Aokiji and Orochimaru were locked in a fierce and relentless battle.
There were no grand, flashy ninjutsu lighting up the battlefield—no massive explosions or dazzling techniques meant to overwhelm the senses.
And yet…
The intensity of their fight was no less terrifying.
Because this was a battle between true masters.
Every strike carried lethal intent.
Every movement was calculated for killing.
Even the simplest exchange of blades could decide life and death in an instant.
One moment of carelessness—
And it would all be over.
Clang!
The sharp ring of metal echoed as Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword clashed against Qingshui's defense.
The air itself seemed to tremble with danger.
"How is this possible?!"
The elders of the Grass Fruit Sect could no longer maintain their composure.
Their faces were filled with disbelief as they stared at the battlefield.
Even Orochimaru…
Could not quickly defeat Hirakawa Qingshui?!
That alone was enough to shake their understanding of strength.
After all, Orochimaru was no ordinary ninja.
He was one of Konoha's legendary Sannin—a figure personally acknowledged by the so-called "Demigod," Hanzo of the Salamander, during the Second Shinobi World War.
His reputation was built on blood, battle, and survival.
On the other hand—
Hirakawa Qingshui.
Yes, he had once stopped Satoru and earned the title of "Hero of Konoha."
But in the eyes of most of the ninja world, such a title—earned outside of war—could never compare to one forged on the battlefield.
And yet—
Here he stood.
Holding his own against Orochimaru.
Buzz—!
Suddenly, the air filled with a sharp, unsettling sound.
From Aburame Ryoma's body, a massive swarm of parasitic insects burst forth, moving like a living black tide.
They surged toward Qingshui at terrifying speed.
In the blink of an eye, they surrounded him from all directions.
"Secret Technique: Insect Jade!"
The insects converged, forming a dense sphere as they attempted to engulf him completely.
Once trapped within that mass—
His chakra would be drained rapidly.
And without chakra, a ninja was as good as dead.
Of course…
With Qingshui's immense reserves, even if he stood still and allowed the insects to feed, they might not be able to consume him completely.
He could even destroy them through sheer force.
But—
That would be foolish.
Qingshui moved instantly.
His figure blurred as he retreated backward, escaping the encroaching swarm.
At the same time, his hands formed seals with incredible speed.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
Boom!
A blazing torrent of fire erupted forward, sweeping across the battlefield.
No matter how dangerous parasitic insects were—
They were still insects.
And fire…
Was their natural enemy.
The swarm scattered instantly, many of them burned to ashes mid-air.
But Orochimaru did not give him even a moment to breathe.
Swish!
The Kusanagi sword suddenly extended, its blade shooting forward like a serpent striking its prey.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Qingshui raised one hand—
And caught it.
His grip was firm, stopping the blade mid-strike.
At the same time, his other hand continued forming seals.
His expression remained calm.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A thin, high-pressure jet of water shot forward.
It cut through the ground like a blade.
The earth split open in its path.
The sheer destructive power left everyone stunned.
If that attack hit a human body—
It wouldn't just wound.
It would sever.
Completely.
And that was exactly what happened.
Orochimaru was struck.
Before he could fully evade, the water blade sliced through him.
Blood erupted into the air.
His body—
Was cut in half.
The Kusanagi sword fell from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
The sight was horrifying.
Even the hardened elders felt a chill creep into their hearts.
"Is… is Orochimaru defeated?!"
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
A movement.
From the severed remains of Orochimaru's body, something wriggled.
A new form emerged.
Perfectly intact.
Like a snake shedding its skin.
"Orochimaru-style Substitution Technique…"
The realization dawned on everyone.
No matter how lethal the attack—
He could escape.
This was one of Orochimaru's signature abilities.
The elders let out a collective breath of relief.
Orochimaru could not fall here.
He was their only hope against Qingshui.
"Orochimaru," one of the elders called out urgently, "use your trump card!"
"If this continues… we're all finished!"
Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered.
Then he nodded slowly.
"Qingshui-kun…"
"You have surprised me again and again."
"I made many preparations…"
"And yet, all of them have proven useless."
His voice lowered.
"There was a move I did not wish to use."
"Once it is revealed…"
"I may be forced to flee the ninja world."
A pause.
Then—
"But against you… I have no choice."
His hands moved.
Seals formed rapidly.
Boom!
Two coffins rose from the ground.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
A suffocating pressure spread across the battlefield.
"This is—"
"Edo Tensei?!"
But this time—
It was different.
The figures that emerged were not unknown shinobi.
They were legends.
Senju Hashirama.
The First Hokage.
And—
Senju Tobirama.
The Second Hokage.
The moment they appeared—
The entire battlefield fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
The weight of their presence was overwhelming.
Nono, Kurenai, and the others stared in horror.
"Orochimaru… how dare you…"
"To desecrate the Hokage…"
Their voices trembled with anger and disbelief.
But Orochimaru did not even look at them.
Morality?
Ethics?
He had long abandoned such constraints.
To him—
Only results mattered.
"Brother Qingshui…"
Nono's voice shook.
"You should run…"
Even she—
Who trusted him the most—
Could not believe he could face both the First and Second Hokage at the same time.
But before Qingshui could respond—
The elders spoke.
"Run?"
"None of you are leaving this place alive!"
Their confidence surged.
With the Hokage on their side—
Victory seemed certain.
Their arrogance was almost unbearable.
Qingshui ignored them completely.
Instead, he looked at Nono and the others.
His expression was calm.
Reassuring.
"Don't worry."
"The strength of those revived by Edo Tensei is limited."
"They are not as powerful as they were in life."
He smiled faintly.
"And…"
"I've never had the habit of abandoning my companions."
The elders sneered.
"How arrogant!"
"Hero of Konoha? Don't make us laugh!"
"Orochimaru, finish this quickly!"
But Orochimaru said nothing.
His attention was fixed entirely on Qingshui.
Under his control—
Hashirama moved first.
Clap!
His hands came together.
In an instant—
The earth trembled.
Crack—!
Boom!!!
Countless trees burst from the ground.
They grew wildly, twisting and expanding at an unnatural speed.
Within seconds—
The battlefield was transformed.
What had once been open terrain became a dense forest.
Towering trunks.
Thick branches.
Endless vines.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"
The ultimate power of the First Hokage—
Even in a weakened state—
Was terrifying beyond words.
The trees moved.
Like living beings.
They surged toward Qingshui from all directions.
Once captured—
They would drain his chakra completely.
Even tailed beasts—
Were not immune to this power.
"This… this is…"
"The power of the God of Shinobi…"
One of the elders trembled.
Even standing far away—
He felt suffocated.
The others nodded in fear.
"This is the First Hokage…"
On the other side—
Nono and the others stood frozen.
They had learned about Hashirama in the academy.
But this—
This overwhelming force—
Could never be understood through books alone.
"Brother Qingshui…"
"Teacher Qingshui…"
Their voices were filled with worry.
Because compared to that endless forest—
Qingshui looked so small.
So insignificant.
And yet—
He did not move.
He stood there.
Calm.
Unshaken.
As if facing—
Not the power of a god—
But merely…
Another opponent.
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