Performance of a Hundred Puppets.

After many years, Sasori finally unleashed his ultimate move. The overwhelming number of red-robed puppets surrounded Kakashi and Yamato.

“Yamato, it’s up to you now,” Kakashi said gravely, entrusting the task to Yamato.

“No problem.”

Yamato nodded. This battle needed to end. The next second, he clasped his hands together and shouted, his Wood Release chakra, amplified by Tobi, erupting.

Rumble.

With the ground shaking violently, a colossal wooden Buddha, standing tens of meters tall with five heads and hundreds of arms, rose from the earth. It gazed down at Sasori and his puppets with an indifferent expression.

What is this?

Sasori was momentarily stunned, awed by the sight of the wooden Buddha.

Hmph.

Regaining his composure, he coldly sneered and commanded his hundred puppets to charge at the Buddha like an army. They launched various attacks, firing weapons, spitting flames, spraying water, and swinging large swords, all aiming to dismember the wooden giant.

Yamato stood atop the Buddha’s head, took a deep breath, his gaze intense, and then—

“Wood, wood, wood, wood!”

He had somehow picked up Dan’s habit of repeating words, controlling the Buddha’s hundreds of arms to unleash a storm of furious punches, creating countless afterimages.

This was the pinnacle of power and violence.

Boom, boom, boom!

Within seconds, Sasori’s hundred red-robed puppets, along with his own body, were smashed to pieces by the Buddha’s relentless fists. The remnants fell from the sky, scattering across the ground.

Dust slowly gathered from all directions, reforming Sasori’s body. Although the reanimated body was immortal, it took some time to fully regenerate after being destroyed. During this period, Sasori was powerless.

Kakashi wouldn’t miss this chance.

Whoosh.

He rushed forward, formed hand signs, and pressed his palm to Sasori’s forehead, leaving a “seal” mark there.

Immediately, black seals spread from the “seal” mark, covering Sasori’s entire body and rendering him immobile.

“Kakashi…”

Sasori’s lips parted as if to speak, but his soul was already being drawn out, flying into the sky.

Kakashi watched Sasori’s soul vanish and then turned his attention to the remaining body, which crumbled into dust.

Dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

With Sasori dealt with, it was time to turn to Orochimaru.

Kakashi turned towards the underground entrance of the Sound Village.

In the underground laboratory.

“Incredible power…” Orochimaru was deeply shaken as he watched the wooden Buddha on the monitor screen.

Yamato, like the prisoners in the Sound Village, had once been one of Orochimaru’s experimental subjects for Hashirama cells, deemed a failure and discarded. Unexpectedly, Yamato had grown strong enough to use the First Hokage’s Wood Human Technique.

Just then.

Boom.

A giant fist punched through the ground, landing nearby and causing the lab to tremble.

“Let’s go,” Orochimaru ordered Kabuto, unable to gather his belongings in time.

The two fled in a hurry.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Kakashi and Yamato entered, searching but finding no trace of Orochimaru.

“Senior, what now?” Yamato asked.

“Guard this place and wait for the Uchiha,” Kakashi replied.

…

Half a day later.

Rumble.

A massive tremor shook the ground as if an earthquake was occurring.

“What’s happening?”

“Be careful, it might be Orochimaru coming back.”

Kakashi and Yamato exchanged glances, preparing for battle. However, they saw a huge steel fortress emerging from the ground.

What is this?

They were puzzled until they saw familiar faces emerging from the fortress—it was the Uchiha clan.

Half an hour later.

Guided by Kakashi and Yamato, the Uchiha explored the Sound Village, discovering the Reanimation Jutsu summoning formulas and numerous research documents left by Orochimaru.

Fugaku was overjoyed. The research materials would significantly help the Uchiha master the Reanimation Jutsu.

“Kakashi, you and Yamato have done us a great service,” Fugaku expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha clan was proud but also valued loyalty and strength. Through their shared struggles, the clan members had come to see Kakashi and Yamato as their own.

Feeling the Uchiha’s recognition, Kakashi and Yamato were warmed. Their previous negative impressions, influenced by Konoha’s elders, had changed after experiencing the Uchiha’s spirit firsthand.

The Uchiha were indeed a fierce clan, but their strength and beauty stemmed from their blood and fire. Kakashi now believed that only a powerful clan like the Uchiha could maintain peace and protect the village.

This solidified his resolve to help the Uchiha defeat the Shinobi Alliance and persuade them to—

Return to Konoha.

“Clan Leader Fugaku, Orochimaru likely has other hideouts within the Land of Rice Fields,” Kakashi reminded.

“Understood.”

Fugaku immediately ordered the village council members to lead teams of twenty Uchiha to hunt down Orochimaru.

Over the next three days, the Uchiha scoured the Land of Rice Fields, destroying all Sound Village outposts and looting Orochimaru’s resources.

“Curse them!”

Unable to maintain his composure, Orochimaru was furious but didn’t dare confront the Uchiha head-on. Ultimately, he fled with Kabuto and some followers, seeking a new hiding place.

The Uchiha settled in the Sound Village, making it their own.

…

Time flew by, and winter gave way to spring in the 55th year of Konoha.

The recent winter had seen all forces in the ninja world take a break from fighting, choosing to recuperate and rebuild.

The ninja world experienced a brief period of peace.

In Sunagakure, the Fifth Kazekage Chiyo oversaw reconstruction and recruited new ninja to strengthen their defenses. Iwagakure and Kumogakure used the winter to consolidate their gains and train more ninjas. Konoha saw the Fifth Hokage Danzo conduct another purge, consolidating power within the Anbu and Root. In Kirigakure, the new Mizukage Mei Terumi abolished many of the policies from the Blood Mist era, promoting peace and openness.

With spring, everything seemed to thrive.

However, everyone knew the war was not over.

Except for Kirigakure, which had announced its withdrawal from the Fourth Great Ninja War, the other four great villages continued to fight the Uchiha clan. They wouldn’t rest until the Uchiha were eradicated.

The Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan was the greatest threat to peace in the ninja world.

Intelligence from various villages recently indicated that the Uchiha were hiding in the Land of Rice Fields, possibly planning something.

As a result, the leaders of the four great villages couldn’t sit still, dispatching scouts to investigate the Land of Rice Fields. The four Kage held a video conference, preparing to form a new Shinobi Alliance.

A storm was brewing.

In the Sound Village, the Uchiha clan had spent the winter absorbing Orochimaru’s research on the Reanimation Jutsu.

Now, it was time to test it.

The Uchiha council members gathered in the underground lab, including Dan and Tsunade, who had left the Kamui dimension to witness the event.

A prisoner was brought in.

He looked up in fear, seeing many pairs of red Sharingan eyes watching him indifferently. Glancing down, he saw a complex summoning formula inscribed on the floor, and he was at its center.

Despair filled his face as he begged the Uchiha for mercy, but his pleas were in vain.

The Reanimation Jutsu required a living sacrifice to succeed. The Sound Village prison, which held many dangerous criminals, was perfect for this purpose.

Fugaku stepped forward, his expression solemn. He formed the signs for Tiger, Snake, Dog, and Dragon before clasping his hands together.

“Rise, Shisui!”

With Fugaku’s command, a bright light filled the room. Dust from all around converged onto the prisoner, who quickly lost consciousness as his body changed shape and appearance.

Finally, a young boy with short black hair and a button nose stood before them, looking about fifteen or sixteen.

Shisui’s face was filled with confusion.

It felt like waking from a long sleep, his mind muddled and unsure of his surroundings. But as he saw the familiar faces around him, memories surfaced, and surprise appeared on his face.

“Shisui, you’re really back?”

Tobi was the first to rush to Shisui’s side, poking and prodding him in excitement.

“Tobi, stop it.”

Shisui gently pushed Tobi away and looked at the Uchiha clan, asking, “Where am I? Did the Uchiha coup succeed? Is everyone alright?”

Questions poured out of him, all centered on his clan and its well-being, with no mention of Konoha.

It’s true what they say.

Only in the face of death can one truly understand themselves.

Through his death, Shisui recognized his arrogance, foolishness, and Konoha’s leadership’s hypocrisy and ugliness. He no longer saw reconciling his clan with the village as his mission or considered himself Konoha’s savior.

Now, given a second chance through the Reanimation Jutsu, he intended to make things right.

Hearing Shisui’s questions, the Uchiha members exchanged glances and burst into laughter, filling the room with joy.

“Why is everyone laughing?”

Shisui was puzzled.

Itachi, smiling, approached and explained everything that had happened since Shisui’s death.

From the Uchiha’s break with Konoha and their departure to the outbreak of the Fourth Great Ninja War and Konoha’s fall to the formation of the Shinobi Alliance to crush the Uchiha, only to be defeated…

Tekka also stepped forward, patting Shisui on the shoulder. “You missed a lot of exciting stuff.”

Shisui was stunned, taking a while to process everything.

Finally, he turned to Dan, opening his mouth to speak. “Dan, I…”

Facing Dan, Shisui had much to say, but most of all, he wanted to express his gratitude.

He was grateful to Dan for saving the Uchiha, ensuring the clan’s survival through the brutal ninja war, and for helping him see his true self.

Dan said nothing, simply signaling his nephew with a look before turning to leave.

Itachi grabbed Shisui’s arm, saying, “Shisui, let’s go outside and stretch a bit. The Reanimation Jutsu’s form might take some getting used to.”

“Okay.”

Shisui nodded.

Soon, they arrived at a training ground the Uchiha had set up on the surface.

Shisui’s sparring partner was Itachi.

Bang, bang, bang.

The two engaged in an intense taijutsu match, their speed blinding. However, it was clear that Shisui’s movements were stiffer compared to Itachi’s, his attacks often a beat slower, gradually being overwhelmed.

Itachi’s eyes narrowed during the fight, and he swung his blade down.

Slash.

Shisui’s arm was severed, falling to the ground.

Strangely, Shisui felt no pain. Before he could pick up his arm, it dissolved into dust and reattached itself to his body, forming a perfectly intact limb.

So, this is the immortal body of the Reanimation Jutsu?

What incredible power.