Orochimaru's mastery of the Reanimation Jutsu had reached such a level that he could control the resurrected shinobi remotely, regardless of distance. With the necessary genetic material of the deceased and living sacrifices, there was no limit to the number of summons he could perform. However, while he could oversee his reanimated army like a strategist surveying a battlefield, Orochimaru did not allow the summoned individuals to act entirely on their own.
When Orochimaru controlled the Third Kazekage to assist on the Kumo ninja defense line, he hadn't expected to encounter Uchiha Mikoto. The moment he saw her through the Third Kazekage's eyes, Orochimaru smirked to himself.
"Ah Mikoto," Orochimaru muttered, a sly smile forming on his face. "I almost forgot about her."
This war was never about unleashing his Reanimation Jutsu army on the entirety of the ninja world. The four great ninja villages had yet to form a true alliance, and Orochimaru had no intention of uniting them by presenting a common enemy. Instead, he divided his forces carefully. Reanimated Sand ninja were sent to the Kumo defense line, while reanimated Iwa ninja were deployed to the Kiri defense line.
Sending ninjas to face their former comrades would only complicate matters and risk disrupting Orochimaru's control over them.
This approach allowed him to sow confusion and chaos without jeopardizing his strategies.
On the Kumo defense line, the battlefield descended into panic.
"Sand ninja?!"
"What's going on?"
"They... they crawled out of coffins!""Retreat! Retreat immediately!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Smoke bombs exploded all around, blanketing the area in thick clouds of smoke. Using the cover, the Kumo ninja began to retreat in haste.
The Third Kazekage, still bound by Orochimaru's control, made no move to pursue them. His orders were clear—there was no need to chase after "fodder."
"Tch. How annoying," the Third Kazekage muttered. While he despised being manipulated, he understood that his current state left him with no choice but to follow Orochimaru's commands. As a Kage-level ninja, being controlled like this was utterly humiliating.
Around him, the reanimated Sand ninja began regaining their consciousness, their voices echoing in confusion.
"What's going on here?"
"Where are we? Is this... the afterlife?"
"No, I remember dying... I was ambushed during the war with Iwa ninja..."
"Wait, is that... Lord Kazekage?"
"Lord Kazekage, what is the meaning of this?"
The Third Kazekage sighed, his irritation palpable. He had no choice but to explain the situation to his former subordinates, who were just as bewildered by their resurrection. Some were from his generation, while others were shinobi who had served the Kazekage before him.
As the Third Kazekage recounted their current circumstances, the Sand ninja fell silent, their confusion deepening.
---
Back at Orochimaru's temporary base, nestled under a cliff in the Land of Fire, a faint chuckle escaped his lips as he stared at the chessboard before him.
"Hahaha... The army is limited, but concentrating our forces to wipe out one village at a time? More than enough," he said, his hoarse voice carrying an undertone of satisfaction.
Orochimaru sat comfortably on a wooden chair, a small table with a chessboard placed before him. He moved the pieces as if orchestrating the battlefield.
Outside the wooden house, Kushina crouched next to a makeshift stove, frustration evident in her expression as she tended to a bubbling hot pot.
She worked efficiently, gathering firewood, setting up the stove, and cooking were easy tasks for a ninja. But as she glanced at the scene inside, she couldn't help but mutter under her breath.
"Six reanimated shinobi... Is this really enough to save Konoha? He's got to be joking..."
Kushina had watched as Orochimaru summoned six individuals. The first two were easy to recognize, their faces were carved into the Hokage Rock. But the other four? She had no idea who they were.
One was covered in bandages, another had the aura of a relentless killer, and the remaining two didn't seem particularly remarkable.
"Are you finished yet, Kushina?" Orochimaru's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Almost!" she called back, quickly focusing on her task.
Orochimaru gave no further response. His eyes returned to the chessboard, deep in thought.
"I don't have time to deal with Kumo and Kirigakure just yet. The first-generation Kage from each village were well-hidden, which limits my top combat power... But no matter. There's always another way."
He placed a chess piece firmly on the board, positioning it near the Land of Lightning.
---
Elsewhere, at Konoha's temporary base, the arrival of reinforcements from reanimated Sand ninja left the Konoha shinobi in shock.
"Reinforcements... from Sand?"
"Is this some kind of joke? Weren't we just fighting the Land of Wind?"
The confusion only grew after Mikoto recounted the events she had witnessed.
"From coffins?"
"Wait... Could it be... Reanimation Jutsu?"
"That's the technique invented by the Second Hokage, right?"
"Yes, I saw it once when I was younger. But that was a long time ago."
"I thought it was sealed away because it violated human ethics."
"Who cares about ethics right now? If someone's using it to help us fight, then I'm not going to complain."
"Exactly. At this point, we can't afford to question their methods. We need all the help we can get."
The Konoha ninja were divided in their opinions. Some were uneasy about using such a forbidden jutsu, while others were pragmatic, caring only about survival.
For the moment, the morality of the Reanimation Jutsu was irrelevant. Konoha was on the brink of destruction, and they needed every advantage they could get.
Mikoto however, didn't engage in the discussions. Instead, she quietly approached the camp leader, relaying the cryptic message left for her by the Third Kazekage.
"I'm going to the southwest," she stated firmly.
The camp leader raised an eyebrow but didn't object.
"You're going alone?"
"Yes," Mikoto confirmed.
"Fine, but be careful. This war has eyes everywhere."
"I will," she assured him before turning to leave.
Though exhausted, Mikoto wasted no time. The message from Orochimaru had piqued her curiosity, and her connection to him spurred her to act without hesitation.
The coordinates weren't far from the Kumo ninja defense line, and by late evening, she had reached her destination.
---
A red blur intercepted her path.
"Uchiha Mikoto?"
Mikoto instinctively activated her Sharingan and prepared to fight. But as the figure came into focus, she stopped, stunned.
"Kushina?"
The red-haired kunoichi nodded. "Yeah, it's me. Orochimaru-sama sent me to guide you. Come on, follow me."
Without waiting for a reply, Kushina turned and started walking. Hhujǰĥiygʻp
Mikoto, still confused but trusting her instincts, followed cautiously, her Sharingan remaining active as they moved deeper into the forest.
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