"Danzo?"

The incessant barking wasn't coming from a dog at all, but from a man. And it was a man they were all very familiar with. Seeing who it was, everyone was stunned. Orochimaru was also surprised. He remembered their last meeting, when he had teamed up with Danzo and the Root organization to attack the Uchiha's hideout. Now, how things had changed. The once-feared "Darkness of the Shinobi" had been reduced to nothing more than a dog.

"Tsk tsk… it seems I wasn't the only one who suffered after that incident. You had it rough as well, Danzo."

"Start biting," Shiro commanded. "And don't show anyone any mercy." At the order, Danzo leaped into motion, his figure a blur as he moved through the Konoha shinobi like a ghost.

"Aaargh!"

The screams were endless, so loud that they even reached the ears of the two Hokage fighting on the rooftop.

"Is that… Lord Danzo?" Minato was shocked. "Lord Third, Danzo is back, but… he doesn't look right!"

Hiruzen's face was grim. "So, he really was captured by the Uchiha. No wonder he has been missing for so long. Minato, we must end this quickly. We need to use a sealing jutsu to deal with these reanimations, otherwise, this battle will never end."

"Is it my imagination," Minato replied while fighting, "or are the First and Second not as strong as I imagined?"

From the beginning of the fight, Tobirama, the famed master of forbidden jutsu, had yet to use a single one. Hashirama had used Wood Release several times, but the scale and power were lacking, and Minato had been able to counter each attack with his superior speed. Compared to Minato's relative ease, the elderly Hiruzen was already beginning to look exhausted.

"I truly hate to admit my old age," Hiruzen sighed, analyzing the situation. "I suspect Orochimaru's Reanimation Jutsu is still incomplete. The reanimated souls cannot exert their full strength."

"Even so, Minato, we cannot let our guard down. They are still the First and Second Hokage. Even at partial strength, ordinary sealing techniques will be useless against them. I'm going to use the Reaper Death Seal. I need you to cover me!"

"What?!" Minato was shocked. The Reaper Death Seal was an immensely powerful sealing technique, but it came at the cost of the user's own life.

"Don't hesitate, Minato! Cover me!" Hiruzen retreated to the back of the rooftop and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Two shadow clones appeared at his sides.

"This is the moment of life and death for our village. You and I both know that the real trouble is not the Reanimation, but the Uchiha! If we don't get rid of the First and Second now, once the Uchiha's reinforcements arrive, it will be the end of us!"

"I am old, Minato. It does not matter if I sacrifice my life. The future of our village rests on your shoulders!" With that, Hiruzen's face hardened with resolve, and he began to rapidly form a series of hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!" Tobirama suddenly attacked, and a massive dragon of water rushed toward Hiruzen.

"Rasengan!" Minato appeared in front of Hiruzen in a flash, a swirling sphere of chakra in his hand. He thrust it forward, dissipating the water dragon completely.

Tobirama was stunned, then praised, "Impressive. You are worthy of the title of Fourth Hokage. You are quite skilled with the Flying Thunder God Technique. It's a pity I can't use it in this body. Otherwise, I would have loved to have a proper match with you."

Hiruzen continued to form his hand seals. Just as he was about to complete the final seal, Minato suddenly grabbed his hands, stopping him.

"Minato… you? What are you doing?"

Minato exhaled and smiled. "Lord Third, this is something… that I should do."

"Konoha Village cannot afford to lose you."