Minato Namikaze had no idea that when the system rewarded him with the **spiritual pressure of the Shinigami**, his chakra underwent a complete transformation—both in **quantity** and **nature**.
Across from him, Orochimaru's already pale face grew even paler. His golden eyes widened in disbelief, his breath quick and uneven. **Fear** seeped into his voice as he rasped:
"What… What the hell is going on?!"
The chakra surrounding Minato was so dense that it was **visible to the naked eye**—a rich, suffocating force that weighed heavily on Orochimaru's body. **This shouldn't be possible.**
_Minato Namikaze in front, Uchiha Itachi behind…_
Both of them had surpassed him. The realization clawed at his pride, filling him with a deep sense of dread.
Minato's presence alone made Orochimaru feel as if he were standing before an **unstoppable force**—one that he simply **could not match**.
"Fuck!"
Cold sweat slid down Orochimaru's forehead. His breathing grew ragged as he struggled to comprehend what he was seeing. Was it **the pressure?** An **illusion?** **No**, it was **real**.
How did Minato's chakra grow so vast?
What Orochimaru didn't realize was that Minato's new **spiritual pressure** not only amplified his chakra but also fundamentally **altered its nature**.
More importantly, Orochimaru—who had transferred his soul into multiple bodies through his **forbidden jutsu**—had long weakened the resilience of his **own soul**. And now, Minato's chakra carried traces of the **Shinigami's power**—a force that directly affected the **soul itself**.
The pressure alone was unbearable.
For Orochimaru, this was the ultimate irony. He, who prided himself as **one of the Legendary Sannin**, was now **struggling to withstand a mere surge of chakra**. His lips twisted into a bitter smile.
_Minato was dead for over a decade, yet he returned stronger than ever._
_What a joke._
For years, he had believed that Minato was **only slightly stronger than the average Kage**. But now… this power was beyond reason.
"There's no way he was training inside the belly of the Shinigami, right? Even fiction wouldn't dare write something that ridiculous."
Orochimaru forced a laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
---
Minato's calm, blue eyes locked onto him. "I'm sorry, Orochimaru. But I can't let the Third Hokage die today."
The words were spoken with unwavering **conviction**.
Orochimaru's face twisted with fury.
"Damn it! Damn it all! You should have stayed dead!"
A crushing weight pressed down on him, but physical pain was **nothing** compared to the **humiliation** he felt now.
Even as he staggered under Minato's overwhelming chakra, Orochimaru straightened his back and **grinned**—a twisted, mocking smile.
"Hah… You really are the genius Jiraiya always praised."
Minato blinked. "Wait… you're still trying?"
He couldn't help but be **a little impressed**. Despite the situation, Orochimaru refused to give up. But then again, Orochimaru **was** one of the Sannin—his pride wouldn't allow him to surrender so easily.
With a **sharp clap**, Orochimaru's hands came together in a **hand seal**. The First and Second Hokage—who had been standing idle—suddenly **stirred**.
"Suiton: Suidanha!" (Water Style: Water Rush!)
"Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan!" (Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!)
In an instant, a **massive surge of water** erupted forward, forming a tornado-like current that rushed toward Minato. At the same time, towering **trees** burst from the ground, twisting and sprawling in all directions, consuming the battlefield.
Minato's sharp gaze swept across the terrain.
"Strange… These two shouldn't be this strong."
By all logic, **Edo Tensei** only allowed the reincarnated to use a **fraction** of their original power. Yet, **his spiritual pressure failed to suppress them**.
Was it because Edo Tensei bodies regenerated instantly?
Minato had no time to dwell on it. He **leapt**, narrowly avoiding Tobirama's water attack, landing lightly on a dead tree—
**BANG!**
A sudden impact from behind!
Minato instinctively twisted his body, dodging just in time to see **Senju Hashirama's foot smashing into the tree where he stood moments ago**.
But something was off.
"Wait—!"
**POOF!**
The Hashirama in front of him **dispersed into smoke**.
_A wood clone!_
"Shashasha!!"
Before he could react, Tobirama was already **in front of him**, blade in hand.
Minato **countered instantly**, his **Rasengan smashing against the blade**—
**BOOM!**
The impact sent Tobirama **skidding back**, tearing through the dense forest around them.
Minato barely had a moment to breathe before Hashirama rejoined the fight. The two **brothers** worked in **perfect synchronization**—one attacked, the other defended. No wasted movement.
Minato's eyes narrowed.
"They read my every move… Are they tracking me through Wood Release?"
He focused, extending his **spiritual perception**—and immediately, he **felt it**.
The battlefield was flooded with **life energy**, or more accurately, **Wood Release chakra**. Hashirama was using the trees to **sense his location**, relaying information to Tobirama in real time.
_That explains their flawless teamwork._
Minato sighed.
"Alright… I think it's time to end this."
There was no point in dragging this out. He still had other **places to check in** and grow stronger.
Just as Hashirama and Tobirama lunged at him for their next attack—
Tobirama's **blade** shot toward his chest.
Hashirama's **wooden tendrils** coiled around him from behind.
Minato **closed his eyes**.
And then—
**WHOOSH!**
A wave of **immense energy** burst from his body, halting their attacks instantly.
Orochimaru's jaw dropped. His pupils shrank.
"No way… This chakra… It's…!"
A single phrase escaped his lips—
"Sage Mode?!"
A golden glow flickered across Minato's skin as he reopened his eyes, now marked with the **distinct toad-like pupils of a Sage**.
Minato tilted his head slightly.
"Huh… Realistically speaking, I haven't really practiced Sage Mode that much."
His tone was light, almost casual.
But the power radiating from his body told an entirely different story.
Orochimaru gritted his teeth.
"This is getting ridiculous…!"
Minato simply smiled.
"Shall we continue?"
---