Gold Horn was powerless against Kazuku's Wood Release.
He could only watch as the wood human pressed the Tailed Beast Ball into his face.
A deafening boom rang in his ears, dazing him.
The Tailed Beast Ball he fired exploded on his face.
A mushroom cloud rose, slowly dissipating, damaging the wood human and dragon.
Yet they still pinned Gold Horn.
His condition was dire.
Most of his tailed beast chakra vanished, exposing his body.
The wood human stomped, denying escape, fists pounding his face.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Each hit drew blood.
After five or six minutes, the wood human stopped.
Gold Horn was barely alive.
He'd lost all combat ability.
The tailed beast chakra around him faded visibly!
Gold Horn, defeated!
Kumogakure's ninja, witnessing this, were horrified.
In their minds…
Gold and Silver Horn were elite among elite jonin.
Yet they lost to a Konohagakure chunin!
And…
That chunin was only seven!
How terrifying!
Their fighting spirit vanished.
If Gold and Silver Horn together couldn't beat Kazuku, how could ordinary ninja like them?
Their minds blanked, leaving one thought.
Flee this place!
"Thinking of leaving now? Can you?"
Kazuku noticed their movements, clapping his hands.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
The ground cracked, two vines extended like snakes, growing massive.
They formed two giant dragons, chasing the Cloud ninja, roaring, sweeping them away!
Masagawa.
His team.
Kagami.
Sakumo, Kosuke.
All stood stunned.
Gold Horn's squad was annihilated by Kazuku!
He single-handedly crushed an enemy squad invading the Land of Fire's border!
"Kazuku…"
Masagawa struggled to calm himself, but his awe of Kazuku's strength lingered.
"I understand why Lord Tobirama sent Kazuku to the border."
"With his strength, he can protect the Land of Fire's stability!"
"Is this Kazuku's power?" Sakumo and Kosuke exchanged glances.
They were the closest in age to Kazuku.
Even Sakumo was a year older.
While they trained for the next chunin exam…
Kazuku defeated opponents they couldn't dream of facing!
Kumogakure's elite jonin!
"No, not just elite jonin."
Kagami sat, recovering chakra, his pupils dilated.
Though not yet promoted to jonin by Tobirama, his strength was jonin-level.
Against some elite jonin…
With his Sharingan, Kagami could hold his own.
Even if outmatched, he was confident in retreating.
But…
Facing Gold and Silver Horn, he had no confidence.
He couldn't counter their Six Paths Tools or plan a retreat.
"Against them, even with Sharingan, I'd be chased and killed during retreat…"
"Crucially…"
Kagami gazed at Kazuku's small figure, his heart surging.
Without Kazuku's intel on the Six Paths Tools…
He'd likely be sealed in the Red Gourd.
And Gold Horn's Tailed Beast Ball.
He'd never seen such dense chakra.
It was terrifying.
Yet…
Kazuku's wood human caught it in its palm.
"This is the First Hokage's Wood Release that pacified the Warring States and built the ninja era."
Exaggeration aside, Kagami felt lost.
Kazuku was only seven, not at his peak.
When he reached adulthood, his Wood Release would be exponentially stronger.
Then…
What about Hashirama?
Hashirama, with Wood Release?
"All along, I knew the First Hokage was the God of Shinobi, the Senju's strongest."
"But I never saw his power."
"I thought Wood Release was a binding ninjutsu."
Seeing Kazuku's power, Kagami fully grasped Wood Release.
He couldn't comprehend…
How did Uchiha Madara rival Hashirama?
Before the Warring States ended, Hashirama and Madara clashed.
They fought to a draw.
And…
"Clan elders said Madara opened his Sharingan at fifteen, with one-tomoe eyes."
"I opened mine at ten, with two tomoe."
"In Sharingan talent, I should surpass Madara."
"So the clan pinned hopes on me."
"Called me a genius."
Kagami swallowed hard.
He thought Sharingan matched Wood Release.
But seeing Kazuku's Wood Release…
Sharingan?
Could it really compete?
In other words…
How outrageous was Madara's strength?
"Can I really surpass him?"
In that moment, Kagami began questioning his life.
About Hashirama.
About Madara.
About Kazuku.
His understanding of Senju and Uchiha was overturned!
Meanwhile…
After dealing with the fleeing Cloud ninja, Kazuku approached Gold Horn.
In a few strides, he stood before him.
Gold Horn was still alive.
Clinging to a thread.
But…
Kazuku had no intention of sparing him.
He wasn't here to show mercy and let Gold Horn leave.
He was here to finish him!
"Any last words, Gold Horn?"
Kazuku looked down, raising his right hand, palm skyward, condensing chakra, spinning, glowing pale blue.
A Rasengan!
It expanded to a meter in diameter.
If this Rasengan didn't kill Gold Horn…
He'd make another!
(End of Chapter)