The coffins of the Edo Tensei opened one after another, and the reincarnated warriors with cracked bodies stepped forth.

Each one exuded a powerful aura—none were weak.

At the front stood Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, stripped of their will by Orochimaru, left only with the instinct to fight.

With a single-handed seal, Orochimaru commanded the resurrected powerhouses.

"Go, retrieve Nagato's body for me. The Rinnegan and the Ten-Tails are the priority!"

He had already uncovered the truth behind both. Now, his ambition was to become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuuriki.

An overwhelming wave of Edo Tensei warriors surged toward Zenkichi, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

"What is that? It's Edo Tensei!" Tsunade's expression shifted instantly.

She recognized the faces among them. "The First Hokage, the Second Hokage... the Third and the Fourth too…"

Nearby, a Konoha shinobi's face turned pale, having recognized fallen comrades among the summoned.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

The First Hokage made no room for sentiment. Without hesitation, he unleashed his ultimate technique.

A vast surge of Wood Release chakra flooded the battlefield, tearing through the ground. Towering vines burst skyward, swallowing the land beneath them.

Tsunade's face paled. "Grandfather… Wood Release…"

She leapt back quickly, avoiding the relentless vines. As Hashirama's granddaughter, she knew better than anyone how devastating Wood Release could be—capable of reshaping the very terrain.

"Orochimaru…"

Zenkichi quickly assessed the situation, a faint smirk forming on his lips.

"As expected. Interested in the Rinnegan and the Ten-Tails, are you?"

But these cheap tricks—reanimated corpses—would never be enough to wrest them from his hands.

Raising Kyōka Suigetsu, he gently swung his blade. A tsunami of sword energy roared out, shredding several Edo Tensei bodies in its path.

They began to regenerate, slowly.

"Their regeneration is too slow," Zenkichi muttered coldly.

In a flash, he moved to their side. Without hesitation, Kyōka Suigetsu struck again—this time, the blade cleaving through their souls.

Once the soul was destroyed, Edo Tensei could no longer maintain them.

Suddenly, a kunai marked with the Senju Clan's crest flew toward Zenkichi.

Flying Thunder God Slash!

A white-haired man appeared at the kunai's location—the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Without pause, he stabbed at Zenkichi's neck with a gleaming blade.

Zenkichi simply stared him down.

A crushing wave of spiritual pressure burst forth, forcing Tobirama back.

In that instant, Kyōka Suigetsu flashed.

"The Second Hokage..."

Zenkichi's tone was cold—but amused. Killing these Edo Tensei spirits was unlocking greater and greater power within him.

Susanoo!

Uchiha Madara summoned his colossal blue warrior. The ethereal titan launched a punch toward Zenkichi.

Without even flinching, Zenkichi swung his sword.

The attack tore through Susanoo as if it were paper.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Sasuke's eyes widened. To him, Susanoo was nearly invincible—yet now, completely worthless against Zenkichi.

"Run. Run for your lives!" Orochimaru growled.

He had intended to take the Ten-Tails for himself. But now? That dream was better left forgotten.

The thought of immortality through becoming the Jinchuuriki was tempting.

But with Zenkichi standing in his way, it was likely he'd die long before reaching that goal.

"Now's my chance!" Uchiha Obito's eyes glinted with desperation.

Concealed within Kamui's dimension, he reached toward Nagato's body.

Zenkichi noticed—but didn't act.

He still needed more power to fully awaken his template. Sacrificing a Six Paths Obito wouldn't be so bad.

As Zenkichi stared down the reanimated Uchiha Madara, a flash of disdain crossed his face.

Without hesitation, he struck.

Tsunade, watching him eliminate enemy after enemy with ease, finally exhaled a long breath.

It was no wonder he'd unified his timeline ninja world.

With Madara's soul destroyed by Zenkichi's sword, even Obito could no longer use him.

Madara's essence shattered into countless fragments, impossible to revive.

Click!

"Nagato's body is missing!" Jiraiya suddenly shouted.

Tsunade's eyes went wide. "The Rinnegan and the Ten-Tails... this is bad!"

Zenkichi, still calm, replied, "Relax. It won't matter."

"Even if someone gets both, they won't be able to defeat me."

Then his gaze shifted. "Also... how much longer do you plan on hiding?"

"Come out, Uchiha brats."

From the shadows, Uchiha Sasuke stepped forward.

"Sasuke-kun!" Naruto called out with joy, visibly emotional.

But Sasuke remained silent, eyes locked on Zenkichi.

"What are you staring at me for? I have no interest in you," Zenkichi said, brushing him off.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you're a traitor to Konoha now," Tsunade said sternly. "Why did you come back?"

"I wanted to ask something," Sasuke replied coldly. "About Uchiha Itachi... and the Uchiha clan."

"Was it you? Did you order Itachi to slaughter our entire clan?"

Tsunade's face twisted in shock. The question cut deep.

"I wasn't Hokage at the time," she said. "I hadn't even returned to Konoha."

"But Shimura Danzō... he would know."

"Grandma Tsunade!" Naruto interrupted. "If what Sasuke said is true, we must help him get justice!"

The loss of his beloved, Gaara, still weighed heavily on him. He couldn't bear to lose anyone else.

"It just so happens," Tsunade said softly, "I've already been planning to bring Danzō to trial."

"You've arrived at the right time. We can interrogate him together."

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