After leaving the Hokage Building, everyone followed Uchiha Gen across the rooftops, moving in swift arcs until Konoha Village disappeared behind them. They landed in the depths of a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees and muted sunlight.
"Why did you bring us here?"
Tsunade surveyed the area, then stepped in front of Gen with a puzzled look.
"You'll know soon enough."
"What's with the suspense…" She rolled her eyes, then turned to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, do you know why?"
"Hehe… I may know a small part of it."
"Then tell us!" Her eyes brightened.
But Orochimaru only shook his head, lips curving without explanation.
Tsunade clicked her tongue. "Master and disciple, exactly the same, equally annoying."
Inside Kushina's mindscape, the Nine-Tails abruptly rose from where it had been lounging, its expression sharpening.
"They're here."
"Who's here?" Kushina asked.
"Beings like me."
"Others like us?" Kushina's expression tightened.
The moment she spoke, several people in the real world tensed instinctively.
Gen raised a hand. "Relax. They're my people and they're here to help Konoha."
As he finished, figures cut through the forest canopy like falling shadows, landing in front of the group.
Four silhouettes dropped to one knee.
"Lord!"
Hiruzen's eyes went wide. "It's… them?!"
Gasps rippled through the group. Even without introductions, they recognized the newcomers.
Yugito.
Roshi.
Utakata.
Fu.
Jinchuriki of four different Hidden Villages. Konoha had extensive intelligence on all of them, especially Yugito and Roshi, whose reputations were well-known across the shinobi world.
Inside Kushina's seal, the Nine-Tails growled, unsettled.
"To control four Jinchuriki at once… and he's doing it so casually. Your little man's ocular power is truly terrifying."
Little man?
Kushina nearly choked. He's not little at all—actually he's—
She cut herself off, flushing. Focus, Kushina. Focus. The point is Gen's ocular power.
Gen gestured for the four Jinchuriki to rise. He clasped his hands behind his back and turned to the others with a faint smile.
"The Two-Tails, Four-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki are all under my ocular control. Add the One-Tail of Sunagakure, and Kushina-nee… That means six of the nine Tailed Beasts in the shinobi world are already under Konoha's control."
A stunned silence.
"Hidden Sand's high-end combat power is also lending support. Combined with our own, tell me, what village can resist?"
He paused, then added, "And we're not done yet."
He turned slightly. "Orochimaru-sensei. Your turn."
Orochimaru licked his lips, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "My pleasure."
He sank into the ground like a shadow slipping into water. The group exchanged glances and waited.
Five minutes later, Orochimaru resurfaced, three massive white snakes rising with him. Each one opened its jaws wide and expelled a bound White Zetsu, their mouths gagged, bodies wrapped tightly in small white snakes.
Though surprised, no one spoke. The forest fell silent as Orochimaru unrolled a large scroll on the ground.
The scroll displayed three sets of personal information, and the Edo Tensei formula.
He pressed his hands to the parchment. Chakra surged, and black lines spilled across the soil like ink flowing in water. Three distinct formula arrays formed beneath the bound Zetsu.
Hiruzen's expression darkened. He recognized the pattern.
Edo Tensei…
Orochimaru formed a series of rapid hand signs and slammed his hands onto the scroll.
White light swallowed the three Zetsu. The small white snakes scattered instantly.
Cries of pain echoed through the forest as shredded-paper-like dust swallowed the Zetsu bodies. The dust then collapsed inward, reshaping… rebuilding…
When the smoke cleared, three figures stood before them.
On the left, silver hair, red eyes, cheek markings, layered armor, feathered collar.
In the center, long black hair, red Senju armor, the clan crest on his shoulder.
On the right, wild dark hair covering one eye, red armor, an overwhelming aura radiating off him even in this sealed state.
Their faces bore faint cracks. All three remained motionless with their eyes closed.
Uchiha Gen's talismans, pre-embedded into the Zetsu bodies, kept their consciousnesses sealed. Orochimaru's own talismans couldn't have fully contained them. Gen's were necessary.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Inside Kushina, even the Nine-Tails was momentarily speechless.
The First Hokage.
The Second Hokage.
Uchiha Madara.
Their faces were carved into Konoha's monument, except for Madara, whose true appearance very few here recognized. But anyone summoned alongside Hashirama and Tobirama was undeniably someone of overwhelming weight.
Hashirama's and Tobirama's remains were accessible. Madara's information had been provided directly by Uchiha Gen. His body had been handled by White Zetsu long ago, Obito never knew the exact location.
The moment Hiruzen snapped out of his shock, rage replaced disbelief.
"Orochimaru, how dare you desecrate the souls of the Hokage before me, my own teachers! How did I end up with such a wicked disciple?!"
Tsunade didn't hold back either. "Orochimaru, you bastard—is desecrating my grandfather and great-uncle something you think you can just get away with?!"
Her fist clenched. Even without activating her full strength, the pressure alone was terrifying. She charged forward, ready to smash him into the ground.
The others stepped aside. No one planned to help Orochimaru. He was clearly taking the fall… though everyone knew Uchiha Gen was behind this.
Gen glanced at Kushina. She nodded and flickered forward, intercepting Tsunade and wrapping her arms around her from behind.
"Tsunade-senpai, calm down—please, calm down!"
Tsunade struggled like a rampaging bull, forcing Kushina to brace.
Gen finally spoke.
"That's enough, Tsunade."
His voice cut cleanly through the chaos.
"This isn't desecration. Returning to serve Konoha again, I believe the two Hokage-sama would willingly choose that, especially if it maintains peace."
"And besides… getting to see your loved ones again after so many years...isn't that something precious?"