Chapter 12: Impure World Reincarnation
Moreover, there was the legendary immortal body—how could such a thing not be coveted?
But in Orochimaru's eyes, there was still doubt. An immortal body was not something he had never seen before.
Within the Akatsuki, there were even two who claimed to possess immortality. Yet to Orochimaru, those so-called immortal bodies were riddled with flaws.
He licked his lips, glancing at Mei Terumi and Ao.
Yuto had been sealed for nearly sixty years, trapped in a voidlike dimension devoid of all energy. Whether that so-called immortal body was real or flawed—no one in this era truly knew.
Orochimaru's decision to cooperate with Kirigakure was not just for what he could obtain, but also as insurance.
If Yuto really still lived, then with the Mist present, Orochimaru might at least be safe.
After all, someone from that brutal Warring States era—if revived and confronted by another village's shinobi—would likely strike first without hesitation. Gratitude would never come before eliminating a potential threat.
But if Yuto was truly dead…
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with greed. With the Sound Four at his side, he could stall Mei Terumi and Ao long enough. That would be enough time for him to seize Yuto's corpse.
"Orochimaru, stop dawdling—or I'll kill you myself!"
At some point, Mei Terumi had already appeared behind him, a kunai pressed against his heart, her tone icy.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Only then did the Sound Four react, surrounding Mei Terumi in alarm, sweat beading on their foreheads. They hadn't even seen how she had moved.
Yet Orochimaru only smiled faintly, spreading his arms with feigned helplessness.
"It seems the Mizukage is growing impatient. Then perhaps we should—"
Before he finished, Mei Terumi twisted and snapped his neck without hesitation.
She cast the Sound Four a cold glance, then turned her eyes toward a patch of ground not far away.
"Orochimaru, don't try your little tricks with me."
The flat earth bulged upward. From it, Orochimaru emerged once more, clicking his tongue.
"Discovered so soon?"
At this, the Sound Four quickly scattered and regrouped behind him.
On a nearby branch, Ao shifted, flickering with a Body Flicker Technique to appear at Mei Terumi's side.
"Orochimaru, I hope your words prove true. Otherwise, we won't hesitate to hand Sound Village's secrets to Konoha. By the way, I've heard you've been cozying up to Sunagakure recently…"
Ao's expression carried open mockery and threat.
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with a killing intent that quickly faded, replaced once again by his thin, unsettling smile.
"Surely no one would want it known that the Mizukage herself came to meet with a rogue like me."
At those words, both Mei Terumi and Ao's faces hardened.
Both sides still needed each other, so neither would push things to the point of breaking.
At this moment, Ao suddenly smiled, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion: "That dimensional space—wasn't it something only Hashirama could summon?"
With his words, the tense atmosphere eased slightly.
Though it looked like doubt toward Orochimaru's ability, in truth it was Ao offering both sides a step down.
Orochimaru's face remained calm. He glanced toward Jirōbō of the Sound Four.
Jirōbō immediately understood, pulling the massive scroll from his back and slowly unrolling it before them.
Boom!
As his hands formed seals, the center of the scroll produced a bound, gagged living sacrifice.
None of those present looked surprised. They were shinobi; they knew exactly what would come next.
Once finished, Jirōbō respectfully retreated behind Orochimaru.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru's hands weaved seals at high speed as he let out a low chant:
"Forbidden Technique—Impure World Reincarnation!"
In an instant, dust and ash engulfed the sacrifice, reshaping into the form of another person.
Within moments, a new figure stood before them.
Mei Terumi and Ao's pupils shrank violently, disbelief flashing across their faces.
Hashirama Senju!
Though neither had ever met him in life, they had seen his likeness in portraits. More than that, the Hokage Rock in Konoha bore his carved face.
A jutsu capable of manipulating the dead!
Mei Terumi and Ao exchanged glances, the same thought flashing through their minds—Orochimaru was far too dangerous.
"What is this place? I remember… wasn't I dead?"
Hashirama slowly opened his eyes, confusion flickering within.
The next moment, as he sensed his condition, his brows furrowed.
"Tobirama… so you really did complete this jutsu?"
"Greetings, Lord Hashirama. Forgive me for abruptly summoning you back from the Pure Land into this world."
Though Orochimaru's words carried the tone of apology, his voice was anything but, and the excitement burning in his eyes was undisguised.
Hashirama glanced at the forehead protector on Orochimaru's brow, noting an unfamiliar insignia. A minor village, perhaps?
But when his eyes fell upon Mei Terumi and Ao's Kirigakure headbands, his expression shifted sharply.
Just from that sight—and his own current condition—Hashirama instantly grasped what had happened.
"Lord Hashirama, I'll be troubling you with what comes next."
Orochimaru stepped behind the resurrected body, driving a talisman-engraved kunai into the back of Hashirama's head.
Hashirama's body stiffened, his consciousness rapidly erased.
"Now then—begin!"
Orochimaru's face was alight with excitement as he seized control of the First Hokage.
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