Originally, Orochimaru believed that summoning the First and Second Hokage with Edo Tensei would make dealing with Ryūjin effortless.
Who could have predicted that the moment the Second Hokage made his move, his head would be cleanly severed by Ryūjin Uchiha?
If Tobirama had been alive, that single exchange would have meant instant death.
Fortunately, Edo Tensei bodies could regenerate automatically, so defeat was not immediate. Even so, Orochimaru's vigilance toward Ryūjin rose to its peak. Carelessness was no longer an option.
Without hesitation, he forced Hashirama Senju to charge forward.
Whoosh!
Ryūjin casually flicked his wrist, sending a Flying Thunder God kunai toward Tobirama's headless body. In the same instant, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished from his original position, cleanly avoiding Hashirama's attack.
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
Flying Thunder God?
He nearly blurted it out in disbelief.
An Uchiha using Tobirama's signature space time technique, that alone was absurd.
Before he could process it further, Ryūjin reappeared directly in front of Tobirama.
He reached out and placed a hand on Tobirama's shoulder.
At that moment, Tobirama's head had only partially regenerated. He had no ability to resist, forced to endure whatever came next.
Orochimaru watched coldly, a faint smirk forming in his mind.
No matter what you do, Edo Tensei bodies recover. This is pointless.
"Kamui."
Ryūjin's Mangekyō Sharingan focused, and a spatial vortex twisted into existence.
Tobirama Senju, whose head had only halfway reformed, was completely swallowed into the vortex.
Gone without a trace.
It was as if he had never existed.
The Kamui dimension stretched endlessly, fully under Ryūjin's control. He made no effort to send Tobirama anywhere specific.
Even if he had, Tobirama was not the type to kill indiscriminately, so it would not have mattered.
"Edo Tensei Second Hokage, handled."
Ryūjin clapped his hands lightly, as if brushing off dust.
Two uses of Kamui, one Flying Thunder God. That was all it took.
No effort wasted.
Orochimaru felt his entire body go cold.
A space time ninjutsu…
And not just any, something far more terrifying.
The Second Hokage, his greatest trump card, had been removed so easily. Worse, Orochimaru could no longer sense any connection to Tobirama.
The contract was gone.
Even if control remained, it meant nothing. Tobirama was trapped in another dimension, unable to return.
Now, only Hashirama remained.
"Wood Release."
Clap!
Under Orochimaru's control, Hashirama slammed his hands together.
Crack, crack, crack!
The ground beneath Ryūjin trembled violently as thick wooden branches burst upward, twisting and coiling like venomous serpents rushing toward their prey.
The difference in power was obvious.
Even compared to techniques used by Obito Uchiha, Hashirama's Wood Release was on an entirely different level. Speed, density, range, everything far superior.
"Shukaku."
Ryūjin entered Tailed Beast Chakra Mode instantly and formed a Tailed Beast Ball, launching it straight into the mass of incoming branches.
Boom!
The explosion obliterated everything in its path. Countless fragments of wood scattered outward like deadly projectiles, tearing through the surrounding area with overwhelming force.
"Kamui."
The moment the obstruction cleared, Ryūjin locked his gaze onto Hashirama and activated long range Kamui.
Crack!
Hashirama's head was severed cleanly, his body collapsing to the ground.
But the instant it hit, it transformed into a wooden clone.
A Wood Clone.
Ryūjin's eyes narrowed slightly.
As expected of the God of Shinobi. Even in a weakened state, he was far from easy to deal with.
After witnessing Tobirama's fate, Hashirama had already adjusted. The same tactic would not work twice.
Crack, crack, crack!
More wooden branches erupted from the ground, launching another relentless assault.
This time, however, Ryūjin was different.
Sage Mode.
With enhanced perception and physical ability, he sensed the attack the moment it began forming beneath him.
Whoosh!
A Flying Thunder God kunai flew from his hand toward Hashirama.
In the next instant, Ryūjin vanished and reappeared directly in front of him.
A swirling sphere of energy condensed instantly in his palm.
Sage Art, Rasengan.
He drove it forward without hesitation.
Hashirama reacted at once, thrusting his hand forward as wood surged out to intercept.
But it was too late.
The Flying Thunder God technique allowed no delay.
Boom!
The Rasengan shattered the wooden defense instantly, its force blasting through everything in its path.
Hashirama was sent flying by the impact.
Orochimaru's breathing grew uneven.
Even Hashirama… can't suppress him?
This was the God of Shinobi.
Even at half strength, he should have been overwhelming.
Clap!
Hashirama stabilized himself midair, quickly forming another seal.
Several massive Wood Dragons emerged, twisting and surging forward with terrifying momentum.
They moved like colossal beasts, every motion tearing apart the landscape.
Boom, boom, boom!
The ground collapsed under their power. Massive craters formed, cracks spread across the earth, and the entire battlefield descended into chaos.
Yet through it all, Ryūjin remained intangible.
His body phased in and out of reality, untouched by every attack.
No matter how the Wood Dragons struck, they could not harm him in the slightest.
In mere moments, the land within several hundred meters had been reduced to ruin.