Boom!
A fierce clash!
Next second, Kazuku and Hashirama sprang apart, creating distance.
Kazuku shook his fist.
"Hashirama's taijutsu is this terrifying?"
Kazuku marveled internally.
In Naruto, Hashirama rarely appeared, mostly flattening foes with Wood Release, seldom using taijutsu.
Now, facing him, Kazuku realized how fearsome he was.
That punch left his fingers aching, as if fractured.
"Not bad, Kazuku, blocking my taijutsu."
Hashirama praised, but gave no respite.
As he spoke, he lunged forward again.
"Third Gate, Gate of Life, open!"
At the critical moment, Kazuku clenched his fists, channeling chakra to his body's limits.
His chakra surged like a river, breaking three gates.
His body flushed, skin turning red, veins bulging, green energy enveloping him.
Even his hair spiked upward.
Strength and speed multiplied.
Boom!
With a loud crash, Kazuku retreated, watching Hashirama's fist smash the ground.
The earth cracked into a spiderweb, stones flying.
"Such speed." Hashirama looked up, locking onto Kazuku.
"Eight Gates Technique, huh."
Hashirama grinned, recalling Kazuku's tie with Might Guy using it.
He'd been thrilled and excited then.
"I was shocked you matched Might Guy."
"You're only seven."
As he spoke, Hashirama pursued.
Kazuku didn't respond hastily.
Though the Gate of Life boosted his strength and speed, defeating Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, with this…
Even Kazuku found it unrealistic.
"I need more power."
Kazuku's eyes sharpened, staring at Hashirama, channeling chakra to his limits.
Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain, open!
Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit, open!
Two more gates opened.
Thanks to Might Guy's brutal training…
His muscles were dozens of times stronger.
Kazuku could handle the Gate of Limit.
No…
"Not just Limit."
Kazuku shook his head. "Now, I can handle the Gate of View!"
"Sixth Gate, Gate of View, open!"
As he broke the sixth gate, his aura transformed.
"It's been a while since I fought in this state."
Kazuku opened his palm, clenching it, feeling power surge endlessly.
His heel touched down from midair.
Without pause, he shot forward like an arrow.
Crack!
The ground shattered beneath him.
The battle left all witnesses gasping.
"This is the Eight Gates' power?" Danzo's eyes widened, recalling Kazuku's fight with him.
A single punch in the Gate of Limit felt like death!
Now, the Gate of View…
How terrifying?
"Kazuku's stronger than before." Hiruzen swallowed nervously, noting Kazuku's muscles were far stronger.
He fully mastered the Gate of View!
Unlike against Chikusho, where one use left him immobilized by pain.
"Terrifying, Captain Kazuku."
Kagami activated his Sharingan, shocked to find…
During Kazuku's high-speed movement…
His Sharingan couldn't track him!
Yes!
His Sharingan couldn't catch Kazuku's actions!
This was the Sharingan!
"Kazuku's taijutsu… can anyone stop it?"
The thought stunned Kagami.
Kazuku's opponent wasn't ordinary!
The First Hokage, founder of Konoha!
The God of Shinobi!
He'd thought this?
Didn't it mean, subconsciously, he no longer believed Hashirama's taijutsu could suppress Kazuku?
What a joke!
Kazuku was only seven!
"Kazuku's Eight Gates versus Big Brother's monstrous strength." Tobirama muttered, stunned.
The fight exceeded his expectations.
Both were so serious!
Boom!
Kazuku and Hashirama clashed again, trading blows.
But Kazuku was shocked to find Hashirama's dynamic vision…
Kept up with his speed!
"In the Gate of View, I can't escape Hashirama's sight."
"And he doesn't have Sharingan."
Heavenly Pain Kick!
Mid-thought, Kazuku leaped, raising his leg overhead, smashing toward Hashirama.
Gate of View at full power, plus Tsunade's refined monstrous strength.
The combined taijutsu erupted with terrifying force.
This time, even Hashirama didn't block with his arm.
"This is Kazuku now? Such power."
Hashirama glanced, quickly clapping his hands.
"Wood Release: Ranking Shield Technique!"
Instantly, he channeled chakra into the ground, forming Wood Release, upheaving the earth.
A fanged ghost-faced wooden shield enveloped him.
Boom!
Kazuku's kick slammed into the shield.
But it only cracked.
It didn't break!
Kazuku's eyes widened, marveling at Hashirama's Wood Release.
"Gate of View and monstrous strength can't break it?"
Using the recoil, Kazuku leaped, hovering midair.
Hashirama opened the shield, glancing outside, stunned.
"My Ranking Shield, unscathed by the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb, was cracked by Kazuku's taijutsu…"
"His taijutsu is too shocking."
No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't a seven-year-old's power!
Yet it was Kazuku's!
(End of Chapter)