Never mind that Kazuku spent these four months learning tons of techniques, training relentlessly to build muscle for Eight Gates.
Or that he developed Rasengan.
Even if he did nothing but train Flying Thunder God…
So what?
Before Konoha's founding, Tobirama lived in the Warring States.
Back then, besides battlefield slaughter…
He trained daily, honing his strength.
Never slacking.
Even in the ninja era, he wasn't living in a fairy tale.
His wariness of conflict kept him vigilant.
In other words, his effort was multiples—dozens, hundreds—of Kazuku's!
Yet Kazuku surpassed him in under four months!
Tobirama questioned the point of his relentless effort.
What was it for?
Compared to a monster like Kazuku, his efforts were a joke!
Tobirama clutched his forehead.
He didn't know what expression to face Kazuku with.
In that moment, he understood Danzo, Kagami, and Hiruzen's feelings.
Their decades of effort paled against Kazuku's casual achievements.
It was soul-crushing!
Thud!
Tobirama plopped onto the grass, leaning against a tree, gazing skyward at a 45-degree angle.
"Kazuku… you're a monster."
Kazuku: "???"
Calling him a monster out of nowhere?
"What are you two doing?"
Just then, Hashirama's voice echoed through the forest.
Tobirama and Kazuku turned, seeing Hashirama with Tsunade.
"Big Brother? Why are you here?" Tobirama asked.
Hashirama sighed, explaining.
He thought something happened to Kazuku, so he came looking.
After asking around, he learned they were at the training field.
Assuming Tobirama was training Kazuku…
He came to check.
But he never dreamed…
When he found them, Kazuku was fine.
Tobirama, though…
Seemed deeply shaken.
Hashirama hadn't seen that expression in ages.
What happened?
"Tobirama? You okay?" Hashirama asked, brow furrowed.
Knowing Tobirama's pride, he doubted he'd answer.
But he was worried about his brother.
So, before Tobirama could respond, he turned to Kazuku. "What's going on?"
"Well…"
Kazuku glanced at the sulking Tobirama, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Probably… maybe… because I learned Flying Thunder God."
"Flying Thunder God?"
Hashirama paused, blinking, sizing up Kazuku, then Tobirama.
He recalled…
Tobirama bragging multiple times…
About Flying Thunder God's insane difficulty.
Its incredible power.
Even Izuna, with Mangekyo Sharingan, was killed instantly!
Now Kazuku learned it.
Wasn't that good?
Why was Tobirama upset?
Still…
Kazuku learning it so fast was astonishing.
No, very astonishing!
"It's not that simple…"
Tobirama gasped, his mood easing with Hashirama's arrival.
"Kazuku improved Flying Thunder God."
"Not only did he change the seal to text, his speed surpasses mine!"
"Do you know what that means?"
"It means…"
"The fastest ninja in Konoha is a seven-year-old!"
Tobirama shot up.
Even if Kazuku was his grandson, he couldn't accept it.
A freakishly talented monster…
Redefining his understanding of ninjutsu and ninja!
Most critically!
Kazuku was now Konoha's fastest!
Compared to him, not just Tobirama…
Every ninja in Konoha was outclassed in speed!
"Including you, Big Brother!"
Clunk!
Hashirama's mood sank.
From Tobirama's words, he realized how absurd Kazuku was.
Not just his Wood Release.
Tobirama's Water Release, Shadow Clone.
Now, Kazuku mastered and surpassed Tobirama's Flying Thunder God!
He was like…
A fusion of Hashirama and Tobirama!
And he was only seven!
At seven, with such terrifying strength…
It was hard to imagine Kazuku at his peak.
How powerful he'd be!
I want to spar with that Kazuku!
"And that's not all."
Tobirama added, citing Danzo's report.
In the Land of Waves, Kazuku used Kagura Mind's Eye.
A rare Uzumaki ability, even among them.
"Kazuku inherited Mito's abilities?" Hashirama's eyes widened.
He always knew Kazuku was a genius.
Inheriting his best genes.
But he never imagined…
Kazuku was this exceptional!
Not just his best traits, but Mito's too!
"Not just chakra and Wood Release…"
Hashirama gasped, shocked.
As kids grow, their bodies develop fast.
Kazuku had grown taller these months.
At least five centimeters, his features sharper.
"Kazuku even inherited my good looks."
Kazuku: "???"
Grandpa Hashirama, you're the God of Shinobi, can you be serious?
Kazuku grumbled internally.
But he didn't deny being handsome.
Mainly…
He couldn't.
It was the truth.
Denying it would be lying.
No way, no way.
"Hahaha!"
Hashirama burst into hearty laughter, mood lifted by Tobirama's account.
Tobirama's gaze at Kazuku turned odd.
For some reason, he felt…
Could Kazuku become Konoha's first eight-year-old Hokage?
(End of Chapter)