From the spectator stands, where he had been secretly stationed to protect the audience, Jiraiya's jaw dropped. What had he just witnessed?
Two iron balls over three meters in diameter had just been hurled into the air like toys?
And on top of that—they had been enlarged with the Expansion Jutsu?
That particular technique was known only by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and the Legendary Sannin.
Hiruzen and Orochimaru were on the rooftop. Tsunade was holding Onoki at bay…
That only left one possibility about who had launched those iron balls.
Jiraiya had originally planned to intervene and perhaps use Swamp of the Underworld to break the Four Violet Flames Formation. He hadn't expected Sakura to simply smash through the barrier with raw brute force.
"Pervert!"
"Hurry up and follow me!"
Just as Jiraiya was about to act, he heard a loud voice call out from above.
Sakura, holding a limp and clearly traumatized Kakashi by the collar, came flying toward the shattered barrier left by the iron balls. Upon spotting Jiraiya, she immediately yelled out to him.
"…What a rude little girl," Jiraiya muttered, scratching his head, though he still got ready to follow.
But before he could move—
"Jiraiya-sama."
A voice came from behind him.
A cloaked ANBU operative knelt on one knee before him.
"What is it?" Jiraiya asked, narrowing his eyes.
"There are too many summoning beasts rampaging through the village. The damage and casualties are significant."
"We humbly request Jiraiya-sama's assistance in suppressing the snakes."
The ANBU kept his head bowed respectfully.
Jiraiya frowned.
He glanced at the direction where Sakura had flown and then looked back at the dust rising within the village.
Suddenly, a flash of purple caught his eye.
That was—Manda!
"…Understood. I'll head there immediately."
Jiraiya gave a quick nod and dashed toward the massive serpent.
Sakura had awakened the Yin Seal and had more than enough strength. With Kakashi and Hiruzen by her side, they could definitely hold off Orochimaru and Rasa.
But inside the village…
Manda was far more dangerous. That thing would eat people without hesitation.
The ANBU watched Jiraiya leave, then slowly rose to his feet.
He reached up and removed his mask, revealing a calm, harmless-looking face.
If Naruto were here, he would instantly recognize him—Yakushi Kabuto, from the Chūnin Exams.
Looking at the destroyed stadium, Kabuto let out a wistful sigh.
"Orochimaru-sama… this is all I can do for you now."
---
Boom!
With a loud crash, the pink-haired girl landed hard on one of the few remaining rooftops still intact, dragging a masked man with her, and shattered the last portion of the roof.
"Eh?" Kakashi blinked in confusion at the two men standing before him.
Where were Rasa, Orochimaru, and the Third Hokage?
And these two in front of him…?
Hashirama Senju gazed seriously at the pink-haired girl. Although her hair color didn't match Tsunade's, the purple diamond mark on her forehead was unmistakable.
That was the Yin Seal, the same as Mito Uzumaki's—his wife.
The immense strength she displayed, the bold and reckless iron ball attack…
Could it be…
Hashirama seemed to suddenly realize something.
He raised one finger in recognition, and his gaze toward the girl softened, filled with paternal affection.
His expression made Sakura's scalp tingle.
She had already been warned about the legendary ninja god's strange behavior, comparable to Naruto's brain circuits, but this… what was going on?
"To think… Little Tsuna's daughter has grown this big already…"
Sakura: "???"
Kakashi: "???"
Hiruzen, crawling out of the rubble below: "???"
Tsunade, who had come to check on the situation: (怒)
Tobirama, standing nearby, covered his face in frustration.
Seriously?!
Just look at the eyes, the hair, the face, the chest…
Uh…
Tsunade did look rather flat-chested in his memory, probably because she was still a child when he died…
And the way this girl solved problems through sheer brute force… really was just like Tsunade.
Even Tobirama was starting to second-guess himself.
Tsunade, who had just arrived and was initially filled with emotion at seeing her granduncles again, immediately swallowed that feeling.
Damn it!
She was clearly older than Sakura!
"Excuse me??"
Sakura had expected Hashirama to say something ridiculous, but this was beyond expectations.
Apologize to my parents, you old geezer!
"Be good now, call me Great-Grandpa," Hashirama said gently as he walked toward her, raising a hand to pat her head.
But just as he was about to touch her, a hand with blood-red fingernails shot out and gripped his wrist.
"Cut it out already!" Tsunade growled, her forehead throbbing with veins of rage.
She was still a fifty-year-old, unmarried virgin, damn it!
Where the hell did this daughter nonsense come from?!
"Huh? Little Tsuna?"
Hashirama's eyes lit up as he recognized her. His face broke into a wide, simple smile.
"My great-granddaughter looks just like you! Hahaha!"
Just as Tsunade was about to explode, a cold, sinister voice cut through the scene.
"Well, well… Tsunade, you've returned too."
Orochimaru had silently reappeared, his snake-like eyes gleaming with interest as he watched the group.
"Orochimaru… how dare you defile my grandfather's corpse? Unforgivable."
Tsunade's eyes turned icy, her killing intent surging.
"Orochimaru, stop wasting time," another voice joined him.
Countless grains of gold dust gathered behind Orochimaru, taking on human shape—Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, appeared with a scowl.
"Humph. Just as I'd hoped," Orochimaru chuckled softly.
He raised a hand, forming a seal before his chest.
Suddenly, the expressions of the two reanimated Hokage changed, and both launched themselves toward Hiruzen and Sakura!
Orochimaru remained calm as he watched the scene unfold.
Though his original plan of using cursed seals to suppress Hashirama and Tobirama's wills had been disrupted, he could still manually control them—it would just require more effort.
As Hashirama's massive fist came flying toward her, Sakura swiftly dropped her stance, ducking under the blow.
She used her shorter height to her advantage and immediately countered with a powder-pink punch aimed at his abdomen.
Hashirama anticipated the move and caught the punch with both hands. His chakra surged to block the impact.
But even though he had seen it coming, the imperfect Edo Tensei had left him weaker than usual.
He was forced back over ten steps before finally stabilizing himself.
"To think someone could push my brother this far in a single punch… how impressive."
Nearby, Tobirama, who was being pressured by Hiruzen, looked at Sakura with admiration.
"Old man," Sakura turned to Hiruzen, "you handle Orochimaru. These two are mine."
"And Kakashi—don't just stand there. Go stall Rasa. You know the plan!"
(End of Chapter)
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