In an instant, the three Hokage formed an encirclement, trapping Naruto Uzumaki.
The First Hokage and his wood clones blocked every escape route. The Second Hokage closed in, restricting Naruto's movements, while the Third Hokage and his shadow clones formed hand seals, preparing to unleash a powerful five-nature combination ninjutsu.
Though they had no consciousness, they displayed incredible coordination. As ninja who had fought on countless battlefields, their combat instincts were carved into their very bones. They seized the opening Naruto created when he wasted time on a shadow clone, executing a flawless siege.
Inside the seal, the Nine-Tails' expression grew grim. "Naruto's combat experience is far too lacking," he thought. "Sarutobi Hiruzen's Five-Nature Grand Combo Jutsu is a technique that even I would have to retreat from!"
In a way, this was a battle between the subconscious instincts of four Hokage. The Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, had been active in the final era of ninja, facing otherworldly threats where his battles were on the scale of destroying the Final Valley.
The most powerful ninjutsu Naruto currently had was the Sage Art: Tailed Beast Ball. However, if a jutsu of that level were used here, the chances of hitting his own allies were high. In a battle that required precise control, Naruto was at a clear disadvantage. The three Hokage opposing him had spent most of their lives on the battlefield.
In the sealing space, the Nine-Tails helplessly scratched its head. If it still had some Yang Power, it could heal the damage to Naruto's brain and allow him to unseal his memories. By enduring the pain, he could let the future Seventh Hokage's consciousness take over the fight.
The problem was, the Nine-Tails had already used up its Yang Power treating Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee. That method was no longer an option.
"Hey, Kurama, don't underestimate me," Naruto's voice echoed with determination. "I said I would surpass them, so how could I lose? Spiral Dance Umbrella!"
Naruto grabbed a umbrella-shaped chakra weapon and snapped it open, using it to block Tobirama's slash. He used the force of the blow to flip through the air, launching himself toward Hiruzen's position. His intention was obvious.
"Trying to interrupt my teacher's jutsu?" Orochimaru sneered from his perch high above the battlefield. "Unfortunately, Naruto, you can never break through the First Hokage's encirclement."
Under Orochimaru's control, the five wood clones and the First Hokage's main body quickly closed in, tangling with Naruto. That brief moment was all the time Hiruzen needed to complete his jutsu.
"Five-Nature Grand Combo Jutsu!"
Five different nature chakras erupted from Hiruzen and his clones, overwhelming the area where Naruto was fighting Hashirama. An earth-shattering explosion instantly tore the battlefield apart.
Controlled by Orochimaru, Tobirama's charge halted, and Hiruzen's body froze in place as they waited for the smoke to clear.
Clang! Clang!
The sounds of broken wood clones falling to the ground echoed in the silence.
"Was he killed?" Orochimaru rested his chin on his hand, a hint of regret on his face. "What a pity. I thought I would get a Nine-Tails jinchuriki as a test subject."
"You're thinking too much, Orochimaru," a voice called out from the smoke.
Naruto was standing in the same spot, but his body was covered in wounds. His chakra cloak was in tatters. Even with the Nine-Tails' chakra forming a desperate defense, the Five-Nature Grand Combo had heavily damaged him. The Spiral Dance Umbrella he had been holding was blasted to pieces.
Compared to Naruto, who still had the Nine-Tails' chakra protecting him, the reanimated Hashirama was in a worse state. His body had been blown to pieces. The dust and debris on the ground were slowly gathering, beginning to reform his appearance.
"Trading an injury for a life? Naruto…" A look of pity crossed Orochimaru's face as he sneered. "You fool. The reanimated can never die. As long as their souls remain, their bodies will fight forever…"
His words came to an abrupt halt.
Ignoring his own injuries, Naruto leaped to Hashirama's side. He grabbed the not-yet-recovered First Hokage with one hand, his palm clamping fiercely around his neck. After a reanimated person receives a fatal injury, their body is completely immobile while it recovers.
Naruto slowly raised his head and looked at the First Hokage's debris-filled face. "This wasn't easy," he said in a low voice. "The chakra inside the First Hokage feels even more potent than the One-Tail, Shukaku's..."
The reanimated Hashirama didn't have a massive amount of chakra, but its quality was far more powerful than Shukaku's. Moreover, Hashirama's combat power was immense. Even with limited chakra, his Wood Style ninjutsu and formidable taijutsu forced Naruto into a desperate fight.
Most importantly, only the First Hokage could counter the Tailed Beast Ball. Or rather, Naruto had only ever seen the First Hokage break through one. If he could deal with Hashirama, he would be free to fight with his full strength.
"..."
Orochimaru couldn't understand Naruto's actions, but that didn't stop him from controlling Tobirama and Hiruzen to attack again.
This time, however, they were facing a full-powered Naruto.
A small, pitch-black Tailed Beast Ball condensed on Naruto's fingertip. He flicked it toward Hiruzen. With no one to block it, the Third Hokage was blasted into a pile of debris, and his shadow clones dissipated into smoke.
Naruto then frowned at the charging Second Hokage. A giant golden chakra hand shot out, blocking Tobirama's advance. Just at that moment, Hashirama's body had finally recovered.
Before he could resist, Naruto activated his own jutsu. "Sorry, First Hokage. I have to borrow your chakra… Sealing Art: Devour!"
A torrent of tangible chakra flowed into Naruto's palm. The chakra felt like it was of the same origin, entering Naruto's body without any resistance. The young blond boy savored the life force from Hashirama's chakra as the injuries on his body began to slowly heal.
Not only that, Hashirama's chakra acted as a catalyst, guiding Naruto to awaken a new power. He could feel his own chakra recovery ability growing stronger. His body also felt more powerful.
In the sealing space, the Nine-Tails gently tapped its claws on the floor, observing the changes in Naruto. "Has this kid finally obtained the Sage Body of an Asura chakra reincarnate… no, it's Wood Style! Has his kekkei genkai been suppressed all this time because his chakra has been entangled with mine since childhood? Was it lured out by that bastard Hashirama's chakra, or is it a kekkei genkai that he devoured and absorbed?"
-----
Bonus:
Naruto Uzumaki: Because of you, I never awakened Wood Release…
Nine-Tails: Bloodlines depend on genetics…
Naruto Uzumaki: Then do you think our family has any kekkei genkai?
Nine-Tails: No idea—but that bastard Minato definitely had something going on!
Naruto Uzumaki: ???
Nine-Tails: Because you don't even have red hair!
Naruto Uzumaki: …