Chapter 116: Resurrection of Hashirama

Hikari grinned.

"There's no reason to explain—you wouldn't understand or believe it anyway! First I'll deal with your Wood Clone, then I'll find your real body!"

"Kill!"

In the next moment, Hikari activated her Mangekyō Sharingan and summoned her fourth-stage Susanoo. Wielding its colossal sword, she charged at Madara, who stood a hundred meters away.

Uzumaki Mito didn't stand idle either. She activated her Nine-Tails Mode, and a giant spectral avatar formed around her. In its mouth, a glowing black Tailed Beast Bomb began to take shape.

Madara reacted instantly, activating his own full-body Susanoo—over 200 meters tall, nearly twice the size of Hikari's. His Susanoo drew two enormous swords—one aimed at Hikari, the other at Mito.

"BOOM!"

The clash of titanic forces sent shockwaves ripping across the hills. One of Madara's blades deflected the Tailed Beast Bomb, causing a massive explosion that rocked the valley.

But in that very moment, Gin appeared behind Madara.

In his hands crackled a terrifying spear—lightning compressed to the edge of physical cohesion. He drove it clean through Madara's Susanoo and pierced the clone's torso.

"Spear of Destruction: 300 million volts."

Madara's Susanoo froze. He looked down at the massive wound in disbelief, then turned slowly to Gin.

"This isn't the Flying Thunder God Technique… Do you possess another teleportation method? And without the slightest chakra ripple…? How?"

He stared at the lightning spear.

"That's no ordinary lightning. No wonder. No wonder!"

With a crack, the Susanoo disintegrated. The Wood Clone dissolved into smoke, revealing a lifeless wooden effigy of Madara.

Gin's body began to collapse, but he instantly reappeared beside Mito.

"Hey, kid! We didn't even get to warm up, and you're already done? What a waste!" Mito laughed, letting her Nine-Tails chakra dissolve.

"Seriously!" Hikari deactivated her Susanoo and landed beside them, playfully knocking Gin on the head. "Mom wanted to test her strength against Madara—and you ruined everything!"

"We've still got a chance," Gin said. "Let's capture a few White Zetsu, read their souls, and find Madara's real body. If he's already acting against us, we can't just sit back. We end him."

"You can't guard the granary from a thief forever," Mito muttered.

"Right! Let's begin. There are still some White Zetsu fleeing nearby," Hikari said.

"Don't forget to gather as many alive as possible. I'll store them separately. White Zetsu are perfect for Impure World Reincarnation—and excellent research material. We'll need them to resurrect the First and Second Hokage, and for genome studies," Gin reminded.

"Obviously," Hikari and Mito said in unison.

In the next moment, both disappeared. Moments later, they returned, each dragging a squirming White Zetsu—one pulled from a tree, the other from the earth. They read their souls swiftly.

"So, he's really in the Mountain Graveyard? Looks like we're heading to the Land of Snow," Hikari said.

Having confirmed the location, they returned to Gin.

Mito nodded. "What about you? Coming with us?"

"Of course," Gin said. "We need to be sure. If we can catch Black and White Zetsu, things get much simpler. Without their scheming, the ninja world will be far more stable."

"Then let's move. But be careful—we may not be able to help if things go south," Hikari cautioned.

Gin, with his emergency teleportation failsafe, wasn't in much danger. At worst, he might be injured—but that was nothing.

"You've mastered Impure World Reincarnation? Should we resurrect Hashirama first?" Mito suggested. "And Tobirama can wait until after you're Hokage—he'd just cause trouble otherwise."

She knew Tobirama well. His hatred of the Uchiha was legendary. It was best to delay his return until after the public trial of the Third and Danzō. Then she could mock him: "Look what kind of students you raised."

His expression would be priceless.

"The First Hokage? Sure. Over the years, I've perfected the Impure World Reincarnation. I can restore him in his prime."

"Wait a minute," Gin said, stomping the ground.

A complex formation of seals spread out beneath his feet, forming a glowing 3-meter-wide summoning circle.

From his spatial storage, he drew out Hikari's captured White Zetsu, restrained and motionless, and placed it at the center of the array.

He stepped back and clasped his hands.

"VUUUM!"

The seal lit up. Paper materialized, wrapping the Zetsu in layers until it vanished.

A tall, imposing figure began to form in the center of the array—quickly taking the shape of Senju Hashirama.

Mito froze at the sight. Her eyes reddened.

"Hashirama…"

Before the figure fully stabilized, Tsunade, Kushina, Mikoto, Minato, Jiraiya, Hatake Sakumo, and Nara Shikaku all arrived in flashes of yellow light.

Thanks to Flying Thunder God seals, Tsunade made no effort to hide. If questioned, she could always blame Gin.

"Oh? Tsunade-nee, why are you here?" Gin blinked in surprise.

"What do you think?!" Tsunade snapped, pointing at her grandfather, who still had his eyes closed. "Why would you resurrect him now? Where's Madara? Gone?"

She looked around.

"Don't bother," Mito said. "Just a Wood Clone. Gin already dealt with it."

"What the hell?! Where's Madara?! What's going on with me?!" Hashirama's eyes opened just in time to hear Madara's name.

He looked around, clearly confused.

Seeing his dazed expression, Mito's face darkened.

As expected, this foolish husband hadn't changed. Just hearing Madara's name and already excited.

"Oh? Mito, you're here too?" Hashirama finally noticed her, grinning sheepishly. "I remember dying… How am I back? This body…"

He examined himself, frowning. Then his gaze fell on the summoning array. Turning to Gin and Mito, he asked:

"Is this Tobirama's Impure World Reincarnation technique? Didn't I seal it as forbidden? How does this Uchiha kid know it? And you, Mito, didn't stop him?"

As he spoke, his chakra flared to terrifying levels. The air turned heavy. Jiraiya and the others felt like a mountain had landed on them.

Hashirama sensed the strength in his new body—it was at least 80% of his prime. Incredible.

"Who was sacrificed? Why do I sense so many of my own cells?" he demanded.

"Tone it down! You're scaring the kids!" Mito barked.

"O-Oh!" Hashirama instantly deflated, kneeling with a guilty look and drawing circles in the dirt.

Jiraiya and Shikaku stood frozen, jaws dropped.

Tsunade crossed her arms and muttered, "I knew it."

Gin and Hikari struggled not to laugh.

Mito, however, turned scarlet with embarrassment. She stomped toward him.

"What are you doing crouched like that?! Get up! Have some dignity! I still have pride, you know!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Hashirama leapt upright instantly.

He stood straight, the God of Shinobi restored to life—still as goofy, and just as legendary.