NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Orochimaru's Retreat
Cough, cough...
"Hokage-sama, are you alright?"
At the edge of the rooftop, two ANBU operatives rushed forward to support the weakened Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Summon all Chūnin and above. Launch a counterattack against Sunagakure and Orochimaru!" Hiruzen ordered between labored breaths.
"Yes!"
"Have you found Jiraiya yet?"
"Jiraiya-sama is on his way back as we speak."
Konoha's high-ranking combat power was dangerously stretched thin. Of the Sannin, two had been away from the village for years. If not for Sarutobi's foresight in summoning Jiraiya, Konoha wouldn't even have two Kage-level shinobi available.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Guy were being held back by Sunagakure Jōnin Baki and Kabuto.
Reports from the ANBU indicated that the Nine-Tails inside Naruto had gone berserk and was battling Sunagakure's jinchūriki.
The current situation left Hiruzen grappling with one crisis after another.
"Danzo... where are you at a time like this?!" Hiruzen gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath. He had no time to dwell on his treacherous "old friend," who was likely hoping for his demise.
Despite the chaos, an unsettling thought crossed Hiruzen's mind:
"Tobirama-sensei's power is just as overwhelming as it was in life. Now that the Impure World Reincarnation has been undone... could he remain in this world indefinitely?"
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Amid the rubble, the Sound Four dug Orochimaru out from beneath a pile of debris.
His condition was dire.
Having taken a direct hit from one of Tobirama's S-rank Water Release techniques, even Orochimaru's modified, near-invincible body couldn't handle the damage.
"Retreat. Fall back," Orochimaru rasped.
The Sound Four immediately began preparing to carry him away.
"Oh? Orochimaru... After wreaking this havoc on Konoha, do you think you can escape unscathed?"
A cold voice stopped the fleeing group in their tracks.
In mere moments, Tobirama had dealt with his mindless elder brother, sealing him away. Now, a powerful blue chakra radiated from his body, so dense it seemed almost tangible. The ground beneath him cracked under its weight.
Orochimaru's usually composed eyes betrayed a flicker of panic.
"This... this is impossible! The Second Hokage... How could he regain his full strength in this state of Impure World Reincarnation? It defies all logic! How can a dead man grow stronger?"
Orochimaru's heart pounded as his mind raced.
The Sound Four were already trembling, paralyzed by the overwhelming pressure of Tobirama's chakra.
The world had long recognized Hashirama as the God of Shinobi, yet they had forgotten that his younger brother was also revered as a master of the ninja arts.
Orochimaru now understood.
Though he didn't know how such a powerful shinobi had died in the past, one thing was clear—he was no match for the resurrected Tobirama.
A new thought crept into Orochimaru's mind:
"With the return of a ninja master like him, how will the other great nations and the Akatsuki react?"
As these musings passed, Orochimaru took a deep breath and forced a smile.
"Second Hokage... it seems I underestimated you."
Regret filled Orochimaru. Summoning Tobirama had been a grave mistake—he had lost control, disrupted his plans, and left himself gravely injured.
"What would Sarutobi-sensei think of a Second Hokage who can remain in this world forever? Haha... how amusing."
With a soft laugh, Orochimaru tossed a smoke bomb.
When the smoke cleared, he and his subordinates were gone.
Tobirama made no move to pursue.
He had already marked Orochimaru with his Flying Thunder God seal. If he wanted to, he could eliminate him at any time.
However, killing Orochimaru now would bring him no benefit. In a world where few truly advanced the study of ninja science, keeping Orochimaru alive for capture and use later would be far more advantageous.
Name: Senju Tobirama
Strength: Slightly above Kage-level (not at full potential)
State: Impure World Reincarnation
Mission: Destroy the Konoha Crush Plan and turn the tide of battle.Eliminate all Sound and Sand ninja within Konoha.
Reward: Full restoration of strength.
Tobirama glanced at the system panel and smirked.
Destroying the Konoha Crush Plan was a trivial task. He wouldn't even need to act personally. After all, in the original timeline, Konoha had already rallied to counterattack on its own—even after Hiruzen's death.
Now, with Tobirama and a living Hiruzen in the picture, completing the mission was only a matter of time.
"Second Hokage-sama?"
A voice behind him broke his concentration on the system.
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Pls drop some Power Stones
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