In a dense forest outside Aoyagi Town, Uzumaki Raiden slowly stood up from the ground. With a surge of Lightning Release, he evaporated the moisture from his clothes, his expression turning serious.
Although Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju were still surprised to learn that Uzumaki Raiden was the Fourth Hokage, their bodies moved once again under Orochimaru's control.
Orochimaru was well aware of Uzumaki Raiden's abilities. The Water Release jutsu performed by Tobirama, while powerful enough to be a finishing blow against others, was merely a probing attack against a ninja of Raiden's caliber. From the start, Orochimaru never expected Tobirama's attack to be decisive.
"Fourth Hokage, be careful!"
"My brother and I are nowhere near as strong as when we were alive, but we are not opponents that ordinary ninjas can resist."
"Do not underestimate us, or you will die!"
Sensing something, Tobirama furrowed his brows and warned Raiden. He had many questions for this young man who had retired in his twenties, but now was not the time. If he continued speaking and distracted Raiden, the boy could very well be killed.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
In Raiden's line of sight, Tobirama performed no hand seals. Instead, he simply clasped his hands together, and an enormous surge of chakra erupted from his mouth. The moment the chakra left his lips, it transformed into a massive flood, rapidly spreading outward.
Yahiko had originally planned to assist Orochimaru in attacking Uzumaki Raiden, but he was caught off guard by the sheer scale of the technique unleashed by one of Orochimaru's summoned ninjas. He had no choice but to retreat tens of meters to the battlefield's edge, watching with a solemn expression.
Tobirama's jutsu did not stop. The mountain was soon swallowed by the overwhelming flood. At that moment, Hashirama Senju, who had remained motionless until now, finally acted. Clasping his hands together, he caused countless vines to sprout from the ground beneath Uzumaki Raiden, wildly growing and rapidly enclosing him.
Hashirama's attack was hidden behind Tobirama's Water Release. With his exceptional sensory abilities, Hashirama did not need to see Raiden directly—he could locate him purely by sensing his chakra. Thus, his Wood Release jutsu was precisely targeted at Raiden.
"Without sensory ninjutsu, this kind of attack would be deadly!"
Raiden thought to himself, murmuring under his breath. His Kagura Mind's Eye had detected the abnormal movement beneath the ground the moment Hashirama initiated his technique. Although he was facing Tobirama's Water Release from the front and Hashirama's Wood Release from below, he remained calm and did not rush to evade.
When an opponent attacks, it also creates the perfect opportunity to counterattack!
"Lightning Prison Palm!"
Raiden extended his left hand, gathering a terrifying amount of Lightning Release chakra. At the same time, he swiftly slashed at the vines around him with his right hand, carving out space to maneuver. With a single leap, he landed atop a tree. But before leaving the ground, he threw the lightning sphere he had condensed into Tobirama's raging flood.
"Zzzzt!"
The lightning sphere struck the water and rapidly spread. Crackling lightning illuminated the entire battlefield as the current traveled through the water. Tobirama, standing at the source of the technique, was suddenly paralyzed, momentarily losing control of the jutsu.
That slight pause was all Raiden needed. In a flash, he vanished, his entire body clad in Lightning Armor.
When he reappeared, he was already behind Tobirama. His blade thrust forward, aiming directly at Tobirama's back.
Raiden's speed was incredible. With the Lightning Armor's enhancement, his movements were beyond the range of normal perception. Moreover, Tobirama's body was being controlled by Orochimaru rather than himself. Although Tobirama was fully aware of Raiden's presence behind him, Orochimaru's reaction was a fraction too slow. Before Tobirama could turn around, Raiden's blade had already pierced through him.
A sealing jutsu spread outward from the point of contact.
Orochimaru, noticing Raiden's intent to use a sealing technique, reacted immediately. Without hesitation, he quickly formed hand seals and released the Reanimation Jutsu affecting Tobirama.
Orochimaru knew his former comrade well—if Uzumaki Raiden succeeded in using his sealing technique, it wouldn't just seal Tobirama's reanimated body, but his soul as well. If that happened, Tobirama would be permanently removed from the cycle of reincarnation, making future summoning impossible.
That was unacceptable to Orochimaru. He was willing to cooperate with the Akatsuki to deal with Raiden, but he had no intention of throwing everything away. If Akatsuki had the power to kill Raiden, he wouldn't mind lending his strength.
But if they expected him to take the lead against Uzumaki Raiden, he would never be foolish enough to risk himself.
"Sealing technique... This boy, as expected."
Hashirama had also noticed Raiden's technique, his heart trembling in shock.
From the start, he had sensed something familiar about Raiden's chakra. However, since his own power was greatly diminished compared to his prime, his sensory abilities were likewise limited.
But as the battle unfolded and Raiden unleashed more chakra, Hashirama finally understood why.
The red-haired young man before him was not only the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, but also a master of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques. Moreover, he was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha. If this boy had never met Uzumaki Mito, Hashirama simply wouldn't believe it.
"Your name is Uzumaki Raiden, correct?"
"I have a question for you. I don't know if you'd be willing to answer it."
Hashirama's hands clenched together, and the surrounding trees came to life, twisting and writhing unnaturally. Enormous trees, each as thick as ten men, rapidly grew over thirty meters tall. At their tops, flower buds swelled, ready to bloom.
Despite preparing a deadly attack, Hashirama still asked his question.
"Tree World Birth?"
"There must be paralyzing pollen inside those buds. If I inhale it, things will get tricky."
Raiden dodged the rapidly expanding trees with agile movements, slashing through branches to create space. Looking up at the towering buds, he spoke to himself. Hearing Hashirama's question, he glanced at the First Hokage before replying indifferently:
"If you have something to ask, just ask."
A golden glow began to envelop Raiden's body. Soon, his Chakra Cloak fully manifested, and his aura surged dramatically.
"..."
"I think I have my answer."
"You are truly remarkable. Mito must have been at peace when she passed away."
Hashirama shook his head with a soft smile. His body began glowing white as he forcibly broke free from the Reanimation Jutsu's restraints.
At that moment, Orochimaru completely lost control over Hashirama's body. Seeing the transformation in Raiden's form, he immediately realized something was wrong. Without hesitation, he slithered away, escaping like a snake.
Meanwhile, the masked figure who had been watching from the shadows was also alarmed by Raiden's transformation. Without wasting time, he materialized next to Yahiko, grabbed his shoulder, and vanished.
Jūbi's figure had already disappeared long ago, retreating the moment Raiden began breaking the Reanimation Jutsu.
"Right now, the Akatsuki have no way to face Uzumaki Raiden head-on."
"If we want to defeat the strongest man in the ninja world, we must plan carefully!"
The masked man and Yahiko had fled far, but moments later, a deafening explosion echoed from a distant mountain. A fiery blaze erupted, completely consuming the Sea of Trees Hashirama had created. The flower buds that were about to bloom were obliterated in the explosion.
As the fire finally died down, a lone figure stood amidst the scorched battlefield. He quietly gazed in the direction Yahiko had escaped and sighed softly.
"The next time we meet, we will be true enemies."
(End of this chapter)