"Naruto?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart clenched. How did he stumble into this death trap?
He had seen Naruto's talent in the Central Tower, believing he would need another decade to grow.
But today's battle with Shukaku utterly stunned him!
Twelve years old, fighting a Tailed Beast head-on, even beating it like a punching bag? His strength was monstrous!
Was the First Hokage that strong at twelve?
Hiruzen didn't dare to imagine how powerful Konoha would become when Naruto grew up.
But this brilliant future was about to be cut short in this purple cage!
All because of these two immortal Edo Tensei monsters!
Shukaku struggled under Naruto's hand?
But for the First Hokage, crushing that sand racoon dog was easier than breathing!
The difference was too vast!
It was over! All over!
This genius, rare in Konoha for a century, no, a millennium, the sun bearing the village's hope, was about to be extinguished in this inescapable prison!
"I've ruined Konoha!"
The Third Hokage's eyes were bloodshot, his nails digging into his flesh. He hated himself!
If only he hadn't been soft-hearted and let Orochimaru go... none of this would be happening today!
Wait!
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze suddenly!
This was the Four Violet Flames Formation! How did Naruto get in so silently?
A huge question instantly dispelled his despair!
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed dangerously. He was very curious about how the brat "walked through" the wall.
Could there be a loophole in the Four Violet Flames Formation?
If this blond brat could enter, could others too?
However...
His gaze swept over the two battle gods beside him, and his confidence surged!
With the First, Second, and himself, they could take on the entire Konoha with power to spare. What else could possibly go wrong?
"Old man Hokage, don't get so agitated yet..."
Whoosh!
A flash of golden light, and he was already standing casually outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, even waving triumphantly inside: "See, I'm out."
Whoosh! His figure flickered again: "Look, I'm in again!"
"Eh, I'm out again, I'm in again!"
In just a few breaths, Naruto flickered multiple times, repeatedly jumping back and forth through the barrier's "doorframe," in and out, in and out.
Inside the barrier:
Hiruzen Sarutobi: My head hurts a little.
Orochimaru's snake eyes contracted, veins throbbing on his forehead.
This kid is a bit too jumpy!
But, the storm in the Third Hokage's heart quickly calmed.
"This kid actually learned the Flying Thunder God? It's only been a month, right?"
After the astonishment came an overwhelming sense of relief!
With this divine technique, even if defeat was certain today, Naruto could at least... survive!
Konoha's flame wouldn't die out!
At this, he felt at ease.
And this peace of mind... tempered his blade of resolve!
His cloudy old eyes suddenly cleared like an ancient pond: "Enough!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice boomed like a bell. He took a step forward! His aged body abruptly straightened like an unyielding mountain of a thousand years!
Today, this old man will use these old bones... for you, for Konoha, to firmly seal this unfilial disciple in this absolute hellish formation.
Until death do us part!
"Old man! I'm here to help you!"
Naruto's figure shimmered like a ghost, appearing right beside him.
"Huh? Nonsense..."
Heh! What did Naruto care about that? Such a perfect stage, giving it to just one person, wouldn't that be a waste?
Since that's the case, let's make an entrance!
His fingers moved like the wind, completing the "Horse" hand sign in an instant!
Boom—
Before the ninjutsu could even fully form, a hurricane-like torrent of raw chakra... simply by the posture of his hand sign... burst forth from Naruto's small body.
The rocks beneath his feet couldn't withstand the immense pressure, instantly cracking and shattering!
Caught off guard, Hiruzen Sarutobi was actually sent stumbling backward by this pure energy surge, his robes flapping wildly like tattered flags in a storm—snapping loudly.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Screech—
A thin, needle-like crimson thread of fire drifted from his lips.
The next moment, an anomaly occurred!
That tiny thread of fire surged with the wind, like a surging, inverted infernal mouth.
Scorching flames expanded wildly, devouring everything within sight!
"!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted to pinpricks. All words of dissuasion were scorched away by the burning breath filling his throat.
All that remained before him were the fiery red flames that seemed to extend to the ends of the world.
The terrifying high temperature turned trees into charcoal and glazed tiles into crystal.
The heat, hot enough to melt the air, even made the stable Four Violet Flames Formation's light wall emit a piercing, melting screech.
In the lingering embers of the fire wave.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind exploded with a soul-shattering question, just like Sasuke's: Is this still Fire Style?!
Tsk tsk tsk.
Seeing this, Naruto was quite displeased.
This barrier seems useless too!
A tiny flame can make it shake like this. What about the big moves later?
This stage... is too limiting!
For a moment, Naruto even felt a little regret. If he had known, he would have modified Orochimaru's four subordinates as well.
If it were the Four Crimson Yang Formation, it probably wouldn't be so shaky!
But a dull, modified clone would likely not escape Orochimaru's notice.
But...
His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of below.
Aside from the audience previously held in place by genjutsu, hundreds of slack-jawed ninjas had squeezed in three layers deep, then another three!
Every single one had eye-popping pupils, dislocated jaws, staring dumbfounded at this "small flame scene" on the rooftop that had almost burned through the sky!
"The audience is ratings too! Can't lose them!"
Naruto mumbled, "Old man! I'll help you share the pressure!"
Before his voice faded, he had already transformed into a golden flash, shooting into the scorching embers.
His chakra sensing swept like a radar, found it, there was a marker nearby.
Whoosh! A golden flash, and he instantly shunshined in.
Bang—
A clean, crisp whip kick sent Orochimaru flying like a broken sack.
At the same time, he struck with both hands!
Snap! Snap!
His palms precisely pressed the Flying Thunder God seals onto the First and Second Hokage, like instant brands!
Then, with a pull of both hands, he yanked the two of them.
Golden light shimmered, and the trio instantly vaporized!
But just as they leaped into space.
Boom! Boom!
The First and Second Hokage reacted just as quickly, two chakra-infused heavy punches, powerful enough to collapse mountains... fiercely hammered into Naruto's chest!
Thump— Space rippled.
Even while transferring, Naruto endured their attacks head-on.
These two's attacks are terrifying.
Naruto's chest was caved in by the impact, and checking his HP bar, it had dropped by 0.1%.
It would take a full 36 seconds for his health to passively regenerate.
Heh heh.
The trio's figures flickered, reappearing outside Konoha Village.
Naruto recognized this place: the Forest of Death.
The trees he'd destroyed before? Now was a good time to replant them!
And this range, not too far, not too close.
It was perfect as a battlefield, and everyone in Konoha could see the battle from here.
Since the stage was set, let the real battle begin.
Before that...
Naruto's fingertips twitched slightly, subtly releasing some control over the Edo Tensei bodies, at least removing the shackles on their speech.
He had never seen the First and Second Hokage in real life.
The ones in the training ground were just NPCs, without any intelligence.
He was very curious,
What kind of people were Konoha's first two Hokage?
As their consciousness just cleared...
"Hey! Kid!"
Hashirama Senju suddenly stepped forward, his huge, fan-like hand almost touching Naruto's nose: "That sky-burning Fire Style just now! What's your connection to Uchiha Madara?"
Clearly, the two still retained their memories of moments ago.
"Big Brother!"
Tobirama Senju's voice was cold. His body remained still, but his crimson eyes precisely locked onto Naruto's hair: "What part of that dazzling blond hair of his looks like the black-haired porcupines of the Uchiha clan?"
"Huh?"
Hashirama was dumbfounded for half a second, then slapped his forehead: "Oh, right, right! Hahaha!"
His hearty laugh shook the withered leaves, making them rustle: "I was in such a hurry I forgot the color!"
He leaned closer to Naruto, scrutinizing him up and down like he was studying a rare ninja beast, lingering especially on his vast, ocean-like chakra.
Suddenly, his tiger-like eyes widened: "Wait... this chakra... this hair color..."
He excitedly slapped his thigh: "Could it be you're Tsunade's child? I'm your great-grandfather! Great-grandson!"
"Shut up! Big Brother!"
Veins pulsed on Tobirama's forehead. He couldn't help but clutch his forehead in exasperation: "Use your brain! That little monkey from earlier had wrinkles deep enough to trap flies! Tsunade must be at least fifty!"
Saying this, he cast a cold sidelong glance at Naruto: "This kid is at most twelve or thirteen!"
Hashirama scratched his head, falling into a brief and serious mathematical contemplation...
Then he suddenly realized: "Oh—then he must be Tsunade's grandson, right?"
Tobirama also nodded silently, his red eyes carrying a trace of imperceptible scrutiny and... faint expectation.
This twelve or thirteen-year-old kid had immense chakra, terrifying Fire Style, and could use the Flying Thunder God.
If he were their descendant, they would be immensely pleased.
Watching the two of them interact, Naruto was quite speechless.
He couldn't even get a word in.
And, First Hokage!
My image of you, Uzumaki Naruto, has completely shattered!
The First Hokage, who founded Konoha and changed the ninja world, was actually a clown!!!
This... this... who would've thought?
"Cough."
He cleared his throat, his face calm: "Hold on! My name is Uzumaki Naruto, not Senju."
Uzumaki?!
Hearing that surname, the First Hokage suddenly thought of his wife.
Tobirama's brow furrowed even deeper, his gaze once again sweeping over Naruto's overly dazzling blond hair.
Naruto shrugged, his face showing helplessness: "My hair? Probably my mom's genes were too dominant... dyed the red hair into rich gold, I guess?"
Before his words fully landed, his fingertips' intent abruptly tightened: Edo Tensei command override—Attack!
Buzz!
Hashirama and Tobirama's bodies stiffened simultaneously, their previously concerned and relaxed muscles instantly tensed like iron!
Their consciousness was suddenly locked down by the cold command!
"Naruto!!"
Hashirama roared urgently, his voice even tearing from the fierce struggle: "Run! Find the sealing squad! Your little Fire Style isn't even enough to get stuck in our teeth!"
"Hmph!"
Tobirama snorted coldly, but it contained unprecedented anxiety: My current state... surpasses my peak when alive! Yet I can't even tear open this Edo Tensei restraint by a fraction!
His sharp eyes swept towards Naruto: "Kid! If you want to live... run now!"
Naruto ignored their warnings.
"Sorry, I won't run..."
He clasped his hands together, looked up, and flashed a brilliant smile: "Because this stage... I've been looking forward to it for too long!"