Chapter 598: Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Break Free, Shocking Konoha

"This so-called 'evil forbidden jutsu'—wasn't it personally developed by you, Second Hokage?"

Orochimaru grinned, throwing the question back at Tobirama.

"You—!"

How dare this insolent brat talk back—no, mock him outright!

Senju Tobirama couldn't hold back his fury.

"Alright, alright."

Before Tobirama could explode, Hashirama laughed heartily and patted his younger brother's shoulder, teasing him.

"I told you long ago that techniques like this should have been sealed away, never researched. But you wouldn't listen, and now..."

"Big brother, I'm disciplining this brat—stay out of it."

Arms crossed, Tobirama scowled.

"But you're being a little too—"

"Shut up!"

Tobirama snapped, practically trembling with frustration.

Hashirama's signature dejected expression made its appearance.

Watching the legendary First Hokage get scolded into silence, Orochimaru almost thought he had summoned a fake Hashirama.

Was this really the man Tsunade idolized? The so-called "God of Shinobi"?

Because from where Orochimaru was standing, Hashirama looked more like a pushover.

"Orochimaru, just because your teacher was Sarutobi Hiruzen and you learned how to use Edo Tensei, do you really think I can't discipline you?"

Tobirama's voice was sharp.

"This is a forbidden technique of my own creation. I can dispel it whenever I please."

Since you clearly have no concept of respecting your elders, I suppose I'll have to educate you in Monkey's place.

Something wasn't right.

Orochimaru's instincts screamed at him, and he immediately formed hand seals, attempting to suppress Hashirama and Tobirama with Edo Tensei's control.

"Sigh…"

Hashirama let out a long exhale.

He knew this would happen.

Feeling the restraints of Edo Tensei attempting to bind his soul, he sighed again.

Though he bore no real hostility toward Orochimaru, he greatly disliked the sensation of being controlled.

So—

"Boom!!!"

A massive explosion of chakra erupted, tearing through the underground chamber and sending the entire space into chaos.

—

Meanwhile, in a quiet living room, someone lay lazily on a sofa, sipping an ice-cold drink to clear his head after drinking.

Hearing the door open, Takuya turned, surprised to see Tsunade stepping inside.

Her face was weary, and without any care for appearances, she tossed her coat onto the hanger, rubbed her shoulders, and dropped onto the sofa beside him.

"I suddenly felt uneasy… like something big was about to happen. I couldn't focus on work, so I came back early."

As she spoke, her nose twitched, and she frowned, pushing him away slightly.

"How much did you drink? You stink."

"Tch, blame Jiraiya. He was convinced I tricked him, said his poor little heart was broken, and insisted we drink together. So I drank a little more than usual."

"Stop letting him drag you into things."

Tsunade rubbed her temples, ready to scold him some more—

But then, a chakra burst erupted.

Familiar.

Yet… foreign.

The sheer intensity of it was shocking, washing over all of Konoha like a tidal wave.

"...What is that?"

Her mind momentarily blanked.

And then—

A second burst of chakra exploded forth, equally powerful and just as unsettlingly familiar.

What the hell was happening?

Across Konoha, countless shinobi were shaken by the overwhelming force.

At the forefront, a unit of ANBU led by Sakumo Hatake immediately moved toward the disturbance.

—

At the Sarutobi residence, Hiruzen, who had been resting, bolted upright.

His expression twisted in shock.

"This chakra… It's the First and Second Hokage…?! Impossible!"

There was no time to change.

Dressed in nothing but sleepwear, the Third Hokage rushed out at full speed.

—

Back in the living room, Tsunade's face had gone pale.

Her hands clenched into fists.

"...That chakra," she muttered.

"What's wrong?"

Takuya turned to her, frowning.

Tsunade remained silent for a long moment before exhaling deeply.

"I think it's my grandfather and granduncle."

Hashirama had died when she was still young, but there was no way she would ever forget his chakra.

And Tobirama's was just as distinct.

"That's not funny," Takuya scoffed.

Hashirama and Tobirama were long dead.

How could they just show up now and cause trouble—

Wait.

Dead for years…?

Something wasn't right.

That direction—wasn't that where Orochimaru's laboratory was?

Could it be—?

Had Orochimaru used Edo Tensei to revive them?!

The sheer intensity of that chakra… It didn't feel weak at all.

But Edo Tensei required appropriate sacrifices. Without them, the resurrected individuals would be frail shadows of their former selves.

Where had Orochimaru found sacrifices strong enough for this?!

Had he actually used high-level shinobi—?

…Or was it White Zetsu?!

"I'm not joking. It's really them."

Tsunade wasn't even remotely happy.

Because this meant trouble.

"Let's go."

Without hesitation, Takuya scooped Tsunade up, grabbed her coat, and dashed toward the disturbance.

As soon as they left, several figures—Nawaki, Minato, Kushina, Pakura, and others—caught up.

Tsunade merely motioned for them to follow.

They weren't the only ones heading toward the scene.

A flood of shinobi were moving in the same direction.

Konoha was in an uproar.

Most assumed it was an enemy attack.

Only a select few knew the truth.

—

"You damned Orochimaru—you think you can control me?"

Tobirama's fury burned.

If he could strangle Orochimaru right now, he would.

The bastard had actually believed he could manipulate them.

How laughable.

The entire laboratory lay in ruins.

From beneath the rubble, three figures emerged.

Nearby ANBU, assigned to monitor Orochimaru, were left speechless.

They had assumed an intruder had attacked—

But those two men looked… oddly familiar.

"Is that the First Hokage…?"

"And the other one… looks like the Second Hokage…?"

"Aren't they dead?"

"Don't ask me—I have no idea what's happening."

Orochimaru, looking slightly disheveled, was clearly not in control of the situation.

He had attempted to forcefully suppress Tobirama and Hashirama—only to be utterly overwhelmed.

This was an unmitigated disaster.

Meanwhile, Hashirama paid no mind to Orochimaru.

Instead, he gazed over the village, taking in the night sky and the distant lights.

"So this… is Konoha now?"

His voice was filled with nostalgia.

—

"What the hell are you up to this time, Orochimaru?"

A voice rang out, thick with irritation.

Moments later, a figure arrived—

Jiraiya.

His clothes were barely thrown on, lipstick stains still marking his face, and the smell of alcohol clinging to him.

Since he had been nearby, he was the first to arrive at the scene.

___________________________

(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read the rest of the Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01. 

DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING