Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapters 338 onwards should be considered a surprise to celebrate Madara's resurrection! (Fifth update! Requesting monthly votes!)

"That's terrifying..."

As Minato Namikaze watched Naraku Uehara's figure, a deep sense of solemnity flashed across his face. At this moment, he felt unprecedented pressure.

Minato Namikaze asked in a somewhat dejected voice, "Obito, have you ever seen Sage Mode this powerful? Neither I nor Jiraiya-sensei can compare to Uehara's Sage Mode!"

"teacher…"

Obito Uchiha was in a bad mood.

Obito Uchiha felt out of place among the others present: "I don't know how to use Sage Mode... I've hardly ever even heard of it."

This is really embarrassing.

There were four people present, three of whom were in Sage Mode.

Obito Uchiha was the only one who had never even heard of Sage Mode, and he still didn't understand what it was.

What exactly is Sage Mode?

This was a difficult problem even for Obito Uchiha.

However, Obito Uchiha was very clear about one thing: Uehara Naraku's strength had definitely increased again, becoming stronger than when he had met him before!

Uehara Naraku felt an unprecedented power!

The tenfold increase in life energy allowed Uehara Naraku to clearly feel the terrifying power of this force. Absolutely no one could withstand a single punch from him. Any enemy he had encountered in the past was utterly helpless under the ultimate form of Sage Mode!

Even if the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki were to be resurrected, Uehara Naraku was confident he could put up a fight. This was one of Uehara Naraku's trump cards that gave him the confidence to confront Orochimaru, who was about to be resurrected as the Six Paths!

It wasn't just Uehara Naraku who felt this way; his opponent, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama, also sensed that his enemy had become far too powerful…

"This kind of momentum..."

Hashirama Senju's expression shifted slightly, his eyes, beneath the black sage-like pupils, slowly narrowed, and his voice deepened: "Although I don't really want to say this, you are indeed stronger than me now!"

Uehara's physical body alone put immense pressure on Hashirama Senju!

Hashirama Senju possessed an extraordinary, beast-like combat instinct. He was able to sense the aura emanating from Naraku Uehara's body, which meant just how powerful this guy was after activating his unique Sage Mode!

Do you know the name of this Sage Mode?

Uehara Naraku loosened his fist, examining his palm with satisfaction, and said softly, "It has a very beautiful name, it's called 'Ascending the Divine Staircase'... You can understand its meaning just by hearing it, right?"

"Ascension to godhood... a long staircase?"

Hashirama Senju's expression froze for a second before he understood the meaning behind the name: "After activating Sage Mode, one can become a god-like being?"

"That's roughly the idea..."

Uehara Naraku nodded casually, then tilted his head and smiled, "First Hokage, as the God of Shinobi, I have a question for you."

Uehara Naraku's smile was somewhat humble: "If I were to call myself a god now, wouldn't that be a bit too arrogant?"

"..."

Hashirama Senju's expression changed.

After a while, Hashirama Senju suddenly smiled and waved his hand, saying, "What so-called gods are ultimately just ordinary humans..."

"Perhaps you're right."

Uehara Naraku smiled and nodded. His figure suddenly passed over Senju Hashirama's body and appeared behind Senju Hashirama!

At that moment, his speed was completely imperceptible!

This is the suppression brought about by the highland bloodline and the life energy of five million!

When Hashirama Senju saw Naraku Uehara appear, he only felt a blur before his eyes, and then felt a hurricane and shockwave brought by high speed sweeping over him!

This is…

What speed!

Even Obito Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan couldn't detect Uehara Naraku's figure at all. He didn't even have time to react before he saw Uehara Naraku's position suddenly become empty!

"Space-time magic, is it?"

Obito Uchiha frowned and said, "It's like it vanished into thin air. It seems to activate even faster than Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique..."

"No."

Minato Namikaze gritted his teeth and shook his head, watching the shockwave and hurricane that had suddenly been unleashed at high speed. At that moment, Minato's face turned grim as he said, "He simply moved... purely... relying on his own speed..."

"Your Excellency, First Generation!"

Uehara Naraku's palm suddenly pierced through Senju Hashirama's chest, tearing a large hole in his reanimated body. Senju Hashirama didn't even have time to notice it!

Uehara Naraku's voice continued to echo in Senju Hashirama's ears: "You're right, any enemy that can be defeated by us is indeed not some so-called god..."

"When...?"

Hashirama Senju stared in disbelief at the hand that had pierced his chest, muttering to himself, "So you can't even detect its speed anymore?"

"yes…"

Uehara Naraku stood behind Senju Hashirama, slowly withdrawing his arm and saying, "How does it feel to be ambushed from behind?"

"Not very good."

Hashirama Senju shook his head, watching the large hole in his chest slowly heal, and murmured, "Because it reminds me of when I killed Madara..."

The Battle of the Valley of the End back then.

Just as the two were about to be exhausted from their battle, Madara Uchiha killed a wood clone and thought he had killed Hashirama Senju, but was stabbed in the back by Hashirama Senju!

Thinking about that incident really upset Hashirama Senju.

Are you trying to provoke me?

As Hashirama Senju watched the gaping hole in his chest heal, he abruptly clenched his fists and roared, "As you wish! Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"

Countless dense vines and trees burst forth from the earth and appeared around them, each vine and branch stretching towards Uehara Naraku, vying to extend and try to bind him tightly!

"Dust Release: Limit Demise Technique!"

Without hesitation, Uehara Naraku raised his palm, and a white light suddenly appeared in his hand, like a giant white sword. In an instant, it swept away all the branches and vines, turning the entire forest into an atomic state!

Uehara Naraku watched as Hashirama Senju's body was also affected by the Dust Release, turning into molecules and then reforming. He smiled and said, "Seeing the First Hokage's Wood Release... it really makes me want to give it a try!"

"..."

Hashirama Senju's body gradually took shape, and he gazed at Naraku Uehara, saying, "That attack just now was very powerful. It seems you also possess a rather strong bloodline limit..."

"Perhaps..."

Uehara Naraku snapped his hands together and said softly, "Aside from things like the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Rinnegan, I should have any bloodline limit that can be synthesized through chakra nature transformation."

The next moment, Uehara Naraku calmly uttered the name of a technique that made Senju Hashirama somewhat fearful and uneasy: "Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!"

A tall wooden statue of Kannon rose from behind Uehara Naraku, its massive head supporting him as he continued to ascend!

Countless arms appeared on either side of the wooden Guanyin!

The sheer size of this technique and the pressure it exuded caused a sense of unease and fear among the spectators, especially Hashirama Senju himself!

Because of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, Hashirama Senju was unable to use this technique due to limitations in his strength, but he was very aware of its power!

It was by relying on the True Several Thousand Hands that he defeated Madara Uchiha, who was controlling the Nine-Tails and Susanoo combined!

"Your body... also contains Wood Release?"

A hidden look of horror flashed across Hashirama Senju's eyes, as he was somewhat surprised to find that the True Several Thousand Hands technique before him seemed to be a level higher than his own technique!

This guy in front of me is incredibly powerful!

Uehara Naraku gazed at Senju Hashirama below, calmly raised his palm, and sighed softly, saying, "Then let's use this technique to create some commotion!"

"After our battle is over, someone should be able to survey this place... That way, the Allied Shinobi Forces will see me, their captain-in-chief, as their sole savior!"

Since it was impossible to extinguish Hashirama Senju's consciousness, it meant that he would leak information. Uehara could only temporarily seal him away and use him again after his identity was exposed.

But that would be such a waste.

It would be better to let Hashirama Senju take the blame!

Such a massive commotion as the True Thousand Hands would certainly not escape the notice of the intelligence-gathering units; they would definitely know that Hashirama Senju has truly been resurrected…

Furthermore, Hashirama Senju engaged in a fierce battle with Naraku Uehara, and as for the outcome and details of that battle, Naraku Uehara will have to elaborate on it...

This process needs to be more reliable.

Because the truth is just too outrageous.

After all, Uehara Naraku couldn't very well say that he defeated the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, using Wood Release; if that got out, people would think he'd gone mad.

"A Buddha image appears on the crown of the head!"

The next moment, Uehara Naraku's hand suddenly swung down.

Countless arms behind the Guanyin statue slammed down onto the ground!

The continuous barrage of attacks from thousands of enormous arms instantly caused massive explosions, far exceeding the power of any Tailed Beast Ball bomb!

Even Hashirama Senju could only watch all this happen with unease in his eyes, his impure body was smashed into dust and fragments by the True Thousand Hands!

Uehara Naraku, manipulating one arm of the True Several Thousand Hands, slammed the gradually recovering Hashirama Senju into the ground with a single blow, and commanded, "Uchiha Obito, Namikaze Minato, get a coffin and seal the First Hokage away!"

"You bastard..."

Hashirama Senju's gaze was somewhat complicated.

"Don't rush."

Looking at Hashirama Senju's somewhat puzzled and unwilling eyes, Uehara Naraku calmly said, "In a few days, the First Hokage will see his old friend again... When that time comes, consider it a surprise to celebrate Lord Madara's resurrection!"

Uehara Naraku nodded to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Hmm, he'll definitely like this surprise... After his surprise and exhilaration, let him experience despair!"

Thank you again to the generous donors, Dark Black Snail Ironsmith and Mountain Peak Morning Light...

Bonus chapter complete…

I wanted to rest a bit more...

The dog-loving big shot has tipped another 100,000...

Is this cycle repeating itself, trying to kill me?

(End of this chapter)