Tobirama crossed his arms in front of his chest and spoke coldly. Being provoked by a brat, and especially an Uchiha he disliked, was something he couldn't tolerate.
"Tobirama! No reckless research into forbidden techniques!"
Senju Hashirama scolded, and then sighed helplessly in his heart. Why did his second brother have to bicker with Tsunade's husband?
"For now, Tsunade, you and the First and Second Hokage should go back first. I need my original body to collect all the life energy and use the pupil technique. Once I have gathered it, I'll come to you, First Hokage."
After Uchiha Yoichi finished speaking, he intended to take action immediately. Unfortunately, the special pupil technique of the Rinnegan couldn't be used by a clone; otherwise, he could have sent dozens of clones diving into the sea to collect life energy.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Yoichi."
Tsunade touched her belly and said. Speaking of which, her child was also about to be born, perhaps in ten days...
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In Hidden Sand Village, a war had just occurred.
Pakura had just received a transmission from the Uchiha Trading Association when Hidden Sand Village was attacked by Reanimation bodies. Moreover, Uchiha Yoichi had overlooked the fact that the Red Sand Scorpion had also joined the Akatsuki Organization.
The Akatsuki Organization's leadership didn't matter to Sasori, and even if it changed to Uchiha Madara, it only shocked him. The reason he continued to stay with Akatsuki was that first, it allowed him to kill and create puppets freely, displaying his art.
Secondly, because Akatsuki would sooner or later target Konoha, Sasori could then get his revenge.
Therefore, under Uchiha Fugaku's persuasion, the Red Sand Scorpion quickly decided to stay with Akatsuki and activated his pawns left in Hidden Sand Village.
When Pakura received the message, she was still contemplating whether to inform the Sand Village high command about this, but she thought they might not believe her and would pick faults with her.
However, before Pakura could make up her mind, Akatsuki, along with the Reanimation bodies, attacked from the entrance of Hidden Sand Village.
Furthermore, all the enemies were Reanimation bodies, including the Third Mizukage, Third Kazekage, Namikaze Minato, and previous Jinchuriki, a total of ten or so powerful Reanimation bodies. Without sealing techniques, Reanimation bodies were invincible.
Even if they were shattered a bit, they could regenerate.
Additionally, the Reanimation bodies summoned by Black and White Zetsu were all strong and used special White Zetsu clones, enabling them to exhibit about eighty percent of their strength from when they were alive.
To add to this, the guarding ninja at the front gate of Hidden Sand Village had been dealt with by Sasori's undercover subordinates, leaving no time for Hidden Sand Village to assemble their ninja.
Rasa and other high-level leaders of Hidden Sand Village rushed over upon learning of the Reanimation bodies' massacre. Only after their arrival was the carnage somewhat curbed.
Rasa barely managed to contain the Third Kazekage and Namikaze Minato. Fortunately, neither was at full strength; otherwise, even one would have been difficult for Rasa to restrain.
The remaining Reanimation bodies were held back by Pakura, who had activated the Sage Curse Seal, leading the other Hidden Sand ninja in a battle of Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, finally halting their invasion strategy.
At this point, Pakura informed Rasa and other high-ranking Sand ninja that the enemy's target might be the One-tailed Jinchuriki. Pakura urged Rasa to leave immediately, leaving her in charge of the situation.
However, Rasa didn't quite believe Pakura, thinking she wanted to send him away to become a Hidden Sand hero again.
Besides, Gaara not only had Yakshamaru watching over him but also two squads of Sand ninja Anbu, with the enemies all attacking here; how could they target Gaara?
As a result, Rasa outright ignored Pakura and chastised her to focus on the current enemies.
After a while, the Sand ninja sealing team finally arrived. But just as they were ready to cooperate with the sealing team to seal the Reanimation bodies, the enemies suddenly withdrew.
With Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God Jutsu, their retreat was too convenient.
The sudden withdrawal of the enemies left Sand ninja stunned. A surprise invasion, a massacre, and then suddenly withdrawing—what kind of strategy was this?
At this point, Pakura couldn't help but scold Rasa: "Rasa, you fool, go check on the One-tailed Jinchuriki! Do you really think the enemy came to Hidden Sand Village for sightseeing?"
Rasa, now pale, realized that the enemy had been distracting them. He had been overconfident!
Before he could turn around to head back, a wounded Sand ninja Anbu suddenly approached.
Seeing this Anbu, Rasa felt a thump in his heart but still asked, "Where's Gaara?"
"Lord Kazekage, Gaara was attacked and has been abducted by the enemy. Four Anbu are dead, and three are injured. Among the attackers was Uchiha Fugaku, a traitorous ninja from Konoha, identifiable by his Sharingan..."
Upon hearing the Anbu's report, Rasa felt his vision go black.
His son, the One-tailed Jinchuriki of Hidden Sand Village, had been kidnapped. Moreover, this happened after Pakura advised him, and he failed to respond in time, allowing the enemy to take the One-tailed.
The surroundings fell into silence; no one knew what to say.
"Immediately send a message to Konoha Village to hold them accountable. This is all Uchiha Fugaku's doing..."
Rasa snarled angrily, but before he could finish, Pakura interrupted him: "Don't be foolish, Rasa. Among the recent enemies were the Red Sand Scorpion and the Third Kazekage. Don't tell me you didn't see it. Hurry and count the wounded and manage the aftermath, and find a way to contact Konoha to handle the enemy together!"
"If you insist on blaming Konoha or even declaring war on them, don't blame me for disobeying the Kazekage's orders!"
After speaking, Pakura ordered the Sand ninja beside her to treat their companions, and simultaneously sent people to contact the Uchiha Trading Association to inform them that Hidden Sand Village needed supplies.
As she managed the supply logistics, many Sand ninja also accompanied her. Once Pakura gave the order, those on the scene quickly went to treat the wounded.
Even the ninja on Rasa's side followed suit; after all, letting injured comrades be ignored would be too cold-hearted.
The recent incidents even alarmed Chiyo and Ebizo. However, they were tricked by the Red Sand Scorpion and failed to capture him, as Namikaze Minato's Reanimation body took him away.
On the way back, Pakura suddenly remembered that Uchiha Yoichi was about to become the Fifth Hokage. He would likely propose the merging of the two villages.
It would be wise to initiate contact in advance, hoping that man wouldn't resort to warfare to annex Hidden Sand Village.
Today, Hidden Sand Village suffered heavily. Reanimation bodies were not adversaries regular ninja could handle, and there was no guard to prevent a surprise attack. After a simple tally, the casualties among civilians and ninja totalled several hundred.
This was without the enemy using large-scale Ninjutsu. If they had, Hidden Sand Village's casualties would have multiplied several times over.
——————————
On the other side, as Black and White Zetsu controlled the Reanimation bodies to bring back the One-tailed Jinchuriki, they encountered Uchiha Madara summoning the Gedo Statue.
The Three-tailed had already been subdued and was dragged from the sea by the Reanimation bodies and placed in this forest. Uchiha Madara summoned the Gedo Statue, preparing to first absorb the Three-tails.
"Lord Madara, everything went smoothly. The One-tailed Jinchuriki has been brought back too."
Black and White Zetsu emerged from the ground, grinning as they took Gaara from within White Zetsu's body, placing him before Uchiha Madara.
"A child? Have the people of Hidden Sand Village fallen to such a level?"
Uchiha Madara frowned slightly. He could kill a ninja for his purposes without second thoughts, but making a move against a child who wasn't even a ninja... if word got out, it could be laughed at. This wasn't something he could stomach.
"There's no choice, Lord Madara. Hidden Sand Village doesn't have many suitable Jinchuriki, and he's the son of the Fourth Kazekage, a product of the Fourth Kazekage's ambition."
Black Zetsu noticed Uchiha Madara's hesitation and was indifferent at heart, but he still advised, "For the sake of permanent peace, the current sacrifices are justified, Lord Madara."
"Forget it, I won't stand still..."
Uchiha Madara turned directly away, deliberately not looking at Gaara, then clasped his hands together to seal: "Sealing!"
Under his control, the Gedo Statue opened its mouth, spitting out chakra chain locks that instantly bound the Three-tailed and Gaara.