Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 323 The Slug Immortal Who Has Never Been Injured

Kabuto Yakushi said helplessly, "This is the only way we can do it."

"In today's ninja world, Konoha Village is too powerful, and the Fifth Hokage, Sasuke, is known as the invincible ninja world. They occupied Amegakure in just one day."

"This is the only way we can activate the Gedo Mazo without the Nine-Tails."

"Only with the power of the Gedo Mazo can we defeat the Fifth Hokage, conquer Konoha, and capture the Nine-Tails."

"Sealing the Nine-Tails into the Gedo Mazo afterward will not damage the Gedo Mazo."

Madara Uchiha looked at Kabuto Yakushi, who was speaking eloquently, and nodded approvingly: "Your method is indeed feasible and has no future problems. It's really good."

"Moreover, Nagato and Obito did a good job in collecting all eight tailed beasts."

Madara Uchiha stared into Kabuto Yakushi's eyes, the tomoe of his Sharingan slowly rotating, radiating immense intimidation: "The question is, since you did a good job, why did you use Edo Tensei to resurrect me—and so many other Kage-level ninjas who died?"

Kabuto Yakushi replied, "Because the Fifth Hokage noticed our actions, he formed an allied force with the five great ninja villages, mobilizing over 17 ninjas, and is searching the world for the organization's whereabouts."

"Before the reanimated Kinkaku and Ginkaku can successfully replace the Nine-Tails and activate the Gedo Mazo, we must stop the Fifth Hokage and Konoha. But no one is a match for the Fifth Hokage, not even Nagato, the leader with the Rinnegan. We can only seek help from our predecessors."

Madara Uchiha scoffed, "If you want my help, then truly revive me. Why resort to something as unreliable as the Impure World Reincarnation Technique?"

"This technique, which Tobirama created to allow us to perish together with the Uchiha without paying a price, can never unleash my true power."

Kabuto Yakushi said smugly, "Please rest assured on that point. The offerings I used when I impurely resurrected you were specially made, containing very precious materials, and will definitely satisfy you."

Madara Uchiha glanced at Kabuto with disdain: "Kid, do you know how strong I was at my peak?"

Kabuto Yakushi smiled confidently: "Lord Madara Uchiha, others don't know how strong you are. They might think you're just a defeated opponent of Hashirama Senju."

"It could even be said that they couldn't comprehend just how powerful Hashirama Senju truly was."

"But I'm an exception. I know how powerful Lord Uchiha Madara is, like the Rinnegan—uh!"

Madara Uchiha suddenly reached out and pressed down on Kabuto Yakushi's head. His blood-red Sharingan with three tomoe hypnotized him, putting him into a normal state of sleep.

He didn't kill the ninja because he already knew Kabuto was a talented individual who could potentially help him complete his final plan.

After shutting down Kabuto's senses, Madara Uchiha turned to the shadowy figure in the corner and said, "Black Zetsu, come here and tell me everything."

Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, bowed, and began to recount information about the ninja world.

After a long while, Madara Uchiha stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "The Senju clan can actually produce such a genius? This guy, Natsume, is no less talented than Hashirama Senju."

"No, he's even more powerful than Hashirama."

"I never expected that such a powerful ninja would appear after my death. Excellent, he is worthy of being my strongest opponent after my resurrection."

Madara Uchiha clenched his fist: "I really want to be resurrected right now, and then have a good fight with him."

Black Zetsu bowed his head and apologized: "I'm sorry, Lord Madara, it will take a little more time for the Rinnegan to fully mature. Once it's mature, I will immediately control it to revive you!"

Madara Uchiha glared fiercely at Black Zetsu, asking each word slowly and deliberately, "So, after all this time, not only have I been awakened before my true resurrection time, but I'm also supposed to fight in place of Nagato and Obito, to hold off the Allied Shinobi Forces' attack for them?"

Black Zetsu cowered and trembled as he confirmed, "Yes, Lord Madara, we need your power."

Madara Uchiha was speechless.

After a long pause, he muttered under his breath, "They're all useless trash—"

On a towering tree over 200 meters tall, Orochimaru found the Fifth Hokage, Natsume, and handed him the note he was holding.

Xia Zuo took the note but didn't read it right away. Instead, he held it under his nose and smelled it carefully.

He frowned slightly and said, "Such a strong snake smell. It seems that the Snake Immortal has been holding this note for a long time, and it smells like three snakes."

Xia Zuo looked at Orochimaru and asked, "Has Ryuchi Cave made its stance clear?"

Orochimaru replied with a smile, "Yes, the White Snake Sage chose Konoha, or more precisely, you, the Fifth Hokage."

Xia Zuo snorted coldly: "Hmph, the White Snake Sage actually has the nerve to say that she chose me. In the end, it's just that they were a step too late when they invested and couldn't get close to the Sage of Six Paths."

"If you don't stick to my thigh and become my accessory, Ryuchi-dong will be wiped out."

Xia Zuo's words were incredibly domineering, but Orochimaru just hissed and laughed.

Xia Zuo knew what he was laughing at, and sighed helplessly, "Okay, I admit I was just bullying them because they were too weak."

Orochimaru laughed out loud, and after he finished laughing, he asked in confusion, "Fifth Hokage, is the Slug Sage so powerful that even you are helpless against him?"

Xia Zuo nodded and said, "Yes, very strong."

"You only gave me the scroll of the summoning contract, and I was able to infiltrate Ryuchi Cave, crush the four snake sages, and smash Manda and Shinja."

"Even with Tsunade's full cooperation, I still couldn't enter Shikkotsu Forest, which is enough to show that the Slug Sage's power far surpasses that of the entire Ryuchi Cave."

When Orochimaru first heard Xia Zuo mention his failed exploration of Shikkotsu Forest, he immediately sensed the difference in their abilities.

Looking back, he, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were known as the "Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha," and he summoned Manda, Katsuyu, and Gamabunta to deal with all enemies. He didn't seem to think that Katsuyu was particularly powerful.

No, of the three giant ninja beasts, the slug is the weakest. It does nothing but heal, spew acid, and split itself, and has almost never defeated any enemy.

The slug that was summoned by spirits was even afraid of Gamabunta.

But as Orochimaru listened to the Fifth Hokage recount his defeat, he recalled the past from the perspective of the Fifth Hokage's invincibility in the ninja world, and was shocked to realize that he had overlooked so many details.

Despite being the weakest slug, it has never suffered any harm in all these years of fighting.

As long as the slug is present, she can always remind you at just the right time; even Tsunade has never been injured in front of her.

At some point, Orochimaru found himself sweating profusely all over.

Xia Zuo asked, "Now that you're looking at the Slug Immortal from a different perspective, how do you feel?"

Orochimaru swallowed hard to moisten his parched throat before speaking, "Absolutely breathtaking, astoundingly amazing... how should I put it?"

Xia Zuo said on his behalf, "You used to be a frog at the bottom of a well, only able to see the sky as small as the well opening. Now you are a fly soaring in the sky, and you know that the sky is vast and boundless."

Orochimaru let out a long sigh of relief: "The Fifth Hokage is right, that's how I feel right now."

"As expected, Kage level is not the limit for ninjas, nor is Six Paths level—that's good."

Xia Zuo had already read the note, and with a flick of his wrist, he turned it into ashes: "Orochimaru-senpai, inform the Allied Shinobi Forces that the enemy is in the Land of Iron. Begin the attack."

"Yes!" Orochimaru solemnly accepted the order and left.

After Orochimaru left, several "dead people" appeared around Xia Zuo.

The Hokage includes Hashirama Senju (First Hokage), Tobirama Senju (Second Hokage), Hiruzen Sarutobi (Third Hokage), and Minato Namikaze (Fourth Hokage).

In fact, there are several other resurrected dead people in Konoha, but for their own reasons, they will not appear at the place where the five Hokage gather.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, spoke first: "Xia Zuo—"

But Xia Zuo interrupted him rudely, even pointing his finger at his nose and saying, "Shut up!"

"So what if the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and the Fourth Hokage forgave you? So what if Sakumo Hatake and Fugaku Uchiha forgave you?"

"I am now the Fifth Hokage, the head of Konoha Village. I don't forgive you, so you can't speak in front of me. The fact that you're here listening is already a favor I'm giving the Second Hokage, understand?"

The Third Hokage lowered his head and said with disappointment and sorrow, "I understand, I won't say anything."

Xia Zuo didn't know what was going on with the ninjas of Konoha Village. They were bullied to the point of death by the Third Hokage, yet they could still forgive him.

Incomprehensible.

Fortunately, Naruto was more affected by himself. After Ashura's chakra, which was shielded by the "mask," had an image, even his father Minato Namikaze could not make him forgive the "Third Hokage".

Otherwise, Xia Zuo would be furious.

Xia Zuo's sharp words startled the three Hokage. Senju Tobirama, who was closest to Sarutobi Hiruzen, couldn't help but want to defend him.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

This topic has been discussed countless times over the past three years, but the Fifth Hokage's attitude remains as firm as steel, without the slightest wavering.

No matter who it is, Xia Zuo will retort without hesitation.

Facing the Second Hokage, he calmly said, "Those innocent Konoha ninjas who died tragically are dead, with no chance of being resurrected. Why should you forgive the Third Hokage on their behalf?"

"Second Hokage, you are not one of those innocent Konoha ninjas who died tragically at the hands of Root. You have no right to forgive your disciple's sins on their behalf."

When faced with Fugaku Uchiha, Xia Zuo's attitude became even worse: "I can't control whether you forgive Hiruzen Sarutobi, but where do you get the audacity to say you can forgive the Third Hokage on behalf of the Uchiha ninjas slaughtered by Itachi Uchiha?"

"Oh ho, so it seems you can ignore those Uchiha who can't be resurrected just because you're the clan leader. What gives you the right?"

"Remember this: the current Uchiha clan leader is my fiancée, not you! And no Uchiha ninja will ever acknowledge your position as clan leader again!"

Facing the Fourth Hokage, Xia Zuo said gently, "Fourth Hokage, even if you have a way to make up for the pain that Naruto Uzumaki suffered in his childhood, you shouldn't forgive the people who bullied him on behalf of your son."

When facing the First Hokage, Xia Zuo didn't say anything, but just stared intently at Senju Hashirama, which made him flee in panic.

Having gathered his emotions, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, finally spoke, "Fifth Hokage, now that things have come to this, I think it's time to ask you a few questions."

Xia Zuo nodded and said, "Yes, everything has been arranged. You can ask any questions you may have."

Tobirama Senju asked, "You went to Amegakure several years ago and fought against Nagato of Akatsuki. Why did you tolerate and delay until now to launch your attack?"

Xia Zuo replied, "Because Nagato is not the root of the problem, defeating him is meaningless; it only postpones the outbreak of the problem rather than solving it."

"To solve the problem, you have to offend the root cause."

Hashirama Senju spoke up, asking, "Isn't Nagato, who possesses the Rinnegan, the root of the problem?"

Xia Zuo replied, "Nagato was born with a huge amount of chakra and vitality, as well as dazzling red hair. He is undoubtedly a descendant of the Uzumaki clan."

"But he has a pair of Rinnegan eyes in his eye sockets, which are not the eyes that the Uzumaki clan should have."

"The strongest of the three great dojutsu in the ninja world, and the divine eye that only the Sage of Six Paths possesses, has appeared in the eye socket of Nagato, who shouldn't have it. It's obvious that someone arranged this behind the scenes."

Tobirama Senju asked in surprise, "The Rinnegan doesn't belong to the Uzumaki clan. Fifth Hokage, you're so certain that it doesn't belong to the Uzumaki clan. Then you must know which bloodline limit family it belongs to?"

Xia Zuo nodded and said, "The Uchiha clan is the most likely to produce the Rinnegan, while the Hyuga clan has a very small chance of it."

"And then there are those like me who have thoroughly researched bloodline limits."

Xia Zuo ran his right hand across his brow, dispelling the illusion and revealing his hidden inner eye. He then unabashedly opened his red nine-tomoe Rinnegan.

The moment that eye opened, all four reanimated Hokage felt the pressure from the superior being.

IU felt as if they were a group of ants, being glanced at unconsciously by a human. Although the human had no ill intentions, the ants all sensed the approach of death and were thus frozen in place.

It wasn't until Xia Zuo withdrew the power of the Rinnegan that the four Hokage regained their autonomy in the order of First Hokage, Fourth Hokage, Second Hokage, and Third Hokage.

Xia Zuo looked at the Fourth Hokage in surprise. He hadn't expected that the Fourth Hokage's strength would surpass that of the Second Hokage. This was truly unexpected.

Under the impact of the Rinnegan's power, any external or additional forces are ineffective; only one's own power can counteract it.

In other words, even excluding the existence of the Yang-attribute Nine-Tails, and taking into account the factor from the Jinchuriki, the Fourth Hokage was still stronger than the Second Hokage.

Minato Namikaze was only 24 years old when he died.

If he could live to this day, at the peak of his ninja years at 40, he might actually be able to catch up with Hashirama Senju's strength and become the new generation's overlord who dominates the ninja world.

Xia Zuo was lamenting Minato Namikaze's fate, but all four Hokage were looking at his forehead, watching it transform from a red Rinnegan into a three-tomoe Sharingan.

Tobirama Senju sighed, "It's actually true."