The caster having been killed, the Wood Human immediately froze in place, maintaining its striking posture.
Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a large amount of paper scraps and dust gathered in the air.
That was Senju Hashirama's Impure World Reincarnation body, recovering its physical form under the effect of the Impure World Reincarnation jutsu.
However, as soon as the body recovered, Jokichi pierced it with black rods, rendering it immobile.
Although the Impure World Reincarnation body is immortal and can infinitely replenish chakra.
But the sacrifice's body ultimately differs from the original. Energy and vitality cannot compare to when they were alive. The resulting chain reaction means strength, speed, and chakra are also inferior to their prime.
Although Jokichi really wanted to experience the True Several Thousand Hands that could pinch the Nine-Tails with one hand.
But for the First Hokage revived via Impure World Reincarnation, using the Wood Human Jutsu was already his limit.
Even if they continued fighting, there wouldn't be any new tricks.
It was better to end it here.
...
A few minutes later, Jokichi absorbed and stored Hashirama's chakra, ignored the system prompt, and restored the consciousness of the two Hokage.
The two's eyes regained clarity.
They looked around, seeing the extensive forest and destruction, then looked at the young man in front of them, falling into silence.
"Although we were in the state of Impure World Reincarnation and lacked independent consciousness, to be able to defeat us is truly formidable." Tobirama couldn't help but marvel: "Have the young people of this generation become this powerful?"
"Well, I'm just a bit special."
Jokichi smiled and put away the black rods controlling their movements.
Seeing the two reveal expressions of surprise, he added: "The caster has already been subdued by me, so there's no need to worry."
"Indeed, there's no need to worry, because I've already undone the jutsu formula."
Tobirama stretched his arms and walked over from a distance. After sizing Jokichi up for a while, he marveled again: "You look to be only in your twenties, yet you possess such strength. The younger generation is truly formidable!"
"Actually, I'm only 13." Jokichi scratched his head, saying somewhat embarrassedly.
Hashirama immediately spat out what he was drinking.
Followed by a fit of coughing.
"You say you're 13? Are you suffering from premature aging?"
"This is called early maturation, okay." Jokichi rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Same thing, same thing, ahahaha..."
Looking at the man scratching his head and laughing foolishly, the corner of Jokichi's eye twitched violently.
The contrast between this guy's image now and during combat is too huge!
"Brother, stop joking around."
Tobirama glared fiercely at Hashirama, then looked seriously at Jokichi.
"Since you can restore our consciousness, it means you've mastered the Impure World Reincarnation ninjutsu..."
"This is a ninjutsu I invented. It was classified as a forbidden jutsu shortly after being developed. I imagine not many people in Konoha know it."
"So, your identity..."
He didn't ask the rest, but the gaze he directed at Jokichi was full of suspicion.
Hashirama beside him, however, was very casual, saying nonchalantly: "I think this young man is pretty good. Don't worry so much about it. Anyway, we're already dead, so we can't manage these affairs."
"Brother!" Tobirama criticized sternly: "The last two times we were summoned by that Orochimaru, one of those times was to attack the village. I want to figure out what exactly is going on."
"But what can you do even if you know?"
"Solve the problem, then return to the Pure Land."
"The affairs of the living should naturally be handled by the living. Unless absolutely necessary, we dead shouldn't meddle randomly."
Watching the two argue seriously.
Jokichi sighed helplessly.
"Stop arguing, you two."
Saying that, he took out a Konoha forehead protector and tied it to his forehead.
"I am a ninja of Konoha, here to hunt down the missing-nin Orochimaru. The forbidden jutsu Impure World Reincarnation wasn't taught to me randomly; I learned it myself."
"Just as I expected!"
Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest, wearing a "just as I thought" expression.
Hashirama had a row of black lines dropping down his head, roasting him: "Your attitude just now clearly showed you were worried this technique had leaked outside."
"Shut up!"
Tobirama glared fiercely at his brother, then looked at Jokichi again.
"Then, you merely restored our consciousness without undoing the ninjutsu. Do you need our help with something?"
"No."
Jokichi shook his head slightly.
"In fact, before meeting you two, I encountered Uchiha Madara, who was also revived via Impure World Reincarnation."
"Madara!"
The two were immediately shocked, their expressions no longer relaxed like before.
"Was that guy also summoned by Orochimaru? What did he do?"
Tobirama asked anxiously.
"He didn't do anything." Jokichi slowly shook his head. "He just asked me to pass a message to the First Hokage."
"Pass a message to me?" Hashirama froze, then asked: "What message?"
"Sorry."
"Huh?"
"He asked me to convey a 'sorry' to you on his behalf..."
"He said he was wrong about what happened back then."
...
Hashirama fell silent.
Tobirama glanced at Hashirama, crossed his arms over his chest, snorted coldly, and turned around.
He had no good feelings toward Uchiha Madara.
He even felt this 'sorry' from Madara was hypocritical.
However, he also knew his brother had a deep relationship with Uchiha Madara, so it wasn't appropriate for him to say anything at this moment.
After a period of silence, Hashirama looked up, a bright smile returning to his face.
"I wondered what it was, so it was this sentence. That guy Madara is still as awkward as ever! Ahahaha..."
Looking at the man laughing brightly in front of him, Jokichi shook his head. He didn't comment on it, but bid farewell to the two.
"I have already conveyed the message for him. Then, if there's nothing else, let's part ways here!"
"Goodbye, young man."
The two nodded to Jokichi, then formed seals themselves to undo the ninjutsu.
The dust on their bodies fell from the sacrifices, and their souls returned to the Pure Land.
Glancing at the two White Zetsu sacrifices, Jokichi opened a spatial portal and left.
And not long after he left, intelligence agents dispatched by various ninja villages arrived at the scene one after another.
They saw this newly appeared forest, saw that kneeling Wood Human that seemed to be clapping something, and the wooden dragon wrapped around it...
They also noticed the destruction within the dense forest. Their mouths all fell wide open.
"This used to be wasteland, right? How did it turn into a forest?"
"What's going on with that Wood Human? How is it so huge?"
"And that wooden dragon, it's actually hanging on the Wood Human like a belt."
"Was this commotion really caused by a ninja?"
"If it really was caused by a ninja, then... hurry and send the intel back."
For a time, various messenger animals returned using their respective methods.
Jokichi knew nothing of this.
He teleported to a highly secretive location to forge this time's harvest.
[Ding! Discovered special material "Chakra of Water Experience," can forge special items "Water Flame," "Ocean Contract," "Great Inventor," "Deep Sea Pearl." Do you wish to forge?]