Two Edo Tensei coffins slowly rose from the ground.
Akio fixed his gaze on them, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Two of them, huh? Don't tell me it's those two again. Funny how the world keeps circling back on itself."
He muttered the words under his breath. Before the coffins had fully emerged, Akio suddenly frowned and turned his head toward the south.
Konoha's reinforcements had finally arrived.
Sakumo led the charge, moving like a flash, with Dai close behind him. Following them were the village's current backbone, Kakashi, Guy, Rin, and the others.
"Elder Akio!" Sakumo appeared instantly at his back.
Akio didn't look pleased when he saw them.
"No one went to support the Uchiha front?"
Sakumo froze. "We didn't know that you"
Akio let out a quiet sigh.
"Rin, stay and help with medical support. Everyone else, head to the Uchiha battlefield immediately. You're not needed here."
He turned serious.
"The enemy over there is Uchiha Madara. I only left a shadow clone behind. There's no guarantee it can handle him."
Rin immediately moved to Tsunade's side, greeting her briefly before joining Shizune to help treat the wounded.
Sakumo nodded and prepared to lead the others away
when Dai suddenly gasped.
"That chakra…!"
Akio felt it too. His expression shifted for a moment, then softened into a broad smile.
He turned just as the coffins opened.
Two figures stepped out.
Akio raised his right hand and gave the younger man a thumbs-up.
"Kid, I like the way you think. Most people revive the Hokage brothers but you understood that Hashirama and Mito are the real pair."
"My grandfather… and Grandma Mito?!" Tsunade shot to her feet.
"Elder Akio, what should we"
Akio waved them off.
"Go. If it's those two, there's nothing to worry about here."
This was Mito's first time being summoned through Edo Tensei. Her eyes were briefly unfocused, then she saw Hashirama beside her and smiled warmly. Only then did she turn toward Akio.
"Second Grand-Uncle," she said calmly, instantly grasping the situation,
"Are we being controlled and forced to oppose you?"
Hashirama scratched his head with a laugh.
"Wow… Tobirama's jutsu really did leave a mess behind."
Akio chuckled.
"You say that, but that grin of yours says otherwise. Seeing Mito again, happy?"
"Ah… haha…"
Mito's gentle gaze suddenly sharpened, pressure seeping into her presence.
"Second Grand-Uncle, I recognize many of the children who just left. They've grown so much… which means many years have passed."
Her eyes shifted behind Akio.
"But those people lying there"
Akio stiffened, rare tension crossing his face.
"I arrived a little late. They're only injured. Tsunade will heal them."
Mito's voice remained soft.
"Senju Nawaki… Daoyama… and that one, Itachi? They're badly hurt. Was it the one controlling us who did this?"
Akio smiled awkwardly.
"…Yeah. Him. I'll deal with him right now."
The young man, seizing the moment to recover, finally spoke.
"Looks like… story time is over. Then, let's begin."
Akio shook his head with a grin.
"Begin with who, exactly? Do you really think Orochimaru never summoned Mito because he didn't know she was stronger than Tobirama?"
"He didn't summon her for two reasons. First, he knew disturbing Mito's rest might seriously upset me."
"So, upsetting me is fine?" Hashirama said helplessly as he stepped forward.
Akio gave him a look that said you already know the answer.
"Second"
Crimson chains erupted from around Mito, slamming into the ground and halting her movement instantly.
The young man's face changed drastically.
Akio shrugged.
"Now you get it. Mito's sealing techniques aren't something you can just override. Unlike Hashirama, she's not someone anyone can control."
Rolling his wrist, Akio walked forward.
"Now it's just one overly kind-hearted Hashirama left and you're still too scared to remove his restraints. Tell me, do you think he can stall me for one minute? Or two?"
Hashirama sighed.
"Second Grand-Uncle…"
The young man formed the Rabbit seal, pushing every ounce of chakra he had but Mito didn't move an inch.
Watching Akio draw closer, he let out a breath.
"I miscalculated. Only brought two sacrifices this time…"
After a brief pause, he formed a hand sign similar to Edo Tensei and slammed his palm into the ground. White smoke exploded outward.
Akio stopped.
"Hm?"
"Careful, Second Grand-Uncle!" Hashirama shouted as his body suddenly lunged forward against his will.
Akio narrowed his eyes.
"Summoning Madara? Then we'll catch up later, Hashirama."
"Next time, let's chat at Orochimaru's place."
"Sage Mode activate!"
Elsewhere Uchiha Ancestral Grounds
Five Susanoo clashed violently, and Akio's shadow clone watched with open interest.
Suddenly, Madara's Susanoo began collapsing layer by layer, revealing his true form.
"This is..." Madara raised his hand as pale white light spread across his body.
Akio's clone sprang to his feet.
"Damn it, that's a recall by the caster? How did I forget that rule? I didn't even do anything and the fight's about to end?"
"So the idiot ran into trouble… looks like the old man showed up," Madara murmured, eyes half-closed.
"Trying to drag me in as cannon fodder? I really shouldn't have trusted him with revival."
Kagami froze, then spoke loudly.
"Madara-sama, it seems the Senju side has gained the upper hand. This battle is ending. Thank you for guiding us."
"Guiding you?" Madara smiled coldly.
With a single flex of his arms, the white light vanished. His Perfect Susanoo rose once more.
"Then let me continue that lesson."
Kagami's face drained of color.
"The summoning was canceled?!"
Akio's clone narrowed his eyes and slowly sat back down.
"No… Madara rejected it himself."
"That fool didn't place any restraints on Madara's Edo body? You can't control someone like him."
His gaze locked onto the green Susanoo.
"Shisui… did he use Kotoamatsukami on Madara?"
After a moment's thought, the clone exhaled.
"If Madara's free, then the real body has it easy now. That guy should be dealt with soon."
"Looks like I won't need to step in. With only thirty percent chakra left… beating Madara would've been a long shot anyway."
Back at the Senju Ancestral Grounds
The smoke cleared.
The young man stood alone.
"…What?" His expression twisted.
"Madara damn it, another miscalculation!"
He looked up at Hashirama, who was currently being pinned and beaten senseless by Akio and immediately turned and ran.
---
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