After preparing, Kazuku arrived at the training ground.
Tobirama, Hiruzen, Danzo, Kagami, Homura, Koharu, and Torifu gradually gathered.
Everyone was at 200% focus.
Clearly, they'd prepared thoroughly.
Though Kazuku checked in again, he didn't get anything great.
Just [Wood Clone].
For Hiruzen's team, this was good news.
Kazuku hadn't gained a major boost.
Of course, they couldn't know this.
Kazuku and Hiruzen's team stood in two rows, in sync.
Both sides knew the people before them were their opponents.
They were impressive.
Tobirama observed, marveling inwardly.
Kazuku and Hiruzen's team…
Both exuded confidence.
No one showed fear before the battle.
This pleased Tobirama.
He hadn't misjudged these seeds.
"Now…"
"I'll explain the rules."
Tobirama pulled two bells from his pocket.
"Bells?"
Hiruzen and the others tilted their heads, puzzled by the bells.
Kazuku, however, understood instantly.
Bell snatch battle!
A Konoha tradition.
"I thought Hiruzen invented this exercise, not Tobirama."
Kazuku mused, staying silent.
"Correct."
Tobirama nodded, explaining, "Hiruzen, your task is to take the bells from Kazuku."
"Get a bell, and you win."
To Tobirama, Hiruzen's team defeating Kazuku…
Was nearly impossible.
Even Gold Horn's squad fell to him.
And he had Wood Release.
A month wouldn't give Hiruzen's team a qualitative leap.
But Kazuku…
His growth was monstrous.
Learning Eight Gates in a glance.
Rising to special jonin in three months.
His talent was terrifying.
Who knew how much stronger he'd grown this month?
If the goal was defeat, Tobirama worried…
Hiruzen's team would despair!
After deliberation, he devised this plan.
To lower the difficulty.
Tobirama tossed the bells to Kazuku, signaling him to tie them to his belt.
Kazuku didn't refuse, catching them and tying them easily.
Slight movement made the bells jingle crisply.
Pleasant to hear.
Hiruzen's team focused on the bells.
They noticed…
Any movement from Kazuku made them ring.
Meaning the bells blocked Kazuku from hiding.
"But doesn't that mean…"
Hiruzen gasped, realizing the bells' implication, "In Lord Tobirama's eyes, we only have a chance with this balance."
To Hiruzen, this lowered difficulty was a blow.
How strong was Kazuku now?
Not long ago, he wasn't even a ninja!
During the escort mission, he was Hiruzen's subordinate.
Now, they had to challenge him!
This growth defied comprehension!
"It seems Lord Tobirama thinks if Kazuku hides and strikes, he'd pick us off one by one."
"Tying bells eliminates a tactic suited for him."
Kagami shared his analysis.
In other words, he wanted them to see…
The bells protected them!
"Bells."
Danzo gritted his teeth, conflicted.
Was Hashirama's bloodline that terrifying?
Kazuku, seven, was so strong they all had to face him!
And…
Tobirama added restrictions.
To weaken Kazuku for balance.
But just when they thought the bells were extreme…
Tobirama shocked them again!
"Additionally, I'm adding a condition."
He turned to Kazuku.
Clearly, the condition targeted him.
"You're forbidden from using Eight Gates and Shadow Clone Jutsu."
The room erupted!
Especially Hiruzen and Danzo.
Their jaws nearly hit the ground.
They…
Heard right?
Lord Tobirama banned Kazuku's Eight Gates and Shadow Clone?
Weren't those his signature moves?
Without them, how could Kazuku fight?
Wait…
No.
That's not it.
Hiruzen gasped again, eyes wider than a bull's.
"Lord Tobirama means even without Eight Gates and Shadow Clone…"
"We're still not his match?"
Hiruzen reacted first.
Then Koharu, Homura, Kagami, and Torifu.
Finally Danzo.
Kazuku…
Was only seven, right?
What kind of monster was he!
Defeating them without Eight Gates, Shadow Clone, and with bells?
Impossible!
Too absurd!
"No problem."
Kazuku nodded, unfazed.
Since mastering Wood Release, he relied less on Eight Gates.
Likely why Tobirama imposed this restriction.
To test his Wood Release mastery.
Understandable.
As for Shadow Clone…
Sorry.
I've learned the better Wood Clone.
Banning it doesn't affect me.
"Since everyone's ready…"
Tobirama stepped back, declaring the exercise's start!
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
Hiruzen's team vanished into the forest as shadows.
The exercise lasted one day and night.
If they got a bell within that time…
They'd win.
"Conversely, if you all lose to Kazuku, you won't have complaints about him as captain, right?"
(End of Chapter)