In some ways, the Reanimation Jutsu and the Summoning Technique are strikingly similar.
With this in mind, Uchiha Sogetsu conceived an interesting and bold idea.
Since the two techniques share such similarities, why not attempt to use the ritual structure of the Reanimation Jutsu to infiltrate the Pure Land from the opposite direction?
However, to truly realize this concept, he still needed a "trigger."
As for this "trigger"...
At that moment, Uchiha Sogetsu's gaze flickered, as if sensing something. He chuckled, "Already here? As expected of Orochimaru—quite efficient."
A virtual persona then emerged within his mind palace.
In the palace, this persona—bearing a face identical to his own, though lacking a certain distinct aura—sat with closed eyes. Sogetsu gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
The Pure Land belongs to the Sage of Six Paths, and one can never be sure of the risks involved. To be certain everything would go smoothly, Sogetsu made some adjustments to the virtual persona's memories, erasing all recollections of being a "transmigrator" and leaving only fabricated memories.
"Go."
With a wave of his hand, Uchiha Sogetsu sent the virtual persona off, watching it disappear.
His golden, vertical-slit eyes observed the "real" world through the subconscious sea, awaiting the next steps—steps that would be pivotal.
Orochimaru, deeply hypnotized, had no idea that during the Reanimation Jutsu summoning, a subtle shift had been made in the "target."
Instead of the Fourth Hokage, the summoning had veered slightly, calling forth an unfamiliar soul instead.
Following the proper order of Reanimation Jutsu, the summoned soul from the Pure Land arrived in the material world. Before it could react, the gates to its consciousness were seized.
Then, Sogetsu's virtual persona entered the soul's island of consciousness, swiftly taking over its consciousness. It was akin to the tales of body-snatching from ancient legends, where one would seize another's spiritual domain and wholly replace the alien soul.
Silently and without a trace.
No one knew what had just happened inside the coffin.
It was as if a magical performance had occurred, the classic "substitute the prince under everyone's noses."
Boom!
A thunderous noise erupted from within the heavy wooden coffin as it broke open from the inside.
With the lid shattered into splinters and dust flying in all directions, a dark figure slowly stepped out.
The Reanimation Jutsu had summoned a youth with a graceful presence and short, black, tousled hair.
However, it was this seemingly thin young man with black-framed glasses and clear eyes who made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel as if he were facing a great enemy.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his pupils shrank to pinpoints as he instinctively shouted the young man's name: "Uchiha Sogetsu!"
"This feeling… what is it?"
A hint of confusion appeared in Uchiha Sogetsu's eyes.
This body didn't seem quite like the one he remembered. The chakra level and overall strength were noticeably weaker.
As he wondered, he lowered his head, looking at his own body—cracked and fragile like decaying wood. Suddenly, he realized something and murmured, "I see… so this is the Reanimation Jutsu?"
"Heh, you should be thanking me, Sogetsu."
With a slight smile on his lips, Orochimaru spoke casually, "How does it feel to be brought back to life?"
"Orochimaru… I really shouldn't have let you learn the Reanimation Jutsu."
Observing the situation on the battlefield, Uchiha Sogetsu quickly pieced together what had happened. He sighed and, with a touch of regret, said, "Apologies, Lord Third, Lord Second, Lord First. I'm afraid I might cause you some trouble."
"Orochimaru! You dare desecrate even the souls of heroes?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was both shocked and furious. He could hardly believe that this fiend would summon the heroes of Konoha in front of everyone!
"It's too late to say that now."
Orochimaru took out a Seal Tag, pressing it directly into Uchiha Sogetsu's body. Then, forming hand seals with a faint smile, he said, "Let me witness the power of the Fourth Hokage."
As the Seal Tag took effect, Uchiha Sogetsu's gaze quickly became vacant and empty.
"Sarutobi, watch out!"
Momentarily restrained, Tobirama Senju could only call out a loud warning. Snapping out of his daze, Hiruzen Sarutobi shivered, watching as the young figure formed the "Horse" hand seal.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A towering sea of flames, like a tidal wave of heat, surged forward, filling the sky and sweeping toward them.
The scorching waves of fire rolled forward, twisting the air as they passed. The extreme heat even melted the rock layers, making Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyelids twitch in shock.
A simple B-rank jutsu had been pushed to the power level of an S-rank jutsu by the opponent.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Hiruzen pressed his hands firmly to the ground, and a massive wall of earth rose up out of nowhere.
Boom—!
The searing flames crashed into the wall, quickly melting the rock under the intense heat.
Fortunately, the wall held, if only just. Taking advantage of the brief reprieve, Hiruzen began to strategize his next move. But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadow racing toward him at high speed.
"Enma!"
Hiruzen shouted, forming hand signs as his chest expanded with gathered chakra.
His companion, Enma the Monkey King, immediately understood. He charged forward, blocking the shadow's approach with a powerful fist strike. "You won't get close—!"
Yet, it was as if the shadow had already anticipated Enma's attack path.
The figure lowered its stance slightly, letting the full-force punch miss by a hair's breadth, grazing just over his head.
"I have no time to play with beasts. Move aside!"
A cold voice reached Enma's ears, filling him with anger—just as he found himself staring into a pair of slowly spinning Mangekyō Sharingan.
Damn… No!
Enma's heart pounded with alarm, but a second later, his vision went blank, pupils unfocused.
"Leaf: Strong Whirlwind!"
A powerful spinning kick cut through the air and slammed into Enma's abdomen.
In an instant, Enma was launched like a cannonball, shooting backwards at incredible speed.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Sogetsu frowned, his gaze shifting to another spot where five identical copies of Hiruzen were gathering. Each of them took a deep breath, their chests swelling as if brimming with explosive power.
"Five Elements: Great Combo Technique!"
Five types of chakra—Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth—poured forth like a raging flood.
Five different chakra nature transformations—only someone like Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," could wield them all with such mastery. Under the immense pressure of his chakra, the five elements, each with strengths and weaknesses against the others, unleashed a destructive force that shook the sky and the earth.
A massive shockwave, visible to the naked eye, swept out in all directions, obliterating everything in its path.
"Huff... huff…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen panted heavily; the five-element combined jutsu had taken an enormous toll on him.
Barely holding himself up, he looked into the thick, swirling smoke ahead.
Whoosh—
A massive golden sword blade sliced through the dense clouds of dust.
And then, under Sarutobi Hiruzen's darkened gaze, Uchiha Sogetsu, cloaked in Susanoo, emerged unharmed.
Standing within the protection of Susanoo, Orochimaru glanced down at the exhausted Hiruzen with a mocking smile. "You're really losing your touch, Lord Hokage. Your chakra and stamina are clearly drained, yet you used such an advanced combination jutsu. Impressive power, yes... but did you really think something like that could defeat us?"
"No, you're wrong, Orochimaru."
Hiruzen forced a faint smile. "I never expected this move to defeat you."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "I see… so your target wasn't us, but—"
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