Compared to that jutsu, what concerned them more was the current situation. Shouhe was sealed, and Master Maki had fallen. The next one would be Gaara.
Kankuro gritted his teeth, throwing a shuriken wrapped in an explosive tag. As it burned with a hissing sound, it cut through the wind sharply.
However, the attack was futile. Naruto merely raised his hand, and a flash of white lightning appeared. "Way of Destruction #4, White Lightning."
It detonated mid-air, a plume of smoke rising into the air. Temari burst through the black smoke, the explosive force propelling her to stand in front of Gaara. But, as the intensity of that force faded, she once again found herself relying on her fan for support, struggling to maintain her balance.
Yet she persisted, fear evident in her eyes, but with no intention of retreating. "You can't even stand in front of me. Why do you insist on coming closer?" Naruto gently inquired as he placed his hand back on the hilt of his sword.
His aura sharpened, the pressure deliberate and intense. Temari, overwhelmed by the weight, knelt slightly. Still, she gripped her fan tightly, struggling to rise once more.
"You bastard…" Under the immense pressure, even speaking became a daunting challenge, forcing her to almost roar to let the words escape.
"I am Gaara's sister!" She pulled her hands upward with all her might, her legs quaking beneath her.
Gaara, lying on the ground, stared blankly at Temari's back, lost in thought.
"If you want to hurt him, then deal with me first!" she shouted, her last word reverberating in determination. It seemed her struggle began to yield results, and she stood up.
But Temari was momentarily stunned, her gaze fixed on Naruto. She was certain of one thing: it wasn't sheer will that had allowed her to overcome this weight. The blonde youth removed his hand from the sword hilt, lifting the enormous pressure off her.
"Ah, sister," Naruto said with a gentle smile, appearing in front of her in an instant, raising his hand. "That's quite a good response. I like it. But we're currently opposing each other, so please stay here for now."
Feeling his fingertip brush her forehead caused Temari to flinch involuntarily.
"Way of Binding #1, Sealing."
Her body reacted oddly as her arms twisted uncontrollably, binding her own limbs. Naruto looked down, meeting the gaze of the red-haired Jinchuriki. The two locked eyes, and he spoke softly, "Gaara is loved by someone too."
Gaara averted his gaze, silently moving his attention to Temari.
In a flash, Naruto vanished. He headed towards the platform, breaking the illusion cast on Karin before taking her to the lookout tower.
The rooftop was nearly entirely occupied by a purple barrier. A group of Anbu ninjas stood outside the barrier, having attempted multiple methods to breach it, but found themselves helpless. They could only watch as the Third Hokage battled the rogue ninja Orochimaru without being able to assist.
Inside the barrier, trees twisted and writhed unnaturally, four figures confronting each other atop the highest branches. Sarutobi Hiruzen faced three opponents. One of them was Orochimaru, sporting a new face. The other two held features that were familiar to Naruto.
He directed his gaze towards the Hokage Monument in the distance. The two figures resembled the sculptures above – the First Hokage and the Second Hokage.
Haven't these two already died? What are they doing here now, opposing the Third Hokage?
A chilling thought sparked in his mind. "Why are the First and Second Hokage appearing here?" Naruto glanced at an Anbu beside him.
"In a vile summoning technique by Orochimaru, they have been resurrected," the Anbu replied in a low voice.
"To pull the souls of the deceased back to the living world and control them?" Naruto wasn't surprised by this answer; he was just confirming a likely reality. However, another unsettling thought began to gnaw at him. "Are these the only two Hokage?"
Konoha had four Hokage, and only one remained alive. The missing three had all appeared here.
The Anbu, somewhat taken aback by his question, answered, "Orochimaru seems to have attempted to summon a third deceased, but he was suppressed by Lord Hokage."
The third deceased! Naruto tightened his fists with wide eyes. Anger flared within him, burning fiercely.
A nefarious thought materialized. How dare this dark manipulator toy with the souls of the dead!
Inside the barrier, Naruto's arrival caught the attention of the two figures.
"Oh, look who it is, the Jinchuriki kid has arrived," Orochimaru grinned, his face a twisted mask of excitement. "Sarutobi-sensei, I didn't expect to have such an intriguing audience." He licked his lips, his interest piqued.
"Those strange techniques…" Sarutobi's expression darkened, gravely concerned. "Orochimaru, are you trying to manipulate Naruto?"
"Isn't he fascinating?" Orochimaru turned away dismissively, unconcerned. He instinctively reached for his chest, the scar from their previous battle still fresh and painful.
Though it was just a simple slash, the pain lingered. Yet they had only clashed once.
Was it the effect of that jutsu, or was it purely aimed at him? Sarutobi inhaled deeply, glancing at Naruto, then back at the barrier, realizing the futility of their struggle against Orochimaru.
He was forced to confront a chilling fact: he was growing old.
Fighting against Orochimaru was becoming a struggle, and now he had summoned the previous two Hokage. Even if their power was not what it once was, their status as Hokage was undeniable.
At this rate, he would surely die at Orochimaru's hands. Rather than wait for death, he resolutely decided to employ that jutsu.
Naruto was still young and in need of a role model. He never anticipated that even at the end of his own life, he would still require the power of the Fourth Hokage.
Sarutobi separated a shadow clone. He focused his chakra, forming intricate hand seals.
Orochimaru scoffed.
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief as he caught sight of what appeared behind Sarutobi. A semi-transparent, towering figure materialized.
With dual horns atop its head and an ominous, grotesque visage, it bore a short blade in its mouth. The power of souls radiated around it.
Sarutobi's spirit began to detach from his body, displaying it as a sacrifice before this looming figure.
"What is this?"
"Orochimaru, I will not allow you to destroy this village," Sarutobi declared, his voice laced with weariness. "Let me show you a technique you have never seen before."
"Let me also show you…"
"The will of the Hokage, burning for the village."
As he spoke, the spectral figure behind him raised its hand high, a grotesque symbol etched upon its arm.
A more terrifying force of spirit began to condense within its grasp, and with a downward sweep, it pierced Sarutobi's spirit, reaching for the two reanimated Hokage, pulling their souls from their puppet forms.
Withdrawing the grasp of the soul, the spectral figure left a seal upon Sarutobi's body, as if the spirit had been sealed within him.
But the soul was absent now. In an instant, it vanished entirely.
Damn it. Naruto gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the purple barrier sealing them off.
What an inconvenience! The view through this barrier was dreadfully limited.
(End of Chapter)