Uchiha Itsuki's actions were full of provocation.
Senju Hashirama couldn't help but furrow his brows.
However!
Instead of responding, he stared in surprise at the severed head at his feet.
Senju Tobirama!
His brother, revived through the Edo Tensei, wasn't regenerating.
What's going on?
Normally, people revived through Edo Tensei recover from death and injury, gradually returning to their peak condition.
With infinite chakra!
These two aspects are what make this forbidden technique so terrifying.
Yet now, Tobirama's head lay at his feet with no sign of recovery.
Had he been sealed?
Hashirama's expression darkened.
Losing Tobirama at this moment was definitely not a good thing.
In fact, it was absolutely terrible!
Hashirama was naive but not foolish. At this moment, Konoha needed Tobirama—both his strength and his intellect.
"Itsuki!"
Itsuki slowly approached Hashirama and calmly said, "You are someone who longs for peace. So am I. But what I don't understand is why someone like you, who longs for peace, keeps attacking me?"
Hashirama remained silent.
He truly did long for peace!
But…
There were many things he couldn't control, even if he wanted to.
"Sigh, Itsuki."
Hashirama sighed. "We're not fools. You know exactly why Konoha is attacking Hidden Fire Village, so why ask me these questions?"
Pretending to be ignorant was pure nonsense.
"No, no, no!"
Itsuki shook his head repeatedly. "First Hokage, you misunderstand me. I'm not questioning Konoha attacking Hidden Fire Village or me. I'm asking why you, personally, would do this."
He tilted his head. "In my eyes, you're not that kind of person."
"You even dared to give the Tailed Beasts to other villages back then. What's changed now?"
"Itsuki!"
Hashirama said in a deep voice, "I may be the First Hokage, but Konoha belongs to everyone. It's not about what I want."
"Haha, First Hokage, what a funny statement!"
Itsuki chuckled, looking at the struggling Three-Tails, and said lightly, "You say Konoha belongs to everyone, yet why is the Uchiha Clan always targeted? Are we not part of 'everyone'? Did we do something wrong?"
"Why is it that under the leadership of certain people, everyone focuses on targeting the Uchiha?"
"Let's be real: Konoha only belongs to a select few."
"They decide Konoha's stance."
Itsuki shifted into a fighting stance and said, "Look at that old monkey by your side. If it weren't for him, none of this would've happened. First Hokage, do you regret giving the position of Hokage to someone like him?"
Senju Tobirama passing the position to Hiruzen Sarutobi had even been approved by Hashirama.
Long ago, both the First and Second Hokages had chosen Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So!
Danzo's brief moment of hesitation and regret was irrelevant from the start.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned pale.
Giving it to someone like him?
What kind of person?
During his tenure, he worked tirelessly, sacrificing everything for Konoha.
Why did they keep belittling him?
Was he an easy target?
"First Hokage, no more talking. Let's fight, shall we?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Itsuki, his eyes filled with fiery battle intent.
He had had enough of this. He'd rather die in battle than be looked down upon like this.
Everyone acted as if he had committed some unforgivable sin.
Didn't he care about Konoha's well-being?
Didn't he do enough for Konoha?
Has anyone considered the state of Konoha when he took over?
At that time, Konoha was on the brink of collapse.
He brought it back.
Had he not sacrificed enough for Konoha?
Now, everything was his fault.
He refused to accept it!
He refused from head to toe!
He wanted to ask: why!?
"Buzz!"
A strange power emanated from Hashirama's body.
His face slowly became covered with mysterious markings.
His entire aura grew even stronger.
"Sage Mode?"
"A Sage?"
Itsuki was surprised. "First Hokage, you're amazing. Even in this state, you can still transform into a Sage."
Hashirama's greatest strength was undoubtedly his Sage Mode.
After becoming a Sage, both his Wood Style and other ninjutsu increased in power tremendously.
However!
Orochimaru's Edo Tensei this time severely limited Hashirama's strength. Itsuki had always believed that in this state, Hashirama couldn't use Sage Mode.
In the original story, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been able to seal Hashirama, showing just how weakened Hashirama had been.
But now!
What's going on?
When fighting me, they keep getting stronger, don't they?
Even Sage Mode?
Itsuki was annoyed.
Am I just this unlucky?
Do I have to take this loss?
"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
Hashirama shouted.
"Buzz!"
A massive wooden dragon opened its mouth and coldly stared at Uchiha Itsuki, lunging at him.
"Whoosh!"
Itsuki quickly dodged, avoiding a direct clash.
"Boom!"
The wooden dragon crashed into the ground with a deafening roar, slithering like a snake and charging at Itsuki again.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Itsuki spat out a massive fireball over 100 meters wide.
"Boom!"
The wooden dragon slammed into the fireball, shattering it instantly.
Incredibly fierce!
The dragon lunged at Itsuki once more.
"Whoosh!"
Itsuki used the Body Flicker Technique again to dodge the wooden dragon's attack.
"Hmph!"
Itsuki glanced at the Three-Tails and said coldly, "Three-Tails, help me out!"
The Three-Tails, which had been howling in pain moments earlier, suddenly froze.
Its eyes now displayed the Mangekyo Sharingan pattern, staring coldly at the wooden dragon.
"Genjutsu?"
Hashirama's heart sank.
With just a glance, Itsuki had controlled a Tailed Beast.
Truly worthy of being called the second coming of Uchiha Madara.
"Roar!"
The Three-Tails roared, leaping onto the wooden dragon, biting down on it.
Wood chips flew everywhere.
"Wood Style: Wood Golem Jutsu!"
Hashirama Senju formed hand seals once again.
A massive wooden figure slowly emerged, lifting the Three-Tails and flipping it over.
The Three-Tails roared angrily, got up, and charged at the wooden figure.
The two massive entities clashed.
At that moment, Hashirama Senju was extremely fierce, forcing the Three-Tails to retreat again and again.
It seemed like he was about to finish off the opponent.
And this was just the current Hashirama Senju. If he unleashed his full power, forget the Three-Tails—he could handle the Nine-Tails with ease.
"Jiraiya!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer. He angrily kicked Jiraiya and yelled, "Get up and fight!"
Jiraiya remained silent.
Thinking of Naruto, his heart ached deeply.
He didn't even want to fight anymore; he just wanted to die.
He felt like he had let down Minato, Kushina, and Naruto.
He hoped that after his death, Minato would forgive him.
"Jiraiya!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was furious, saying, "You can die. I can die. Everyone can die. But what happens to Konoha after we're gone?"
"Will the Hidden Village of Fire make a move against Konoha? What about the other villages? Will they spare Konoha?"
"Do you want Konoha to fall?"
"Damn it."
"Everything we've done has been for Konoha!"
"We've done right by our conscience."
Jiraiya's lips trembled, but he still couldn't speak a single word.
He didn't want things to be this way! He really didn't want it this way! He didn't know what to do! Who could save him?
"Sigh..."
Seeing the helpless look on his beloved disciple's face, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply.
"Jiraiya, you've disappointed me."
"We may have wronged certain people or clans, but at least we've done right by most of the villagers of Konoha!"
"We have a clear conscience!"
"Well said!"
Itsuki applauded loudly, giving Hiruzen Sarutobi a round of applause.
Sarutobi's face darkened, and he had a bad feeling.
Itsuki looked seriously at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Hearing you speak so seriously is almost comical. Here's the deal, Sarutobi Hiruzen. I'll make a public vow: If you kill your own son and grandson, I won't attack Konoha for the next ten years. How's that for a deal? You'd really be coming out ahead."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned even darker, and he remained silent.
He knew it—whenever this guy spoke, nothing good came of it.
Damn it.
Now he's targeting my son and grandson.
Why don't you just drop dead already?!
"What's wrong? Can't do it?"
Itsuki looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with surprise and said, "All you have to do is sacrifice a few members of the Sarutobi clan to spare Konoha from a major enemy. Where else can you find a deal like this?"
"Or do you think I'm just spouting nonsense?"
"No way!"
Itsuki shouted, "If you dare to do it, I'll make a public declaration to the entire ninja world. How about that? That should effectively prove I'm not lying, right?"
As the leader of the Hidden Village of Fire, Itsuki was a well-known figure.
If he made such a public declaration and then went back on his word, it would bring ridicule not just to him but to the entire Hidden Village of Fire.
Sarutobi Hiruzen still said nothing.
"Oh, come on! You're not hesitating, are you?"
Itsuki shouted, "Didn't you just say with such righteous conviction that it's okay to sacrifice a few to save the many?"
"What's the deal?"
"It's okay to sacrifice someone else's kids, but when it comes to your own, suddenly it's not okay?"
"I mean, seriously, that's such a double standard!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned as black as coal.
The gazes from around him were filled with suspicion.
This time, it wasn't just the Kage or the Sannin present at the battlefield.
They had brought along many of Konoha's elite.
Because they knew they were in for a tough battle.
And now, before the fight even started, Sarutobi had already lost face.
Uchiha Itsuki, I swear I want to kill you!
…
Boom!
On the other side.
Sasori coldly stared at Kakashi and Nara Shikaku.
Out of the few ninjas who had been helping, only one remained; the rest were dead.
Sasori was too dangerous.
His entire body was coated in poison, and even a slight scratch would bring someone down.
And falling in a place like this wasn't much different from dying.
Moreover…
Because of the sheer number of puppets, Nara Shikaku was heavily restricted.
As a result, Kakashi and Shikaku were constantly on the back foot.
Deidara had watched for a while but eventually got bored and started yawning.
Seeing this, Sasori's expression grew more twisted.
It had taken so long, and yet the opponents were still standing. This was a disgrace.
So, his attacks became even more ruthless.
"Sigh, I was planning to…"
Deidara glanced at the Three-Tails, which was struggling against the wooden figure, and sighed.
He had wanted to play a big game with the Three-Tails, but now…
Unless he personally intervened.
But!
Neither Itsuki nor the First Hokage were easy to deal with.
If he went in now, what if he got killed?
"Just wait a little longer… just a bit longer!"
Deidara muttered to himself. "In a little while, I'll be ready to go!"
…
In the forest surrounding the battlefield.
A white snake slithered silently, flicking its tongue.
It fixated on the battle between the Three-Tails and the wooden figure, a contemplative look in its eyes.
A Sage...
Ryuchi Cave also had Sage Techniques.
The White Snake Sage was as famous as the Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest and the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku.
However, the Sage Techniques of Ryuchi Cave were difficult to master.
Even Orochimaru hadn't succeeded in learning them.
At that moment.
Watching these powerful ninjas fight, Orochimaru felt a stir in his heart.
Even Jiraiya, whom he usually looked down on, became extremely powerful after mastering Sage Techniques, perhaps even surpassing him.
If he could also learn Sage Techniques…
The world was becoming increasingly dangerous, and despite possessing many forbidden techniques, Orochimaru still didn't feel safe.
After today, he would have to prioritize learning Sage Techniques.
"Itsuki, I wonder if you'd be interested in making a deal with me."
The white snake watched Itsuki, who was aiding the Three-Tails, and muttered to itself.
Orochimaru knew that Itsuki had some knowledge of Sage Techniques.
He just didn't know how far Itsuki had progressed in his research.
But...
Based on what Orochimaru knew about Itsuki, he had likely mastered Sage Techniques.
Otherwise…
Itsuki would have been doing everything in his power to gather information about them.
If Uchiha Itsuki truly had mastered Sage Techniques, that would make him terrifying.
Without Sage Techniques, he was already this strong—if he used them, wouldn't he be unstoppable?
Could even Hashirama Senju stand against him?
A child in his early teens was already this powerful!
The white snake took one last deep look at Itsuki before burrowing into the ground.
Itsuki, on the other hand, was a bit confused.
Just now, it seemed like someone had been watching him, causing him to lose focus for a moment, nearly letting Hashirama Senju take him down.
Tobirama Senju?
No, that couldn't be—he had sealed him. Tobirama wouldn't be coming out anytime soon.
"Then who could it be?"
"Never mind!"
Itsuki quickly shook his head.
Why was he even thinking about this? Was it important?
Around this battlefield, spies from every village were likely watching.
It was perfectly normal for one of them to glance at him.
Trying to pinpoint who harbored ill intentions…
Sorry, he wasn't the Nine-Tails; he couldn't detect others' malice toward him.
The only thing he could do was show them his malice.
Boom!
Another huge explosion rang out.
This time, even Hashirama Senju was knocked off his wooden figure.
"Uchiha Itsuki!!!"
(End of Chapter)