Because Orochimaru's control over the Edo Tensei bodies was weak, Hashirama and Tobirama retained their full consciousness. Upon hearing someone mention his name, Hashirama couldn't help but take notice, purely out of curiosity.
He could swear he meant no harm—he simply couldn't remember ever facing someone like Kakuzu.
"Tobirama, do you remember him?" Hashirama turned to his younger brother, the one always obsessed with researching strange things. If it weren't for Tobirama developing the Edo Tensei technique, Hashirama wouldn't have to deal with being disturbed even after death.
Honestly, what was the point of all that research? None of it could beat the simplicity of his wood style techniques.
Tobirama, clad in blue armor, stood in stark contrast to his elder brother. Hashirama was straightforward, cheerful, and carefree, while Tobirama was cunning, reserved, and full of schemes. With a cold expression, Tobirama glanced at Kakuzu below and shook his head.
"Never seen him before."
He emphasized "seen," not "remember," because Tobirama's memory was sharp. He was confident Kakuzu had never fought his brother.
"That's strange! But he claims to have faced me in battle. Could he have disguised himself back then?" Hashirama scratched his head, puzzled.
The tension among the gathered Konoha shinobi eased at this unexpected detour. Even if the enemy was formidable, they didn't seem invincible. There was still hope for victory.
Hidan swung his scythe horizontally, retreating to Kakuzu's side as he shouted, "Hey, Kakuzu!"
"You're always bragging about fighting the First Hokage. Don't tell me it's all lies?"
Damn it!
Kakuzu had half a mind to chop his partner into pieces. Couldn't Hidan just ignore it for now? Did he really have to yell it out loud like that?
"Hmph! Hashirama! How forgetful you are!" Kakuzu sneered, trying to salvage the situation.
"Then again, for a so-called God of Shinobi, I must've been nothing more than a nameless assassin back then. After all, there were countless others trying to kill you!"
Kakuzu decided to lower the stakes of his tale, hoping to bluff his way through.
"Oh! So you were one of those assassins back then?" Hashirama's face lit up in realization, letting Kakuzu breathe a slight sigh of relief.
"But how have you lived for so long?" Hashirama asked curiously.
This time, Kakuzu didn't need to answer. Tobirama, the resident expert on "strange things," quickly deduced the truth.
"It's due to the Earth Grudge Fear technique from Takigakure. It allows him to take the hearts of others and use them as his own. As long as he replaces his hearts before the current ones fail, he can essentially achieve a form of immortality."
"Tobirama, why do you know so much about this?"
"I wanted to experiment with it back then, but you wouldn't allow it," Tobirama replied bluntly, his tone dripping with resentment.
"If you'd let me bring Earth Grudge Fear to Konoha, we wouldn't have this enemy today," he added, clearly still holding a grudge against Hashirama's interference in his research even after all these years.
"So, Kakuzu, you were originally a ninja from Takigakure?" Hashirama continued chatting leisurely.
Kakuzu felt a cold sweat forming. Stop this useless banter! My whole history is being exposed here!
"Orochimaru!" Kakuzu bellowed. "Control your damned jutsu and kill the Third Hokage already! I'm tired of this fight."
Not waiting for a reply, Kakuzu unleashed all five of his hearts' elemental attacks simultaneously, targeting the Konoha shinobi.
"Hey! Kakuzu!" Hidan yelled, trailing behind him. "You still haven't clarified whether you really fought the First Hokage!"
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" A massive flaming dragon erupted, engulfing Hidan completely.
The inferno roared as Hidan's voice faded beneath it.
"Hot! Hot! HOT!"
Hidan stumbled out of the fire, his body charred black.
"Kakuzu, watch where you aim your jutsu! I might not die, but it still hurts like hell!" he complained.
Kakuzu deadpanned, his tone flat. "Sorry, Hidan."
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!" A bolt of lightning struck Hidan, who had just escaped the flames, slamming him into the ground.
"Sorry again, Hidan!" Kakuzu muttered dryly.
He'd definitely do it again next time.
The battle resumed in full force. Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the Third Hokage showed signs of fatigue, while the Konoha shinobi pushed themselves to their limits.
"Lightning Cutter!"
Kakuzu grabbed Hidan, using him as a shield to block Kakashi's attack. Hidan cried out in pain as Kakashi's lightning blade pierced through his chest.
"Kakuzu! Couldn't you have dodged that yourself?" Hidan growled.
"Sorry, Hidan," Kakuzu replied, not sounding sorry at all.
"Fire Release: Head-on Collision!" Kakuzu kicked both Hidan and Kakashi skyward. His fire elemental creature spat out a searing inferno, engulfing them indiscriminately.
"Sorry, Hidan!" Kakuzu called out again, as the flames consumed his partner.
"Now, it's time for Konoha's Green Beast to shine!"
"Gate of Closing, open!" Mighty Guy roared, opening the Fifth Gate. His skin flushed red, and green chakra steam radiated off him. His presence surged, overwhelming the battlefield.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. Eight Gates...
This infamous forbidden jutsu had been around since the Warring States period. Kakuzu knew its terrifying power well. No wonder Deidara had warned them to watch out for this "kappa."
At Five Gates, he could still manage. At Six Gates, it would be dangerous. At Seven Gates, Kakuzu knew he wouldn't survive.
"Hidan, be careful!" Kakuzu warned. "Your job is to hold off that kappa. If he gets past you, we're both doomed."
Seeing Kakuzu's rare seriousness, Hidan straightened up slightly. Even someone like him couldn't afford to mess around when faced with so many enemies.
"Reverse Lotus!" Guy charged at them at blinding speed, appearing in front of Kakuzu and Hidan in an instant.
So fast!
Both of them were stunned. Hidan couldn't even react, but Kakuzu's instincts kicked in.
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!" Kakuzu quickly summoned a water prison to shield himself just before Guy's kick connected.
Instead of relying on hardening techniques, Kakuzu needed his mobility to counterattack rather than endure blows passively.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!" Kakuzu's flames erupted in all directions, forcing Guy to retreat temporarily. Unlike Kakuzu, he had no defenses against such an overwhelming attack.
As for Hidan...
"Sorry, Hidan!" Kakuzu muttered yet again, watching his partner writhe in the flames. He didn't sound sorry at all.
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