As the dust settled, the silhouette of the ruins came into view. The Konoha shinobi instinctively looked over, their lingering shock giving way to absolute disbelief at the scene before them.
In the center of the ruins, a ring of broken wooden walls guarded a small, five-meter square. Though cracked, riddled with iron-sand senbon, and dented by massive chunks of timber, the walls held firm. Through the gaps, a pale figure could be seen standing inside: Orochimaru. Beside him stood two unknown figures who had seemingly appeared out of thin air.
"W-what happened?!" a chunin cried out, his trembling finger pointed at the center of the ruins as he finally came to his senses. "Who are those two?! When did they get there?! And isn't that Lord Shinichi's Wood Release? Why is it protecting them?!"
Confusion swept through the Konoha ranks. The scene defied all logic: two strangers standing in enemy territory, shielded by a Wood Release defense that should have been attacking them.
As the crowd wavered in doubt, the damaged wooden walls protecting the trio finally gave way, sinking back into the earth and leaving them completely exposed. Orochimaru stood at the center, breathing heavily with his hands still held in a hand seal. The two figures flanking him were finally revealed.
On his left stood a man with long black hair and a calm, majestic face, clad in layered crimson armor. On his right was a man in blue armor, his spiky silver hair framing cold eyes and a sharp, tight-lipped expression. Even in silence, the two radiated a crushing pressure.
The instant the crowd made out their faces and attire, a gray-haired genin at the edge of the formation froze. "H-hck…" he gasped, pointing a shaking finger at the pair. His lips quivered, but only a choked hiss escaped his throat.
"Eh? Makuwa, what's wrong?" a younger shinobi beside him asked, steadying the older man. "Do you know those two helping Orochimaru?"
"Helping...?" Makuwa turned bloodshot eyes toward the youth, forcing out their identities with all his remaining strength. "That... that's the First Hokage, Lord Senju Hashirama... and the Second Hokage, Lord Senju Tobirama!"
High atop the Wood Golem, Shinichi gazed down at the trio, noting the cracked, ash-like faces of the First and Second Hokage. 'At last... he's used it. Edo Tensei!'
"Still..." Shinichi murmured, slowly raising his hands as a rare smile formed on his lips. "I'm almost ready myself."
'I only just learned it, so it needs a bit of prep time.'
Back in the center of the ruins, Orochimaru lowered his hands and caught his breath, glancing at the silent figures beside him. "A pity..." he murmured in regret. He had prepared three special sacrifices for the Edo Tensei; besides the First and Second, the third had been meant for the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
"No matter," he said, shaking the regret away. Lifting his gaze to Hashirama, he mused, "Even two will suffice." His grin widened as he looked toward the black-haired youth atop the distant Wood Golem. "After all, only Wood Release can beat Wood Release."
With the "God of Shinobi" himself—the founder and pinnacle of Wood Release—at his command, Orochimaru believed Hashirama could still dominate, even if Shinichi's variant had fused with Magnet Release.
As the thought crossed his mind, the ashen eyes of the First Hokage twitched.
"...What is this?" Senju Hashirama muttered in bewilderment, staring at his hands. "My body's unleashing ninjutsu on its own?!"
Beside him, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, also began to move. He raised his head, sweeping his gaze across the surroundings. He took in the ruins, the colossal Wood Golem, and the shattered viewing platform. In the distance, Konoha shinobi in standard flak jackets stared at them in absolute shock. Farther off, he spotted the familiar Hokage Rock carved into the cliff face.
Tobirama's eyes lingered on the monument for several seconds. It bore the likenesses of himself, his brother Hashirama, Sarutobi, and a fourth face he didn't recognize.
"...Is this Konoha?" Tobirama murmured, his voice heavy with mixed emotions. His gaze then shifted to his side, landing on the figure in layered crimson armor with cascading black hair. "...Brother."
Hashirama, still studying his hands, froze. He turned, and the moment he saw that familiar silver-haired face, he burst into boisterous laughter. He slapped Tobirama hard on the shoulder. His reanimated body crackled faintly under the force, but Hashirama paid it no mind.
"Tobirama! It's really you!" he beamed, his eyes curving into joyful crescents. "I never expected you to be here too! Great! I thought I was the only one dragged back by some weird jutsu!"
A moment later, his grin faded, and his brows knitted in reprimand. "Tobirama... how many times have I told you not to toy with life-and-death jutsu that desecrate the soul? Look—now we're caught in it ourselves!"
Tobirama didn't answer. With icy eyes, he looked past Hashirama and fixed his gaze on Orochimaru. "You're the one pulling our strings."
Orochimaru chuckled, completely unabashed. "Indeed. It's my honor to have both the First and Second Hokage at my command." He lifted a hand, pointing into the distance. "Your target is right there."
Hashirama and Tobirama followed the direction of his finger. A towering Wood Golem stood amidst the rubble. Coiled around its shoulder was a purple-striped Wood Dragon, heavily wrapped in iron sand. Atop the golem's head stood a black-haired youth. The boy's arms hung relaxed at his sides, his calm eyes fixed squarely upon them.
In an instant, both brothers' eyes widened.
"That's... a Wood Human? And a Wood Dragon?" Hashirama glanced at Tejima Shinichi, then back at the giant constructs, his surprise quickly blooming into delight. "Wait—you can use Wood Release? Are you a descendant of our Senju clan?"
Oblivious to the tension, Hashirama turned to Tobirama, grinning like a child. "Tobirama! Did you see that?! One of our descendants can use Wood Release! And he looks really strong!"
While Hashirama rejoiced, Tobirama's internal reaction was far more violent. 'Using us... to fight a Senju child?! Despicable... I'll—'
In a flash, Tobirama formed hand seals, attempting to break free from the Edo Tensei's control.
"What—?!" Behind him, Orochimaru's face paled dramatically. He hastily clutched the control talismans, pouring more chakra and willpower into the binding.
"Ngh!" Tobirama's body jerked, his attempted break freezing mid-motion. He glanced down at his cracked, dust-crumbling form and gave a frustrated grunt. "Tch... this body is too weak. I can't even resist you, can I?"
Sweat dotted Orochimaru's forehead. 'That was close—he nearly broke free!'
"How dangerous, Lord Second," Orochimaru said, steadying his breath. "But please, stay quiet for now. Your task—and the First's—is about to begin."
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