Son of the Sannin(Back)

Battle of the Hokage

The three Konoha ninja facing Orochimaru stared in shock as the occupants of the coffins stepped out of them. There was no mistake; those were Minato and Kushina, looking no different from the time the Kyubi escaped, if they ignored the black eyes and the cracked skin that gave them such a creepy and otherworldly appearance.

"Besides Minato, I also have the Senju brothers, working to destroying Konoha at other parts of the village," Orochimaru grinned again as his Sharingan rested on his former sensei and former teammate. "Now I only need you two to have the whole set."

"...where am I?" a disoriented Minato asked, until he saw Jiraiya. "Sensei? Is that you?"

"You look so old!" Kushina added.

Jiraiya wouldn't have left such remark unanswered, but this was no time for jokes, so he decided to give them a brief summary of the situation. "Yes, it's me. Orochimaru used a forbidden jutsu to bring you back to life. And the reason for why I look so old...is that thirteen years have passed since your death."

The Fourth and his wife weighed on Jiraiya's words, trying to find a sense for what was going on.

"But...how is that I don't remember anything after the Kyubi impaled us?" Kushina asked.

"I have no answer for that," Jiraiya solemnly replied.

"How could you resurrect Minato? He used the Reaper Death Seal to seal the Nine Tails away! His soul shouldn't be available for you to defile!" Hiruzen pointed out.

"Ah, I see you're familiar with this jutsu, sensei. Which shouldn't be surprising, given that it was your own very sensei who developed it," Orochimaru delighted in the irony of the situation. "You could say that thanks to the knowledge of the Forbidden Scroll, I was able to find a way to retrieve Minato's soul."

On one side, both Hiruzen and Jiraiya were thankful that Minato was no longer sealed inside the Reaper's stomach. On the other hand, being a slave to Orochimaru wasn't much better. Then again, there could be a way to undo the jutsu and give Minato's soul the peace he deserved so much.

Kushina's arm started to twitch. "I can't control my body. It's like...like if somebody else is manipulating it from the inside!"

"Very sharp, my dear Uzumaki. While you might retain your free will, it's useless since I'm the one in control of your actions. You're nothing but my puppets," Orochimaru stated, and then he looked back at his opposition. "You know, I have an idea. Sensei, why don't you fight against me, while Jiraiya fights against Minato? That way, two masters will die at the hands of their respective students!"

"You certainly have to be too confident for your own good if you think you can take me on," Hiruzen replied.

"With these eyes, nothing is impossible," Orochimaru taunted, before deciding that the time for words was over. "Anyway, I'm growing impatient for your death, sensei, so let's start already! Minato, Kushina, kill Jiraiya and Anko-chan, and then aid the rest of my forces in the destruction of Konoha!"

The orders already issued, Orochimaru jumped away, followed by Hiruzen.

"Where do you think you're going? The only master who will die at his student's hands will be you!" Anko wanted to follow her former sensei and her former Hokage, but a red headed kunoichi got in the way and attacked Anko with a pair of kunai. "Hey!"

"Sorry, but my body moves on her own, ya know!" Kushina stated in an apologetic tone. "I'm afraid you won't be able to kill that bastard until you get rid of us first."

"So be it then," Anko replied as she thrust her arm forward. "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Several snakes shot from Anko's sleeve and lunged at Kushina. The redhead jumped backwards while she made several hand seals.