Chapter 183: A New Worker Joins the Factory! Hashirama: Konoha is in Trouble! Orochimaru! Let's Talk!
"Also, while advancements in tools can provide convenience, the foundation of a ninja's strength will always be their own will and wisdom. Relying too much on external objects will eventually lead you astray."
Tobirama's gaze swept deeply over the factory, filled with unknown dangers. He was silently assessing the Hidden Sound's strength, even as his hands flawlessly completed another cycle of chakra output.
"This so-called 'Hidden Sound Village'… its philosophy and style, while seemingly advanced, reek of something ominous. Especially that man who summoned us with Edo Tensei. He radiates a snake-like aura; his ambitions are surely not small, and he is certainly not benevolent."
However, looking at the situation around him, Tobirama's brow furrowed. "But I must admit, the creator of this village has some unique ingenuity in certain areas. Not to be underestimated."
"I never thought… the Edo Tensei I created would be used for something like this."
Days passed.
It was still the same cold, ceaseless assembly line.
Hashirama Senju was forced to continuously output weak Wood Style chakra for the production of micro-scrolls used in chakra-capacitor scientific ninja tools. He hummed tuneless songs under his breath, trying to add a splash of color to this boring, hopeless "job."
"Brother, quiet down," Tobirama said coldly from beside him. His gaze scanned every semi-finished ninja tool passing before him, meticulously calibrating the jutsu formula within. His brow was slightly furrowed, seemingly analyzing the ultimate purpose of these tools.
Suddenly.
Deep in the factory, a conveyor belt connected to an unknown space flashed with blinding light. Accompanied by the specific fluctuation of chakra, a wretched figure was "spat" out, landing heavily on the cold metal floor.
New "cargo" had arrived.
"Unit · Wind-004. Recording ability characteristics. Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai — Gold Dust properties match."
The cold electronic voice echoed in the factory.
"Task assignment: Mass production of specialized Wind Style scrolls. Magnet Release: Gold Dust sealing operation. Commencing immediately."
The figure jerked his head up, revealing a face twisted with rage, unwillingness, and the terror of the moment of death.
It was Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, who had just been dealing with Orochimaru before being stabbed in the back.
"OROCHIMARU!!!"
Rasa let out a bestial roar, eyes burning with the fire of vengeance. But his body moved uncontrollably to his assigned station and began, according to instructions, to infuse his chakra into the special scroll before him.
He realized he was a prisoner, another tool of that damned Orochimaru. Being used wasn't enough; he was being used even after death! Gold Dust, the power he had been so proud of, the symbol of his Kage status, was now a tool serving the enemy.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed two other figures on the assembly line nearby. Rasa stiffly turned his neck to look closely.
One was tall, with long black hair and a carefree, almost naive look on his face, currently staring at him curiously.
The other had silver hair, a serious expression, and a sharp gaze.
They wore the same work clothes as him. But… why did their faces look so much like the two on Konoha's Hokage Rock?
Rasa's pupils contracted violently!
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Why… why are they here?!
"Are… are you—?" Rasa's voice trembled with extreme shock.
"Yo! New guy?" The man with long black hair spoke first, his tone so relaxed it was as if this wasn't a hell on earth but a tea party. "I'm Hashirama Senju. Nice to meet you! There are quite a few TV programs here, but we can't stop working, which is a bit troublesome!"
Hashirama Senju! The First Hokage?!
Rasa felt like his brain had been hit by a sledgehammer! He instinctively looked at the other man.
The silver-haired man gave him a cold glance and said, "Tobirama Senju. Who are you? Why are you here?"
Tobirama Senju! The Second Hokage!
Two legendary gods of shinobi, the founders of Konoha, were actually—actually here too?! And from the looks of it, they were also controlled by Edo Tensei! How did Orochimaru dare to do this?!
This realization was even more absurd and terrifying than being betrayed by Orochimaru.
"I… I am the Fourth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand, Rasa…" Rasa spoke with difficulty, his voice filled with bitterness. "I collaborated with Orochimaru in the 'Konoha Crush Plan'…"
"What did you say?!"
The relaxed look on Hashirama's face vanished instantly, replaced by unprecedented gravity and pain. Yet, his hands did not stop working.
"Konoha… Crush Plan?!"
Tobirama's gaze was sharp as a knife, his voice cold enough to freeze the air. He looked as if he might attack at any moment, but his hands also continued their work.
Fourth Kazekage… Konoha Crush… Has time not advanced much? And the strength of this village… Konoha's crisis is likely grave.
"Explain in detail! How is Konoha now?! Who is the current Hokage?!" Hashirama demanded.
"Monkey… Hiruzen Sarutobi, what on earth is that guy doing?!" Tobirama's voice held suppressed anger.
Over the ceaseless roar of machinery, Rasa disjointedly recounted what had happened. From how he made a deal with Orochimaru to use the Chunin Exams to launch a surprise attack on Konoha, to Orochimaru's sudden betrayal, killing him and controlling him with Edo Tensei.
"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, died long ago in the Nine-Tails attack… The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is still in charge… The one who killed me is his disciple, Orochimaru!"
Every word struck Hashirama and Tobirama's hearts like a heavy hammer.
"Monkey… his disciple… actually—" Hashirama closed his eyes, as if unwilling to believe this cruel truth. "War really is inevitable in any era…" The safety of Konoha weighed on his heart like a boulder.
"Hmph! Sarutobi, that guy, he has terrible judgment in people!" Tobirama snorted coldly. "Fourth Kazekage, conspiring with a tiger for its skin, foolish beyond belief! Orochimaru went to such lengths to create this plan and reincarnate the three of us… is his goal just to make us work for him? The threat Konoha faces now is probably far more severe than we imagine."
The assembly line continued to run mercilessly. Even though their hearts were in turmoil, burning with anger and worry, the three former Kage could only continue their "production tasks" like puppets, potentially creating weapons to be used against Konoha. The precision of their Edo Tensei bodies was too low to allow them to unleash their true power and break free. Fortunately, their minds had not been completely wiped.
"No! I have to talk to Orochimaru!" Hashirama finally couldn't hold back his anxiety. He looked up and shouted at the nearest loudspeaker.
"Orochimaru! I know you can hear me! Come out and meet us! This concerns the survival of Konoha! What do you want! Whatever your demands are, say them! I think we can try to sit down and talk!"
The loudspeaker was silent for a few seconds, then the cold, emotionless electronic voice responded.
"Request received. Given that the requester is the First Hokage, your appeal has been logged. Lord Orochimaru has a busy schedule and will respond at his discretion when free. Please wait patiently. Unit · Fire-001, please continue to focus on your production task. Do not make noise, so as not to disturb other employees."
"It'll be too late by the time he acts!" Hashirama roared in anger, trying to argue.
But after the programmed broadcast, the loudspeaker fell silent again, leaving only the bzzzt of static. Faced with this response, even the figures who once dominated the ninja world could only look at each other in helplessness.
Hashirama was so angry he wanted to stomp his feet, but his body continued the work uncontrollably, leaving only his facial expression twisted in rage. Tobirama's eyes grew colder. Rasa wore a complex expression of absurdity and powerlessness, fully realizing his current predicament.
But no matter what they thought, they could only continue working! Day after day, working endlessly.
…
Meanwhile.
[Non-Human Chat Group]
A lively scene, starkly different from the oppressive atmosphere of the factory. At least, for some members.