"Bang!"
A coffin rose from the ground, blocking Orochimaru's path.
Shihouin Naraku didn't care what stood in his way. He simply swung his sword, chopping the coffin into pieces in an instant. The action revealed the preserved body inside.
A man with cracks across his face slowly opened his eyes. As he regained consciousness, he immediately cursed, "Orochimaru, you bastard..."
Noticing the man slightly resembled Gaara, Shihouin Naraku quickly realized who he was.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa—Gaara's biological father!
Before Shihouin Naraku could take action, another coffin emerged from the ground.
The coffin opened, and a blue-haired man stepped out, wearing a white Kazekage robe.
"Second Kazekage!"
"Orochimaru! You're seeking death!" Rasa shouted furiously. If looks could kill, Orochimaru would have been riddled with holes. "What do you think you're doing? I am the Kazekage of Sunagakure!"
"Summoned again?" The Second Kazekage quickly understood the situation. He glanced at Rasa standing beside him and sighed, "So you've died too, Rasa."
"I apologize, Second Generation Master! I fell for Orochimaru's trick and was killed by his sneak attack. I became his puppet," Rasa replied with regret.
"I see..." The Second Kazekage shook his head helplessly. This wasn't the first time Orochimaru had summoned him to fight, so he wasn't particularly surprised. "I don't recognize this place as Sunagakure. This must be Konohagakure..."
The Second Kazekage didn't sense the unique climate of the Land of Wind. Without the yellow sands of Sunagakure, he could easily tell they were in Konoha Village.
"Everyone envies Konoha Village and the environment of the Land of Fire..."
"Alright..."
Yakushi Kabuto approached with a chuckle and buried control talismans into the heads of both Kazekages. Before they could say anything more, their minds went blank, transforming them into puppets under complete control.
"Orochimaru requires your assistance in battle," Kabuto said coldly.
Shihouin Naraku watched the scene with curiosity, not interfering. It was his first time witnessing the Edo Tensei jutsu—the Impure World Reincarnation.
So that's how it's controlled, he thought.
However, Rasa's appearance also answered a question.
When Orochimaru fought Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third coffin he summoned didn't contain the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, but rather the Fourth Kazekage Rasa!
Namikaze Minato had used the Shiki Fuujin to seal half of the Nine-Tailed Fox and himself within the Shinigami's stomach. That's why Orochimaru couldn't summon Minato through the Impure World Reincarnation.
So the coffin marked with the number "four" could only contain Rasa!
"BOOM!"
Just as Shihouin Naraku prepared to act and Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, and the others were approaching, a tremendous roar echoed from outside Konoha Village.
Everyone immediately looked in that direction and saw a gigantic monster appearing in the forest beyond Konoha's walls.
"Shukaku! The One-Tail!"
Orochimaru looked stunned. While enduring the excruciating pain from his damaged soul, he said, "The One-Tail went berserk a little late, but the timing is perfect."
"Hahaha... Naraku, what will you do now?" Orochimaru taunted.
"Will you stop the rampaging One-Tail? If you fail, the Nine-Tails might revolt in Konoha Village again."
"No, it's the One-Tail Rebellion!"
"Or you can simply watch me leave!"
"By the way," Yakushi Kabuto stepped forward at the perfect moment and reminded Shihouin Naraku with a knowing look, "Kakashi-senpai, your students Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto are also pursuing the One-Tail Jinchūriki—Gaara! Following your orders, of course."
Hatake Kakashi felt a chill run down his spine. In truth, he had sent Naruto out to bring Sasuke back, not to confront Gaara.
But judging by the current situation, something terrible was about to happen!
Swallowing nervously, Hatake Kakashi stared at the One-Tail Shukaku raging wildly in the distance.
The Third Hokage was dead, and if anything happened to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki now, Konoha Village would be thrown into chaos!
"Leave a few people with me. Kakashi, you and Guy take the others and find Naruto immediately!"
"No matter what else happens, Uzumaki Naruto must return safely!"
"Understood!"
Recognizing the critical moment, Hatake Kakashi wasted no time. He turned and rushed toward Shukaku's location with Might Guy and their teammates.
In truth, Shihouin Naraku knew that Uzumaki Naruto wasn't in serious danger.
However, Uchiha Sasuke now had a love rival. Particularly since Gaara had red hair—standing next to yellow-haired Naruto, black-haired Sasuke suddenly seemed out of place.
Putting these thoughts aside, Shihouin Naraku rested Kurikara on his shoulder and faced Orochimaru and the two Kazekages with a calm expression.
"Everyone else, pay attention. Maintain your formation and keep watching those three. Don't let them escape."
"Yes, sir!"
"But Lord Naraku, who will fight them?" one shinobi asked.
"I will," Shihouin Naraku replied confidently.
Flames spread beneath Shihouin Naraku's feet, expanding outward like waves.
"Magnet Style: Iron Sand Shower!" The Third Kazekage formed hand seals and summoned a wave of iron sand that collided with the sea of fire with a thunderous crash!
Hot air rushed toward them as the flames instantly ignited the iron sand, transforming it into molten metal that rained down.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Orochimaru seized the opportunity to unleash a powerful gust of wind, directing the flames back toward Shihouin Naraku.
"Magnet Style: Sand Platform!" The Fourth Kazekage soared into the air on a floating platform of sand. He channeled his enormous chakra into the ground and began creating gold dust.
Shihouin Naraku didn't even glance at the massive wave of fire approaching him. He accelerated, passing directly through the flames. His Observation Haki immediately detected the thin needles hidden within—secret weapons made of iron sand.
In the next second, countless fine needles pierced Shihouin Naraku's body.
"No!"
"Lord Naraku is hit!"
The watching Konoha shinobi cried out and were about to rush forward, but to their amazement, Shihouin Naraku seemed unharmed and accelerated again.
"Thunk!"
Kurikara pierced the Third Kazekage's heart, but the reanimated ninja showed no pain and continued using Magnet Style!
"Magnet Style: Iron Sand—Ugh!"
Orochimaru initially wore a smug expression that said "you've fallen into our trap," but his face quickly changed to one of disbelief.
The Third Kazekage, whose mind had been wiped by the control talisman, somehow regained a bit of consciousness. A look of pain crossed his cracked face.
"Sizzle!"
Shihouin Naraku gripped Kurikara tightly with one hand. Instead of withdrawing his sword, he slashed downward, splitting the Third Kazekage's body in two.
Then he twisted the blade in mid-air and chopped off the Kazekage's head.
"Thank you..." The Third Kazekage's soul smiled gratefully in its final moment before vanishing.
No true warrior would willingly allow their body to be controlled by an enemy after death!
"What's happening?" Orochimaru cried out.
"The Impure World Reincarnation is supposed to be invincible! Why isn't his body regenerating?"
"Why?!"
Orochimaru watched in horror as his trump card was chopped to pieces!
He was nearly driven mad with rage and confusion.
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