Before the main exam, no one foresaw this.
Chunin and jonin in the stands were stunned, jaws dropped.
Their hearts surged, unable to calm!
"Is this really two genin fighting? Their strength rivals some jonin."
"Terrifying. Who's that seven- or eight-year-old kid?"
The crowd buzzed, eager to know Kazuku.
Only now did they realize…
They knew nothing about him.
All they knew: this enigma was absurdly strong!
"Plus, ninja rarely reveal their trump cards early. Kazuku's still warming up," Uchiha Kagami, watching with clan members, remarked.
After Setsuna's loss, the Uchiha were furious.
Tobirama promised them a slot.
Now…
They were jealous.
Why was a genius like Kazuku born a Senju?
If he were Uchiha, how perfect!
Elsewhere, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura sat together.
"No matter how often I see it, Kazuku's a monster," Homura quipped. "Danzo, give up. No matter how hard you try, you can't catch Kazuku-sama."
Did he need reminding?
No one understood Kazuku's strength better!
You just watched!
I experienced it!
"But why isn't Kazuku-sama using ninja tools?" Danzo wondered.
Meanwhile, Kazuku and the Third Kazekage traded blows.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Kazuku attacked with fists and feet, coating his skin with chakra to protect and boost power.
Against the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release, ninja tools would become his weapons.
Sakumo's chakra blade on his own neck proved it.
Kazuku stuck to physical strikes.
But the Third Kazekage was no slouch. He adapted to Kazuku's speed…
And began deciphering his fighting style!
His attack patterns!
Once identified, the Third Kazekage could predict Kazuku's next move!
Like how Kazuku's right whip kick often led to a left jab.
"It's over!"
The Third Kazekage roared, abandoning his iron "shield," going all-in. He shaped iron sand into an arm, grabbing forward!
Snap!
He entangled Kazuku's left arm with iron sand, then covered him, binding him completely.
Now, Kazuku couldn't use his terrifying speed!
On the Kage stand…
Hashirama saw through the strategy.
"He sacrificed defense to maximize iron sand speed."
"He caught Kazuku, but a misstep would've exposed him."
"That takes a cool head, courage, and boldness."
Hashirama's eyes widened. The fight was thrilling.
Kazuku neither underestimated nor was careless.
He lost in strategy.
Kazuku…
Lost fairly.
Seeing Kazuku caught, Kazekage Retto grinned smugly.
Even the Hokage's grandson lost to our genin.
Proof of Sunagakure's strength.
Clients will flock to us!
Tsuchikage Ishigawa clicked his tongue. Both Kazuku and the Third Kazekage were monsters. Thinking of Iwagakure's youth, he felt uneasy.
"Didn't expect Sunagakure's genin to be this strong," Tobirama, arms crossed, stared at Kazuku. "Even Kazuku isn't his match…"
Tobirama never dreamed…
Kazuku, who crushed Danzo, Chikusho, and showed shocking talent…
Would lose to a Sunagakure genin!
But…
As everyone thought Kazuku, caught, would surrender…
He smirked. "You're strong, but… you didn't notice your feet."
"What?!" The Third Kazekage's face changed. Focused on Kazuku's attacks, he ignored the ground.
He stood in a puddle!
Water from Kazuku's Water Wall!
"Your attacks were…"
His eyes widened, his sharp mind clicking.
Kazuku's attacks forced him back.
His real goal was to maneuver him into the puddle!
He never planned to win with raw strength—he set a trap!
By the time the Third Kazekage realized, it was too late!
All his iron sand bound Kazuku!
The trapped Kazuku melted visibly.
It was…
Water Clone Jutsu!
The real Kazuku hid in the water during Water Wall!
Splash!
Water sprayed as Kazuku burst out, fist clenched, delivering a rising dragon punch to the Third Kazekage's chin!
And…
Mid-punch, Kazuku broke more chakra limits.
"Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit, open!"
Veins bulged on his forehead, green energy intensifying.
Boom!
The rising dragon punch struck the Third Kazekage's chin, sending him flying!
On the Kage stand…
Hokage Hashirama: "!!!"
Kazekage Retto: "!!!"
Tsuchikage Ishigawa: "!!!"
No one expected Kazuku, seemingly defeated, to reverse it like this!
"Kazuku used Water Clone? When…" Tobirama's mouth formed an "O."
Not just Water Dragon Bullet and Water Wall—he knew Water Clone.
And applied it seamlessly in combat!
The Third Kazekage fell into Kazuku's trap from the start!
Terrifyingly, Tobirama didn't recall teaching Kazuku this tactic, nor did Sarutobi.
In this moment…
Tobirama was shocked again, again, again!
(End of Chapter)