Episode 71 - An Unrivaled Match: Hokage Battle Royale!

It's that different animation studio that signals massive beatdown. ROCK! Temari sets a trap with Sasuke, actually several traps. Sasuke's got to Spider-Man to a tree to keep from being blown up several times. The kids and Pakkun hear it, and wonder if he's okay. Enough of that, though, you wanted to see the Third Hokage and the Boss Snake fight, right? YES YOU DID. Orochimaru implants tagged kunai into his zombie Hokages, which brings them back to life, as it were. It's a Forbidden Jutsu for a reason, it uses the caster's own blood and a carcass to reanimate - and while Orochimaru's knives brought them back to life, it crushed the original souls to turn them into murder machines under the Sound Ninja's Command. Orochimaru takes great pleasure in beating up on his former sensei. The two zombie Hokage lumber forward undsteadily, then rocket forward. He blocks and dodges both of their attacks, catching Second Hokage's leg and spinning him around to fling away. Hah! Third kicks out the Fire Dragon Flame Bombs to Orochimaru's chuckling amusement. The Second blocks with Water Jutsu: Water Wall. D'oh. Then he counters with a Water Shock Wave (and it's made clear that it's no joke to be able to use Water Jutsu where there is no water), which Third parries with Earth Style: Mud Wall. First Hokage comes hydroplaning through the water towards Third, and blocks the fire the Old Man throws at him. He gives the old guy a wicked combo to send him down. Water tendrils pull Third down, but not for long, as hokage erupts from the water where he has to dodge high-pressure blasts. First breaks out Hidden Wood Style Jutsu: Forest Emergence, because we've yet to see plants try and kick soembody's ass. Third desperately tries to keep on top of them, but eventually gets snared in a tangle of vines. Sidenote: It's what First used to build Hidden Leaf. Interesting!

Iruka-sensei's gotten all the kids out and is trying to lead them away, but Konohamaru still senses something is wrong. At the battle, Third strains to reach out and complete a Summoning Jutsu - Monkey King Enma! YEAH! I am pleased to report he is as exactly as you'd want a Monkey King to look. Enma chastises Third for not killing Orochimaru when he had the chance, though Third does point out that's what he's trying to do now. Enma says it's too late, and the Old Man begs him for the Adamantine Nyoi. This isn't what Orochimaru wants to hear, and he sends First and Second after Enma. The Monkey King batters away the Hokages, not to mention freeing the Third, and transforms into a large staff for the Old Man to catch. Orochimaru decides it's finally a party. He presses on his stomach, and vomits up a snake which in turn horks up a Snake Sword. Third pole-vaults into battle, the staff able to extend to any length you'd care to name. They block, parry and dodge, all that good stuff, and the animation here's just amazing.

While Orochimaru's got the Old Man in a clench, First and Second try to outflank him, but Third's able to dodge them both and slap something written onto each of them. Orochimaru goes in for the kill, just beating the crap out of the old guy, knocking him down, and taunting him for not trying Shadow Clone Jutsu. One of the Anbu says it's, essentially, because the guy's old. If he spreads out his Chakra too much, he'll die. I think. Orochimaru tauntingly asks after Third's health and well-being while the Anbu try and rouse him from the sidelines. The Nyoi opens an eye and asks what on earth the Old Man's waiting for, now's the time to beat him. Sarutobi flings him up and away, and Enma as Nyoi grabs him by the neck, but Substitution! The real Orochimaru still gets a kick in the chest, and Third detonates the pieces of paper he slapped to the other Hokages. It doesn't slow them down terribly, as they start to reform the limbs that were blown off and get back to their feet. The Old Man's got to go for the soul if he wants to stop them, and the only way to do that is the Fourth Hokage's Jutsu. He asks for First and Second's forgiveness as he prepares to use it. Orochimaru takes the time to torment the old guy who, who was once called the god of Shinobi. Then Orochimaru pulls his face off, revealing a younger feminine face underneath. Apparently Orochimaru's completed some Forbidden Jutsu of his own, and the Third Hokage's revelation sends Boss Snake into gales of laughter. To cap things off, Sasuke's finally caught up to the Sand Villagers.

Next Episode: The Third Hokage and his fallen protege Orochimaru.