"Kazuku even accounted for such combat details…" Tobirama stared at the fight, dumbfounded.
To him, the moment Kazuku sped behind Danzo, he could've attacked.
But he didn't.
Instead, he deliberately announced his position, making Danzo panic and swing wildly.
Once Danzo attacked, he couldn't defend.
Leaving his entire body vulnerable, which Kazuku seized!
"Danzo's lost all chance to defend now," Tobirama thought, stunned by Kazuku's combat instincts.
The truth?
Kazuku just wanted to toy with Danzo, to show him…
You, Danzo, are too slow!
Unaware of this, Tobirama conjured a narrative, believing Kazuku's moves were a calculated strategy to leave Danzo no openings.
Yes.
In this moment, Tobirama's thoughts spiraled!
Using Danzo's body as a springboard, Kazuku executed a stylish series of spinning kicks, then brought his legs together, stomping down hard.
Thud!
Using the recoil, Kazuku shot back to the ground, while Danzo was launched even higher.
Unprecedented pain coursed through Danzo's body, yet it sharpened his mind.
He could see everyone's positions and reactions.
He even clearly saw Kazuku land, his heels digging in, cracking the ground like a spiderweb.
Though Danzo could see it all, his body wouldn't respond.
His fingers, arms, legs—they felt like they weren't his.
"Move, move!" Danzo gritted his teeth, roaring at every organ, every limb!
But Kazuku, with the Gate of Life's explosive power, easily caught up.
He clenched his fist, aiming for Danzo's chest.
This punch would be his final strike!
Below, Might Batsu's heart pounded with fear. "I never expected Young Master Kazuku's taijutsu to be this incredible."
Kazuku's movements and timing were flawless.
"Lord Tobirama… has Young Master Kazuku really never trained in taijutsu?" Batsu couldn't help but blurt out.
In his view, no matter how gifted, without diligent training…
No one could become an elite ninja.
Especially in taijutsu, a field with no shortcuts, reliant on effort and sweat!
Yet Kazuku's existence slapped Batsu in the face.
Forcing him to face reality.
Genius—unreasonable monsters like this…
Not only existed but stood before him!
"But… Young Master Kazuku will lose," Batsu swallowed hard, voicing his thoughts.
At seven, opening the Gate of Life made him an unparalleled genius in the ninja world!
His taijutsu and tactics were impeccable!
Even if roles were swapped, Batsu doubted he or Tobirama could perform better.
But…
Seven years old was Kazuku's greatest weakness, his biggest flaw!
Even with the Gate of Life boosting strength and speed, it couldn't change his low base stats.
If Danzo withstood Kazuku's next punch, Kazuku, at his physical limit, would be a sitting duck!
Danzo would be the butcher!
"If Kazuku had opened the Gate of Limit, Danzo would've lost without question," Tobirama, arms crossed, couldn't help but say.
By his calculations, Kazuku's full-force punch under the Gate of Life would hurt Danzo badly.
But it lacked the power to finish him. From what Tobirama knew, Danzo's physique could endure it.
Then…
The tables would turn!
As Batsu predicted, Kazuku would lose.
Still…
Even so, Kazuku's performance was astonishing beyond compare.
At just seven, mastering three of the Eight Gates!
And this taijutsu.
And this combat talent.
Simply otherworldly!
"Kazuku, you don't need to rush. You're only seven, with plenty of time to grow," Tobirama murmured inwardly, his eyes blazing with fervor.
"In the future, you'll lead Konoha to its golden age."
"Lord Tobirama…" Batsu's expression darkened. "Young Master Kazuku opening the Gate of Life at this age is already unprecedented!"
"The Gate of Limit is the Fifth Gate. Opening it at this age would be more terrifying than a monster!"
A seven-year-old opening the Gate of Limit!
The mere thought was horrifying!
No!
It was impossible!
Forget the Gate of Limit.
Even the Gate of Pain, the one before it…
Marked the Eight Gates' danger zone, causing serious bodily harm.
Kazuku's seven-year-old physique couldn't withstand it!
The muscle-tearing pain alone would knock him out!
"But with Young Master Kazuku's terrifying talent, I'd bet he could open the Gate of Limit in five years at most!" Batsu concluded.
In truth, it wasn't just Batsu.
Tobirama, Hiruzen, Uchiha Kagami, and the others shared the same thought!
Especially Danzo.
Unable to move, he gritted his teeth, reminding himself Kazuku was nearing his limit.
His next punch was likely his last!
If Danzo endured it, it'd be time to counter.
He'd win this match!
But what they didn't know…
From the start, Kazuku never planned to defeat a chunin-level Danzo with just the Gate of Life!
His true all-or-nothing strike was a full-force burst under the Gate of Pain!
"Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain—open!" Kazuku roared.
Everyone present gasped!
Tobirama: "!!!"
Might Batsu: "!!!"
Hiruzen and co.: "!!!"
Danzo's mind: "???!!!"
Was this a joke?!
A seven-year-old opening the Gate of Pain?!
Thud!
Suddenly, Kazuku heard a muffled sound—not from outside, but through bone conduction!
As he opened the Fourth Gate, his right arm's muscles tore!
Even Kazuku hadn't expected the Gate of Pain's damage to be so extreme!
Even coating his body with Hashirama's Chakra for buffering didn't help.
Worst of all, the torn muscles left him unable to throw the punch!
For a moment, Kazuku and Danzo hung in the air, the scene painfully awkward.
"Is this it…?"
But just as Kazuku thought all was lost, he noticed his torn muscles healing rapidly!
As if… the Gate of Pain's damage had never happened!
His eyes widened, heart pounding with shock.
He knew what this was, but hadn't expected to inherit it!
"This is… Hashirama Senju's… Seal-less Healing!"
Kazuku never dreamed the Eight Gates' damage would be countered by his innate bloodline!
"Wait, if I can heal the Eight Gates' damage myself…" His eyes lit up. "Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit—open!"
Tobirama: "!!!"
Might Batsu: "!!!"
Danzo: "???"
Danzo: "!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(End of Chapter)