The revived shinobi stood in their prime, appearing far younger and more vigorous than they had been at the time of their deaths.
Mito Uzumaki and Ashina Uzumaki, for instance, now looked like their vibrant, powerful selves from years past, rather than the elderly figures they were when they died that Hirayoshi was sure of that they were.
'What a terrifying technique...', He thought grimly again, continuing to anxiously draw even more energy from the distant source within the Land of Fire. His connection to the mysterious power was growing steadily stronger.
Recognizing that his strength was still building, Hirayoshi made the calculated choice to delay his next move for a moment.
He would use this pause—while Hiruzen and the others were preoccupied explaining the situation to the resurrected shinobi—to allow his power to fully peak before striking again.
'It's a real problem that Hikari, Kiyomi, and Fugaku Uchiha are all away right now. They chose the perfect moment to hit us...', Hirayoshi thought grimly, 'We never anticipated they'd suddenly pull a technique like this out of nowhere. I just hope Sakumo and the remaining Uchiha still in the village can get here quickly…',
'I'll need to expend a massive amount of that energy just to hope to survive and escape this catastrophe, in some form, today, not to mention 'win' now… Who knows whom else they could summon? I will need to stabilize around the early 'Six Paths' level at least right from the get-go in this entire fight...', Hirayoshi gritted his teeth, frustrated.
The ancient Hyuga energy source he was drawing from had been preserved for hundreds of years, passed down through generations. Now, he was the one being forced to deplete it so drastically, and the thought filled him with rage.
This was a long-term, slowly renewable resource—regenerated over the centuries by the countless Byakugan eyes of his ancestors. It would take at least another few hundred years to replenish what he was about to exhaust today.
Vowing to make the rest of Konoha suffer for this loss, Hirayoshi resolved that they would pay as dearly as possible for forcing him into such a position.
Hirayoshi realized that the reason they failed to anticipate this attack was mainly due to the unpredictable nature of the forces involved.
Anbu and Root operatives had been constantly moving in and out of the village since the start of the war. Their operations weren't confined to the battlefield like ordinary shinobi, making it difficult to see the gathering of these forces as anything other than routine.
Their presence in the village at the same time, over the past few days, seemed coincidental rather than part of a larger plan.
Orochimaru's faction also wasn't seen as suspicious, as his shinobi had been forced back from the Western Front by Minato. It was reasonable for them to remain in the village as well.
On their own side, many Uchiha and Hyuga clan members had returned to the village after securing victory on the Southern Front to recuperate.
Hirayoshi and Fugaku even refused to let them return to the front, ensuring that their numbers in the village were slightly bolstered.
However, the bulk of their true fighting forces were still away, leaving them vulnerable to the sudden attack they now faced.
The combination of these factors had lulled them into a false sense of security, and they never suspected that a coordinated strike was being planned right under their noses.
Meanwhile, as Izuna and Kagami Uchiha began to fully form, their spirits slowly awakening, and their minds returning to awareness, Orochimaru wasted no time in inserting his Edo Tensei control commands. This ensured they would become nothing more than fully obedient puppets under his control.
Danzo and Hiruzen noticed this and nodded in approval, though Hiruzen's expression flickered with emotion when he looked at Kagami's current youthful Edo Tensei form exactly as it was at the time of his death.
First, there was no doubt that Izuna Uchiha needed to be controlled fully. Unlike the others, there was no room for negotiation or the slightest hint of autonomy with him.
Out of all the resurrected shinobi, Izuna harbored the deepest hatred for Konoha or, better said - everything it stood for, given his history.
As Madara Uchiha's younger brother and one of the fiercest defenders of the Uchiha clan's interests, Izuna's chances of choosing to side with them now, against them, in part, were basically zero. Therefore, his body needed to be established under control right away.
Meanwhile, Kagami had once been a close friend and teammate to both him and Danzo. Despite being from the Uchiha clan, Kagami was different—he had always put the village before his clan, embracing the philosophy of "village over family." This loyalty earned him full acceptance from both Hiruzen and Danzo, as well as their teacher, Tobirama Senju.
Kagami represented Tobirama's attempt at fully integrating or, depending on the perspective, better controlling the Uchiha within the village. But both Kagami and Tobirama died in the First Shinobi World War before any of those plans could come to fruition.
Now, seeing his old comrade resurrected, Hiruzen felt a pang of regret. Unlike Danzo, Kagami had never betrayed him, never exploited their friendship for political gain or personal ambition. He had remained loyal until his untimely death, leaving Hiruzen with mostly fond memories of their bond.
However, in the present, Hiruzen understood the reality of the situation. He couldn't risk allowing Kagami to be fully conscious, especially now, when they were on the verge of fighting not only the Hyuga but likely the Uchiha as well; the stakes were too high for any hesitation and personal exploration of possible choices Kagami could have face upon next.
If Kagami were aware, he might be forced to choose between his loyalty to his old teammates and his loyalty to his clan.
In Hiruzen's eyes, that would be bad not only for their current mission success but also for Kagumi as a human being.
He couldn't bear to put his old friend in that position. It was better this way—better for Kagami to remain a controlled puppet, unaware of the political decay and chaos that had consumed the village they once fought to protect.
In Hiruzen's eyes, this was a kinder choice, sparing Kagami the painful reality of what Konoha had become.
There would be no conscious betrayal, no inner conflict—just the duty of a tool, far removed from the complexities of the life Kagami once knew.
That's why he and Danzo jointly agreed with Orochimaru beforehand that this was the best course of action for him.
On the other hand, Danzo's three summons—Sasuke Sarutobi, Mito, and Ashina Uzumaki—had already fully opened their eyes by this point and were present on this plane of existence again.
Mito and Ashina, both with long, flowing red hair, had an aura of strength and vitality. Sasuke, with his shorter brown hair, looked equally powerful and handsome. Mito, in particular, was an attractive woman in this form, exuding a certain grace that contrasted with the grim battlefield around her.
At first, their expressions were those of shock. Their seasoned minds quickly took in the bizarre, chaotic scene that unfolded around them. They exchanged quick glances with one another, silently assessing the strangeness of their situation.
The already considerably destroyed landscape stretched out before them—a battlefield seemingly at the very heart of Konoha.
Konoha shinobi, in various uniforms, clashed violently with Hyuga main branch ninja dressed in their traditional attire.
The outer structures of the Hyuga compound were heavily damaged, with defensive barriers rising around the living quarters to protect civilians.
Fighting raged between those from all directions sparsely, not just around the destroyed frontal gate where they stood.
In the distance, the colossal barrier separating this battle from the rest of Konoha loomed, casting a foreboding shadow over the entire scene.
Their eyes moved next to the closest figures to them: Danzo, Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and the newly summoned Izuna and Kagami Uchiha, who seemingly lacked agency like them. They haven't had time to process these people fully yet.
However, their gazes were quickly drawn to something else—far above them, the Hyuga Patriarch, Hirayoshi, hovered in the air, emanating a strange, potent chakra that pulsed with increasing intensity. His form radiated a blinding white energy, something none of the revived legends had seen before.
For the first five to ten seconds, despite their legendary experience and battle-hardened minds, they remained dazed and disoriented. The shock of being pulled from the afterlife into a strange and violent world took its toll, leaving them momentarily frozen, their minds struggling to catch up to the reality of the situation.
"Lord Ashina, Lord Mito, Father, we don't have time for lengthy explanations. Please listen carefully and don't interrupt. The enemy in front of us is gathering strength for something formidable, and we must act swiftly. Focus on what I'm about to say and be efficient.".
Hiruzen's voice was calm but urgent. His eyes flickered between the legendary shinobi before him and the growing energy radiating from the Hyuga Patriarch in the distance.
"We are now in the era of the Third Shinobi World War...", Hiruzen began, "Father, I am the Third Hokage of Konoha. You may not know this, but Lord Ashina and Mito do, as they lived through this time thanks to their remarkable Uzumaki longevity, even touching into the Second Shinobi World War slightly. You, however, died during the First."
He gestured toward Danzo, "This is Danzo Shimura. He has been a key figure in my administration, assisting me greatly since those days. You may remember him."
He then pointed to Orochimaru, "This... snake-like individual is my disciple, Orochimaru. He will be controlling those two Uchiha behind me—Kagami and Izuna Uchiha. I'm sure you are familiar with them and their prowess from your time. They have not been given the same autonomy as you three because we cannot trust them. Yes, you may recognize the technique that brought you back—it is Tobirama-sensei's prototype, but perfected by Orochimaru here."
Hiruzen's tone shifted slightly, his voice growing more serious, "Many years have passed since your deaths. Today, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans have formed a dangerous alliance against the village.",
"They openly defy the democratic and inclusive leadership we fought to build, the very system created by Lord Hashirama and Tobirama's vision of unity. These clans now conspire with hostile forces, both within Konoha and with other enemy nations. Today, we must eliminate the Hyuga. They have defied my direct orders as Hokage, leaving us no other choice.",
Hiruzen's eyes hardened as he finished speaking, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. The battle ahead was not just physical—it was symbolic of the future of the village. He needed the strength and obedience of these legends to maintain control, and there was no time for them to hesitate.
"Father, nearly the entire shinobi force of our Sarutobi clan is also fighting alongside us today. You should understand how critical this battle is, not just to me, but for our clan, for all of Konoha's future too...", Hiruzen began, his voice firm and resolute.
Turning to Mito, he continued, "Lord Mito, I trust that you recognize the gravity of this situation. Tobirama-sensei personally chose me for this position once upon a time, and as the current legitimate Hokage of the Konoha you knew, I'm sure you understand what must be done.",
"Let's speak more during the battle, but right now, we need to focus on stopping the Hyuga Patriarch as soon as possible. The Hyuga clan has hidden many secrets—they've tricked the entire ancient world and Konoha during its founding. Be cautious, and give it your all.",
His gaze shifted to Ashina Uzumaki, his tone becoming more diplomatic this time, "Lord Ashina, I understand you are not from Konoha. But given the great friendship between Uzumaki and Konoha, I trust that you'll help us willingly.",
"And if you're concerned about being controlled, don't worry. If you assist us today with everything you've got, I will see to it that you are granted full autonomy afterward. It would be as though you were truly brought back to life."
However, internally, Hiruzen snickered at the thought. The idea of letting Ashina go free was laughable. A powerful asset like him would never be released.
This promise was merely to manipulate him into fighting on his own without the need for direct control, which would tax slightly more of Danzo's chakra and way more mental energy and attention, all the things that he would preciously need more than ever next. Outwardly, however, Hiruzen maintained a look of complete sincerity.