SWNOVELXO Chapter 71: Chapter 081
And this humanoid form that the Kokuo has taken completely matches the characteristics of the Ōtsutsuki clan.
No.
Or rather… it remembers now.
It remembers.
The concept of Jinchūriki isn't something new—the first Jinchūriki of the Tailed Beasts was the Sage of Six Paths. From the One-Tail to the Nine-Tails, they were all originally sealed within the body of the Sage of Six Paths.
Later, when he grew old and was nearing death, he released the Tailed Beasts.
And thus came to be the current state of the Tailed Beasts.
However…
Just like how Shukaku, now sealed inside Gaara, can see the outside world—it could also see the outside world when it was inside the Sage of Six Paths.
And in the Sage's room, there was a painting. The painting depicted a woman.
Stunningly beautiful.
Horns on her head.
Byakugan.
Rinne Sharingan.
Based on what they observed, that woman in the painting was most likely the Sage's mother—Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
?!?!
Wait a second!
Stunningly beautiful.
Horns.
Byakugan.
Aside from not having the Rinne Sharingan—this isn't just a vague resemblance, it's an exact match!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Could it be…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Could it really be…
Shukaku was struck with panic.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Don't say it.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Now that you've seen that form—you better run.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Uwuuwuu…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Damn it…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Uwuuwuuu…
Shukaku was so shaken… it basically cried from fear.
Because…
Its courage had completely burst—it had actually just tried to fight the mother of the Sage of Six Paths.
Forget the Sage's mother—it can't even defeat the Sage himself!
Back when it was still carried around by the Sage of Six Paths, Shukaku considered itself to be the most obedient one.
And now…
This is utter blasphemy.
That slap? Not undeserved at all.
[Tragic One-Tail - Shukaku has gone offline]
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-) ]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ???
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Why does it feel like Kurama and Shukaku are having an encrypted conversation?
[Tobirama]: Mm-hmm.
[Minato Namikaze]: Did we misunderstand something?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Ah…
At that moment, Hashirama let out a surprised sound.
Because Kitahara Kaede had already brought Shukaku into the world of Amenominaka—the Heavenly Realm—and arrived at a familiar place.
This was the place where he and Madara had once fought.
A land filled with their lingering resolve.
So—
The flashback ends here.
And the filial son Black Zetsu comes back online.
Tobirama's Edo Tensei body has also been summoned by Orochimaru.
Kitahara Kaede brought the drained Ninja Rabbit (Shiro Usagi) and Shukaku back to Konoha.
Their landing point—Valley of the End.
Kitahara Kaede stepped on Shukaku's belly and exchanged a glance with Tobirama, who was crawling out from beneath Shukaku.
"…" — Tobirama.
For a moment, the two seemed slightly surprised to see each other.
But Kitahara Kaede quickly spoke.
"So this is… the Second Hokage has been summoned through Edo Tensei?"
He was looking at Hiruzen and the others from Konoha as he spoke.
"Umm…"
"Yes!""Kitahara Kaede, you showed up at just the right time." The Third Hokage quickly responded.
He knew Kitahara Kaede was talking to him.
But saying this took a bit of nerve.
Because just moments ago, when Shukaku suddenly crashed down, Lord Tobirama had been turned into a human pancake!
Yet now he was fine again.
Which made the whole situation… very awkward.
So, he quickly explained how Orochimaru had desecrated the bodies of the previous Hokage, daring to summon them via Edo Tensei.
"This situation seems a bit tricky," Kitahara Kaede said.
"It is," the Third responded. "Lord Tobirama just seemed to regain his consciousness briefly, but he can't break Orochimaru's control over him."
Truthfully, Hiruzen was feeling a bit guilty.
Because everyone had clearly seen it earlier—Tobirama had been summoned, and then immediately rushed forward, blade in hand, aiming straight at his four students.
Was he trying to protect them?
Tobirama had done such a thing in the past—sacrificing himself to cover their retreat.
But…
The way he charged just now… didn't look like protection. It looked like he wanted to slaughter them.
Could it be—
That Lord Tobirama was summoned, and then saw everything his students had done over the years, and is now furious?
For example, the Uchiha clan massacre…
Or the way they treated Naruto…
Not to mention his own disciples—Tsunade lost her fighting ability, Orochimaru turned rogue and now desecrated the previous Hokage, and Jiraiya ran away…
And the village itself is a mess.
"…"
The Third Hokage felt enormous pressure.
He suddenly realized Lord Tobirama had a lot of reasons to cut him down.
Cold sweat immediately formed on his forehead.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-) ]
[Tobirama]: Kakashi, did you make it?!
[Kakashi Hatake]: I'm here! I'm almost there!
[Tobirama]: Quickly tell Kitahara Kaede that because of my brother's Wood Release cells, I can't break free of the control.
[Tobirama]: Ask if he has any method.
[Tobirama]: Otherwise, Orochimaru will force me to fight Hiruzen and the others.
[Tobirama]: Eh?!
Tobirama suddenly paused.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: What's wrong, Tobirama?
[Tobirama]: How should I put this… I just realized, whether it's Orochimaru controlling me, or me controlling myself… the result is kinda the same.
Because Orochimaru's goal is to make him attack Hiruzen, and Tobirama also wants to break free so he can attack Hiruzen.
Either way—it's still a fight against Hiruzen.
So there's no contradiction.
PS: Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, so there were only two updates. I'm making up for it today.
Chapter 057: Even Orochimaru Cried – Can I Just Run Away Already? (Please Subscribe)
The long-ignored Orochimaru finally comes online.
Or rather, he had been stunned by Kitahara Kaede's sudden appearance atop Shukaku.
Earlier, his soul had been damaged from being overwhelmed by Tobirama and hadn't fully recovered—so he froze.
But now he's fully recovered.
He opened his mouth, revealing that signature long tongue.
"One-Tail Shukaku was dealt with so easily."
"Looks like I underestimated you."
"But now, this is perfect."
"Earlier, the Second Hokage's sudden attempt to break Edo Tensei did startle me."
"But you see…"
"Second Hokage—I know you can hear and see everything."
"So let me tell you this."
"It's useless."
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