Meanwhile, elsewhere.
In Otogakure, within a dark, damp cave, Orochimaru looked at the two tombstones before him, his expression complex.
"For Konoha's younger generation, you two are probably god-like existences."
He murmured, a trace of awe in his tone.
The two tombstones lying before him were none other than those of Konoha's two strongest Hokage:
The Shodaime Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
The Nidaime Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Back when Orochimaru obtained these two bodies, he had paid a considerable price and expended immense effort.
However, as long as he could acquire the remains of these two Shinobi, famous even during the Warring States Period, his subsequent invasion and plunder plans would be secured.
After all, one of them was a man who researched countless Forbidden Technique, possessed strength unparalleled in the Shinobi World, and laid the foundation for Konoha's prosperity for generations.
And the other was the one who ended the entire Warring States Period, divided the nine Biju, and made even the ambitious Madara of the Uchiha Clan flee in fear, not daring to act recklessly.
The God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama!
From the very first day Orochimaru was found by Konoha and became a Shinobi, legends about Hashirama had never been absent from his ears.
He was powerful, optimistic, and possessed a leader's charisma.
Even the dark-natured Uchiha Clan submitted to him willingly.
Such a man, even as a corpse, inspired not a shred of irreverence, but instead a sense of awe.
Despite this awe, Orochimaru's heart held an even higher pursuit.
Eternal Life!
A fanatical light flashed in his narrow, snake-like pupils… an emotion different from any he had felt before.
For eternal life, he could abandon everything.
"Impure World Reincarnation."
Orochimaru formed hand seals, and massive Chakra fluctuations emanated from the coffins.
The Impure World Reincarnation, a super Forbidden Technique developed by the Nidaime Hokage.
It formed a contract with the Shinigami, using corpses as a medium to resurrect the dead who had slumbered for years.
Rumble...
The intense tremors caused even the incredibly sturdy experimental cave to develop cracks. A fanatical gleam also flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
They were finally about to emerge.
Creak, creak.
The heavy coffin lids made grating sounds. The long-unopened coffin doors showed signs of loosening for the first time.
Orochimaru stared at the two doors, swallowing slightly.
Although he had long prepared the Forbidden Techniques to control the reincarnated bodies, these were, after all, the two existences who once swept across the Shinobi World. If they broke free from the technique's restraints...
The consequences were something even a madman like Orochimaru dared not imagine.
Click.
However, when the blank, puppet-like faces of Hashirama and Tobirama appeared before Orochimaru, his heart, which had been suspended, finally settled.
'I deliberately sealed most of their power to pursue absolute control over them. It seems that was indeed the correct choice.'
Looking at the two Hokage, now like puppets, Orochimaru thought to himself.
Hashirama and Tobirama… what stunning figures they were in their time.
Even transformed into puppets, they weren't entities ordinary Shinobi could control.
If Orochimaru hadn't sealed part of their power, they might have broken the technique's restraints immediately upon reincarnation.
Creak, creak.
Following the technique's instructions, Orochimaru slightly issued a command for the two Hokage to move.
The two corpse-like puppets shifted a couple of steps, their movements stiff.
"Next, testing Ninjutsu attacks."
Orochimaru's gaze was cold, his thoughts step-by-step controlling the two.
Fire Release, Water Release, Wind Release...
Countless basic Ninjutsu were released from in front of the two figures as if they cost nothing, bombarding the stone slab in front of the cave.
This slab was a special material Orochimaru used to test attack potency.
According to the material's readings, the attack strength of the two reincarnated Hokage had reached the pinnacle.
Even the most ordinary Ninjutsu could erupt with terrifying destructive power surpassing that of Elite Jonin.
"Everything is ready. Hiruzen-sensei, I wonder if you can handle this 'gift' of mine."
After the experiments, a sick smile appeared on Orochimaru's lips. He waved his right hand.
The two Hokage corpses walked back into their coffins on their own, falling into a dormant sleep.
With these two Hokage as allies, the entire high-end combat power of Konoha would have a massive headache.
The remaining low-level Shinobi could be handled by Otogakure's elites.
When it came to nurturing talent, he, Orochimaru, was far stronger than that wretched old man, the Sandaime Hokage.
Outside Orochimaru's hideout, Naruto stared at the two corpses inside the cave, his pupils contracting sharply. He covered his mouth, forcibly suppressing any sound.
"How is this possible…"
Through the Group Owner's messages, he knew Orochimaru's ambitions ran deep, and he knew this man was not simple.
But Naruto never dared to believe he could actually resurrect the legendary Shodaime Hokage and Nidaime Hokage using the Impure World Reincarnation.
Thinking this, Naruto didn't hesitate and immediately entered the group chat.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: @Dark Group Owner, Group Owner Mister, something terrible has happened! Orochimaru actually has the Shodaime and Nidaime's bodies! What on earth is going on?]
[The Strongest Shadow Assassin of Xuanwu: Although I don't know what that is, it sounds very impressive.]
[True Love Is Agumon: Anyone who can bear the title 'Shodaime' must surely be an invincible figure who founded a school or sect.]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: !!!]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Shodaime? Nidaime? Naruto, stop joking! Is Uchiha Madara going to show up next?!]
Sasuke looked at the messages in the group chat, utterly astonished.
'The Shodaime Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was a figure from the same era as the Uchiha Clan's ancestor, Uchiha Madara.'
'Could such a legend truly be resurrected and controlled by Orochimaru's power alone?'
[Dark Group Owner: @The Dead-Last Jinchuriki @Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It, Both of you, calm down a little. Although Orochimaru has resurrected the Shodaime and Nidaime, they are not the complete versions of those two. You don't need to be overly surprised.]
Hattori yawned and typed slowly.
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: Group Owner, you have to tell us the inside story! If it's really the Shodaime and Nidaime, then we might as well call off the plan. Orochimaru could just sweep through everyone by himself.]
Naruto looked at the group chat, spreading his hands helplessly.
The premise of all their previous plans was based on a balance of power between the various forces.
If Orochimaru's side suddenly produced two super-existences outside the normal specifications, then even with heaven-defying abilities, they wouldn't be able to make a splash.
[Dark Group Owner: It's hard to explain this clearly in a few words. See for yourselves.]
[Dark Group Owner: @The Dead-Last Jinchuriki @Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It, I've uploaded a memory fragment.]