Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a flicker of warmth when he saw the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, standing before him, smiling kindly. For a moment, he thought that his great predecessor was still the same caring and compassionate man he had always admired.
"I'm fine, Shodai-sama!" Hiruzen said, steadying himself and trying to suppress the trembling in his hands.
Hashirama's innocent smile widened. "That's good! Since you're fine, let's spar a little!"
Before Hiruzen could process the words, Hashirama clapped his hands together.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
BOOM!
A massive wooden giant erupted from the ground, its enormous arms sweeping toward him with terrifying force.
"Wait—!"
His words were cut off as the wooden fist struck him directly in the chest, launching him into the air like a ragdoll. His body twisted uncontrollably, his ribs creaking under the impact. He barely had time to comprehend what had happened before a blur of yellow appeared beside him.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock as a figure materialized mid-air beside him.
It was Tobirama Senju.
"I'll take the damn kidney!" Tobirama declared with a grin.
BANG!
A sharp pain exploded in Hiruzen's side as a powerful strike from Tobirama sent him careening in another direction, his body spinning uncontrollably through the air.
Just as he was about to crash into the ground, a dark figure appeared before him.
"Hahahahaha... Susanoo!"
Hiruzen barely had time to register the eerie laughter before a massive ethereal hand smacked him like an insect. Uchiha Fugaku, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing ominously, had joined the "sparring session."
Hiruzen's trajectory changed once again, his battered body soaring through the sky like a kicked ball. He felt his consciousness flicker for a moment, but before he could stabilize himself, another voice rang out.
"Diamond Chain!"
Thick golden chains shot out, wrapping around his limbs and constricting his movements. The next thing he knew, he was slammed into the ground with bone-crushing force.
"Earth Release: Flowing Earth River!"
The ground beneath him turned into a fast-moving stream of mud, dragging his weakened body away before he could even try to stand.
"Susanoo!"
Another impact. Another explosion of pain.
At this point, Hiruzen had lost track of how many times he had been struck. His world had become nothing but flashes of light, sharp bursts of agony, and the mocking laughter of the legends who had long since surpassed him.
As he tumbled through the air once more, he barely registered the sound of someone yelling.
"OI! DON'T KILL HIM!"
Souta Kazuki clenched his fists as he watched the absurd scene unfold before him. He had just spent 100 million ryo to resurrect Sarutobi Hiruzen, and now these lunatics were beating him to death all over again. If they actually killed him, he would have to spend another 50 million ryo to bring him back.
But his voice came too late.
Hashirama's face suddenly lit up with excitement. His hands came together, his chakra surging to an unimaginable level.
"SENJUTSU: WOOD RELEASE—TRUE SEVERAL THOUSAND HANDS!"
A deafening BOOM rocked the psychic space as an enormous wooden Buddha emerged, towering over everything. Thousands of colossal arms stretched out, each one radiating enough power to reduce mountains to dust.
Hiruzen barely had time to let out a single scream.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
A thousand wooden fists crashed down simultaneously, obliterating the battlefield. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the space, flattening everything in sight.
Then, silence.
When the dust settled, there was nothing left of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Only a flickering white flame—a Soul Fire—hovered where he had once stood.
The Cost of Resurrection
Souta Kazuki let out a slow breath, his eye twitching.
"Fifty million ryo... gone."
Hashirama scratched his head, looking sheepish. "Ahahaha... my bad. I didn't think he'd die that fast!"
Tobirama sighed. "Honestly, brother, you need to learn restraint. You didn't need to summon the Buddha just to spar with him."
"I thought he was tougher!" Hashirama defended himself. "Even Madara can take all thousand arms! I only used two!"
Everyone turned to look at the flickering Soul Fire.
Souta sighed again. "Alright, let's get this over with." He extended his hand toward the flame.
"System! Spend fifty million ryo to resurrect Sarutobi Hiruzen!"
[Wealth value consumed! Sarutobi Hiruzen's summoning is successful!]
BANG!
A golden summoning circle appeared, and the white Soul Fire instantly reshaped itself into a human form.
Hiruzen opened his eyes.
And immediately dropped to his knees, his face pale as a sheet.
"Shodai-sama! I WAS WRONG!!!" he screamed, his voice filled with sheer terror. "I KNOW I MADE MISTAKES! I HAVE REFLECTED ON THEM! I AM NOT A QUALIFIED HOKAGE! PLEASE, HAVE MERCY!!!"
The psychic space fell into stunned silence.
Hashirama looked at the old man groveling before him and let out an awkward laugh. "Uh... I wasn't going to kill you again. I just wanted to spar..."
Before Hiruzen could respond, another voice cut in.
"If you don't mention this, I almost forgot..."
The air suddenly turned heavy.
Everyone turned to look at the source.
Madara Uchiha was staring at Hiruzen with his Sharingan burning ominously.
"You called yourself the strongest Hokage?" Madara's voice was laced with contempt. "I think I need to test that title myself."
Hiruzen's face turned ghostly white.
THUD!
Before Madara could make a move, Hiruzen prostrated himself on the ground.
"Senior Madara! Please let me explain first!!!" he begged.
Madara raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Explain what?"
Hiruzen swallowed hard. "Actually... it does make sense for me to say I was the strongest Hokage! You see..."
He took a deep breath.
"The First Hokage-sama specialized in Wood Release! The Second Hokage-sama was a master of Water Release and forbidden jutsu! The Fourth Hokage, Minato, was the fastest shinobi with the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
He pointed to himself.
"But I was the only Hokage who focused on Fire Release! That technically makes me the strongest Hokage when it comes to Fire Release!"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then—
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Laughter erupted from all around.
Souta nearly choked. Orochimaru smirked. Even Hashirama and Tobirama were struggling to hold back their laughter.
Madara Uchiha, the Ghost of the Uchiha, who had never smiled in battle, was grinning.
"The strongest Hokage?" Madara chuckled darkly. "No... you're the strongest clown."