Naruto: Reborn in His Younger Self

Deep underground, a dense gathering of White Zetsu stood packed together. The sheer number was enough to strike fear into anyone's heart.

Mitarashi Anko asked urgently, "What's going on?"

Hyūga Dekai, with his Byakugan active, was visibly shaken. "Below the surface… there's a massive congregation of White Zetsu. They're moving… They've already started!"

Anko frowned. "You must return to the main force immediately and report this! I'll stay and continue investigating the enemy base."

Dekai objected. "Absolutely not! It's too dangerous for you to go alone!"

Anko snapped, "Shut up! Don't argue with me! Just go—this is a matter of life and death! I know it's dangerous. But even a little bit of intelligence could help save lives on the battlefield. If I don't go now, we might miss our chance!"

Dekai hesitated but understood her determination. He nodded grimly.

Dekai, Aburame Torune, and the remaining scouts quickly retreated. Anko narrowed her eyes and pressed forward.

Meanwhile, inside the base, Kabuto Yakushi had strengthened the binding control of all the White Zetsu clones. His fingers wove a series of hand signs. The Edo Tensei corps—bodies reanimated through the Impure World Reincarnation technique—began to awaken.

Except for five corpses Kabuto kept for a special role, the rest dispersed into the surrounding terrain.

Kabuto smiled. "Now, this is much more interesting."

He made another gesture, summoning five specific reanimated shinobi to him. With a wave of his hand, their consciousnesses were partially restored.

Kabuto spoke smoothly, "Deidara, Sasori, Kakuzu—you three will handle explosive traps and ambush tactics. Chūkichi of Kirigakure and a Root operative from Konoha will provide sensory and support capabilities. We'll call your team the Surprise Attack and Feint Division."

Chūkichi, from Kirigakure, scowled. "I might be dead, but I won't be controlled!"

He attempted to attack Kabuto. But with a flick of his hand, Kabuto suppressed his will. Chūkichi's awareness vanished.

Sasori sighed. "Being controlled by someone like him… Akatsuki really has fallen."

Deidara smirked. "Come on, Sasori! Didn't you always say only eternal beauty is art? Look at you now—dead and still ugly! And really, what kind of idiot leaves a giant symbol on their chest? Were you begging people to stab your heart, un?"

"Deidara," Sasori growled, "say that again and I'll kill you."

"Please do," Deidara taunted, stretching his neck forward mockingly. "We're already dead. Come on, kill me again, un!"

Their age-old feud continued. Deidara believed true art was fleeting—the beauty of an explosion—while Sasori viewed eternal form as true artistry, creating everlasting puppets. Their rivalry endured even in death.

Kabuto shook his head, watching them bicker. For him, as long as they obeyed the plan, he didn't care.

Gen, the Root operative, looked disoriented. "What's going on? Am I dead? Why am I here?"

Kabuto ignored his question and commanded the group, "Move out."

As per the plan he discussed with Obito, Kabuto would control the rear guard while Obito and Sasuke handled the frontlines.

Elsewhere, deep within the forest, Haku moved quickly through the trees.

"Zabuza-sama!" he called out.

Zabuza turned with a sigh. "Haku… so we've been brought back. Our minds are our own, but the body acts on its own… This is disgusting."

Explosion Style Gari added, "This is a forbidden jutsu—Impure World Reincarnation—created by the Second Hokage of Konoha. Looks like we're back from the grave to fight again."

Zabuza scowled. "Using the dead… how disgraceful. Being manipulated by scum like that makes me sick."

Nearby, another reanimated ninja arrived—Sarutobi Asuma.

"Duan-niisan?"

Shiranui Dan nodded. "Asuma… Looks like we both share the same fate—reanimated by the forbidden technique using live sacrifices."

Hyūga Hizashi appeared beside them. "What the hell is going on?!"

Asuma reached for his pocket out of habit, searching for a cigarette. He sighed when he remembered. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

He kept leaping forward, wondering, Tsunade-sama… are you safe?

Back at the base, Kabuto smirked. He sensed someone nearby. "I didn't expect to run into an old friend here."

Outside, Anko emerged from the grass and peered ahead at the rocky cliffs riddled with tunnel openings—clearly a well-hidden base.

Sensing something, she turned sharply and shouted, "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Dozens of snakes shot from her sleeves toward the trees behind her.

Kabuto dodged and stepped out. "Yo, Anko. Is this how you greet an old friend?"

Anko sneered. "Don't flatter yourself. What are you doing here, Kabuto? What secret plans are you working on?!"

Kabuto laughed softly. "Isn't it obvious? I'm preparing for war."

He looked at Anko curiously. "If I'm not wrong, the Cursed Seal Orochimaru-sama left on you is gone now, right?"

Anko touched her neck. The curse mark had vanished long ago, used up during Naruto's efforts to bring Orochimaru back.

Kabuto's eyes gleamed. "So… Orochimaru-sama has been resurrected, hasn't he?"

Anko nodded. "Yes. Orochimaru-sama has returned to Konoha. Together with Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya, he's guiding our response to the war. He sent me here personally. Kabuto, it's not too late. Come back. Orochimaru-sama can help you. Return with me. Don't continue down this path."

Kabuto scoffed. "You think I'd believe that?"

He weaved hand signs. "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Anko dodged and countered with swift movements. Kabuto retaliated with a roundhouse kick, but Anko blocked it.

"You think that weak taijutsu can hit me? Pathetic."

Kabuto smirked and backed off, baiting her in. Predictably, Anko lunged forward. As she moved, Kabuto vanished and reappeared behind her.

A massive serpent burst from the shadows, jaws open.

CHOMP!

The snake bit Anko's arm and tossed her aside like a rag doll.

She hit the grass hard, gripping her arm in pain. She tried to get up—but couldn't. Her body wouldn't respond.

"How?! I still have Orochimaru-sama's antibodies in my body…"

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, voice laced with mockery. "Those antibodies? Hah. They're useless against the venom I developed. I've surpassed Orochimaru-sama now. You're just a relic. Hahahaha!"

"That's… impossible…!"

Anko's eyes grew heavy.

And then, she collapsed.

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