With Mito Uzumaki's permission, Orochimaru released Tsunade, signaling her to go chat with Mito, while he busied himself around another ninja serving as a sacrifice on the ground.
Carving the summoning runes for Edo Tensei was a major undertaking. Even with Orochimaru's current strength, it would take some time.
"Tsunade, you and Orochimaru, you two..."
Mito Uzumaki gently stroked Tsunade's face, her eyes twinkling with a smile as she asked.
"Y-yesterday..."
Tsunade was incredibly embarrassed, her face flushed, and she lowered her head, afraid to meet her grandmother's gaze.
Mito Uzumaki saw her granddaughter's shyness but chuckled nonchalantly.
"What's there to be shy about?"
"Your grandmother has been looking forward to this day for a long time!"
"By the way, what year is it now?"
"Orochimaru's current strength is something even I can't see through. Have I been sleeping in the Shinigami's belly for a long time?"
Hearing her grandmother mention Orochimaru, Tsunade immediately forgot her shyness and began to narrate with great enthusiasm.
"Grandma, it hasn't been that long. Less than a year has passed since the day you died."
"As for Orochimaru's strength, Grandma, let me tell you..."
For the next while, Tsunade recounted events one by one, while Mito Uzumaki listened with a smile, occasionally letting out an exclamation of surprise.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu? That child is truly bold, but he certainly has ideas!"
...
"Perfect Sage Mode? Already partially transformed into a dragon? And mastering Ryūchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Regions, thus securing a stable source of summoning beasts for Konoha?"
"This child, Grandma truly didn't misjudge him!"
"That's wonderful, truly wonderful..."
...
"What? You're saying he found another young girlfriend in the Land of Demons?"
"Mmm..."
Hearing about her granddaughter's happiness, Mito Uzumaki finally showed a different expression.
She looked even happier.
"Good, good. Orochimaru has had a difficult life since childhood, with no family.
"The more he marries, the better he can spread his lineage. Perhaps the three of you together can create a vast clan for Orochimaru in the future."
Tsunade was stunned by her grandmother's peculiar line of thought, her face a picture of disbelief.
"Grandma! I'm your only granddaughter!"
"Shouldn't you be angry or help me teach this playboy Orochimaru a lesson when someone tries to steal your granddaughter's man?"
"And didn't Grandpa only have you?"
Mito Uzumaki waved her hand dismissively.
"You, dear, still look at things too one-sidedly!"
"You need to have more children. Look at your great-uncle. If he hadn't remained single his entire life, how would the Senju clan be left with only you and Nawaki?"
"The ninja world is so dangerous. To maintain a clan's long-term development, having more offspring is the foundation."
"As for your grandfather, he's a fool. I wanted him to marry more, but would he dare?"
"Orochimaru is much smarter than him. Grandma has high hopes for him!"
Tsunade was defeated by Mito Uzumaki's unreasonable logic, her face filled with existential doubt.
...
"Edo Tensei!"
Orochimaru's low shout startled the two who were whispering, causing them to turn and walk to the Edo Tensei formation, staring intently at the sacrifice in the center.
"Ah!"
As if the Pure Land opened a gate under the influence of Edo Tensei, a large amount of netherworld soil poured out from the portal, swarming and attaching itself to the sacrifice's body.
The unconscious sacrifice let out a pained cry and suddenly sat up. The wailing gradually subsided, and the sacrifice's body was completely encased in the netherworld soil, slowly transforming into the likeness of the First Hokage.
Successfully summoning the First Hokage from the Pure Land on the first try, Orochimaru nodded with satisfaction.
"Kai!"
Orochimaru formed a hand seal and uttered a soft command, instantly activating the consciousness of the Edo First Hokage.
"Huh?"
"Mito?"
"Huh?"
"Are you little Tsunade?"
"Are you all dead already?"
"Little Tsunade, did you bring dice? Let's play a couple of rounds?"
"Huh?"
"Who is this young man?"
Hashirama Senju, with a cracked face and eyes devoid of any spirit, turned his head back and forth, letting out a series of questions.
Mito Uzumaki covered her forehead, so annoyed by her husband's foolishness that her soul ached.
"Fool, only we two are dead!"
"You were summoned from the Pure Land by Orochimaru using Tobirama's Edo Tensei Jutsu."
"Edo Tensei?"
Hashirama Senju suddenly sprang up from the ground, Netherworld dust flying everywhere.
"Tobirama, that brat, he really doesn't listen to me!"
"He insisted on developing such a forbidden jutsu that disturbs the rest of the deceased. Even I was summoned to the living world. I'll have to give him a good scolding when we get back."
"Oh, right..."
Hashirama Senju suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Orochimaru with an expression of great interest.
"Your name is Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru bowed respectfully.
"Yes, greetings, First Hokage-sama!"
"To be able to learn a forbidden jutsu developed by Tobirama, your identity and strength must be extraordinary!"
"Whose disciple are you?"
"Your junior is the disciple of the Third Hokage, Teacher Sarutobi!"
"It's the little monkey!"
Upon hearing that he was the disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hashirama Senju immediately adopted an elder's posture, stroking his chin and nodding.
"Hmm, not bad. It seems you will be the next Hokage of Konoha!"
"Young man, work hard. If there's anything you don't understand, you can take this opportunity to ask me. Perhaps I can even offer you some guidance!"
Mito Uzumaki's face darkened. If her body weren't just a soul, she would have wanted to go up and slap this embarrassing figure.
"Pah!"
"Do you even know your own capabilities? If it weren't for Tobirama helping you, you'd be a terrible Hokage!"
"Orochimaru is a smart child! When it comes to Hokage experience, it's hard to say who would teach whom!"
Hashirama Senju immediately covered his face in shame and held up his hand to stop her.
"Mito, there are outsiders here. Can you please save me some face?"
Mito Uzumaki gave the clown a disdainful look and said irritably.
"There are no outsiders here!"
"Orochimaru is Tsunade's husband. You've been out for so long and you can't even see the relationship between them? You're so dense, you deserve it!"
Hashirama Senju stiffened, lowered the arm covering his face, and looked at Orochimaru in shock.
"Has the salary of the Konoha Hokage become so high that it can support Little Tsunade now?"
"Orochimaru, why would you be interested in a fool like Tsunade who loves to gamble?"
"Listen to your grandfather... no, listen to me, break up with her!"
"Otherwise, when you become Hokage, Grandpa fears she'll gamble away the entire Konoha for you. What then?"
Hashirama Senju's words caused a dead silence.
Tsunade's small face turned red with anger. She secretly glanced at Orochimaru. Seeing that he showed no reaction, she breathed a sigh of relief before stepping in front of Hashirama Senju and punching him in the stomach.
"Grandpa, you've gone too far!"
"Boom!"
Dust flew everywhere, and half of Hashirama Senju's body was blown away.
"Well done!"
Mito Uzumaki clapped her hands in approval.
Since he couldn't be killed anyway, she thought it was a good opportunity to land a few more punches and vent her anger.
She hadn't dealt with this fool herself in decades, and she missed it.