Satoru's sudden appearance amidst the chaos drew immediate attention. Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed with a mix of curiosity and predatory instinct.
"How did I miss him before?" Orochimaru thought, his lips curling into a slight smirk. "No matter, I'll deal with him after Sarutobi."
The Third Hokage also locked his gaze on Satoru, his mind racing. The disguise as Kiba was clear now, but why was Satoru impersonating a Konoha ninja? And more importantly, when had Kiba been replaced?
Sarutobi's brow furrowed as a possibility crossed his mind. Was it during the message relay about Sasuke's delayed match? Could he have been Kiba then?
Meanwhile, Satoru, who had been comfortably lying low, noticed the weight of the stares now fixed on him. He sighed internally. "This isn't good. They've all figured me out."
Still, he put on a nonchalant face, standing up with an exaggerated stretch. He blinked innocently at the First, Second, and Third Hokage and Orochimaru, who were all staring at him like he was some rare species.
"What's with all the attention?" he asked with a sheepish grin. "You all look so serious! Did I miss the memo?"
The First Hokage, Hashirama, tilted his head, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "This one has an unusual air about him... and that act of playing dead was suspiciously sloppy."
His younger brother, Tobirama, spoke coldly. "Who are you, and why were you pretending to be a corpse? Answer carefully."
"Ah, relax, old-timers," Satoru replied with a smile, waving a hand as though brushing off their concerns. "I'm just an innocent bystander who got caught in the chaos. Thought playing dead might help me avoid unnecessary drama."
"'Innocent,' huh?" Orochimaru's voice dripped with sarcasm. "And yet you were disguised as a Konoha ninja. Tell me, Satoru, are you truly innocent, or is this part of some grander plan?"
The Third Hokage stepped forward, his stern expression betraying his unease. "Why did you impersonate Kiba? What are your intentions?"
With a resigned sigh, Satoru released the transformation jutsu, his bandaged face and black robes reappearing in a puff of smoke. Gasps erupted from the onlookers outside the barrier.
"It's him! The ninja from Sweet Ninja Village!" someone exclaimed.
"What's he doing here? And why was he disguised as one of us?" another wondered aloud.
Speculation ran rampant among the Konoha ninjas. Kakashi, watching from the sidelines, frowned. "Satoru again... Is his presence here related to the recent attacks on his village?"
Orochimaru's smile grew wider, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "What a pleasant surprise, Satoru. Our last encounter in the Forest of Death was rather brief. Perhaps today we'll have the time to properly test your abilities."
Satoru, unbothered by Orochimaru's thinly veiled threat, tilted his head toward the First and Second Hokage. "For the record," he said, pointing toward the coffins, "it was that guy who disturbed your eternal rest. Not me. I'm just here to spectate."
Hashirama, taken aback by Satoru's casual demeanor, chuckled. "You're an amusing one. Most people would cower in fear in this situation."
Tobirama remained cold, his eyes still scrutinizing Satoru. "Amusing or not, his presence here raises questions."
Before the conversation could continue, Orochimaru's patience ran out. "Enough chatter," he snapped, pulling out kunai engraved with charms and driving them into the backs of Hashirama and Tobirama's heads.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. An aura of pure malice radiated from the two resurrected Hokages as their personalities were forcefully suppressed.
From outside the barrier, Konoha's ninjas erupted in alarm.
"What's happening?" one of them asked.
"Those kunai—he's controlling them!" another shouted.
A senior ninja explained grimly. "That's the effect of the Reanimation Jutsu. The seals suppress their will and turn them into mindless weapons."
Inside the barrier, Orochimaru's grin widened as he savored the chaos. "Now then, let's continue. Sarutobi-sensei, it's time for you to face your past."
Hashirama, his cheerful demeanor gone, stepped forward like a puppet on strings. Tobirama followed, his gaze void of life.
Sarutobi prepared himself, his face lined with sorrow. "To think I would have to fight my mentors under these circumstances…"
Meanwhile, Satoru leaned against a wall within the barrier, arms crossed as though watching a theater performance.
"Hey, Orochimaru," Satoru called out. "You sure about this? You might be biting off more than you can chew."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed dangerously. "And what makes you think that, Satoru?"
Satoru smirked. "Just a hunch. But hey, don't let me interrupt. This is getting very interesting."
Orochimaru glared at him for a moment but chose to focus on the Hokage. "He'll get his turn soon enough."