Even without Hashirama's urging, Kazuku would join the chunin exam.
After their talk, Kazuku returned home, locking doors and windows.
Though his check-in was invisible, restraining emotions in public wasn't his style.
He held back, starting the fourth check-in in his room!
Kazuku took a deep breath, confirming mentally.
[Check-in successful!]
[Congratulations, host, for obtaining a check-in gift pack!]
[Open now?]
Kazuku was familiar with the process.
"I'd trade ten years of Uchiha Madara's life for gacha luck."
Kazuku clasped his hands, invoking metaphysics.
He knew Madara wouldn't actually lose years.
It was just a ritual.
Like a DNF streamer bowing to their PC for gear enhancements.
No loss for Kazuku.
[Gift pack opening!]
Ninjutsu, bloodline limits flashed before him.
[Snap!]
In under two breaths, the screen froze, glowing white.
[Congratulations, host, for obtaining "Intermediate Water Release Gift Pack"!]
Kazuku blinked, stunned.
What?
Intermediate Water Release Gift Pack?
What was that?
A gift pack from a gift pack?
Matryoshka?
[Open Intermediate Water Release Gift Pack?]
"Open."
Kazuku confirmed mentally. No point in saving it.
It wasn't a bank account accruing interest.
[Gift pack opened!]
[Congratulations, host, for obtaining: Water Release: Water Wall lv10, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet lv10, Water Release: Water Prison lv10, Water Release: Water Clone lv10!]
Kazuku blinked, frozen!
Seeing "Water Release Gift Pack," he thought it'd be one random Water Release jutsu!
He felt disappointed.
But this pack gave four Water Release jutsu!
And…
So versatile!
"Defensive Water Wall, offensive Water Dragon Bullet, restraining Water Prison, and… physical Water Clone!"
"Water Clones are only a tenth as strong, but they're physical, super practical."
Few ninja could distinguish clone from original.
Even the Hyuga's Byakugan couldn't!
For Kazuku now…
These jutsu massively boosted his strength!
"Especially after fighting Chikusho."
"I realized ninjutsu's importance."
"Without forcing Morning Peacock, I might not have won!"
Crucially…
Might Batsu was Konohagakure's top taijutsu ninja (after Hashirama and Tobirama) because…
Konohagakure had few taijutsu specialists!
Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara focused on clan secrets!
Uchiha trained Sharingan and Fire Release!
Only the Hyuga specialized in taijutsu.
But with main-branch politics and Caged Bird, few could master Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms or Rotation.
So, the Hyuga's individual strength was awkward.
"Being second to Hashirama and Tobirama in taijutsu isn't the same as second in overall strength."
"Especially the Eight Gates' drawback—easy to be finished off."
Recalling Chikusho's fight, Kazuku felt lucky.
Chikusho's ignorance of the Eight Gates led him to trap himself with Magnet Release, making him Kazuku's target.
Sarutobi's presence forced Chikusho's Lightning Clone to engage him.
Otherwise, Kazuku's Morning Peacock might've hit the wrong target!
After Morning Peacock, Kazuku was immobilized!
"Without Yuna's healing, my Seal-less Healing would've taken minutes to recover."
Kazuku gave a wry smile. "But in a ninja fight, who gives you minutes?"
"Normally, they'd finish you off. Monologuing is for anime villains."
Kazuku took a deep breath, reflecting.
His goldfinger wasn't god-tier.
Unlike a novel he read on Qidian, Sign-In from Naruto, where the protagonist Xu Fan got Wood Release and genjutsu immunity in a few check-ins.
His check-in was a lottery.
Next reward could be trash.
Recognizing gaps, training, reflecting…
That's an adult's mindset.
This reward perfectly offset the Eight Gates' flaws!
He gained defense, ranged attacks.
Water Prison and Water Clone diversified his tactics.
Imagine…
Might Guy using Water Clone.
While Kakashi's distracted, trapping him with Water Prison.
Then…
Slowly opening the Eight Gates, grinning, teeth gleaming.
Using Morning Peacock…
No.
Daytime Tiger…
No.
Night Guy!
One kick!
Kazuku even pictured Kakashi's baffled face.
"Right."
Then, Kazuku's eyes lit up.
Though his Water Release jutsu were B-rank, their scale and power…
Depended on chakra!
Like during the Fourth Ninja War, when Madara charged the Allied Forces…
His Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation was B-rank!
"I hope I meet Uchiha in this exam."
"Can I take ten at once?"
Kazuku muttered, itching to test his Water Release.
But…
A knock sounded.
"Kazuku, someone's here," his father Mokuma called.
"Who?" Kazuku asked.
"It's me, Hatayama Sakumo. Captain Sarutobi sent me—we've got missions."
Sakumo's words reminded Kazuku.
For the chunin exam, he needed eight missions.
He'd only done one C-rank escort!
(End of Chapter)