On the Bridge.
Hatake Kakashi and the Second Hokage, Tobirama, were entangled in battle.
The other youngsters of Team 7 were also busy, earnestly setting up traps within the wide Flying Thunder God circle that Kakashi had prepared.
Uchiha Sasuke, with a grim expression, was entangling barbed wire, and continuously hanging sharp blades on it, wishing he could shred the talkative Second Hokage, Tobirama, into pieces.
What does it mean to say that the Uchiha are inherently evil?
Let me show you what an evil Uchiha looks like!
Although the battle plan was proposed by Tobirama, it perfectly suited Sasuke's intentions; this youngster had a very poor impression of Tobirama.
"That should be enough..."
As Tobirama and Kakashi exchanged blows, Tobirama kept an eye on the situation at the Flying Thunder God seal, speaking gravely, "Truly an evil Uchiha, setting up so many sharp weapons. Are you planning to kill your Team Leader as well?"
Kakashi felt a bit helpless.
Why can't Tobirama get along with the Uchiha?
Moreover, the traps set by Sasuke were indeed dangerous, and Kakashi himself might end up dying in one alongside Tobirama...
But this was not Tobirama's fault.
Upon seeing Sasuke with his Sharingan activated, Tobirama felt this young man resembled his arch-enemy from the Warring States period, Uchiha Izuna, so much that he seemed like Izuna's reincarnation, which naturally made him detestable...
"Hmph!"
Sasuke snorted coldly, reminding sternly, "Kakashi-sensei has the Sharingan and can see the flaws in the traps. Those who fall into the traps and can't escape should only hate themselves for not having the Sharingan."
Tobirama felt his fists harden.
These words strangely reminded Tobirama of something familiar!
No matter how much time passed, Tobirama could never forget his arch-enemy from the Warring States period. This youngster named Sasuke had a temper and way of speaking that was too similar to Uchiha Izuna!
Izuna, that bastard, loved to boast about their clan's Sharingan whenever he had the upper hand, saying things like hating oneself for not having the Sharingan...
However...
The last time Izuna boasted about his Sharingan, Tobirama had cut him down with the Flying Thunder God Technique!
This time...
Tobirama's eyes narrowed slightly.
If possible, should he try to eliminate this youngster named Uchiha Sasuke, who resembled Uchiha Izuna too much and might awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan just like his old nemesis?
Only...
How to do it more subtly?
If not careful, it might affect the village ninja's trust in the Hokage. Tobirama, despite hating the Uchiha, would surely consider the political implications. How could he pin it on Orochimaru, who was controlling him?
While Tobirama was pondering, Kakashi, enduring a blow from Tobirama, managed to grab the Second Hokage's wrist!
In the next moment!
The two instantly teleported to the edge of the Flying Thunder God seal!
Using the Sharingan, Kakashi saw through the only escape route from the trap and pushed the Second Hokage into it, with blades instantly piercing Tobirama's body!
"Seal me quickly!"
While commanding sternly, Tobirama scattered a handful of shurikens: "Orochimaru might still be able to control me and make me escape!"
According to Tobirama's estimate, these shurikens were likely to hit both Naruto and Sasuke, mostly aimed at Naruto, but the ones targeting Sasuke were more lethal...
However...
Tobirama then saw Sasuke leap in front of Naruto, shurikens striking his back, blood gushing from the wounds!
"Sasuke!"
Naruto quickly sat down, holding Sasuke!
Tobirama felt a tinge of guilt, but it quickly faded. Perhaps it was a mistake to kill someone who looked like Uchiha Izuna, but with the Uchiha clan eradicated, no one dangerous to Konoha would ever arise again...
Wait...
It seems he might not die?
Tobirama watched as the pink-haired girl helped Sasuke treat his wounds, feeling that the youngster named Sasuke might not die after all, as he hadn't sustained fatal injuries.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto dared not let go.
"Idiot, I'm fine."
Uchiha Sasuke still had the energy to berate Uzumaki Naruto: "Let go of me quickly, I just don't want you, an idiot, to die at the hands of someone I despise…"
There was silence.
Tobirama watched this scene, as if seeing the figures of his brother and Uchiha Madara, not knowing how to judge the future, he could only sigh and say, "Alright, hurry up and seal me. This body of the Edo Tensei can recover from these injuries very soon!"
There was silence.
Everyone present looked towards Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi fell silent, recalling the jutsus he was skilled in, wondering which sealing jutsu to use to seal the reanimated ninjas, when suddenly a vine swung his body, directly disrupting the trap set by Team 7, and rescuing Tobirama, the Second Hokage, who had fallen into the trap!
"Kakashi-sensei, the Second Hokage, Tobirama, has escaped the trap!"
Uzumaki Naruto looked anxiously at Hatake Kakashi!
"This is…"
However, Hatake Kakashi had no mood to care about these things, he stared intensely at the vine roots spreading on the ground, watching the forest that was gradually growing on the bridge.
"Wood Release… why would it attack me?"
Kakashi looked at the forest growing on the bridge, and also saw a figure slowly approaching them.
A…
Figure in red armor.
This person also looked familiar, vaguely seen somewhere before.
After seeing Tobirama, the Second Hokage, Kakashi was prepared, and he recognized the identity of this newcomer.
"First Hokage…"
When Hatake Kakashi saw the appearance of Hashirama, the First Hokage, his heart felt as if it sank into the abyss, because he knew very well how strong Hashirama truly was!
If the ninjas of Konoha once had no concept of the First Hokage's strength, seeing the jutsus left by Hashirama used by others would make it clear how powerful the First Hokage truly was!
Akihara Kagura, merely an experiment who had transplanted cells from the First Hokage, was so powerful, what heights could the real First Hokage reach?
Hatake Kakashi and Team 7, under the guidance of the Second Hokage, had barely managed to defeat him, but no matter what, they could not be a match for the First Hokage!
"Brother, have you also been revived?"
Tobirama's body was fully healed, restoring his ability to move; remembering his brother's strength, he realized the urgency of the situation, his expression immediately darkened, and he said sternly, "Youngsters, flee, you are no match for my brother, especially if I join forces with him…"
Yes!
This team could not possibly be a match for his own brother!
Even if his brother's reanimated body did not possess the strength he had in life, just a slight display of his abilities was not something they could handle!
Perhaps…
They wouldn't even need Wood Release!
Tobirama knew his brother's strength well, just the body techniques he had mastered during countless battles in the Warring States period could easily handle these youngsters of Team 7.
Despite the fluctuating strength of this young man called Hatake Kakashi, he definitely could not be a match for his own brother…
"Do not think you have a chance to defeat my brother."
Tobirama glanced at Team 7 and said in a deep voice: "Even if the Nine-Tails inside this youngster were to appear here, he would not be a match for my brother…"
"Lord First Hokage is not meant to handle them…"
A figure appeared behind the First Hokage, grinning and speaking: "Even Lord Second isn't meant to handle them, though I didn't expect them to be able to defeat you under the Second's command…"
"Orochimaru…"
Hatake Kakashi struggled to stand up.
Orochimaru.
Was this person the mastermind behind the scenes in the Land of Waves?
Even after the recent battle that had almost drained all the chakra in Hatake Kakashi's body, and even being severely injured by the vines, he still had to stand up…
Because he was the jonin leader of Team 7.
In the past, Hatake Kakashi had feared Orochimaru's killing intent, but this time Kakashi did not want to retreat, he struggled to stand up, coughing up blood!
Hatake Kakashi heard Orochimaru's words and roughly guessed Orochimaru's thoughts: "You want to go against Kagura? You know he is also here?"
"Yes…"
Orochimaru stood beside the First Hokage Hashirama, licking his lips and said, "The entire ninja world knows, to destroy Konoha, one must first deal with Akihara Kagura..."
"Truly one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha..."
Hatake Kakashi looked at Orochimaru and said in a low voice, "Others don't have the courage to entertain such thoughts when facing Kagura..."
"His progress is too rapid."
A sharp glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes, as he was the one who knew best how quickly Akihara Kagura was advancing.
"Who is Akihara Kagura?"
Tobirama, the Second Hokage, asked from the side.
"An experiment I created."
Orochimaru spread his palms and chuckled, "An experiment created using the cells of the First Hokage, an experiment that needs to be reclaimed..."
"You dared to experiment with big brother's cells?"
Tobirama's gaze turned icy cold!
"Weren't those left behind by the Lord Second?"
Orochimaru's retort left Tobirama speechless.
Orochimaru looked at Tobirama, smiling as he continued, "If it weren't for the Lord Second inventing the Edo Tensei technique, I wouldn't dare think about reclaiming the experiment. For this, I must thank the Lord Second's wisdom..."
Tobirama chose to ignore Orochimaru, turning to Hashirama: "Big brother, why don't you say something?"
"Because I used a seal to erase the First Lord's consciousness."
Orochimaru held a kunai with a seal charm and explained with a grin, "Of course, the Second Hokage will soon be the same..."
"Given the formidable enemies we face next, if the First and Second Hokages don't cooperate with me, our chances of victory are too low..."
If Orochimaru hadn't seen for himself how unreliable Hashirama could be, he wouldn't want to erase their wisdom, but the last experience was not pleasant. If Hashirama made even a slight mistake, he might be completely suppressed by Akihara Kagura...
Orochimaru controlled Tobirama, teleporting him to his side, and stuffed the seal charm into the back of Tobirama's head, immediately erasing his consciousness, turning him into a puppet under his control.
"Kagura is very strong."
Kakashi watched Orochimaru's actions, unable to stop him, only hoping to delay time until Akihara Kagura's arrival, also adding to Kagura's chances of winning: "If the First and Second Hokages are merely puppets under your control, they won't be easy to defeat..."
"We must at least try, right?"
Orochimaru's tongue stretched out long, his gaze sweeping across Kakashi and the members of Team 7, resting briefly on Sasuke before moving away, "In this world, people always think that many things are impossible, like resurrecting the dead, but hasn't the Edo Tensei technique achieved this?"
Kakashi looked at the two Hokages deprived of their senses and spoke softly, "Defiling the deceased, turning the dead into puppets controlled by others, is that also called resurrection?"
"My views differ from yours."
Orochimaru shook his head, not agreeing with Kakashi's view, "As long as it achieves an objective, no matter what methods are used, they are correct, aren't they?"
"You are right."
A voice emerged on the bridge.
A person with a group emerged slowly from the mist, continuing along the lines of Orochimaru's statement, "As long as the result is correct, the process doesn't matter..."
"Finally, you've arrived..."
Kakashi felt relieved.
Though the words spoken were somewhat unsettling, Kakashi now knew the identity of the newcomer, ensuring that Team 7 could survive this crisis safely.
Akihara Kagura, leading the Root ninjas, came forward and softly said, "Take everyone here away, this place is no longer suitable for them to stay..."
"Be careful."
Kakashi did not argue, but reminded Kagura, "At Orochimaru's side are the First and Second Hokages..."
"I know."
~~~
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