaru licked his lips again, his eyes burning with fervor. Even without the Mist Village's items, he was deeply intrigued by this legendary ninja.
If not for his teacher, the Third Hokage, and his secret dealings with Danzo, how would he have learned of such a hidden truth? True immortality!
A Bloodline Limit that could devour any energy!
A man who could only be defeated by the combined efforts of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha!
Any one of these things was enough to drive Orochimaru to obsession.
"Since the 'Byakugan Killer' is here, there's no need for my subordinates to remain hidden."
Orochimaru suddenly smiled and clapped his hands.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With the sound of rushing wind, four figures hidden in the forest turned into afterimages and vanished, reappearing behind Orochimaru.
The Sound Four! Sakon and Ukon, Tayuya, Kidomaru, and Jirobo!
Seeing these four suddenly appear, Ao's expression remained unchanged. With his Byakugan, he had long noticed their presence.
Still, he carefully observed the four. Chunin level?
Ao frowned slightly, clearly unsure why Orochimaru had brought these four along.
As for Terumi Mei, her face began to show impatience. She didn't even glance at the four, her focus entirely on Orochimaru alone. To her, the others were insignificant.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smile. Even without cooperating with the Mist Village, he had always planned to witness one of the three legendary heroes of the Warring States era.
Though he had never seen Hashirama Senju and the others in their prime, Orochimaru possessed Hashirama's cells in his laboratory.
The fact that mere cells could exhibit such power hinted at how terrifying the real Hashirama Senju must have been.
And Yuto, a man who required both Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha to team up to defeat—how terrifying and magnificent must he have been?
—Naruto : My Wife is the Mizukage
Chapter 012: The Impure World Reincarnation
Moreover, there was the legendary immortal body—what a coveted physique!
However, a trace of skepticism lingered in Orochimaru's eyes. He had seen so-called "immortal bodies" before.
In the Akatsuki organization, there were two individuals who claimed to possess immortality, but in Orochimaru's view, their versions of immortality were riddled with flaws.
Orochimaru licked his lips, glancing at Terumi Mei and Ao.
Yuto had been sealed for nearly 60 years in a different dimension—a void with no substance or energy. Whether this so-called immortal body was real or flawed, no one in this era could say for certain.
Orochimaru's cooperation with the Mist Village wasn't just about acquiring certain items; it was also a precaution.
If Yuto was still alive, having the Mist Village's people present might keep Orochimaru safe.
After all, a ruthless old monster from the
Warring States era, upon seeing people from another village releasing him, might attack without hesitation, regardless of whether they were his saviors.
For ninjas of that era, eliminating any potential threat in its infancy was the wisest course of action.
But if Yuto was truly dead!
A glint of greed flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. With the Sound Four present, they could likely stall Terumi Mei and Ao for a while—long enough for Orochimaru to take Yuto's body.
"Orochimaru, stop daydreaming, or I'll kill you!"
At some point, Terumi Mei had appeared behind Orochimaru, a kunai pressed against his back, right at his heart, her voice icy.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
The Sound Four finally reacted, quickly surrounding Terumi Mei, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. They hadn't even noticed when she had moved.
Orochimaru maintained a faint smile, raising his hands in a helpless gesture:
"It seems the Mizukage is getting impatient. Shall we…"
Before he could finish, Terumi Mei snapped his neck! With a cold glance at the Sound Four, she turned to a spot not far away:
"Orochimaru, don't play tricks with me."
The flat ground suddenly bulged, and Orochimaru emerged from the soil:
"Tch, caught me, did you?"
Seeing this, the Sound Four surrounding Terumi Mei quickly dispersed and regrouped behind Orochimaru.
Ao, standing on a branch, flickered and appeared beside Terumi Mei with a Body Flicker Technique.
"Orochimaru, I hope what you've said is true. Otherwise, we wouldn't mind sending information about the Sound Village to Konoha. Oh, and I hear you've been cozying up to the Sand Village lately…"
Ao's face bore a cold smile, his tone laced with undisguised threats.
A fleeting killing intent flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, but his face retained its faint smile:
"I'm sure no one would want it known that the esteemed Mizukage is meeting with a rogue ninja like me."
At his words, Terumi Mei and Ao's expressions darkened slightly.
Both sides needed each other, so neither would push things too far.
At that moment, Ao suddenly chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of doubt:
"You know, that other dimension can only be accessed through Hashirama Senju's summoning, right?"
His words, though seemingly questioning Orochimaru's ability, actually served to ease the tense atmosphere, giving both sides a way to step back.
Orochimaru's expression remained calm as he glanced at Jirobo, one of the Sound Four.
Jirobo understood immediately, taking a large scroll from his back and slowly unrolling it before everyone.
Boom!
As Jirobo formed hand signs, a bound and gagged living person appeared at the center of the scroll.
Seeing this, everyone present remained calm. They were all ninjas and knew what was coming next.
After completing the task, Jirobo respectfully stepped back behind Orochimaru.
Without any hesitation, Orochimaru swiftly formed hand signs and let out a low shout:
"Forbidden Technique: Impure World Reincarnation!"
A massive amount of dust instantly engulfed the living person, beginning to form the shape of another figure.
In the blink of an eye, a new figure appeared before everyone.
Terumi Mei and Ao's pupils contracted sharply, their faces filled with disbelief as they stared at the scene!
Hashirama Senju!!
Though neither had seen the real Hashirama Senju, they had seen portraits of him.
Not to mention, the faces of every Hokage were carved into Konoha's Hokage Rock.
This technique could manipulate the dead! Terumi Mei and Ao exchanged a glance, the same thought flashing through their minds:
Orochimaru was far too dangerous!
"Where am I? I thought I was dead?"
Hashirama Senju slowly opened his eyes, a puzzled expression on his face.
The next moment, he seemed to sense his body's condition, his brows furrowing:
"Tobirama, did you actually perfect this technique?"
"Greetings, Lord Hashirama Senju. My apologies for summoning you from the Pure Land to the living world."
Though Orochimaru's words expressed regret, his tone carried none, and the excitement on his face was now undisguised.
Hashirama glanced at the forehead protector on Orochimaru's head—a symbol he didn't recognize. A minor village?
But when his gaze fell on the forehead protectors of Terumi Mei and Ao, his expression shifted dramatically!
Just by seeing the Mist Village's symbol and his current state, Hashirama Senju already understood what was happening.
"Lord Hashirama Senju, we'll trouble you with what comes next."
Orochimaru stepped behind the reincarnated Hashirama, inserting a talisman-engraved kunai directly into the back of his head.
Hashirama's body stiffened, his consciousness rapidly fading.
"Let's begin!"
Orochimaru's face was alight with excitement as he took control of Hashirama Senju.
—