"Senjutsu."
Standing atop a wooden giant and driving it forward, a look of surprise crossed Hashirama's face.
The Fire Release Ninjutsu that had just incinerated his sea of trees carried the aura of Senjutsu.
But what was strange was this.
This kid had clearly used Senjutsu.
So why were there no fluctuations of Senjutsu Chakra on his body?
"Not only Senjutsu, but he's even mastered my Flying Thunder God Technique."
Tobirama flickered and appeared in another position.
Looking at Seiryū, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "I'm starting to understand what that Edo Tensei summoner meant earlier."
Mastering Senjutsu at eleven or twelve, and even knowing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He had already learned from the summoner who brought them back via Edo Tensei that his disciple, Hiruzen, was currently governing Konoha.
Clearly, not too much time had passed since his death.
And yet, such a talented guy had appeared in Konoha?
Senjutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique were both techniques with extremely high training difficulty. For an ordinary person to master just one would be quite remarkable.
Yet he had mastered both.
Coupled with his age.
Even he found such talent astonishing!
Tobirama looked at Seiryū and couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is your name? How is Konoha doing now?"
"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Seiryū, and I am a Konoha Shinobi."
Seiryū gave a brief introduction.
Then he flashed a shy smile. "I am also your granddaughter Tsunade's childhood husband and future partner."
In a sense, he really was Tsunade's childhood husband.
Well, he was also the Yūhi Family's childhood husband.
Tsunade's home was his home, and he even had his own room. It felt a bit like being kept.
Those words weren't wrong!
Pausing for a moment, Seiryū answered the other question. "Konoha is still the strongest hidden village, but war has broken out. We are currently in a period of war."
"???"
As soon as those words came out, both Hashirama and Tobirama were stunned.
What on earth?
Tsunade's childhood husband and future partner?
Wasn't this kid Tsunade's disciple?
How could.
Even Orochimaru, upon hearing this, had a question mark pop up over his head. "?"
Good grief!
Tsunade and Seiryū.
They actually had this kind of relationship?
Even though they were enemies right now, he couldn't help but feel a spark of gossip in his heart.
No wonder Tsunade placed so much importance on Seiryū!
The reason had been found!
Hashirama's focus was entirely on Seiryū's previous sentence, and he said hesitantly, "I didn't mishear you, did I? You are Tsunade's childhood husband and future partner, not Tsunade's disciple?"
Disciple, childhood husband, future partner.
How did these terms even fit together?
"No."
Regarding this question, Seiryū's attitude was very firm as he shook his head. "I never agreed to it. It's just what she calls me. I think it might be some kind of perverse hobby of hers!"
This statement left both Hokage speechless.
When did Tsunade become so bold?
They didn't understand, but they were greatly shocked!
"Has war broken out again?"
Suppressing the urge to complain about his granddaughter, Tobirama focused more on the war.
He continued to ask, "Who is Konoha's enemy this time?"
War!
War had broken out in the Ninja World once again!
This was something that could not be ignored!
"Currently, Konoha is in conflict with Iwagakure and Kumogakure, but other hidden villages might also become enemies."
"This Great Ninja War broke out suddenly. I suspect it's very likely related to Madara!"
Seiryū explained briefly, also pinning the blame on Madara.
It probably shouldn't be called pinning the blame.
After all, Seiryū was certain of it.
Madara was the one driving this Great Ninja War from behind the scenes!
"Related to Madara? That guy actually lived until now."
Tobirama's gaze drifted toward Nagato, his brow furrowing slightly.
That person had Madara's Chakra fluctuations on him. Clearly, he was tied to Madara!
Now it was being confirmed by Seiryū.
Madara wasn't dead!
Knowing this, Tobirama became very grave.
Tobirama was extremely wary of Madara.
In his mind, aside from his elder brother, he really couldn't think of anyone else who could fight him.
"Dodge!"
Hashirama noticed his body moving involuntarily again and shouted a warning to Seiryū.
The Wood Release giant, comparable in size to a Tailed Beast, launched an attack. Its massive arm, like a small mountain, grabbed toward Seiryū.
"Hadō #63. Raikōhō!"
Absorbing natural energy to form Senjutsu Chakra, Seiryū raised his hand and fired a thick pillar of lightning.
It blasted the incoming Wood Release arm to pieces!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Tobirama also made his move, his hands forming seals at high speed.
A water dragon was born out of thin air, winding its way down to bite at Seiryū.
Even a B-rank Water Release technique displayed powerful might in Tobirama's hands!
"As expected of the Second Hokage, a master of Water Release."
Seiryū clicked his tongue, his movements not slow either.
He raised his hand and unleashed a blinding white curtain of fire, blasting the biting water dragon apart. In an instant, steam billowed into the sky.
"Don't be careless. Since you've mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, you should know how troublesome it is. Don't let me get close, or it will be very dangerous!"
Swoosh!
Tobirama warned Seiryū while casually throwing out a dozen specially made Flying Thunder God Kunai, scattering them everywhere.
Then his figure flickered and vanished.
Reappearing not far from Seiryū, Tobirama said in a low voice, "Use Sealing Jutsu."
Zzzzt.
Before Tobirama could finish, six beams of light appeared out of thin air.
They locked onto his body, restricting his movements.
"Bakudō #79. Kuyō Shibari!"
Seiryū didn't stop, performing another Bakudō.
A humming sound rang out.
Nine black Chakra orbs appeared, sealing off the space around Tobirama.
"What kind of Sealing Jutsu is this?"
Despite Tobirama's vast knowledge, he was surprised by these two sealing techniques.
Sealing Jutsu he had never seen before!
Did the Uzumaki Clan still have Sealing Jutsu like this?
They actually appeared out of thin air!
"Hehe, I won't let you have your way so easily, Seiryū-kun."
Seeing this, Orochimaru, who hadn't made a move and had been watching from a safe distance, let out a cold laugh.
He formed a seal with one hand. "Hidden Shadow Snake Arm Explosion!"
Rumble!
Tobirama's body, which was sealed and restricted by the Bakudō, swelled like a balloon as the special poisonous snakes buried inside him exploded.
Not only was Tobirama's body blown to bits with debris flying everywhere.
Even the golden light and black Chakra orbs on him were caught in the explosion.
They were instantly torn apart and crushed!
"You damn fellow."
Those brought back by Edo Tensei would not die. Even if their bodies were torn apart, they would soon recover.
Tobirama's face, as his body began to reassemble, was dark to the extreme.
This guy actually dared to do such a vile thing to him!
"Hehe, this is a jutsu you developed, Second Hokage-sama. You should know the true usage of this jutsu."
A small white snake poked its head out from Tobirama's shoulder, its tongue flicking as Orochimaru's voice came from its mouth.
Then the small white snake looked at Seiryū not far ahead, its voice hoarse and composed. "Seiryū-kun, that was just a warm-up. Next is the main event."
Just as Orochimaru's voice fell, Hashirama, standing atop the wooden giant, clapped his hands together and shouted, "Sage Mode!"
Hummm.
The surrounding natural energy flooded into Hashirama's body, forming Senjutsu Chakra, and powerful Chakra fluctuations radiated outward.
Black markings appeared on his face, extending to both sides!
Upon entering Sage Mode, Hashirama's aura grew even stronger.
Just standing there, an inexplicable sense of pressure washed over everyone.
"To have refined Edo Tensei to such a degree, even Senjutsu."
Sensing these Chakra fluctuations, Tobirama's face darkened again.
Edo Tensei had been refined to the point where it allowed his brother to unleash such terrifying power.
There was a massive gap in power between his brother being able to use Senjutsu and not being able to!
This was going to be trouble!
"Are you surprised?"
The white snake on his shoulder flicked its tongue, its eyes gleaming.
Yet it didn't relax in the slightest. "However, at only this level, he might not necessarily be that guy's match."
"Didn't I say it? He's a monster."
The Chakra fluctuations from Hashirama in Sage Mode were indeed surprising to him.
But.
He wouldn't necessarily be Seiryū's match.
He would not underestimate Seiryū.
The commotion from Seiryū's battle with Nagato just now was extremely intense, and the Chakra fluctuations transmitted weren't necessarily weaker than the current Hashirama!
Seiryū definitely had other powers he hadn't unleashed yet!
The white snake's gaze turned to Nagato on the other side, revealing a human-like cold smile. "Besides, there's another monster here."
"Don't you want to see a Shinobi with the Rinnegan?"
"What kind of power does the Rinnegan possess? And is it related to the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara? This is getting more and more interesting!"
What kind of strength did the possessor of the Rinnegan have?
What kind of power was Seiryū still hiding?
What kind of role was Madara playing?
Orochimaru was extremely curious about all these questions and wanted to understand them!
"Sage Art: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
And so, Hashirama, having entered Sage Mode, moved at this moment.
He clapped his hands, and Chakra fluctuations erupted from him!
The Wood Release Ninjutsu, augmented with Senjutsu Chakra, displayed even greater power!
Boom! Boom, boom, boom!
The earth shook incessantly as thick tree branches and vines rose from the ground.
The surroundings were instantly transformed into a sea of trees, with vines spreading like pythons, strangling everything in their path!
Both Seiryū and Nagato were caught within the range of the attack.
This was a large-scale, indiscriminate attack!
"Hmph, another person coveting my Rinnegan? Even the God of Shinobi will fall before these eyes!"
His perception and understanding influenced by Genjutsu, Nagato now viewed anyone who attacked him as an enemy.
The reason he hadn't moved earlier.
Was because they hadn't attacked him!
That was the logic!
"Shinra Tensei!"
The encroaching sea of trees also brought immense pressure to Nagato, and he took a deep breath.
The Rinnegan in his eyes flashed with light.
The Rinnegan was unleashed, and an invisible repulsive force surged forward.
It blocked all the strangling tree branches and vines, even tearing many of them to shreds.
"I'll be."
Seiryū's position happened to be within the range of both the repulsive force and the sea of trees, leaving him in the middle, caught in a pincer attack.
Fortunately, he had the Flying Thunder God Technique.
With a flicker of his body, he had already left the spot.
"What a strong attack, to actually block Brother's Wood Release."
Tobirama used the Flying Thunder God Technique to dodge, just like Seiryū.
Although he couldn't break free from the Edo Tensei summoner's control, he was fighting according to his own consciousness.
He had merely been implanted with an order.
When facing danger, he would still dodge.
But as he watched the collision ahead, he was also surprised.
Even his brother's Wood Release, after entering Sage Mode, was being held back.
"As expected of the legendary eyes."
Orochimaru's main body, hidden away, looked over there, his eyes filled with greed and covetousness.
He was extremely interested in all kinds of Kekkei Genkai. This was his nature as a scientist.
He was naturally very interested in the Rinnegan of the legendary Sage of Six Paths.
If he could research it thoroughly, could he make his goal a reality?
Eternal life!
Orochimaru licked his lips and gave a meaningful smile. "Hehe. A battle between three monsters who stand above ordinary Shinobi."
"I wonder who will prevail?"
"It really piques my interest."
The former God of Shinobi, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama!
Seiryū, whose strength was unfathomable, who had defeated the Third Raikage, and who made him feel wary!
Jiraiya's disciple, Nagato, who possessed the legendary Rinnegan, might be involved with the Asura of the Shinobi World, Madara, and was extremely mysterious!
The strength of all three stood above that of ordinary Shinobi.
Describing them as monsters was not an exaggeration!
So, in this battle of three monsters, who would prevail?
Orochimaru was filled with anticipation!
...
On the other side.
A white figure with Mangekyō in the shape of opposing triangles in his eyes flickered through the dense forest.
He had already entered the territory of the Land of Rain!
"Hmm? Hashirama's and that damn fellow's Chakra fluctuations? Why have they appeared too?"
Through the connection between the Rinnegan and the Dōjutsu, Gyō Tenshin, Madara also sensed two familiar Chakra fluctuations.
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama!
How had these two, who had been dead for a long time, also appeared?
"Is it Edo Tensei? Hahaha, interesting. I didn't expect to see you again in this way, Hashirama. This is truly too interesting!"
With just a quick thought, Madara had already realized what was happening!
After faking his death, Madara had been hiding behind the scenes, and because of White Zetsu's existence, he was clear about what was happening in the Ninja World.
He knew that the damn fellow, Tobirama, had once developed a special technique!
Edo Tensei, a technique that could summon the dead from the Pure Land!
Obviously.
The Chakra fluctuations of Hashirama and Tobirama appearing over there had to be because someone had summoned them using Edo Tensei!
This really was too interesting.
He hadn't expected to see Hashirama again in this way!
For some reason, his blood, which had been dormant for a long time, boiled once again upon knowing that Hashirama was there!
It also caused his pace to quicken somewhat.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)