On the desolate land.
Two individuals, recently transplanted with Hashirama's cells, were lying there—White Zetzu.
To prevent any complications in the relationship between White Zetzu Awei and himself, Akihara Kagura had dispatched White Zetzu to meet with Nagato early on, sparing him the discomfort of witnessing this scene.
"Ninjutsu: Edo Tensei!"
Using the materials obtained from Orochimaru, Akihara Kagura performed the Edo Tensei, resurrecting the Second Hokage, Tobirama, and the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
The ground where White Zetzu lay was suddenly enveloped in ashes and scraps of paper!
A silver-haired man and a golden-haired man rose from the ashes!
The Second Hokage, Tobirama…
And the Fourth Hokage, Minato!
[System Prompt]: [You have a new superior (Namikaze Minato), rewarded with a newcomer's welcome package, unlocking new features.]
[Golden Flash (capable of transforming into a streak of golden light, moving at an extremely fast speed using the Flying Thunder God Technique and Body Flicker Technique, making it impossible for enemies to react in time!)]
This feature…
Akihara Kagura found it a bit odd.
Although the characteristic of the Fourth Hokage, Minato, was indeed the Golden Flash, he wondered if such effects truly belonged in this world.
"Hmm? Is that Orochimaru's doing again?"
As soon as the Second Hokage, Tobirama, was revived, his gaze fell upon the crowd: "Monkey, are you here too? I remember before your death, you used the Reaper Death Seal to seal us and that Orochimaru…"
"Lord Second Hokage."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wore a helpless expression and solemnly explained: "That happened in the afternoon; it's already evening now, and our Reaper Death Seal has been undone…"
The pace was unexpectedly swift.
In the afternoon, Sarutobi Hiruzen had just sacrificed himself to seal everyone, and by evening, everyone was resurrected and even privy to some shocking truths.
This time, even the Fourth Hokage, Minato, was involved.
"Eh? The seal can be undone?"
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, appeared shocked: "How was this achieved?"
In theory, the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu, the strongest being the Reaper Death Seal, involved a mysterious Shinigami and should be unbreakable.
Yet it had been undone.
"Hmph, I'm curious too."
Orochimaru glanced at the four resurrected Hokages, somewhat resentful, for they represented the most potent of the Reanimated!
"Kagura-kun."
Orochimaru spared no effort in his flattery, seizing the moment to impress: "When did you figure out how to undo the Reaper Death Seal?"
"Even…"
Orochimaru squinted, slowly continuing: "Did you anticipate that the old man would use the Reaper Death Seal in his battle with me, preparing to undo it even before it was used?"
"This is…"
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, looked at Akihara Kagura in surprise, curiously asking: "Are you a newcomer to the village? Why haven't I seen you before? Were you the one who undid the Reaper Death Seal?"
"And you performed the Edo Tensei on us!"
Orochimaru chuckled, a hint of scorn at the corner of his mouth: "Worried I would use the Edo Tensei to resurrect you, you took the initiative to resurrect the past Hokages and keep them under your control, the strongest force in the Konoha Village, Akihara Kagura…"
"Let me explain…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted Orochimaru.
This elder was well aware of Orochimaru's intentions and did not want to see him instigate conflicts between the previous Hokages and Akihara Kagura, opting to take the initiative to explain the backstory.
"I'll do it myself."
Akihara Kagura looked at the four Hokages present and continued: "Everything that happened during the Chunin Exams was orchestrated by me from the shadows, using Orochimaru and Lord Danzo's actions with the ultimate goal of capturing all the former Hokages present, turning them into pawns for my future control over the Konoha Village's power…"
"…"
Orochimaru's expression was quite intriguing.
He still wanted to use words to incite conflict between Akihara Kagura and the four Hokages, but now it seemed that his provocative words were much milder compared to what Akihara Kagura had just revealed…
This kid…
To think he would dare to speak of controlling the Konoha Village's power so brazenly!
"Brat! The Hokage carries more than just power…"
The First Hokage, Hashirama, made his stance clear, yet quickly realized: "Wait, you planned all this? Isn't that…"
"You evil little brat! How dare you harbor such rebellious thoughts!"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, interrupted his elder brother, yet continued rationally: "But you seem to want to use our reputation to control the Konoha Village's power because there are people in the village who won't follow your orders, aren't willing to accept you as Hokage, right?"
"Kagura."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, saw that the situation had already hit rock bottom, but now felt that things were beginning to rebound: "Have you finally realized that power alone cannot win people's approval? Only a person recognized by everyone can become Hokage, you need to change…"
"That…"
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, rubbed the back of his head, feeling puzzled: "Can someone please explain what's going on?"
The Fourth Hokage, Minato, had never experienced these events, feeling like an outsider, unable to grasp what was happening. Why did the other three Hokages understand what was happening?
Aren't we all Hokages? Didn't the First Hokage and the Second Hokage die before him? Why do they also seem to know something?
"Where's Danzo?"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, brought up Shimura Danzo, speaking coldly: "Did Danzo conspire with this brat and Orochimaru to deceive me and my brother, and he's too scared to show up?"
"That…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a moment, his expression complex as he explained: "Lord Second Hokage, Danzo was the sacrifice I used for the Edo Tensei to resurrect you…"
"This brat…"
"Used Danzo to resurrect you?"
Upon hearing this, the Second Hokage, Tobirama, fell silent.
This kid named Akihara Kagura… is playing quite the game!
Shimura Danzo's death must have been tragic, the Second Hokage could imagine Danzo's feelings before his death, making it hard for him to hold Danzo accountable…
"Tobirama!"
The First Hokage, Hashirama, immediately reproached his brother: "If it weren't for you inventing the Edo Tensei, none of this would have happened today… I've always warned you not to research these strange techniques!"
"Brother!"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, looked coldly at his elder brother, explaining firmly: "This has nothing to do with the technique; it's not the technique that's evil, but the evil in people's hearts…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen still didn't forget his original intention, helping to explain: "Lord Second Hokage Kagura might have been too deeply influenced by Danzo, acting too ruthlessly…"
"Monkey, I almost forgot!"
The First Hokage, Hashirama, immediately turned to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, bringing up an issue they hadn't finished discussing that afternoon: "Monkey, what exactly is going on with the Uchiha clan, the Uchihas are villagers too, and you're the village's Hokage…"
"It's that the Uchiha clan is inherently evil…"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, helped Sarutobi Hiruzen make his case.
"Did the Uchiha clan perish?"
The face of the Fourth Hokage, Minato, grew even more astonished; he had not managed to deal with the Uchiha matter during his lifetime.
Orochimaru looked at Minato, the man who had once taken the position of the Fourth Hokage from him, and chuckled: "Minato, you died too early, indeed you bear a great responsibility! And the people who wiped out the Uchiha clan, you should be quite familiar with…"
"This…"
Minato suddenly felt embarrassed, continuing somewhat awkwardly: "I had previously said that I would wholeheartedly protect Kushina, and without using the Reaper Death Seal, I couldn't split the Nine-Tails' chakra, my power wasn't enough to seal the complete Nine-Tails…"
"The Nine-Tails is indeed very strong."
The First Hokage, Hashirama, nodded seriously.
"This…"
Minato became even more embarrassed, quickly changing the subject: "Speaking of which, who wiped out the Uchihas? Is it someone I know well? Kakashi? Teacher Jiraiya? They don't seem like people who would do such a thing…"
"It was Uchiha Obito."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, bringing up the inevitable fact that Minato would learn sooner or later: "Minato, among those who wiped out the Uchihas was one of your former students, Uchiha Obito…"
"Obito…"
Minato's expression immediately darkened, recalling the student who had died: "Is he still alive?"
"Not just…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Minato, continuing: "The one who stirred up the Nine-Tails' chaos in the village, killing Biwako and Kushina, was also him…"
The chaos caused by the Nine-Tails not only killed Minato and his wife but also Sarutobi Hiruzen's wife, Biwako.
"Uchiha Obito also nearly killed your remaining child, Uzumaki Naruto. Fortunately, at that time, Kagura and Kakashi arrived in time to spare Naruto from disaster…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen mentioned this, acknowledging Kagura's contribution: "If it weren't for Kagura coincidentally encountering Uchiha Obito attempting to kill Naruto, we wouldn't even know that the person buried under the Memorial Stone was still alive in this world…"
"Thank you."
Minato sincerely thanked Akihara Kagura.
"…"
Akihara Kagura paused for a second, indifferently responding: "It doesn't matter anymore, that guy also killed Aburame Tatsuma trying to frame me for deserting the Konoha, which influenced Lord Danzo. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ended up in this life-and-death struggle with Lord Danzo…"
"So that's how it is…"
The First Hokage, Hashirama's face suddenly became clear, summarizing for himself: "So, you're saying that all the problems originated from that rogue ninja named Uchiha Obito, right?"
"…"
The others, not lacking in intelligence, looked at Akihara Kagura with some indescribable expressions.
"It's not…"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, adjusted his forehead, worrying about his elder brother's intelligence and emotional quotient: "While it all started with Uchiha Obito, the mistakes made by others are not easily forgivable, and we are still controlled by others, this kid wants to use us to control the politics of the Konoha!"
"Lord Second Hokage is the one who made the most mistakes, right?"
Orochimaru, sparing no mercy for his idol, pointed out cheerfully: "If it weren't for the Lord Second Hokage separating the Uchiha clan from the Konoha, allowing the Uchiha clan to stand apart from the Konoha, the Uchiha clan would not have perished…"
"If it weren't for the Lord Second Hokage inventing so many forbidden techniques, even leaving us with the Lord First cells, none of this would have happened today. It's all the Lord Second's fault."
"What did you say!"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, immediately exploded in anger!
Tonight's discussion had seemingly turned into a blame-shifting meeting.
Everyone present had made mistakes, not to mention Orochimaru and Akihara Kagura; as they talked, it seemed everyone was no good…
"Lord Orochimaru has a point too…"
Akihara Kagura nodded, understanding a bit more about the situation of the Uchiha clan: "Out of ten Uchihas, nine and a half would blame the Lord Second Hokage for the mistakes left behind. So many Uchihas in Konoha, only a few mentally ill guys think the Lord Second Hokage made no mistakes…"
"Tobirama, the policy you left behind…"
The First Hokage, Hashirama, couldn't help but blame his younger brother.
"It's that the Uchihas are inherently evil!"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, once again threw out his argument, continuing solemnly: "Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Madara, any Uchiha ninja who awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan, are potential rogue ninja who could endanger the Konoha…"
"Stop arguing!"
Akihara Kagura rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache from their bickering, and took the initiative to start assigning blame: "The first to make a mistake was the Lord First Hokage…"
"If it weren't for the Lord First Hokage choosing to give up unifying the ninja world, even splitting the Tailed Beasts among other ninja villages, allowing other villages to possess the power of the Tailed Beasts, those villages wouldn't have other ideas, and the ninja world wouldn't have had so many wars…"
"I did it for peace…"
"You're right."
Akihara Kagura simply didn't argue, directly pointing at the Second Hokage, Tobirama, "But your peace led to war, killing the Lord Second Hokage and forcing him to appoint the Third Hokage during the wartime, preventing Lord Danzo from competing for the position of Hokage through normal channels, causing Lord Danzo to harbor jealousy, harming others and even attempting to harm me, leading to the situation today…"
"…"
A group of Reanimated, including Orochimaru, felt their foreheads twitch.
At this point, was there really a need to shift blame onto Danzo?
"As for the Lord Second Hokage's mistakes…"
Akihara Kagura looked at Orochimaru: "Lord Orochimaru just mentioned it, the most important mistake is still handing over the position of Hokage to the Third Hokage, leading to Lord Danzo's jealousy, creating a series of internal conflicts for his own power…"
"…"
The crowd looked at each other.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a second, taking over the conversation: "My mistake is being too indecisive and overly indulgent of Danzo's darkness, leading to the downfall of the Uchiha clan, causing the situation to reach this point today…"
"…"
Everyone's gaze suddenly shifted to Minato.
"My mistake is dying too early…"
Minato cautiously surveyed the people present, adding: "Wasn't able to stop Lord Danzo from acting in the shadows, right?"
"…"
The others silently nodded.
"Alright, let's talk business, stop dragging these useless topics!"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, looked coldly at Akihara Kagura, having already understood the current situation, clearly realizing that the key to breaking the situation lay with Akihara Kagura, simply wanting to use Akihara Kagura first: "Brat, you want to use our identities and power to control the Konoha, meaning we at least stand on the same line in some respects, first we must clear out the threats to the Konoha, right?"
"That's well said."
Akihara Kagura nodded.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama's lips curled into a smirk of triumph, suddenly looking at Orochimaru: "Then let's start by cleaning up this guy named Orochimaru, no problem, right? You should also agree that he's a threat to the Konoha, right?"
"…"
Orochimaru's face suddenly changed!
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, this bastard, actually wanted to use a divide-and-conquer strategy!
"There's no need for that."
Akihara Kagura calmed Orochimaru with a single sentence, completely ignoring the Second Hokage, Tobirama's intentions: "Although Lord Orochimaru did not send a suitable birthday gift this year, in the past, he would send gifts every year on my birthday, even being the real person who raised me…"
"If we exclude Lord Orochimaru wanting to take over my body and once treating me as an experimental consumable, I actually still respect Lord Orochimaru…"
"…"
Akihara Kagura always spoke of respect, thinking of the way Akihara Kagura respected Shimura Danzo, Orochimaru felt a bit uneasy.
Orochimaru took a deep breath, his stern face forcibly revealing a smile: "Kagura-kun, since you just used me to undo the Reaper Death Seal, our past grievances should be completely settled, right?"
"Of course."
Akihara Kagura immediately nodded, continuing: "So the past, where I secretly guided Teacher Jiraiya to destroy Lord Orochimaru's research base, used Nagato to persecute Lord Orochimaru conspired with Sasori of the Red Sand to drive Lord Orochimaru out of the Akatsuki organization, and leaked Lord Orochimaru's information to the Akatsuki organization, all these grievances are also completely written off today…"
"…"
Orochimaru no longer wanted to settle their grievances.
During that time in the Akatsuki organization, he always encountered various troubles, even after fleeing the Akatsuki organization, he was constantly pursued by the Akatsuki organization, not expecting that it was Akihara Kagura who leaked the information, those painful experiences were all secretly manipulated by Akihara Kagura!
These grievances…
Is writing them off too unfair to himself?
"Akatsuki organization?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled the organization that Uchiha Itachi had once mentioned, frowning: "I remember this organization seems to be Uchiha Obito's organization, filled with a group of dangerous S-ranked rogue ninjas…"
"That's right."
"It's the organization founded by Uchiha Obito."
Akihara Kagura nodded, continuing: "But it doesn't matter, Uchiha Obito had already recommended me to join the Akatsuki organization, as long as the Lord Hokages, are willing to cooperate, we can clean up Uchiha Obito and the upper echelons of the Akatsuki organization, turning that organization filled with S-ranked rogue ninjas into a pawn for the Konoha and a hidden threat to other enemy villages…"
"…"
The people present looked sideways.
This guy's business scope is quite wide!
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, looked at Akihara Kagura with an extremely complex expression.
It had to be said, this kid named Akihara Kagura is a master of political struggle.
If Akihara Kagura, this kid, truly is willing to use unscrupulous means to protect the Konoha, even if it's just to control the Konoha's power, it's more beneficial than harmful to the Konoha.
"Kid, tell us."
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, sighed inwardly, looking at Akihara Kagura: "How do you want to use us to help you control the Konoha's power, just appearing in the Konoha is not an easy matter, right?"
"I think Jiraiya won't agree."
Sarutobi Hiruzen also brought up his opinion, actively saying: "Even if my corpse disappears at the funeral, with the occurrence of Orochimaru using the Edo Tensei to resurrect the deceased, given Jiraiya's personality, he won't agree to your doing this…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said this, then introduced to the First Hokage and the Second Hokage: "Jiraiya is my disciple, also Minato's and Kagura's teacher, I foresaw my possible death during the Chunin Exams, specially ordered him to return to the Konoha, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado will support him to become Hokage…"
"What if Teacher Jiraiya doesn't want to become Hokage?"
Akihara Kagura chuckled, actively saying: "Besides Teacher Jiraiya, there's another person in the Konoha who could potentially become Hokage, one of the other members of the Konoha's Sannin who has always been traveling outside, maybe he'll support the Edo Tensei…"
"Tsunade?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen still held a different opinion: "Tsunade is a medical ninja, unlikely to agree with resurrecting the deceased, she probably wouldn't want Konoha to play with the deceased, I know my disciple very well…"
"Little Tsuna?"
The First Hokage, Hashirama, remembered his most beloved little girl, shaking his head repeatedly: "Wait, Little Tsuna can't become Hokage, if she becomes Hokage, she'll bankrupt Konoha…"
Akihara Kagura made everyone's head spin with a single sentence: "How can a Hokage without power, always under others' surveillance, have the power to bankrupt Konoha?"
There was silence.
Hashirama's forehead twitched.
"I believe she would definitely support Edo Tensei."
Akihara Kagura lifted his head, looking in a direction, and continued on his own: "If someone used the Edo Tensei to revive the person she most wanted to see, making her realize the benefits of Edo Tensei, would she still oppose it?"
"As far as I know..."
"She is not someone who sticks rigidly to rules and regulations..."
~~~
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