At the same time, Tobirama used the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly return to the team.
“Relay the order!
The entire village is to enter Level-One Alert!
Monkey, proceed according to the plan!”
The short, brown-haired boy with spiky hair responded immediately, “Understood, Master!”
“Hiruzen, address him as Lord Tobirama!” another black-haired boy reprimanded before leaving with the others to carry out their orders.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Under Tobirama’s command, the jōnin executed the planned Earth Release technique, raising the land beneath the conference hall.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart Core!
Another group simultaneously began setting up barrier techniques.
Outside the village, Shukaku cooperated with them, preparing a Magnet Release sealing technique.
At that moment, a patch of black shadow was exposed for an instant due to the shifting terrain.
Though it lasted only a split second, Tobirama’s sharp senses caught it.
Tiger → Rooster → Snake!
Water Release: Severing Wave!
The attack was incredibly fast and struck Black Zetsu directly.
Unfortunately, unless enhanced by Senjutsu, no technique—no matter how powerful—could truly harm him.
“If ninjutsu won’t work, then I’ll use physical force!”
Tobirama immediately threw a three-pronged kunai and teleported to it.
“Flying Thunder God Slash!”
The blade swept toward the black figure, and only after the slash landed did the sound of the strike catch up.
But Black Zetsu instantly merged into the earth and disappeared.
After his attack missed, Tobirama landed and pressed two fingers against the ground.
Kagura Mind’s Eye!
“How is this possible?
I can’t sense him at all?!”
Shukaku’s Magnet Release was too slow.
By the time it was activated, the target had already vanished.
At that moment, Kaito and Madara burst out in pursuit.
“Drop the barrier!” Kaito shouted.
“It’s useless against him!”
Kurama urgently called out, “He’s heading toward the village gate!”
The shinobi once again used Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart Core, but this time Black Zetsu had learned his lesson and deliberately avoided exposing himself.
Kaito descended from the air and stomped down with all his strength.
BOOM!
Like a miniature Tailed Beast Ball, the impact instantly shattered the ground, creating a massive crater twenty-five meters in diameter centered around him.
“Brother!” Tobirama shouted from afar.
“Physical attacks and ordinary ninjutsu are ineffective against him!”
Seeing this, Madara immediately bit his right thumb.
Boar → Dog → Rooster → Monkey → Ram.
Summoning Technique!
“Madara, I didn’t expect you to summon me so soon.
Who could possibly force you to seek assistance?”
As the smoke dispersed, the summoned being was actually the White Snake Sage.
“Enough talk.
Use Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation outside the gate,” Madara ordered expressionlessly.
“How cold of you~”
Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!
The ground instantly connected with the White Snake Sage’s chakra.
“Oh?
So there’s a little rat hiding here.”
Under its control, the earth itself began trembling violently.
Yet the figure underground remained unaffected and continued moving rapidly.
“In that case…
try this.”
Senjutsu chakra enveloped the surrounding area and compressed inward continuously.
Sage Art: Earth Prison Seal!
This time, the black mass was forced to condense back into a humanoid shape.
“There are actually experts like this in Konoha?”
Black Zetsu immediately used Yin-Yang Release, concentrating all his force on a single point.
Crack!
A gap was torn open in the sealing technique, and he desperately escaped through it.
At that very moment!
Then three more chakra blades followed, completely restricting his movements.
The White Snake Sage continued channeling chakra.
Sage Art: Earth Release — Earth Movement Technique!
The high-intensity earthquake, enhanced by natural energy, left Black Zetsu dizzy and disoriented.
He was finally forced out of the ground.
The instant his head emerged, two furious shouts rang out.
“Adamantine Sealing Chains!”
“Sage Art: Wood Release — Cutting Sprigs Technique!”
For the first time, it worked.
After being struck by Senjutsu, a tiny crack appeared on Black Zetsu’s pitch-black body.
“It’s effective!
Keep it up!”
A piercing pain spread throughout his body.
Though no blood flowed, Black Zetsu remained calm despite his fury.
“No matter how I was exposed, the situation is extremely unfavorable.
I have no choice but to use that.”
Without forming a single hand seal or giving any warning, his body suddenly dissolved into a pool of black liquid.
After breaking free of his restraints, countless Black Zetsus burst forth from the liquid.
In an instant, hundreds of Black Zetsus had been created, each diving underground and fleeing in different directions.
“He can do that too?
Why wasn’t that in the original story?” Kaito exclaimed in shock.
“Kurama, can you lock onto him?”
Kurama shook his head.
“Every one of them feels like the real thing.”
“In that case, Madara…
let’s use that technique.”
“Tch.
After all this preparation, we still couldn’t capture him.
And now we have to use that.”
Madara didn’t object, so Kaito took it as agreement.
Bringing his hands together, he roared:
Sage Art: Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands!
The colossal Thousand-Armed Buddha rose into the sky, blotting out the heavens.
Compared to it, even a Complete Body Susanoo looked like a child.
But they weren’t finished.
“Susanoo Armor!”
Madara formed the Tiger seal and shouted.
The Susanoo flew atop the giant Buddha and slowly merged with it.
The enormous statue became covered in blue armor.
Its primary hands wielded a vajra pestle and a staff, while blue flames covered every arm behind it.
“This is our bond, Madara!
Let’s go!”
Standing beside Kaito , Madara’s eyes flashed with excitement for a brief moment before he coldly declared:
“Insect, your struggle ends here.”
Kaito roared:
“Sage Art: Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands: Top Transformed Buddha!”
Countless gigantic wooden fists descended from behind him.
No matter how many clones there were—
They would all be crushed.
Throughout Konoha, everyone was frozen in place by the succession of terrifying spectacles before them.
They had thought the White Snake Sage and the Complete Body Susanoo were already terrifying enough.
They had never imagined that Wood Release could be even more despair-inducing.
The overly kind, constantly smiling “Lord Hashirama” was actually this terrifying?
Meanwhile, atop a distant hill overlooking the battlefield, two young boys stared with sparkling eyes.
“Master’s other teacher is actually this strong?” Hiruzen and Danzō exclaimed.
“I’m going to stick to him and learn more!”
Beside them, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane tried to reason with them.
“Lord Hashirama only kindly taught us some ninjutsu theory.
He’s not really our teacher.
Besides, our talent could never reach that level.
We’d be better off learning from Lord Tobirama.”
Hiruzen still looked unwilling.
“Well…
it’s worth trying, right?” he muttered quietly.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the battlefield, the White Snake Sage and the nine Tailed Beasts were working together to eliminate any survivors.
Shukaku used Sand Release and Magnet Release to seal Black Zetsu clones.
Matatabi released blue flames to block escape routes.
Son Gokū…
Kokuō…
Saiken…
Chōmei…
Gyūki…
Kurama…
“Among all of you, only that little fox is worth anything.
The rest of you can only bully ordinary people.”
“What did you say?!” Shukaku shouted arrogantly, the violet markings on his body glowing.
“Just because you’ve lived longer doesn’t mean you’re stronger!
We’re Tailed Beasts!
Old snake, you’d better hope you can resurrect after death, otherwise—”
“Esteemed White Snake Sage, he was the one who offended you.
If you’re going to hit someone, hit him instead~”
To the surprise of all the Tailed Beasts, the equally prideful Matatabi actually said this.
Before the White Snake Sage could react—
The colossal Buddha, clad in blue armor, unleashed countless mountain-sized fists toward the earth.
The continuous bombardment sounded like the very world crying out in agony.
The Tailed Beasts immediately gathered chakra to stabilize themselves.
The violent earthquakes and thunderous impacts continued for a full ten minutes before finally subsiding.
As the True Several Thousand Hands disappeared, they all felt as though they had survived a disaster.
After all, among them, only the White Snake Sage and Kurama had ever witnessed this technique before.
The others had been subdued before Hashirama ever needed to use it.
That was also why Kaito and Madara had arrived late—they had spent extra time dealing with the Nine-Tails.
Tap.
The two landed simultaneously.
“How did it go?” Kaito asked with a smile.
The Tailed Beasts hurriedly nodded.
“We guarantee not a single one escaped!”
The White Snake Sage also answered solemnly.
“That’s right.”
“Hmph.
Dying under our combined attack should be considered his good fortune.”
“Was it really that easy?” Kaito frowned.
“With so many clones, some are bound to have escaped.
And he can liquefy his body.
Madara, we need to prepare for the worst.”
“Fine.
Honestly, I hope he survived.
That way, I can deal with him slowly.”
A dangerous gleam flashed in Madara’s eyes.
Kaito then instructed the Tailed Beasts, Tobirama, and the others to handle the cleanup and reconstruction efforts, and ordered everyone to gather.
He had an announcement to make.
Facing the expectant gazes of everyone present, Kaito stood in the village square and raised Uchiha Madara’s right hand.
“According to the vote count, I hereby announce…”
“The First Hokage of Konohagakure shall be—”
“Uchiha Madara!”
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.
“Heaven bless the Uchiha!
Our clan will rise again!”
“Hehe, the Senju are going to have a rough time now.”
“Silence!”
Kaito continued:
“Senju Tobirama will serve as Deputy Hokage.
Sarutobi Sasuke will serve as the Hokage’s aide.
Shimura Tenzō and Nara Shikashi will serve as Hokage advisors.
“At the same time, departments such as finance, personnel, education, research, and medical services will officially be established.
The village will not neglect anyone who has contributed.”
“That’s wonderful!
Lord Hashirama is amazing!”
Feeling the villagers’ enthusiasm toward Lord Hashirama, Senju Aoki excitedly danced in celebration.
However, he failed to notice the shadow beneath his feet wriggle slightly.
Meanwhile, outside Konoha, Kurama frowned.
“Could it be because he split himself too many times?
I still sense traces of his chakra nearby…”