Chikusho's squad were elite ninja.
Their combat experience and teamwork were impeccable.
Most critically, Chikusho wielded the Magnet Release bloodline limit.
If Kazuku faced him head-on, he wasn't confident.
But luckily…
Chikusho's primary target was Sarutobi Hiruzen, secondary was Uzumaki Ashina.
Kazuku and Sakumo? He didn't take them seriously.
Two seven- or eight-year-olds against Cloud chunin?
This wasn't arrogance or carelessness.
It was common-sense reasoning!
Third Gate, Gate of Life, open!
Kazuku clenched his fists, erupting Hashirama's chakra, opening the Gate of Life. His fair skin turned red from blood rush, arm muscles bulging with veins, green energy radiating.
His strength and speed surged.
Sakumo and Yuna's gazes locked on him.
"What… is that?!" Sakumo's eyes widened, incredulous. Kazuku seemed a different person.
The green energy dispelled the pressure Sakumo felt from the Cloud ninja.
"Why does Kazuku have such terrifying power?"
Sakumo swallowed hard, nervous.
He saw, again, the vast gap between them.
And…
Seeing Kazuku bend one knee, Sakumo realized his intent.
"Kazuku, you're… taking on all five Cloud ninja?!"
Even with his status as Hashirama's grandson, this seemed unthinkable to Sakumo.
Kazuku was just a genin.
His combat thinking and experience couldn't match chunin.
Yet his eyes held no doubt, no fear.
Even…
Sakumo sensed immense confidence!
Was this guy…
Really a genin younger than him?
Too outrageous!
Yuna, less perceptive, didn't catch the details, but staring at Kazuku's back, she found him incredibly reliable!
And…
She felt immense safety from him.
As if, with him shielding her, no one could harm her.
The Cloud chunin felt their scalps tingle.
This kid, barely seven or eight, a mere child.
Why…
Did he have such colossal, overwhelming chakra!
Even Captain Chikusho didn't have this much!
"Transformation Jutsu? He's not a kid!" one chunin exclaimed, but quickly dismissed it.
Maybe…
Kazuku could've disguised himself initially.
But why maintain it in battle?
This proved Kazuku wasn't using Transformation Jutsu—he was genuinely seven!
"How can a Konoha genin have chakra scarier than an elite jonin?"
"What's that body technique?"
"Wait… am I… scared?"
One Cloud ninja noticed his trembling hands.
Not just him—all five chunin with Chikusho were intimidated by Kazuku's chakra burst!
Though they hated admitting a seven-year-old scared them…
The killing intent from Kazuku's chakra overwhelmed them!
In truth…
If they hadn't seen Kazuku was a child, they'd assume this chakra came from Konoha's elite jonin!
Bang!
Kazuku crushed the ground, leaving spiderweb cracks, charging a Cloud ninja.
"This isn't training."
"This is a clash between major villages."
"Mercy, pity—utterly meaningless."
"If I don't end them here, my teammates and I will suffer."
Kazuku steeled himself.
This wasn't a ninja game.
Kill or be killed.
No third option.
He had to…
Be ruthless!
"Most importantly, my body isn't strong enough to sustain the Eight Gates long. This fight must be quick."
Kazuku's eyes narrowed, clenching his fist.
The trickiest foe was Chikusho with Magnet Release.
His combat power might outmatch these five chunin combined.
"I need to save stamina for him."
"So, Gate of Pain, open!"
As his fist swung, Kazuku opened the Gate of Pain, then Gate of Limit.
Combining monstrous strength, he unleashed Cherry Blossom Impact!
BOOM!
A thunderous roar erupted. The struck chunin's iron chestplate caved, every rib snapped!
But before the ribs crushed his organs, the impact had already wrecked them!
Pfft!
The chunin flew back like a broken kite, blood spraying.
Incredibly…
Before the blood hit Kazuku, he'd vanished.
Even scarier…
Kazuku wasn't using Body Flicker—just running at high speed.
Incidentally, he stirred the air, shattering the ground.
"The Gate of Limit's damage is intense…" Kazuku mused.
Without Hashirama's Seal-less Healing, he'd have collapsed after the first enemy.
But its power let him keep fighting.
"Don't come near!" a Cloud ninja screamed, face terrified, flailing a kunai to ward Kazuku off.
But…
Facing the Eight Gates for the first time, how could their eyes track him?
The four remaining chunin became Kazuku's strength-testing dummies!
Painful Sky Leg!
Kazuku raised his leg overhead, aiming for the second ninja's shoulder, slamming down.
BOOM!
Another sonic boom. The ninja's bones shattered, body collapsing, blood spewing, twitching twice before stilling.
Then the third, the fourth…
Against Kazuku's monstrous strength and Eight Gates, they had no resistance.
The last chunin, as if crazed, gripped his kunai, charging Sakumo.
He aimed to take a Konoha genin before falling.
But…
Would Kazuku give him the chance?
Instantly!
Kazuku flashed before the fifth ninja, an uppercut shattering his jaw.
(End of Chapter)