Seeing Uchiha Kagami trapped by his Wood Clone…
Kazuku decisively leaped from under the wood dragon.
He aimed at Kagami's chest.
No hesitation.
No delay.
Channeling chakra to his fist, he unleashed monstrous strength, striking Kagami!
After all, Kagami was the team's best genjutsu user, with the strongest genjutsu.
The only one who could threaten Kazuku.
Even Kazuku wasn't sure if he could resist genjutsu.
For safety…
He tricked Kagami into using genjutsu, then unleashed Sakura Rush!
Boom!
A massive explosion rang between them, unleashing a terrifying gust, instantly destroying Kazuku's Wood Clone.
Kagami, hit by Sakura Rush, felt immense force surge through him, as if every bone shattered.
He didn't even have time to groan.
Knocked out on the spot!
Kazuku's monstrous strength was that terrifying!
Then!
Kagami's body broke free of the Wood Clone's hold, flying backward like a broken kite, crashing uncontrollably into the ground.
A dull thud echoed.
Kagami's body slid a distance before stopping!
Motionless!
Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, Homura, Torifu.
All eyes locked on Kagami.
Their excitement from Kagami grabbing the bell vanished.
Replaced by a gaze of extreme shock and daze, fixed on the fallen Kagami.
The scene was silent!
So quiet, everyone could hear their own heartbeat.
Thump, thump, faster!
The genjutsu carrying their hopes…
Shattered!
Kagami went in!
Then…
Kagami was down!
Yes.
Their focused attention saw Kagami knocked out by Kazuku's punch!
Not even a groan!
They never expected Kagami's fate!
Their hearts shook again.
Was…
Kazuku's strength this overwhelming?
Months ago, he hadn't trained, right?
Against their prodigy, Uchiha Kagami…
The whole process took less than ten seconds!
In the forest, Koharu stared blankly at Kagami on the ground, asking Homura, "Homura… did I see wrong?"
"Was that Kagami… knocked out by Kazuku's punch?"
Koharu's pupils dilated, still unable to accept it.
The genius Uchiha boy!
Couldn't…
Even take one punch.
One exchange, and Kazuku sent him flying!
Unthinkable.
Unbelievable.
No matter how genius Kazuku was, ending a fight with one punch?
How vast was the gap between them!
Their hard-won hope…
Crushed by Kazuku's youthful fist!
It wasn't just Koharu.
Homura and Torifu weren't much better.
"Maybe… we never had a chance."
Homura gave a bitter smile, his mood hitting rock bottom, staring at Kazuku in despair.
He couldn't imagine snatching the bells from that monster.
In strength, Kagami far outclassed him and Koharu.
Plus, he had the powerful Sharingan.
Yet against Kazuku, he couldn't block one move!
How could they grab the bells?
Hopeless!
In this moment, Homura even wanted to give up.
It was…
Too despairing!
"Hey, Kagami… are you alive?"
After a while, Hiruzen swallowed, voice trembling, asking Kagami.
He wasn't worried about Kagami's condition.
But whether he was alive.
With no response, Hiruzen cautiously approached, crouching to check.
Several ribs broken.
Though Hiruzen prepared for a strong opponent a month ago, he never imagined Kazuku exceeded his preparations.
He even felt Kazuku held back.
Otherwise…
If Kazuku's force was stronger, it might've damaged Kagami's organs.
Then…
Kagami's survival…
Was uncertain!
"Kazuku, really only seven? He's absurdly strong!"
Hiruzen shook his head helplessly, "Mastering such power at seven…"
"Do we have any chance?"
In this moment, even the confident Hiruzen doubted himself, his life.
Not long ago, Kazuku was his subordinate.
Now, he'd grown beyond reach!
Despair!
Unprecedented despair enveloped him.
Though Hiruzen hated to admit it, he had to…
Maybe, even all of them together, couldn't match Kazuku!
"Relax, Hiruzen, this is just an exercise, not a fight with enemy ninja."
Noticing Hiruzen's despair, Kazuku smiled, "Kagami's not in mortal danger, but… hit by my monstrous strength, he'll be out for days."
"In other words, your genjutsu is no longer an option."
Kazuku cut to the core of their predicament.
He turned to the forest where Koharu and the others hid.
"Why don't you all come out?"
"Though I'm wearing bells, finding you one by one isn't hard."
"And one-on-one, you have no hope."
"Why not be direct? All of you, come at me."
"Maybe…"
"You'll have a slight chance."
Kazuku raised his voice twofold.
One, he was tired of playing cat-and-mouse.
Two, he found this more fun.
"What do you think?"
Koharu, Homura, Torifu exchanged looks.
Somehow, they all felt Kazuku wasn't bluffing.
"Kazuku's right, one-on-one, we have no hope."
Homura spoke first, "If we all attack, we might have a shot."
"After all, our win condition isn't defeating Kazuku, but… snatching the bells!"
Koharu and Torifu nodded, agreeing with Homura.
One-on-one, none of them could match Kazuku.
So…
They psyched each other up, stepping out from the forest.
Hiruzen placed the unconscious Kagami aside, treating his injuries, then returned.
The terrified Danzo rejoined the team.
Five against Kazuku!
(End of Chapter)