Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 296: The Arrival of the First Four Kage, and the Enemy Turns Out to Be Hagoromo Gengetsu?

After Kabuto Yakushi expertly completed the preparations for the Reanimation ritual, Orochimaru looked at the four spaces surrounded by numerous summoning symbols, each housing a clone of White Zetsu injected with Hashirama cells.

He formed seals with his hands and intoned:

"Summoning Jutsu: Reanimation!"

Paper scraps materialized out of thin air, swirling around and rapidly enveloping the four White Zetsu clones.

In an instant, the clones transformed from the inside out, emerging as four individuals who, apart from some cracks on their surfaces, looked no different from ordinary people.

The First Lightning Kage A, the First Water Kage Byakuren, the First Earth Kage Ishikawa, and the First Wind Kage Reto.

The four First Kage made their reappearance.

The first to react was the First Water Kage Byakuren, who opened his eyes in confusion and exclaimed:

"Am I not already dead?"

He vividly remembered the moment when Hagoromo Gengetsu's lightning-clad hand had pierced through his chest.

"Byakuren, you are indeed dead. I witnessed it myself. I also died a few years later," said the First Lightning Kage A, who had sacrificed an arm to save Byakuren. He frowned, looking at his once severed but now intact right arm.

"Clearly, this is some kind of jutsu," remarked the First Earth Kage Ishikawa, scanning the crowd and fixing his gaze on Tobirama Senju, ignoring Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi.

If anyone could develop such a strange and taboo jutsu, it would have to be the brother of Hashirama Senju, this guy called Tobirama Senju.

Nearby, the First Wind Kage Reto, who had briefly returned to the living world before and dealt with the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, frowned at Orochimaru:

"It's you again!"

Orochimaru smiled politely, "Nice to see you again, First Wind Kage-sama."

Reto glanced at the others, surprised to see Tobirama Senju there but noticing that both he and Kabuto Yakushi were in Reanimation form as well.

Assuming they were also under Orochimaru's control, Reto coldly asked Orochimaru, "What do you intend to do by desecrating the dead again?"

"This matter should be explained to you by the esteemed Second Hokage," Orochimaru said, stepping aside and gesturing towards Tobirama Senju.

Tobirama glanced at Orochimaru before stepping forward and addressing the four:

"Long time no see, First Kage."

"It has indeed been a long time. Tobirama Senju, is it your time to rule now?" Ishikawa, who had been staring at Tobirama, asked.

"He's already dead, how can he be ruling?" Reto answered for Tobirama.

Tobirama nodded and began explaining the Reanimation technique.

After listening, the four First Kage exchanged glances.

A looked at Tobirama and asked in a deep voice, "So, what's the purpose of summoning us through Reanimation?"

Tobirama calmly explained, "The five great shinobi villages and the entire shinobi world are now facing an unprecedented crisis. The current generation needs our strength. This has been approved by the current Kage."

With that, Tobirama took out the document signed by the current Kage authorizing the Reanimation plan and handed it to the four.

"The Fourth Lightning Kage, the Fifth Water Kage, and the Third Earth Kage will be here soon. If you have any doubts, you can ask them. Also," Tobirama turned to Reto and added,

"The Fifth Wind Kage has essentially been confirmed as sacrificed, and the Sixth has yet to be decided. Elders from Sunagakure will come to explain to you, First Wind Kage."

Reto's expression darkened.

He had already met the deceased Fourth Wind Kage last time, and now he heard that the Fifth Wind Kage had also died.

While the other villages were still in the era of their Third, Fourth, and Fifth Kage, Sunagakure had already moved on to the Sixth.

Reto furrowed his brows.

Taking advantage of this Reanimation, he was determined to find out what was happening to his village.

If Tobirama was telling the truth.

Soon, the other three First Kage took the documents, confirmed the seals of their respective villages' Kage, and accepted Tobirama's explanation.

Ishikawa asked gravely, "Who is the enemy?"

For all five great shinobi villages to join forces and even disregard consequences to summon the dead to assist in battle, the enemy must be extraordinarily powerful.

Ishikawa quickly connected the dots, thinking of the greats of his time: Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Hagoromo Gengetsu.

But seeing Tobirama here, he shook his head. If Tobirama was here, then Hashirama must also be revived.

If Hashirama's strength alone wasn't enough, needing their aid, the enemy must be far stronger.

Definitely stronger than Hagoromo Gengetsu and Madara Uchiha.

Who could it be?

Aware of Hashirama's almost absurd power, Ishikawa looked worriedly at Tobirama for an answer.

Tobirama didn't keep them in suspense, saying heavily:

"Hagoromo Gengetsu."

"What?"

"Impossible!"

A and Ishikawa's expressions changed dramatically.

Even Reto, who was worried about Sunagakure, turned sharply and asked, "Tobirama Senju, are you mistaken?"

The only one not as shocked was Byakuren, who frowned and said, "Hagoromo Gengetsu is still alive? Did he escape back then?"

In the Battle of the Gods, Byakuren had died early at Hagoromo Gengetsu's hands, unaware of the events that followed.

Hearing Tobirama now, he naturally assumed Gengetsu had lived till now.

With his divine talents, it was possible he had grown so strong that the entire shinobi world couldn't match him.

Why were the others so shocked?

Byakuren didn't understand why A, Ishikawa, and Reto were reacting this way.

Gengetsu had killed him and lived this long; it was reasonable for him to be so powerful.

A, seeing Byakuren's confusion, explained:

"Gengetsu died shortly after you!"

"What?"

Now it was Byakuren's turn to be shocked.

His pupils constricted as he asked, "Are you sure he wasn't faking his death?"

A had been about to nod but now hesitated.

At that moment, Reto turned to Orochimaru.

He recalled hearing Orochimaru mention "Hagoromo Gengetsu" the last time he was revived.

Could it be true?

But Gengetsu had clearly died at Hashirama's hands!

Reto, Ishikawa, A, and Byakuren all turned to Tobirama, awaiting his explanation.

Tobirama didn't keep them waiting long, nodding, "Gengetsu did die at the Battle of the Gods. But over two years ago, he was resurrected."

"Resurrected?" Reto and the others were stunned.

If they didn't know Tobirama's character, they'd think he was joking.

"How can a dead person be resurrected? How did Gengetsu do it?"

Tobirama's explanation was beyond the four First Kage's comprehension, and they couldn't help but press for details.

"The specifics are still unclear."

As for the initial step?

Tobirama glanced at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru smiled again, though more stiffly this time.