As the bell snatch battle began, Hiruzen's team swiftly retreated into the forest, hiding.
Kazuku, however, stood still.
Seemingly passive, he was proactive.
With the bells on him, he didn't need to hunt them down.
He only needed to wait.
Wait for Hiruzen's team to lose patience and strike.
"Kazuku's staying put." Kagami observed through Sharingan.
To him, Kazuku's choice was wise.
The bells jingled with any movement.
Sneaking up on them silently…
Was nearly impossible.
Searching the forest would waste energy.
"Kagami, I have a plan."
Hiruzen spoke suddenly.
Over the month, he'd trained and analyzed Kazuku.
Undoubtedly, Kazuku had a massive chakra advantage.
Even with Shadow Clone and Eight Gates banned, that didn't change.
"I was an examiner during Kazuku's chunin exam."
"No doubt, winning by outmatching his ninjutsu isn't realistic."
Hiruzen shared his view.
"Then what?" Danzo frowned.
Fight him in taijutsu?
Without Eight Gates, he had monstrous strength.
To Danzo, it wasn't wise either.
"No…"
Hiruzen shook his head, looking at Kagami.
Koharu, Homura, and Torifu followed his gaze to Kagami's eyes.
"I get it, you want to use genjutsu." Kagami realized.
Hiruzen nodded.
Genjutsu was the Uchiha's forte.
One glance at Sharingan, even briefly, and they could trap someone in a genjutsu world.
No matter how strong Kazuku's ninjutsu or taijutsu…
He couldn't resist.
"Even if your genjutsu affects him for seconds, it's enough to grab the bells."
Hiruzen emphasized.
Genjutsu was their best tactic.
He was also grateful…
Tobirama's rule was to snatch bells.
Not defeat.
Otherwise, Hiruzen had little confidence.
"But Kazuku seems very familiar with Sharingan."
Even Kagami thought Hiruzen's plan was their best shot.
But facing Kazuku, he felt uneasy.
At the border, against Gold Horn's squad…
Kazuku used Kagami's Sharingan as if it were his own.
Likely…
"Applying genjutsu to Kazuku will be tough."
Kagami's tone was helpless.
He advised against high hopes for his genjutsu.
"I see."
Hiruzen nodded after Kagami's explanation.
"We have one day and night, so let's start with this tactic."
Hiruzen stood, preparing to be bait.
"Danzo, we're up."
"Koharu, Homura, Torifu, you back us up."
Hiruzen assigned roles.
As bait, fewer was better.
No one objected.
Hiruzen was their only jonin.
Without Kazuku, he'd likely be captain.
His tactic was flawless.
No one had a better plan.
Kagami focused 200%, ready to cast genjutsu.
Koharu's feelings were complex.
She observed her teammates, all serious, focused.
Like facing a great enemy.
But…
Wasn't their opponent a seven-year-old?
Seven, yet causing such pressure!
Especially Hiruzen and Kagami.
They…
Were Sarutobi and Uchiha geniuses, right?
Yet so cautious against Kazuku!
It felt like a fantasy.
But as Hiruzen prepared to exit the forest, he paused, bit his thumb, and formed seals.
Completing the last seal, he slammed his hand to the ground.
Boom!
White smoke appeared before Hiruzen.
Danzo's eyes widened, staring at the figure in the smoke.
A monkey in tiger-skin!
"No need to panic, Danzo, this is our clan's summoning beast."
"Enma!"
This summoning was Hiruzen's month-long training result!
"Hey, Sarutobi."
Enma crossed its arms, greeting Hiruzen.
Hiruzen signaled it to transform into the Adamantine Staff.
"Got it."
Boom!
Enma morphed into a staff, flying to Hiruzen's hand.
It was curious about the enemy.
But seeing a seven-year-old…
Enma questioned its existence.
Hiruzen summoned it…
For a seven-year-old?
What a joke!
Did he know how strong it was?
"Hey, Sarutobi, are you serious? Using me against a kid?"
Enma complained, baffled by Hiruzen's logic.
A seven-year-old.
Couldn't he handle it easily?
He used summoning and had it transform!
Ridiculous.
"Danzo."
Hiruzen ignored it, taking a deep breath, channeling chakra to his throat, signaling Danzo to cooperate.
Against a powerhouse like Kazuku…
No carelessness.
"Fire Release: Majestic Flame!"
Hiruzen used the Sarutobi clan's signature Fire Release, spewing fierce flames at Kazuku.
The fire was intense.
Wide-ranging.
Sealing all Kazuku's escape routes.
Danzo took a deep breath, using his best Wind Release!
No longer genin, they knew combination ninjutsu.
Danzo's wind surged into Hiruzen's flames.
Instantly boosting the fire's power two- or threefold.
Facing the blazing inferno, Kazuku didn't dodge, forming seals.
"As expected of Sarutobi Hiruzen, such incredible chakra."
Kazuku finished, converting his chakra into a massive Water Release.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
(End of Chapter)