Chapter 19

Times change, and the remnants of the old era find it hard to adapt to the rapid currents of the new era.

But this did not include Gensou.

Compared to the end of the Warring States period, the rapid development in various fields, especially technology similar to his past life, made the ninja world of today even more appealing to him.

This era should belong to him.

"Don't you agree, useless system?"

Gensou spoke to his system in his mind.

[Please complete the novice mission as soon as possible.]

The familiar prompt sounded again.

Decades had passed, yet even after his death and resurrection, not fully reborn, the system still diligently issued tasks to him.

One had to admit, this system was really something, bound to him even in death, with no flexibility whatsoever.

Just like the novice mission that had disheartened him back then, it was still listed on the system page.

However, with Naruto Uzumaki around in this era, he could finally tackle the mission.

"System, what year is it?" Gensou confirmed once again.

[Konoha Year 60.]

Good, this time it got it right without extending the timeline by several decades.

Satisfied, Gensou returned to reality.

The novice mission wasn't urgent for now.

The key thing now was to leave here and achieve true rebirth.

Gensou looked at the shadow clone of Hiruzen before him, who was strenuously maintaining the Reaper Death Seal, trying to seal his soul.

With Tobirama's grave warning before his departure, Hiruzen, though not fully understanding the Hokages' concern, still followed through with all his might.

"For Konoha, for everyone, I will give my life to seal you completely!"

The shadow clone of Hiruzen shouted.

Gensou was speechless: "Old man, don't lump me in with that snake-like guy, making me out to be some heinous villain. I haven't even stepped on a single ant in Konoha, so why the call for my head?"

It was the same last time.

He had done nothing, yet the Five Kage ambushed him out of nowhere.

His life had indeed been difficult.

Listening to Gensou's explanation, Hiruzen had a moment of hesitation.

Setting aside the somewhat jarring "old man" term.

Technically speaking, like the two Hokage, Gensou was forcibly summoned here, and the previous battles couldn't be blamed on him.

However...

Seeing Gensou unexpectedly break free from Orochimaru's control and resist the Reaper Death Seal, clearly having his own intentions, and knowing he died at the hands of the First Hokage, Hiruzen's eyes hardened.

Such a person, feared deeply by both the First and Second Hokage, could not be allowed to escape.

With a firm resolve shaped by the stories of Gensou's genius from his youth, Hiruzen responded resolutely:

"Gensou-senpai, the dead should not return to the world of the living. It's time for you to go back where you belong."

"Make me go back? That's not something an old man at death's door like you can achieve."

Still convinced he was a twenty-four-year-old youth, Gensou was displeased with being called "senpai" by Hiruzen.

Fortunately, he wouldn't have to listen to him any longer.

Gensou's lips curled into a smile.

At the same time, the shadow clone of Hiruzen before him changed expression: "You—"

During their exchange, the battle for Gensou's soul under the Reaper Death Seal continued.

Originally, Hiruzen's shadow clone had pulled Gensou's soul partially out of his Edo Tensei body.

But now, he suddenly found a powerful resistance not only hindering his jutsu but also watching as Gensou's soul slowly retracted back into his body.

"You think I was chatting with you out of post-death boredom?" Gensou said with a faint smile at the shadow clone of Hiruzen,

"I was just buying time to adapt to this new body and to understand the infamous Reaper Death Seal."

With these words, Gensou's body trembled, and the shadow clone's hands gripping his shoulders were suddenly repelled.

"If it were your real body, I might have had a hard time breaking free from the Reaper Death Seal. But a shadow clone? Ha."

Gensou pointed a finger, and the shocked shadow clone of Hiruzen dissipated with a "poof" into white smoke.

Feeling the shadow clone dissipate, Hiruzen, tightly entangled with Orochimaru, changed expression: "This is bad!"

Conversely, Orochimaru, who had looked grim, now revealed a hint of joy, quickly suggesting to Gensou: "Gensou-senpai, let's kill Hiruzen together. Once the Third Hokage is gone, Konoha will be leaderless and will face inevitable destruction. This is the outcome you desire, isn't it?"

Orochimaru was well aware of the conflicts between Gensou, Hashirama, and the Konoha led by Hashirama.

He believed Gensou would be interested in his plan to destroy Konoha.

However, what happened next took Orochimaru by surprise.

Freed and unobstructed, Gensou didn't move to attack but instead folded his arms and cheerfully watched, saying: "No rush. It's rare to witness such a dramatic showdown between teacher and student. I'd like to see who wins in the end."

"Carry on, don't mind me."

Gensou hadn't forgotten that Orochimaru was the caster of Edo Tensei.

To avoid unnecessary surprises, he had no interest in helping Orochimaru.

With his current strength unable to break the Four Violet Flames Formation immediately, he decided to sit back and watch this famous Hokage battle.

Seeing Gensou watching like he was munching on sunflower seeds, Orochimaru's expression froze.

Then, feeling his soul being pulled out again by Hiruzen, his expression grew uglier.

"Damn old man!"

"Damn Hiruzen-sensei!"

"Can't use ninjutsu, and my body is restricted."

Seeing the massive Death God behind Hiruzen, Orochimaru showed a rare sign of panic.

With Gensou unreliable, he could only struggle on his own.

Hiruzen, though persistent, was already heavily drained and had little strength left.

More crucially, Gensou was lurking nearby like a ticking time bomb.

Though Gensou claimed he wouldn't interfere, having a time bomb nearby was unsettling.

To prevent any accidents, he had to act quickly.

"This is the only way."

Unable to resolve Gensou was a given reality.

Orochimaru's soul wasn't fully extracted either.

Time was running out.

There was no other choice!

Hiruzen took a deep breath, looking at his former student, now shrouded in darkness and cruelty, unrecognizable from his youth, and said in a deep voice:

"Orochimaru—"

(End of Chapter)