"Heh, 'bad consequences,' huh?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked coldly at the two figures standing before him. His eyes were sharp and piercing, his words clipped and emotionless.
He took a last drag of his cigarette, then exhaled a faint, pale blue smoke that curled languidly into the air. Without another word, he yanked off the cloak of the Hokage he wore, revealing the black combat outfit beneath.
"If these are the consequences, then I, as the Third Hokage, will settle them all today!" he declared, his voice firm and unwavering.
Orochimaru's forked tongue flicked out as he licked his lips, a strange smile curling at the corners of his mouth as he regarded the elderly man before him.
"Such a familiar sight…" Orochimaru mused, his tone laced with dark amusement. "The last time I saw you like this was a long time ago."
Hiruzen's eyes darkened as he gazed at the two men — the legendary Orochimaru and the current Kazekage, Rasa. Despite the years, the weight of the moment pressed down heavily on him. No matter what, he knew these two could not be allowed to leave this place alive.
But…
His sharp gaze flicked briefly to the Four Purple Flame Formation—the barrier tightly sealing the rooftop. Breaking it would summon the full force of Konoha's ninja, trapping the two enemies in an overwhelming siege.
Yet, the large battlefield would expose the gathered dignitaries in the audience to the risk of genjutsu, leaving them vulnerable as lambs to the slaughter.
Moreover, the barrier itself was effective at restraining Rasa's movements.
With that consideration, Hiruzen gave no further hesitation. Drawing two shuriken from his belt, he propelled himself forward with an agility unexpected for his age, lunging straight at Orochimaru and Rasa.
In midair, he formed hand signs rapidly.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
The shuriken split and multiplied—one becoming two, two becoming four, four becoming eight—in an instant, a torrent of deadly blades raining down upon the two adversaries!
"Heh, interesting."
Orochimaru chuckled darkly, watching the barrage descend toward him. Without missing a beat, he bit down on his finger, drawing blood to begin a quick series of hand signs.
Summoning Technique: Impure World Reincarnation!
Two coffins slowly rose from the ground, standing as barriers before Orochimaru and Rasa.
The endless shuriken slammed into the coffin lids, sticking like nails hammered into wood.
"What is this—?"
"Horrible! Orochimaru, you desecrate the souls of the dead!"
Hiruzen's face darkened with fury at the forbidden technique he only ever read about in secret scrolls now materializing before him.
Orochimaru grinned widely, completely unfazed by the anger.
"Heh, come meet some old acquaintances, Sensei."
With a heavy thud, the coffin lids crashed open, revealing two familiar figures stepping into the light before Hiruzen's astonished eyes.
"Monkey, you've grown old…"
A broad-shouldered figure clad in crimson armor, with black flowing hair like a waterfall, spoke with a heavy voice tinged with nostalgia.
"You used my technique to summon me?"
A man with silver hair, piercing red eyes, and icy blue armor turned to Orochimaru.
"The First Hokage, the Second Hokage…"
Tears glistened in Hiruzen's eyes as he stared at his two former teachers, their presences so vivid it was as if they were still alive.
He never imagined he would see them again in his lifetime.
"Looks like we're going to be trouble for you, monkey…"
Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, folded his arms with a serious expression, his voice cold.
"Seal us away."
The thought of student and master clashing filled the air with tension.
Nearby, Rasa glanced warily at Orochimaru, his expression inscrutable. No one could tell what was running through his mind at that moment.
"Heh, enough reminiscing," Orochimaru's voice cut sharply through the tension as he pulled out two cursed kunai, preparing to implant them into the two Hokage.
But then—
"Ten-gai Iron Balls!"
"Smash it for me!"
A fierce, angry shout from the skies above echoed across the entire arena, drawing everyone's attention.
The eyes of all who were present turned instinctively toward the source.
Except for the two reanimated Hokage, the expression on every face instantly changed.
A terrifying, thunderous roar accompanied a massive spinning object hurtling toward them at breakneck speed!
It was Sakura…
That damn girl—did she intend to take me down with her too?!
Even Hiruzen cursed under his breath as he vanished, his body melting into the rooftop beneath his feet like mud sinking into earth.
Then, faintly, the words came again…
"Shuriken Enlargement Jutsu!"
The colossal black object suddenly expanded at an alarming rate, rapidly growing until it eclipsed the sun.
The shadow it cast blotted out the Four Purple Flame Formation!
Only now did everyone realize what exactly it was—
An enormous iron ball!
The four Sound ninja who had set up the barrier turned pale at the sight of the massive weapon.
Such a massive, high-speed spinning iron ball—even the Four Purple Flame Formation was not something to take lightly.
Without a second thought, the four Sound ninjas poured all their chakra into reinforcing the barrier.
Orochimaru did not dare to underestimate the threat and disappeared beneath the rooftop, just like Hiruzen.
Rasa transformed into countless golden sands, burrowing into the roof to vanish from sight.
Not just the few inside the barrier, even Onoki, the Tsuchikage, gaped at the colossal unknown object flying overhead.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, who had been feigning calm and keeping her eyes closed because of her fear of blood, quietly peeked open one eye, staring at the monstrous shape. Her body tensed involuntarily, every hair on her body standing on end.
Seeing this, both Tsunade and Onoki leapt away instinctively, wary of collateral damage. After all, the battlefield where Hiruzen and Rasa fought was right above their heads!
BOOM!
An almost deafening crash followed as the massive iron ball slammed directly into the Four Purple Flame Formation.
The purple barrier instantly distorted, twisting and warping under the impact!
Pfft!
The four Sound ninjas simultaneously spat out large mouthfuls of blood, their faces draining of color to ghostly pale.
But the destruction was not over.
Because the two giant iron balls were connected, the momentum carried the second ball crashing into another part of the barrier!
Boom!
Another enormous explosion shattered the formation.
Crack!
Dense webs of cracks spiderwebbed through the barrier, and the entire Four Purple Flame Formation shattered apart!
The enormous iron ball continued its unstoppable momentum straight toward the stunned crowd!
Tobirama Senju, arms crossed and wearing a look of admiration, looked at the sudden assault.
"Though reckless, this method is highly effective."
"Is this the work of some young shinobi in the village?"
Hashirama Senju laughed foolishly, scratching his head as the massive iron ball hurtled toward him.
Such brute force and wild recklessness—surely this was Tsunade's doing?
Only the two reanimated Hokage remained calm in the face of the iron ball. Everyone else immediately distanced themselves the moment the barrier broke.
But even then, Sakon and Ukon, nearest to the iron ball's path, could not escape.
The attack's range was too vast, and Sakon was instantly pulverized into pieces of ninja flesh and bone!
The next victim was Jirobo, who met the same gruesome fate immediately after.
Neither managed to cry out before death took them.
Dust billowed high into the air as the giant iron ball lodged itself firmly into the fortress wall.
From the drifting debris, the two Hokage figures slowly reformed, taking their original shapes once again.
No time to admire the scene.
From afar, a pink-haired figure leapt into the air, carrying a white-haired companion, bounding swiftly toward the battle.
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End of Chapter 87
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