Whoosh! Edo Tensei Tobirama returned to Orochimaru's side, bringing along the Hawk squad and Kakashi.
Suigetsu stretched his shoulders. "Target secured. Mission complete. Time to wrap it up."
"No." Orochimaru shook his head lightly, his hoarse voice calm. "We're not done yet. There's still cleanup to handle. But that part doesn't concern you."
If Naruto continues believing this Edo Tensei attack was Akira's doing, then I've failed my duty.
And Sasuke… needs a convincing reason for failing to stop Kakashi's capture.
Since Naruto has already dealt with the Third—
Then the Second… will be his parting gift.
Whoosh!
Tobirama vanished and reappeared in Konoha's temporary camp.
Clap!
Without hesitation, his hands formed seals.
—Water Release: Great Water Shock Wave!
Boom!
In an instant, a flood surged like a tidal wave, smashing through more than a dozen wooden houses. Fortunately, the residents had already evacuated due to the earlier alert, so there were no casualties.
This had all been calculated precisely by Orochimaru.
The rushing torrent grew stronger by the second, threatening to engulf everything.
"To unleash such a powerful Water Release without a water source…!"
"It's the Second Hokage! He's been revived with Edo Tensei!"
"The village is under attack again!"
But this time, the enemy wasn't someone like Jigen or Uchiha Akira. The shinobi quickly regained their composure.
"Earth Release users, build a barrier!"
—Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Walls of earth rose rapidly, forming a defensive ring that blocked the flood.
Watching from above, Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"The power of that Water Release… just like the Third, the Second has been revived at full strength beyond the Fourth War."
"The objective has already been achieved, yet Tobirama was sent back here…"
"Orochimaru… so this is your intention."
"…Then I'll accept your goodwill."
Edo Tobirama stood atop the raging waters. His sharp sensory ability had already detected Sasuke on the mountain.
His hand seals changed instantly.
—Water Release: Severing Wave!
A high-pressure blade of water shot from his mouth, slicing through the flood and the earth walls, tearing the mountain apart into a canyon where Sasuke stood.
Sasuke smirked, sidestepping the cutting line. In the next moment, a space-time portal opened—
He appeared directly above Tobirama.
—Fire Release: Great Fireball Meteor!
Boom!
A massive meteor-like fireball descended from the sky.
—Water Release: Great Water Dragon Bullet!
The surrounding flood surged upward, forming a colossal water dragon that devoured the fireball instantly.
But as the flames died—
A core of black fire, the size of a tavern, was revealed within.
It burned through the water dragon and crashed downward.
Boom!!!
A hellish eruption of black flames engulfed everything within the barrier, turning it into a blazing inferno.
From within, black flame spears formed, jagged and interlocking.
High above, Sasuke pressed his palm downward, wrapped in a dense violet chakra.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dozens of Susanoo greatswords rained from the sky, embedding themselves into the black inferno, tinting it with an eerie purple glow.
Sasuke landed lightly atop one of the sword blades.
His gaze swept across the battlefield—
And quickly found Tobirama, who had escaped using Flying Thunder God to a distant cliff.
Sasuke raised his hand.
Boom!
The cliff collapsed, burying Tobirama under a landslide of stone.
Whoosh!
Tobirama teleported again, but the moment he landed, the ground beneath him shattered and surged upward.
"Pointless," Sasuke said coldly. "The moment I designate you as the gravitational core of my dual Rinnegan's Chibaku Tensei, no matter where you flee, your fate is to become a star."
"Accept it."
Rumble!!!
The earth swallowed Tobirama completely, forming a massive celestial body capable of sealing even the Nine-Tails.
Lightning gathered in Sasuke's right hand—Six Paths Yin Lightning.
His black cloak fluttered as he leapt into the air, thrusting the lightning into the core.
In an instant, arcs of electricity spread across the entire sphere.
—Chidori: Star Breaker!
BOOM!!!
The celestial body exploded in a dazzling burst of light, illuminating Konoha's sky—
And its people's hearts.
"Incredible… Sasuke's power has reached this level…"
"So this is the power of the Six Paths…"
"If they had this power earlier… we wouldn't have suffered so much against Jigen or Uchiha Akira!"
As the dust settled, Tobirama's Edo body did not reform.
Orochimaru lowered his hands, releasing the jutsu.
"That concludes Sasuke's cleanup."
"Now… it's time to finish the other side."
Whoosh!
Minato appeared beside him—
But in a miserable state, half his body gone.
Suigetsu blinked. "Seriously? Half your body's gone? Naruto hits his own dad that hard?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "If it weren't his father, there wouldn't even be ashes left. Naruto's power has exceeded expectations."
He lifted Kakashi onto his shoulder. Minato staggered forward, placing a hand on Orochimaru's other shoulder.
Suigetsu frowned. "You're really going back? If you slip up, you'll be wiped out completely."
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Even so, I must take the risk. After all… this is something my 'father' entrusted to me."
On a deserted island in the outer seas—
Naruto stood facing Edo Hashirama.
Moments earlier, while Sasuke fought Tobirama, Orochimaru had tried to use Hashirama to reveal himself as the caster of Edo Tensei.
Naruto didn't believe a word.
"Uchiha Akira! Don't use the First Hokage's face to talk to me! You think you can pin this on Orochimaru!?"
"Orochimaru has been under Konoha's surveillance all these years! He would never do something so pointless!"
Whoosh!
Just as he finished speaking, Minato appeared beside Hashirama—bringing Orochimaru with him.
Under Hashirama's startled gaze, Orochimaru lifted his snake-like eyes.
"Now… do you believe I'm the one behind this, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
Kakashi-sensei… was taken by Orochimaru.
So this entire operation—using the Third to create chaos, using my father to teleport me here—was all to capture Kakashi…?
Sasuke hasn't shown up… he must be dealing with another enemy.
Tobirama…
I still don't understand why Orochimaru would do this.
So—
Naruto's voice turned cold and imposing.
"Uchiha Akira… do you think controlling Orochimaru with genjutsu is enough to make me believe he's your scapegoat?"
"Let me guess. You found out that Sasuke and I regained Six Paths power… and got scared. So you staged all this to divert attention, right?"
"I'm telling you now—give up."
"The Sage of Six Paths has already told me everything."
"You're trying to revive Kaguya!"
"Do you even understand what you're doing!? You're endangering the entire ninja world!"
Naruto's gaze burned with resolve.
"But… considering everything you've done before—providing intel on Isshiki, saving Boruto from Kawaki, saving Himawari—"
"I'll give you one last chance."
"Before sunrise, surrender yourself and your entire Hidden Yin Village."
"And return all the tailed beasts."
"Otherwise…"
"We will eliminate you on the spot."
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