Orochimarus darkness threatens all of Konoha

As the big battles on top of the arena and down in its pit raged on, all over Konoha were also smaller battles fought. Every single ninja was fighting of the attackers, defending the inhabitants, their families and friends. The small group of Narutos friends that still remained in the ranks of the stadium was no difference.

They fought of a group of Sound-nin. Gai and Asuma took down a lot of them, and Chouji, Kiba, Shikamaru and Sasuke did their part as well. But the latter was not satisfied with this whatsoever. After parrying a blow and knocking out his attacker, her looked down into the arena to where Naruto and Gaara were fighting still. "Damn it! Why am I not down there and fighting that freak, why is it the dead last?", he asked out loud, obviously aggravated that he could not fight the one who had humiliated him before.

Just as he had said that though, his teammate Kiba punched an enemy that was about to lunge himself at Sasuke behind his back. Finally, having a chance to play it cool, Kiba did just that. "Heh, you gotta admit, Naruto got a hell of a lot stronger since the academy.", he pointed out with a grin.

Before Sasuke could react to that though, a small yellow toad hopped onto the railing of the ranks. It looked around the Leaf-nin that were fighting the attackers off, confused. Gamakichi was told to find Kurenai-sensei... but he didn't even know how that one looked like. So, he did the best thing he could. "Which one of you is Kurenai-sensei?", he asked loudly. He was a little lazy, but even he was alerted by the monstrous presence that was Gaara. "Are you Kurenai-sensei?", he asked the one that looked most like a teacher.

That one was Asuma, who had just finished off a Sound-nin that he had in a headlock. "Umm, well... not really, no. Kurenai has gone off to join the battle. I don't know where she is. Why, what do you want from her?", he asked the small toad. He had witnessed Naruto summoning toads, so he knew that it was sent either by Jiraiya or Naruto. So either way, it was urgent.

While disheartened that he could not find Kurenai, Gamakichi decided that this one would do just as well. "Naruto-niisan wanted me to tell her to get everyone to safety.", he explained. And judging from Gaaras monstrous roars, that was probably a good idea.

Gai agreed with a nod. Being stuck in this stadium between two huge fights was not a good place to be, especially if they had to defend themselves on top of it. "It seems like a reasonable request. This place here is not safe and we're needed somewhere else. Asuma!", he called out to his fellow Jounin.

Asuma nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I got you. We'll take the girls with us.", he agreed to the plan of his colleague. While Gai, macho that he was, took both his student Tenten and Hinata over each of his shoulder, Asuma carried Ayame.

Of course, that severely hindered their capability to fight. "Now, we need you boys to help us. We can't fight them off as well when we also have to take care of the girls, so we're counting on you!", Gai told the Gennin. He had seen them fight and they weren't too worn out yet, so they should be fine if they made their way out of there.

"Got it!", Kiba answered. Chouji and Shikamaru nodded in agreement. They would stick together and get through this. Only Sasule hesitated...

"But... shouldn't I fight Gaara with Naruto?", Sasuke asked, fists clenched and teeth gritting as he looked back down into the arena where Naruto and Gaara were still duking it out.

"Sasuke, you're needed here. We need you here. So just believe in Naruto for once, alright?", Shikamaru said to his teammate as he and the others got ready to leave. However, all of a sudden, a new swarm of Sound-nin entered the stadium and came closer to them.

"Believe, huh?", he said to himself as he looked first at Naruto and then at the two Jounin and his teammates. He shook his head. He made up his mind to do his best now to protect them first.

"Alright, then bring it on, you amateurs!", Sasuke taunted the attackers as he stood in front of his fellow Leaf-nin. His hands became a flurry of seals as he prepared a jutsu that his clan was famous for. "Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu (Great Fireball Technique)!", he yelled as he spit a large fireball at the invading mass of Sound ninja. Following the devastating attack, the group hurried out of the stadium, leaving it behind as the only ones there were Naruto, Gaara, Jiraiya, Sarutobi and Orochimaru.

As they left, Gamakichi was quick to follow and jumped onto Choujis shoulder. "Say... do you have some snacks for me?", he asked the chubby ninja hopefully.

Meanwhile, on top of the arena, the fight between Teacher and student and former student had come to a standstill. Orochimaru, while strong, was no match against the combined power of Sarutobi and Jiraiya. Again and again, his attacks were repelled and he was thrown back.

What remained of the Sound Four without Tayuya had done their job and repelled all the ANBU that had tried to help their Hokage. But now, they worried more about their lord. "Orochimaru-sama! Do you need our help?", Sakon called out to his master, but the Snake Sannin only shot his underling a venomous glare for suggesting something like that. No, he would not need help.

"Give it up, Orochimaru! We're stronger than you!", Jiraiya declared confidently. The outcome of the battle seemed clear now. Sarutobi and him were a strong team, always had been.

But Orochimaru only chuckled. "You outnumber me, true. But two against one isn't really fair, is it? Why, I'll make it two versus two, to even the odds.", he said with a eerie smile as he licked his lips. Then, his hand formed a single seal that neither Jiraiya nor Sarutobi had seen before. "Edo Tensei (Impure World Ressurection)!".

Wondering what that Jutsu was, Jiraiya and Sarutobi watched in horror and amazement as a coffin emerged from the ground. It bore a large character that said 'First'. As soon as it had completely risen, a second one also appeared, this one aptly labelled 'Second'. Orochimaru chuckled as he saw the bewilderment on his opponents faces. "I'm sure you will recognise them, Sarutobi-sensei... after all, they were your old teachers, weren't they?", he mocked his enemy with the truth.

Gasping in realization, Sarutobi grew pale. And then, his face turned red with anger. "Orochimaru, do you realize what you're about to do?", Sarutobi asked his former student, still unwilling to believe that Orochimaru had gone this far.

But instead of regret, he only saw bloodlust in his students face. "Yes, I am. I will show you just how great my power is... now, First Hokage, Second Hokage! Return to this world and fight my enemies! Help destroy the village you created with your own hands!", he yelled triumphantly. At his words, the lids of the coffins fell open and revealed two bodies.

The two corpses took a few shambling steps. And Sarutobis and Jiraiyas worst fears were confirmed. Somehow, Orochimaru had managed to summon the First and Second Hokage back into the world of the living!

But the two seemed to be somewhat aware, if confused at their situation. They looked around a bit, their faces somber as they came to look at their old student. "Sorry, Sarutobi-kun. This kid has us summoned... we can't resist his will. But it's good to see that the village has prospered... and that you're still alive gives me hope.", the First Hokage spoke to his successor, but no smile grazed his dead lips.

"Sarutobi... and you, student of Sarutobi too. Please, kill us again so we can rest once more. Don't let us destroy Konoha!", the Second pleaded with them.

But now, Orochimaru had grown weary of this. He hadn't summoned them so they could catch up with the past together. "Enough of this chit-chat! You will obey me now, your power is mine!", Orochimaru commanded and drew two kunai with an intricate seal on each of them. Those he stuck into the bodies of the two deceased Hokage. As they entered their bodies, all signs of decay vanished, but along with it, the glint of free will on the two men did as well. Now mere pawns of Orochimaru, the two village founders dropped into a fighting stance, ready to attack their former student.

Sarutobi was shaken by this reunion. He had never once thought he would ever see them again, much less fight them. And his shock soon turned into fury and regret. Furious that he could not prevent this, regret that he hadn't stopped Orochimaru when he had the chance to. But now was his chance to redeem that mistake. "Orochimaru! You will pay for this crime!", Sarutobi growled in anger as he saw himself **** to confront the two that had taught him everything.