"That! First Hokage, Second Hokage, Third Hokage… and Minato! You've all been summoned to attack Konoha for Naruto?!" Jiraiya said solemnly.
"That's right! As expected of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin," Hiruzen spoke with a dull expression. His consciousness had been shackled, his words tainted by the jutsu controlling him.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? Akatsuki has no one else except that masked man. Orochimaru is dead—killed by Sasuke. Who else could be behind the Impure World Reincarnation?"
A grim voice answered through Hiruzen's lips. "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is this—will you hand over Naruto? I know Konoha's strongest fighters now are only you, Jiraiya, and perhaps Kakashi."
Tobirama's eyes flickered with fury. "So you're the one controlling us like mice! You think we won't break free from this jutsu?"
"Hmph. You can try. This is my improved version of the Impure World Reincarnation. Otherwise, why would I summon you so confidently?"
"Che!" Tobirama's cold snort echoed. If he had the means to escape, he would have already done so.
At that moment, Hashirama looked around in mild confusion, his usual easygoing demeanor surfacing. "Wait a minute. Are you the Hokage of Konoha now?" he asked Jiraiya.
"No," Jiraiya shook his head respectfully. "I prefer freedom. The role of Hokage only ties me down. The current Hokage is your granddaughter, Senju Tsunade."
"Tsunade…" Hashirama's expression softened, his tone suddenly melancholy. Memories of his granddaughter as a child flickered through his mind, and he looked like a tree weathered by countless storms.
"Big Brother, focus!" Tobirama snapped, always stern.
"Hahaha, don't worry! I was just surprised. Tsunade… a Hokage? That makes me proud!" Hashirama chuckled warmly.
The controller's voice cut through their banter, dripping with menace. "Enough of this chatter. Hand over the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki. Otherwise, with your current strength, Konoha cannot possibly stand against four generations of Hokage."
"Impossible!" Jiraiya barked back, his tone sharp and unyielding. "We'll never hand Naruto to you!" His lips curled into a small smile. "And who told you Konoha doesn't have the strength to fight back?"
The voice scoffed. "You mean Ayanami Kaito? I heard he secluded himself in secret training. He isn't here."
"You underestimate us," Jiraiya said coldly.
The four resurrected Hokage shifted uneasily. Their minds retained fragments of will, yet their bodies moved like puppets under someone else's control.
"Jiraiya," Hashirama said apologetically as his hand formed seals.
"Hmph. Don't disappoint me, Jiraiya," Tobirama muttered, his pride still intact even under compulsion.
Minato's calm voice followed. "Sensei, I'll try not to make this harder than it already is."
Hiruzen's expression twisted, his voice a cruel echo of the puppeteer's will.
Jiraiya quickly took command. "I'll hold off the First Hokage. Kakashi, take the Second. Guy, Asuma, and the others, handle Hiruzen. Hinata, the Fourth Hokage is yours. Remember—our job is to stall until Kaito returns!"
Everyone nodded, their faces grim with determination. Though Tsunade held the official Hokage title, in this moment, the burden of leadership fell squarely on Jiraiya's shoulders.
"Sage Art! Needle Jizō!"
Jiraiya's long white hair hardened into countless sharp spikes, shooting forward like a storm of blades.
Hashirama raised his hands, unwilling yet unable to stop himself. Chakra surged, and massive trees erupted from the ground, forming a wall that blocked Jiraiya's attack.
The other three Hokage ignored their own injuries and charged straight into Konoha's defenders.
"Damn it!" Jiraiya cursed. "Remember, delay them! Don't fight head-on. We just need time until Kaito arrives!"
Hashirama tilted his head curiously, even as he pressed the attack. "Kaito? Who is he? Can someone in half-baked Sage Mode really hold out this confidently?"
"He's a legend of Konoha," Jiraiya replied, deflecting branches with swift movements. "Even the wielder of the Rinnegan fell before him."
Hashirama's eyes lit up with surprise. "Rinnegan? To defeat such an opponent… Konoha has raised another extraordinary shinobi!"
His hands blurred through seals. "Wood Style: Four-Pillar Prison!"
Gigantic trees burst from the earth, weaving into towering walls that surrounded Jiraiya.
"Hahaha! As long as it's not your World of Trees technique, this is nothing to me!" Jiraiya smirked. Chakra condensed in his palm into a giant swirling orb.
"Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan!"
He slammed the Rasengan into the wooden prison, shattering it in a violent explosion.
"Impressive," Hashirama admitted with a rare smile.
On the other battlefield, Kakashi clashed with Tobirama in a storm of copied ninjutsu. Lightning clashed with water, earth with fire—each of them unleashing technique after technique in rapid succession.
Meanwhile, Guy and Asuma fought alongside other Jōnin against Hiruzen. Guy's relentless taijutsu forced the Third into a defensive stance, while Asuma and the others worked to counter his vast arsenal of jutsu.
Hinata faced Minato directly. Her movements were calm but precise, her Byakugan active, her body honed from years of training under Tsunade's tutelage. Chakra surged through her palms as she countered Minato's swift attacks.
No matter how fast Minato was, Hinata's Revolving Heaven and sharp Gentle Fist techniques kept him at bay.
"Impressive," Minato praised mid-battle. "You're clearly of the Hyūga clan."
"Yes, Lord Fourth," Hinata replied, steady and respectful.
"The Hyūga have always been gifted, but you… you might be the clan's brightest hope," Minato said with a faint smile. "Tell me, do you know Naruto?"
Hinata's held her composure. "Yes. We were classmates."