Isobu!
Isobu was furious!
Being suppressed by Hashirama Senju made him enraged.
Under the control of Itsuki Uchiha's genjutsu, Isobu started to go berserk.
He curled up into a ball, but the energy of the Tailed Beast Ball began to gather.
Hashirama kept his gaze locked on him, and his wooden golem became even more aggressive.
Blow after blow hammered Isobu, forcing him deep into the ground.
"Mokuton: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Staring at the sunken Isobu, Hashirama formed hand signs once again.
A massive wave of trees surged forth, wrapping tightly around Isobu, layer after layer, until the beast was completely engulfed.
"Isobu captured!"
With the last of the wood binding Isobu in place, Hashirama relaxed his stance.
While it was easy to curl up, escaping would be far more difficult.
Hashirama was confident Isobu couldn't break free.
"First Hokage, sir!"
The Leaf Village shinobi, witnessing the scene, were overjoyed.
"That's incredible! Truly amazing!"
"As expected from Lord Hashirama!"
Just then, a shadow appeared behind Hashirama, reaching out to grab him.
Itsuki Uchiha!
Hashirama's pupils shrank, his entire body freezing in place.
Itsuki's hand pierced through his chest.
However, Itsuki frowned.
"A wood clone?"
As expected!
Hashirama's body slowly turned into a tree.
The real Hashirama appeared not far from Itsuki.
The wood clone's task wasn't over yet.
It suddenly transformed into numerous branches, tightly wrapping around Itsuki.
"Ha!"
"Boom!"
With Hashirama's shout, a violent explosion erupted, with Itsuki at the center.
The ground began to sink under the immense power.
"Mokuton: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Once again, Hashirama unleashed Mokuton. Giant trees whipped toward Itsuki's position.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
One strike after another rained down like a storm.
It wasn't clear how long the barrage lasted, but the entire landscape changed before Hashirama finally stopped.
"Phew!"
Hashirama's eyes remained fixed on Itsuki's location.
The nearby shinobi also gathered around, ready to assist Hashirama in launching another attack.
"How did it go?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked excitedly, "Lord First Hokage, did you succeed? Did you take out that wicked Uchiha brat, Itsuki?"
Hashirama didn't respond.
Though his attacks seemed to have worked, something still felt off.
As the dust slowly settled, Itsuki's figure came into view.
He wasn't as injured as expected—he wasn't hurt at all.
"How is that possible?"
Hashirama couldn't help but exclaim.
He had used his full power just moments ago.
If that barrage had no effect, what was the point of continuing the fight?
It seemed no matter how much he attacked, it wouldn't matter to Itsuki.
"Heh, First Hokage, you're strong as always!"
Itsuki smiled, saying, "You've broken through several layers of my defenses—quite surprising."
During the attack, Itsuki had employed Doton (Earth Release).
He had also summoned Susanoo.
First, he used Doton as the initial layer of defense.
Then, he relied on Susanoo.
The first layer of armor shattered.
The second layer of flesh was smashed.
The third layer of bones was crushed.
One layer after another, breaking apart.
In the end, Itsuki had no choice but to use Sage Mode for the first time.
That's right!
Faced with Hashirama Senju, Itsuki was forced to use Sage Mode for the first time. The Sage Mode allowed Itsuki to merge with nature, enhancing his jutsu's power while effectively evading Hashirama's attacks.
That was why he was unscathed.
Otherwise...
He would've been in serious trouble by now.
Even shinobi like Itachi and Shisui wouldn't have escaped without being heavily injured under such an onslaught. They might have died on the spot.
To put it bluntly, Hashirama's reckless attacks were only this effective because of his Sage Mode.
Mokuton alone wouldn't have been enough.
It was Mokuton combined with Sage Mode that made Hashirama truly terrifying.
"How are you unharmed?"
Hashirama couldn't resist asking.
He had locked Itsuki down with Mokuton, used Sage Mode to sense his opponent, confirmed that Itsuki hadn't escaped, and then unleashed his full assault.
He hadn't expected Itsuki to survive his attacks.
Yet the reality of the situation felt like a slap in the face.
"First Hokage, do you really understand me?"
Itsuki chuckled softly, saying, "Do you think what you've seen is the full extent of my power?"
"You're wrong!"
"You've never truly understood me."
Itsuki formed a hand sign.
"Boom!"
A massive explosion erupted where Isobu was trapped.
Isobu had broken free.
The giant beast glared coldly at Hashirama, letting out a furious roar.
If not for Itsuki Uchiha, Isobu would have been captured.
Despite being under genjutsu, Isobu's inherent brutality and pride as a tailed beast remained unshaken.
"Come, Isobu!"
Itsuki shouted as he leaped onto Isobu's head.
"Buzz!"
The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan began to spread.
"T-this is... Madara!"
Seeing what Itsuki was doing, Hashirama couldn't help but mutter.
This scene reminded him of Uchiha Madara.
Just like Madara, Itsuki was now using Susanoo as armor for the tailed beast.
At that moment, Isobu was encased in the armor created by Susanoo.
"Come, Hashirama!"
Itsuki roared.
Isobu let out an enraged howl, swiping fiercely at Hashirama.
"Wood Golem Jutsu!"
Hashirama formed his wood golem again, rushing forward. Earlier, he had been able to suppress Isobu, but now, he was being forced back repeatedly by the beast's strength.
"What power!"
Hashirama, now in Sage Mode, stared down Isobu, his expression grim.
"We'll join the fight too!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Jōnin also leaped into action.
Some threw shuriken.
Others used various jutsu.
Hiruzen unleashed a B-rank Fire Release technique.
Itsuki didn't even glance at them. His focus remained solely on Hashirama, commanding Isobu to continue the assault.
Hashirama, despite his strength, was steadily pushed back.
This scene caused many shinobi hiding in the shadows to feel a sense of awe.
Is this really the God of Shinobi?
The man who once single-handedly brought peace to the warring world.
Who could have imagined that after his death, even his body would be dug up to fight for Konoha once again?
In a way, the fact that Konoha was resorting to the reanimation of the former Hokage signaled the beginning of the village's decline.
Konoha was facing a massive upheaval.
"Prepare to act!"
Several people whispered the same command.
"Act? Against whom?"
"Everyone! Both the forces of Konoha and Fire Village, Hashirama Senju, and Itsuki Uchiha—all of them must be eliminated."
"Yes!"
.......
**"Bang! Bang! Bang!"**
The Three-Tails relentlessly launched one attack after another.
Even with the support of Sage Arts, the wooden figure was pushed back, unable to withstand the armored Three-Tails' onslaught.
"I can't believe this..."
Hashirama Senju couldn't help but smile bitterly.
It had been so long since he felt like this.
Facing all his past enemies, he had always overwhelmed them with brute force, defeating everything in his path.
But now, he was actually being suppressed.
A sense of melancholy arose in his heart.
His era had passed, after all.
Everything before him now belonged to the younger generation.
"Hmm?"
As Hashirama's attitude shifted, Itsuki, who was attacking, quickly sensed the change. His expression remained cold as he continued his assault.
"Roar!"
The Three-Tails let out an angry roar.
A massive amount of chakra began to gather.
**Tailed Beast Bomb!**
Hashirama clapped his hands together.
**"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"**
*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
Accompanied by the sound of wood creaking, a huge wooden dragon appeared.
**"Tailed Beast Bomb!"**
The Three-Tails fired the Tailed Beast Bomb directly at Hashirama.
"Roar!"
The wooden dragon roared and bit down on the bomb.
**Bang!**
A muffled explosion followed.
The wooden dragon's head was blown to pieces.
Immediately after, the wooden figure stepped forward, grabbing the weakened Tailed Beast Bomb with its hand.
With a forceful swing, it hurled the bomb to the side.
**Boom!!!**
A massive explosion sounded.
A huge crater appeared behind both of them.
"That's more like it! Let's go again!"
Itsuki chuckled softly as more chakra flowed into the Three-Tails.
"Roar!"
The Three-Tails roared once more, gathering another Tailed Beast Bomb.
Hashirama bit his finger hard.
**"Fivefold Rashomon!"**
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
*Bang...*
Five gates appeared, standing between the Three-Tails and Hashirama, forcefully altering the trajectory of the Tailed Beast Bomb.
Another powerful shockwave shook the earth, leaving yet another crater in its wake.
"How does it have so much chakra?"
Hashirama frowned, staring at the Three-Tails.
Was this really the Three-Tails?
The amount of chakra was comparable to the Nine-Tails.
It kept firing Tailed Beast Bombs without any sign of exhaustion.
Itsuki, too, was filled with questions.
Summoning Jutsu?
Blood-based summoning? Where does a reanimated corpse even get blood from?
When Hashirama bites his finger, isn't it just paper in his mouth?
Besides...
It's all waste paper!
Could it be that when they die, people burn paper offerings for them, and that's how they're reanimated?
Wait, is this the real secret behind Edo Tensei?
The deceased are brought back using the paper offerings people burn for them?
That's creepy!
Itsuki shook his head repeatedly.
"First Hokage, let's continue!"
The Three-Tails began gathering another Tailed Beast Bomb in its mouth.
"Get lost!"
A deep, booming voice rang out.
A figure crackling with lightning slammed into the Three-Tails, forcing it to retreat. The Tailed Beast Bomb was naturally interrupted.
They couldn't allow the Three-Tails to continue its assault. Those bombs had already taken out several of their allies.
Itsuki glanced over, sneering, "Raikage? What, is Kumogakure getting involved too?"
"Not just them!"
A deep voice echoed.
**"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"**
A short figure appeared above Itsuki, a rotating cube forming in his hands.
"Dust Release?"
Itsuki's expression turned serious, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing as powerful ocular energy filled the air.
*Buzz!*
Dust Release exploded.
**"Susano'o!"**
Itsuki shouted, and a unique arm of Susano'o appeared, clenched into a fist, striking at the Dust Release.
**Bang!**
Susano'o's arm was slowly eroded by the Dust Release.
However...
The Dust Release's attack was also gradually worn down.
"Roar!"
Seeing that Susano'o's arm was about to be completely destroyed, the Three-Tails roared and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at the Dust Release.
The two attacks neutralized each other.
Ōnoki lowered his hands and gazed at Itsuki intently.
"Uchiha Itsuki, huh? Impressive. You're the first shinobi to block my Dust Release head-on."
"The first? Don't worry, I won't be the last!"
Itsuki smiled confidently at Ōnoki, quickly weaving hand signs.
**"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"**
**Bang!**
A massive fireball, hundreds of meters wide, shot into the sky.
In an instant—just an instant—the fireball swallowed Ōnoki.
But...
All that was left in the flames was a burning stone figure of Ōnoki.
**Rock Clone?!**
Itsuki's gaze shifted, locking onto a spot where the real Ōnoki slowly reappeared.
Ōnoki stared warily at Itsuki, saying, "You... you're dangerous!"
In this Uchiha, he could see the shadow of Uchiha Madara.
This was an extremely dangerous ninja.
One reckless moment, and he'd lose his life to the violent attacks.
"Well, well, looks like we've got quite the gathering today!"
Itsuki glanced around, smirking. "First Hokage, Fourth Raikage, Third Tsuchikage... Sunagakure doesn't have a Kazekage, Kirigakure's Mizukage has closed their borders... and me, the First Mokukage. Quite the lineup, wouldn't you say?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Am I not a Kage?
Uchiha Itsuki, you really are detestable!
I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, officially declare: You're dead to me!
"First Hokage!"
The Raikage bowed respectfully to Hashirama.
Despite being enemies, he held immense respect for the God of Shinobi.
However...
At this moment, Hashirama was his foe.
In battle, the Raikage would show no mercy.
Ōnoki also bowed his head in respect.
"No need for that," Hashirama sighed, "Seeing you all makes me realize I should never have been revived. I should've been buried with the relics of the past."
"First Hokage!"
Hiruzen called out, "Please, pull yourself together! Konoha needs you!"
*Sigh...*
Hashirama let out a long, deep sigh.
So, this was the state of Konoha now.
Forcing a long-dead Hokage to return in an incomplete form, continuously dragged into battles.
Even Konoha had become unrecognizable to him.
"Does the First Hokage desire the Three-Tails?"
The Raikage asked slowly, "If so, I believe we need to have a serious discussion."
"Indeed,"
Ōnoki said sternly, "The Tailed Beasts cannot be handed over to Konoha so easily."
"Everyone!"
Hashirama frowned. "You all know the reason I distributed the Tailed Beasts back then was to maintain balance. Now, Konoha has no Tailed Beasts, meaning the balance has been broken. To avoid war, Konoha needs a Tailed Beast."
The Third Tsuchikage smiled.
"That's Konoha's problem."
"Is that so?"
Hashirama's expression turned cold. "In that case, I'll pay Iwagakure a visit. You wouldn't mind, would you, Tsuchikage?"
Ōnoki's smile froze.
Even in his incomplete state, Hashirama's strength was acknowledged by all.
He was still leagues above the average Kage.
And with his immortality and infinite chakra...
If he stormed Iwagakure, it would be disastrous.
(End of chapter)