"Edo Tensei? Tobirama, I warned you long ago not to develop such a forbidden jutsu, but you refused to listen. Now it's being used against us, isn't it?"
Hashirama Senju glanced helplessly at Tobirama Senju before shifting his gaze toward Orochimaru, who stood behind them.
"Was it you, young man, who summoned us?" Hashirama asked calmly.
Orochimaru paused for a moment.
Being called a young man felt strange. But considering Hashirama came from the Warring States era, it wasn't entirely inappropriate.
"First Hokage, Second Hokage, I apologize for disturbing your rest," Orochimaru said with a low chuckle, his tongue briefly flicking across his lips. "However, I've encountered an exceptionally powerful enemy and had no other choice."
"I also wished to witness the presence of the two Hokage for myself."
Tobirama's expression was far colder than his brother's, his sharp gaze fixed on Orochimaru. "You've got nerve, summoning us like this."
A faint killing intent flickered in his eyes.
If he hadn't been bound by Edo Tensei, fully aware that his will was under the caster's control, Tobirama would have already struck.
"Second Hokage," Orochimaru continued casually, "what if I told you I summoned you to deal with a member of the Uchiha clan?"
Tobirama's eyes sharpened instantly. "The Uchiha? Have they rebelled again?"
"Your prejudice against the Uchiha clan runs deep," Ryūjin said with a quiet sigh, tilting his head slightly.
Ryūjin Uchiha understood exactly where Tobirama was coming from. The man had lived through Madara Uchiha's betrayal and had even lost family because of it. That kind of experience didn't fade easily.
Still, understanding didn't mean agreeing.
"A Hidden Mist ninja? How is the Hidden Mist involved in this?" Hashirama asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
"First Hokage, he is that Uchiha," Orochimaru replied, gesturing toward Ryūjin. "His strength surpasses that of a Hokage. I suspect he may have reached the level Madara once did."
Both brothers showed clear surprise, disbelief flickering across their faces.
No one understood Madara's strength better than they did. The idea that someone else could reach that level seemed almost impossible.
"If you want to know how strong he is," Orochimaru added with a faint smile, "why not test him yourselves?"
"I won't attack someone without understanding the situation," Hashirama refused immediately.
"If he's an Uchiha, that alone is reason enough," Tobirama said coldly after a brief pause. "That clan is inherently dangerous."
"Tobirama…" Hashirama began, clearly disapproving.
"Brother, you're too naive," Tobirama replied without hesitation.
Ryūjin frowned slightly, his expression hardening.
"Even if I'm not particularly attached to the clan, Second Hokage, what you just said is irritating."
He met Tobirama's gaze directly, his tone turning colder.
"And it's disrespectful."
Tobirama studied him for a moment, then stepped forward.
"That attitude… very much like an Uchiha. Your strength may be considerable, but that only makes you more dangerous. It's safer to eliminate you now."
"Tobirama…" Hashirama tried again.
"My apologies, First Hokage. Since you refuse to cooperate, I'll have to suppress your will," Orochimaru interrupted.
In one swift motion, he pulled out a kunai inscribed with sealing formulas and drove it into the back of Hashirama's head.
Hashirama fell silent instantly, his personality erased, reduced to a controlled puppet.
Though this weakened his combat ability, Orochimaru had no other option.
"Water Release, Water Severing Wave."
Tobirama's cold voice echoed as his hands blurred through a series of seals. He exhaled sharply, unleashing a high-pressure stream of water toward Ryūjin.
Even at only half his original power due to Edo Tensei, the technique was devastating, far surpassing similar techniques used by other shinobi.
The water pierced straight through Ryūjin's body with a sharp hiss.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
"Too easy…"
Orochimaru also frowned. With Ryūjin's strength, there was no way he should have been hit so effortlessly.
Then both their expressions changed.
Ryūjin's body flickered, turning into an intangible illusion as the water passed through him without causing any damage.
"Genjutsu? When did it happen?" Tobirama muttered, startled.
"Kamui."
Ryūjin turned his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Tobirama as his Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
In an instant, space itself warped.
A sharp crack echoed.
Tobirama's head was severed cleanly from his body.
Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock.
"W… what?!"
He hadn't even seen how it happened.
What kind of technique was that?
He had already witnessed Ryūjin use terrifying abilities, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, even techniques comparable to Tailed Beast-level attacks. He believed he had a grasp of Ryūjin's power.
Clearly, he was wrong.
This was something else entirely.
A technique that ignored distance, bypassed defense, and struck instantly.
Ryūjin still hadn't revealed everything.
A chill crept into Orochimaru's spine.
If that ability had been used on him instead…
Would his head still be on his shoulders?
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