"Speak, Masagawa."
Tobirama crossed his arms, signaling Masagawa to recount everything.
Masagawa detailed the entire incident thoroughly.
No detail was spared.
How Gold Horn's squad reached the Land of Fire's border, targeting Kazuku.
The ensuing battle.
Tobirama's expression shifted from surprise to shock as the story unfolded!
When had Kazuku…
Become so formidable?
When Masagawa described Kazuku clapping his hands, using Wood Human and Wood Dragon Jutsu…
Tobirama went from shock to silence.
Yes.
Tobirama was silent!
The news was so staggering, it numbed him!
Good grief.
Tobirama was floored.
Not just his brother's chakra and seal-less healing.
Kazuku inherited his Wood Release too!
His heart surged with shock and joy.
As expected of Kazuku!
"Wait…"
Suddenly, Tobirama seemed to realize something, slamming his hands on the desk, standing abruptly.
"What did you say? Kazuku wiped out Gold Horn's squad?!"
"Alone?"
Did Masagawa misspeak, or did he mishear?
Gold Horn's squad?
Wiped out…
By Kazuku alone!
He was only seven!
Even with Wood Release, wasn't that too outrageous?
A ninja squad meant coordination, amplifying strength.
A 10+10 force could become 10x10!
Plus, Gold and Silver Horn were Warring States veterans.
Tobirama had heard plenty of their exploits.
Those targeted by them rarely escaped.
Yet Tobirama couldn't fathom…
Why Kazuku knew their Six Paths Tools so well?
Where'd he get that intel?
"Lord Tobirama?"
Seeing Tobirama lost in thought, Masagawa raised his voice, pulling him back.
He'd brought Gold Horn's body.
Given the season…
If not handled soon, it'd rot.
"Understood."
Tobirama summoned an Anbu to deal with the body.
Then…
It took immense effort to quell his excitement.
But Kazuku's impact kept him restless.
Thinking of Gold and Silver Horn's reputation…
Tobirama saw them as elite jonin, his peers.
Their subordinates were jonin-level too.
Not far below Masagawa.
Yet Masagawa stressed when he arrived with reinforcements…
The battle was nearly over.
Kazuku, alone…
Wiped out the squad!
Knowing Masagawa, Tobirama couldn't imagine him lying.
Perhaps…
It was time to recall Kazuku.
"Masagawa."
Tobirama asked seriously, "How's Kazuku performed lately?"
"Performed?"
Masagawa paused, then explained.
Kazuku's outpost, in over a month, had no issues.
Thanks to his intellect, he thwarted Gold and Silver Horn's trap.
Securing the intel scroll for Konohagakure.
Then…
When Kumogakure invaded…
Kazuku resolved the crisis.
Even without being the First Hokage's grandson, his performance was impeccable.
"Frankly, Lord Tobirama, if you hadn't asked, I could've listed points."
"But now, I don't know how to answer."
"Kazuku's performance?"
"That's beyond my knowledge."
"Without Gold Horn's dying words, I wouldn't have realized Kazuku's strategy."
"Exaggeration aside, Kazuku's the greatest ninja I've seen, bar none!"
"Most importantly, he's only seven!"
"Defeating Gold Horn's squad at seven!"
Everyone's life has milestones.
Achieving the same at different ages means different things.
At thirty-eight, becoming an elite jonin is normal.
At twenty-eight, it's unremarkable.
At eighteen, it's surprising.
But at eight…
Outrageous.
Unbelievable.
A fantasy!
Even novels wouldn't dare!
Masagawa felt this now.
Kazuku wasn't twenty-seven or seventeen.
He was seven!
Wiping out Gold Horn's squad!
In his mind, no words captured his awe.
Yes.
Compared to Kazuku's impact…
The world's language was feeble!
"That's my answer."
Masagawa's voice boomed, bowing again.
Not flattery, but conviction.
His words stunned Tobirama.
So…
He wasn't alone in thinking this!
"Ahem."
Tobirama cleared his throat, calming his excitement. "Understood, Masagawa."
"Return to the border."
"And…"
"Notify Kazuku to bring Squad 7 back to report."
"I'll assign others to his outpost."
To Tobirama, a month was enough for Kazuku to understand border systems.
It was time for his return.
"Yes!"
Masagawa answered crisply, unsurprised by Tobirama's orders.
With permission, he left.
Tobirama sank into his chair, his heart like a stormy sea, unable to calm.
"Maybe I should appoint Kazuku as a special jonin."
Tobirama muttered.
Announcing Kazuku's feats, no one would oppose him as special jonin.
He'd awakened Wood Release!
But first, Tobirama felt one person needed to know!
A revelation this earth-shattering, if that person didn't know…
It'd be a shame!
Tobirama sprang up, hurrying out of the office.
"Big brother?"
"Big brother!"
(End of Chapter)