Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 44: Resurrection! Resurrection!

“Appear!”

The body enveloped by the Forbidden Jutsu: Eternal Breath once again rose from the ground.

Unlike before, this time Hagoromo Gengetsu decisively formed the Tiger hand sign, and shouted:

“Forbidden Jutsu: Release!”

The black membrane covering his body instantly glowed.

Quickly, the black membrane separated, transforming into one black tadpole-like rune after another. These runes rapidly traversed the surface of his body, then gathered at his chest, forming a black magatama.

With a leap, the black magatama detached from his body, ascended into the air, and evaporated rapidly under Gengetsu’s gaze, until it completely disappeared.

Hagoromo Gengetsu knew this signified the complete end of the Forbidden Jutsu: Eternal Breath.

Thump! Thump!

The powerful sound of a heartbeat resonated through the Valley of Fallen God.

It was as if a terrifying presence had awoken from slumber.

In that moment, the valley fell silent; not a sound from any insect, bird, or beast.

Hagoromo Gengetsu looked down.

His body was now fully visible, no longer obscured.

It was as if that most intense battle had never ended.

His body was covered in countless wounds, some so severe that his chest had a deep cavity, exposing flesh and bone, with blood still seeping out.

Despite this, Gengetsu could feel an overwhelming sense of vitality and an imposing aura ready to challenge heaven and earth emanating from his body.

Not only that, the chakra within his Reanimation body spontaneously activated, reacting as if it were facing a great predator.

“So, this is my true body!”

Even gravely injured, it was brimming with life.

Hagoromo Gengetsu looked at his beating heart, circulating blood, and the healthy hue of his skin, his eyes filled with anticipation.

“It’s time.”

Aware that his body wouldn’t stay in this state for long, he swiftly formed hand signs.

“Spirit Transformation Technique!”

A few moments later, Hagoromo Gengetsu completed the final Rabbit hand sign.

The moment the jutsu took effect, Gengetsu felt a tremendous acceleration acting on his soul.

It was as if an unstoppable force was propelling him wherever he wanted to go in an instant.

With a flash of determination in his eyes, Gengetsu’s soul left his body.

Ignoring the rift to the underworld above him, with the Spirit Transformation Technique, Gengetsu’s soul accelerated, breaking free from all constraints, and instantly arrived at his long-awaited true body.

Like a swallow returning to its nest.

With a "whoosh," Gengetsu’s soul flawlessly merged with his body, without any resistance.

In the next moment, the intact right index finger twitched slightly.

Then, seemingly following some central command, the fingers—index, thumb, middle, ring, and little finger—began to move.

The sound of earth falling from between his fingers was heard.

As his right hand, covered in soil, slowly rose to his eyes, Gengetsu opened his eyes.

Looking at the hand in front of him, feeling the moist soil, he began to grin, his smile growing wider.

“Yes! This is the feeling!”

Gengetsu grasped his own chest with his other hand.

Thump! Thump!

For the first time since his arrival through the Reanimation, he clearly felt his heart beating within his chest.

Not only that, looking at the fresh blood on his palm, Gengetsu couldn’t hold back his laughter:

“The taste of blood! The sensation of pain!”

“Hahaha!!! This is my true body! I can finally unleash the full brilliance of the Hagoromo Clan!!! Hahaha…”

One must experience it personally to understand it deeply.

At this moment, Gengetsu truly understood the joy and excitement Madara Uchiha felt upon being resurrected through the Rinne Rebirth during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

The radiance of life is something every soul touched by death fervently yearns for.

At this moment.

Gengetsu clenched his fist, powerful energy surging forth.

Even though, due to his severe injuries, his chakra was reduced to a tenth of its peak and his body ached with intense pain.

He still wanted to savor this sensation!

This vivid and distinct feeling that differed completely from the Reanimation body!

After a while, Gengetsu finally calmed down, noticing the increasing blood seeping from his wounds, and nonchalantly shrugged it off, grabbing a black cloak to cover himself.

With that done, he looked at his still-standing Reanimation body.

Indeed.

The Reanimation body hadn’t dissipated and reverted to its original form.

Not only that, the Spirit Transformation Technique was still active.

Gengetsu knew the reason for this.

After carefully reviewing the training scroll of the Spirit Transformation Technique, he understood that the technique didn’t work as many imagined, with the soul completely detaching from the body.

Gengetsu had previously speculated about this.

After all, if the soul could move freely in the outside world through the Spirit Transformation Technique, Kato Dan wouldn’t have died; at the very least, he could have survived a bit longer as a soul.

Moreover, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kato Dan’s soul, after using the Spirit Transformation Technique, wouldn’t have been completely pulled back to the underworld after a brief encounter with Tsunade.

The Spirit Transformation Technique actually had its limitations.

That is, when the soul leaves the body for tasks such as assassination, possession, or information relay, a small part of the soul remains in the body as an anchor point to always pull back the main soul, preventing it from losing its way.

In the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kato Dan’s soul wasn’t pulled by the underworld because a part of it always remained in the Reanimation body.

The same applies now.

Gengetsu had a tiny part of his soul still in the Reanimation body.

Once the Spirit Transformation Technique ended, his main soul would uncontrollably return to the Reanimation body.

Gengetsu couldn’t change this.

After all, altering the fundamental aspect of the Spirit Transformation Technique would mean it was no longer the same technique.

Even if he could succeed, it would be as difficult as creating an entirely new soul technique.

“So…”

Gengetsu shook his head.

“Question Orochimaru, understand Orochimaru, become Orochimaru.”

Solving the current critical issue first and leaving other matters for later is also a viable approach.

With determination, Gengetsu didn’t hesitate. Before the Spirit Transformation Technique ended, he clapped his hands and said coldly:

“Sever!”

In an instant!

A fragment of his soul was sliced off.

A small piece of his soul detached from his main soul.

Gengetsu lifted his head, enduring the pain of soul separation, and looked at the Reanimation body again.

The sound of paper rustling filled the air.

Gengetsu’s soul fragment completely replaced the main soul and was absorbed into the underworld.

The Reanimation body collapsed with a crash.

In its place was the body of an unknown Sound ninja.

“It’s over.”

Gengetsu raised his head, his true flesh hand shielding his eyes from the blinding sunlight.

Feeling no more threat from the underworld.

He smiled brilliantly.

No matter the twists and turns along the way.

He, Hagoromo Gengetsu, had truly been resurrected!