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In contrast to Hashirama, who had little confidence in his granddaughter, Hiruzen felt relieved upon hearing that Tsunade, who had been unwilling to return to the village, had finally become the Fifth Hokage.
Fortunately, Danzo hadn't caused any trouble. It seemed that after his death, Homura and Koharu, the advisors of Konoha, had done their jobs well.
Hiruzen understood that with Tsunade's reputation, she was the most suitable candidate to stabilize the village that had just experienced an attack and was leaderless, leaving the villagers in a state of panic.
However, upon hearing Gensou mention that he had visited Konoha and even paid respects at the First Hokage's grave, Hiruzen couldn't help but worry and asked:
"Gensou-sensei, what did you do to Konoha?"
Gensou glanced at Hiruzen and immediately understood his concern. With a slight smirk, he said, "Konoha has a population of over a hundred thousand. I'm not a butcher; what could I do to Konoha? Rest assured, I only sent your friend Danzo to meet you."
Hiruzen felt a wave of relief, followed by a surge of tension.
"Danzo…"
Just moments ago, he had been anxious about his ambitious old friend potentially causing trouble. Who would have thought that Danzo would soon follow in his footsteps? Hiruzen's expression darkened, his feelings a complicated mix.
Despite the many conflicts they had over the years, Hiruzen still harbored deep feelings for Danzo, his childhood companion and comrade-in-arms. Memories of their shared past flooded his mind, leaving him silent for a long time.
Nearby, Minato observed everything quietly, pondering:
"So, Gensou is an enemy?"
He had never interacted with Gensou before. Although the First Hokage was quite different from what he had imagined, Minato could sense the deep wariness and hostility that the Second and Third Hokage felt towards Gensou.
And then there was Danzo. Gensou's words likely referred to Advisor Danzo of Konoha. Killing an advisor clearly marked their relationship. It was time to be prepared.
Outwardly calm, Minato's hand behind his back swiftly flipped, gripping the Hiraishin kunai, ready to act at a moment's notice.
"Gensou, have you truly resurrected?" Tobirama, barely pausing at the news of his disciple Danzo's death, fixed his sharp gaze on Gensou's youthful, unblemished face, his tone filled with incredulity.
He had been closely observing Gensou all along. Initially, he couldn't believe it. But now, he was certain that the Gensou before him was undoubtedly alive. Moreover, his body seemed identical to how it was in the Warring States Period.
How was this possible? Hadn't Gensou's body been completely obliterated under the Thousand-Armed Buddha?
Suppressing the urge to act immediately, Tobirama's curiosity as a master of forbidden techniques and scientific expertise made him yearn to understand how Gensou had broken the ultimate barrier of life and death.
With a sly smile, Gensou looked at Tobirama and said:
"Do you want to know the secret to resurrection? I can teach you."
Tobirama's pupils contracted slightly, just as he was about to speak, a loud voice interrupted him.
"Tobirama!" Hashirama suddenly shouted.
For once, he looked particularly serious, gone was the usual cheerful and approachable demeanor.
No one knew his brother better than him. To prevent Tobirama from going astray, Hashirama swiftly intervened, quashing his brother's budding curiosity.
Tobirama quickly regained his composure, assuring, "Don't worry, brother. I know my limits."
Hashirama nodded, then turned back to face Gensou seriously. After sensing for a moment, he frowned slightly and said:
"Gensou, you really have come back to life."
With the confirmations from both the First and Second Hokage, Hiruzen and Minato were both taken aback, staring at Gensou in disbelief.
Could the dead truly be resurrected? Hiruzen regretted not focusing his efforts on Gensou instead of Orochimaru.
Minato's youthful face grew more worried. It seemed Konoha faced an even tougher adversary than the Nine-Tails.
Gensou scanned the varying expressions on the faces of the four Hokage and casually spread his hands, smiling:
"I said it before, I wasn't done living. Given the chance, of course I seized it. Now, I've fulfilled my promise."
Hashirama sighed and said, "Gensou, the dead should not linger in the living world."
Gensou shook his head, "Hashirama, you should be saying that to yourselves. You're already dead; don't worry about the living world anymore. As for me, by any measure, I am now a living person."
"Life and death are separate. Hashirama, return to where you belong. I'll bring flowers and pay my respects again next year."
"Uh…" Hashirama was momentarily speechless.
"Enough, brother! Let's end the idle talk here."
To prevent his brother from getting tangled in his own thoughts, Tobirama stepped in.
Calmed down, Tobirama looked at Gensou coldly and said:
"Back to the main point. Gensou, it seems you've deeply angered the Shinigami, and it released us from its belly and created bodies for us to move in for a limited time."
"Though it aims to use us to kill you, it's clear we are willing to be the tools."
"Tools?"
Gensou chuckled.
"Tobirama, have you realized yet? From the beginning, I've stood here without any intention of leaving. I'm using you as my whetstones."
Tobirama's brows furrowed.
Gensou continued, "If you four were in your prime, I'd turn and leave without hesitation. But now, without your true bodies, even with the Shinigami's power, how much can you really achieve?"
It was a rare opportunity to face Hashirama not at his peak, a chance to settle old scores.
Gensou cracked his neck and beckoned:
"Come! It's been a long time since I've had a good fight. Show me what the combined might of the four Hokage is like."
The four Hokage exchanged glances.
"Gentlemen, our time is limited."
Feeling the life force sustaining their bodies ebbing away, Tobirama said coldly,
"So let's make this quick."
(End of Chapter)
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As Tobirama's words fell, the battle commenced without further ado.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato, moved simultaneously:
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, countless shuriken shadow clones shot towards Gensou like a torrential downpour.
It didn't end there. Tobirama clapped his hands and added:
"Ninjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"
A shroud of impenetrable darkness swiftly enveloped Gensou, blinding his vision entirely.
However, unlike the first battle in the Valley of End, Gensou, now fortified with the Death God's arm and a greatly enhanced soul, simply shrugged off the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique. His vision remained clear as he calmly faced the barrage of shuriken shadow clones.
"Lava Release: Protective Gum!" (Hahaha, Condom no Jutsu~)
A rubber-like, highly elastic protective membrane quickly encased Gensou. The first wave of shuriken shadow clones struck, unable to penetrate the Protective Gum.
Yet, the sheer number of shuriken shadow clones launched by the two Hokage proved overwhelming. With one wave after another of these deadly projectiles, the Protective Gum eventually gave way.
Still, a considerable number of shuriken shadow clones pressed forward, targeting the now-exposed Gensou.
Just as Gensou began intercepting the incoming shuriken shadow clones, Minato appeared behind him in a flash, one hand gripping the Hiraishin kunai concealed among the shuriken, the other hand holding a Rasengan aimed directly at Gensou's back, giving no time to react.
"Flying Thunder God…"
Gensou glanced calmly over his shoulder.
In the next moment, struck by the Rasengan, his entire form crumbled into dirt, falling to the ground.
"A Mud Clone?"
Minato's eyes narrowed, and in less than a breath, he vanished from his spot.
Bam!
Almost simultaneously, a hand shot up from the ground but grasped at nothing.
Gensou emerged from the ground, having missed his chance to eliminate one early target, but he remained unfazed. His eyes immediately tracked Minato, who had returned to his original position.
"You, Minato, should be known as the fastest shinobi," Gensou acknowledged.
Even Gensou had to admit he was impressed by Minato's reaction speed.
In response to the recognition, Minato, clutching several more Hiraishin kunai, merely shook his head calmly.
But it was Tobirama who, ending the ineffective illusion and dismissing the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, spoke:
"Fourth, your Flying Thunder God is indeed faster than mine."
"I am merely standing on the shoulders of the Second," Minato replied humbly.
Gensou, uninterested in their modest exchange, clapped his hands:
"The warm-up is over. It's time to get serious."
"Lava Release: Lava River!"
Like a volcanic eruption, a massive river of molten lava surged towards the four Hokage.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Tobirama stepped forward, pressing his hands together. A towering wall of water surrounded the four Hokage, spinning rapidly to form an impenetrable barrier.
Sizzle…
The lava river collided violently with the Water Formation Wall, generating a massive cloud of steam.
Maintaining the Water Formation Wall, Tobirama soon frowned.
"Has Gensou grown even stronger?"
Though his current strength was significantly limited, Tobirama judged that his Water Release should have held longer. However, seeing the Water Formation Wall thinning rapidly, he realized that unlike them, Gensou, reborn and gifted with immense talent, had continued to grow stronger.
"If we still can't…"
Recognizing the futility of prolonging the Water Formation Wall, Tobirama withdrew, allowing the lava river to break through and surge towards the Hokage.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
At Hiruzen's command, a massive earth wall shot up from the ground, lifting him, Tobirama, Minato, and Hashirama several meters high.
The four looked down at the oncoming lava river and the cracking Earth-Style Wall.
A nostalgic voice spoke:
"Ninja cannot escape the fate of battle."
Hashirama shook his head, and as the Earth-Style Wall finally crumbled, he clapped his hands:
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
A majestic, towering wood dragon rose, its lantern-like eyes glowing brightly. With a mighty roar, it lunged at the lava river.
The lava, capable of melting rock, did nothing to the wood dragon; instead, the chakra constituting the lava was absorbed completely.
The lava river quickly vanished.
The wood dragon raised its majestic head, and atop it stood the familiar figure of Hashirama, who gazed calmly at Gensou with countless words, finally distilled into two:
"Gensou."
It felt as though time had transported them back to that place, now known as the Valley of End. However, Gensou was no longer the Gensou of old, and Hashirama was no longer the Hashirama of the past.
"Again!"
Gensou gestured invitingly with a smile.
Hashirama firmly stomped his foot.
With a resounding roar, the wood dragon, seemingly remembering the one who had once tormented it, charged at Gensou with immense force.
The fierce winds stung as they rushed forward.
Gensou, his hair blown back, watched it all calmly.
"I am no longer who I once was."
Gensou extended his right hand.
"Forbidden Medical Ninjutsu: Cell Activation!"
His right arm's muscles swelled.
"Steel Release: Steel Skin!"
An iron-like sheen spread across his skin.
"Chakra Precision Control: Monster Strength!"
Combining all three techniques, Gensou faced the incoming wood dragon head-on, reaching out to grasp it.
Boom!
Dust and debris flew, the ground quaked, and the powerful winds roared outward.
"What happened?"
Hiruzen, who had just summoned his Adamantine Staff, squinted forward.
The next moment, he saw the enormous shadow of the wood dragon, barely obscured by the dust cloud. But the wood dragon seemed to have stopped advancing. Moreover, it appeared to struggle, its once mighty roar now subdued.
Seconds later, the thick dust settled, revealing a sight that made Hiruzen's eyes widen in disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
(End of Chapter)
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