Rewinding time a moment, to the rooftop battlefield.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes were fixed eerily on his teacher, the Third Hokage, as he gazed deeply at him: "Teacher, these old bones of yours... don't disappoint me too much!"
While other villages in the ninja world were eagerly rubbing their hands together, heavily engaging in an arms race, Konoha alone still slept soundly in a decaying bed of peace! This stagnant water needed to be stirred by him.
His master, the Third Hokage, before him?
He was old.
His foolishness, his compromises, his peace policies—it was these laughable weaknesses that dragged Konoha into today's deadlock!
The end of his teacher's "aging heart" was the cruel surgery he meticulously designed for Konoha!
Only the most brutal pain could force out the dormant bloodlust and reform!
Of course, for this grand surgical operation, as payment, he would conveniently take a "negligible" surgical fee amidst the chaos... that was reasonable, wasn't it?
Since that was the case,
"Ninja Art: Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru formed hand signs and roared!
Two heavy coffins burst from the ground, intercepting the shuriken the Third had shot!
The coffin lids were conspicuously engraved with: "First!" "Second!"
Just as the third coffin, engraved with "Fourth," began to emerge...
"You wish!"
The Third Hokage's hair stood on end, his chakra fiercely suppressing, forcing it back into the ground!
Cold sweat had soaked his back!
He knew the Impure World Reincarnation too well—this sacrilegious forbidden jutsu that defiled the dead.
But Orochimaru had chosen to summon these two individuals!
The First Hokage: The God of Shinobi! That mighty figure who suppressed chaotic times, toying with tailed beasts as if they were playthings!
The Second Hokage: The Master of Forbidden Jutsu! His cunning and ruthlessness once made the entire ninja world tremble!
The awe and fear buried deep in his heart now pierced his memories like ice picks.
The Third Hokage's knuckles, clutching his kunai, were bone-white!
His cloudy, aged eyes stared intently at the two coffins... A long-forgotten chill, named "powerlessness," surged wildly up his spine.
"Today... I fear... my bones will be buried here!" This thought weighed heavily on his heart!
The scene shifts.
The main course was about to begin. Naruto had just gathered his strength, ready to slip away for a grand meal.
But he glanced at the "elite monsters" scattered across the ground.
Tsk, might as well clear some more minions!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom—
Smoke exploded!
Three giant, mountain-like toads slammed onto the scene!
The number one little brother in the center, Gamabunta! His giant pipe spewed smoke, and his disdainful aura certainly made him the boss among toads!
Beside him, two other little brothers, Gamahiro and Gamakichi, also posed coolly!
Not bad, very imposing!
Unfortunately, the coolness lasted less than three seconds.
"Boss Naruto,"
As soon as he appeared, Gamabunta began to complain, "When are you going to check on it? That scoundrel Slippery Snake is trying to steal our toad gang's territory again!"
Three black lines immediately popped up on Naruto's forehead.
He hadn't even done the work yet... and he was already making demands?
I see you have no respect for me at all!
But Slippery Snake?
A snake capable of competing for territory with this giant toad must be quite large.
He could also capture it and use it as a summoning animal to play with, then subject it to a "dog training" package to ensure it's obedient.
"After I finish this fight, I'll go support you."
"Here! These appetizers, and that three-headed mutant snake crawling around! They're all yours!"
Just as he was about to flicker away, Naruto heard cheers from afar.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
"Jiraiya-sama!"
The wave of cheers exploded, as expected.
Three hash marks instantly appeared on the true protagonist Naruto's forehead!
I'm this big, 'golden little sun' standing right here! Can't you see me?
Are you selectively blind?
"Tsk~" Naruto pouted.
Ultimately, it was because his own fame wasn't enough, and the Ero-sennin's (perverted hermit's) reputation shone brighter, right?
But this annoyance lasted only 0.1 seconds.
Let that old geezer's name shine for one more day!
After today, his own name would probably be even more famous!
"Time to go, time to go!"
With a flash of golden light, Naruto instantly appeared beside Kakashi.
Kakashi's heart gave a violent lurch, his body almost instinctively retreating half a step.
Tsk... this elusive movement... truly a replica of his sensei.
He hadn't seen the Flying Thunder God for so many years, and for a moment, he was somewhat unaccustomed to it.
But that wasn't the main point. What concerned him more was...
Kakashi clutched the three-pronged kunai, his voice tinged with tension: "Naruto, where did you get this kunai?"
Naruto's attention was fixed firmly on the "high-stakes game" on the rooftop.
Hearing the question, he casually turned his face: "This? It's nice, right? I thought it looked particularly good! So I specially bought it to use!"
In reality, his mind was busy calculating:
Which Konoha Jonin isn't familiar with Minato Namikaze's signature kunai?
My golden hair + this unique Flying Thunder God technique = a walking "Fourth Hokage human billboard"!
It's a perfect 'blame game' (a playful way to say he's leveraging Minato's image)!
Do you feel a sense of familiarity? Have you been looked after by the Fourth? Have you been saved by the Fourth?
If so, hurry up and vote for me!
I'm the next Yellow Flash!
Heh, with Jiraiya + the Fourth Hokage, a double buff, Naruto doesn't even know how he could lose!
As for the Fourth Hokage... he'd just have to apologize for now.
Worst case, he'd bow down at his grave later.
Kakashi wanted to ask something else, but the situation on the field suddenly changed.
Naruto left him with a single phrase: "Sensei, I have something else to do!"
Then he instantly disappeared with the Flying Thunder God!
On the rooftop.
Bang—
Boom!!!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was sent flying back like a cannonball, his back slamming violently into the earth-style wall he had constructed, sending spiderweb cracks bursting outwards.
"Cough! Pfft~"
His throat churned with a metallic taste, and a large mouthful of dark red blood clotted and splattered onto the cracked rock face, a shocking sight.
His eyes were fixed fearfully on the First and Second Hokage.
The First's Wood Style manipulated massive trees that twisted and crushed like raging dragons with a mere lift of his hand.
The Second's Water Style, upon his whim, transformed surging torrents into thousands of deadly sharp needles, their coordination so exquisite it was an art of slaughter!
Whether it was power or ninjutsu...
Why was the strength of these Impure World Reincarnation bodies far exceeding what was recorded?!
Had Orochimaru improved it again?
"How will you deal with them, Sarutobi-sensei... no, the lingering Third Hokage-sama!" Orochimaru's snake eyes reflected his teacher's disheveled state, overflowing with cold, playful excitement.
This was his "Impure World Reincarnation" debut!
The Konoha Crush?
It wasn't just a meticulously precise surgery... it was a colossal laboratory tailored just for him!
A perfect, large-scale test of his "forbidden resurrection jutsu"!
The results far exceeded expectations!
"Such... terrifying compatibility!" His tongue lightly touched the roof of his mouth, suppressing the scientist's thrill: "An Impure World body... can it actually carry such immense power, almost as vast as when they were alive?! It's... a sacrilegious art!"
Amidst his excitement, a very tiny stray thought flickered...
Were the two "conveniently" passing, low-health Jonin who were sacrificed a bit too "coincidental"?
But this speck of doubt...
was instantly crushed into oblivion by the two destructive Impure World Reincarnation gods of war before him!
Suddenly,
Tobirama Senju, whose senses were the most acute, abruptly looked up!
His cold gaze, like an invisible sharp blade, pierced towards the branch of a gnarled, twisted Wood Style giant tree at the edge of the battlefield!
"Yo! My apologies~"
A cheerful greeting suddenly rang out!
A blonde youth, a bright smile playing on his lips, wearing a white cape, stood tall and composed amidst the mottled branches of the giant tree.
The Third, Orochimaru, the First, and the Second—four gazes were simultaneously locked onto the youth, as if they had seen a ghost!
"It seems... I've interrupted your sparring?" Naruto's gaze swept over everyone, his confident glow so piercing it cut through the stagnant murderous intent!