Poof!
The God of Shinobi, before all eyes, turned into Kazuku.
Kagami and others were dumbfounded.
"Transformation Jutsu?"
"Kazuku's shadow clone transformed into Lord Hashirama?"
Only then did they realize…
No wonder Hashirama appeared so timely.
It was all Kazuku's plan!
"Now's not the time. We need to leave." Kazuku, regaining some strength, slid from Kagami's arms, dispelled his last clone, and led the retreat.
Kagami and the others snapped out, fleeing without looking back.
In truth, when Gold Horn's Banana Fan blew away Kazuku's clones…
Not all were destroyed.
One landed in the forest's shadows.
To escape the crisis, Kazuku had it transform into Hashirama.
A ninja like Hashirama would intimidate Gold Horn, preventing rash moves.
With Silver Horn gravely injured, unable to aid…
Retreat was his best option.
Making Gold Horn believe the man before him was the God of Shinobi…
Was thanks to Kazuku's first check-in reward.
Hashirama's chakra!
"Good thing Gold Horn's not reckless."
Kazuku mused.
If Gold Horn had been foolhardy, eager to challenge the God of Shinobi…
They'd have been in trouble.
Luckily…
Gold Horn had some sense.
Calmly analyzing, he backed down!
"I wonder what Gold Horn's face will be like when he learns the truth."
Kazuku quipped, eager to see the brothers' reactions.
Thus, Kazuku's team returned to the outpost with the intel scroll.
The spy, now exposed, couldn't return to Kumogakure.
"Honestly, when I saw Lord Hashirama, I was puzzled."
"Why was he here, and so perfectly timed?"
"But when he unleashed that chakra, all doubts vanished."
"Only Lord Hashirama could produce such chakra."
Back at the outpost, Masagawa voiced his thoughts.
He'd come to aid Kazuku because Kosuke alerted him.
The border was far from the village.
Normally, it was isolated.
Even Hashirama couldn't sense Kazuku's danger and arrive instantly.
Thus, Hashirama's appearance stunned Masagawa.
Only his chakra outburst convinced him.
This was Lord Hashirama!
Who knew it was Kazuku's clone!
"I get Transformation Jutsu, but that earth-shattering chakra burst?"
Masagawa, baffled, asked.
He craved the answer.
Not just him.
His men, Sakumo, Kosuke—all were puzzled.
Did they all fall under a genjutsu instantly?
Including Gold and Silver Horn?
If so, Kazuku's power was terrifying!
"If I could cast such a genjutsu, why run?" Kazuku gave a wry smile.
With that genjutsu, he'd have killed Gold Horn.
Truthfully, during the transformation…
Kazuku's heart was in his throat.
He feared Gold Horn was a hothead.
God of Shinobi or not.
Big name or not.
Fight first.
Though the chakra burst was convincing…
It was just chakra.
And not even his.
It was Hashirama's chakra from the check-in.
In a real fight, his clone couldn't beat Gold Horn.
His body was too damaged.
Kagami's Sharingan overuse left him drained.
Rely on Masagawa's team?
They might not withstand two Banana Fan swings.
"How'd you do it?"
Masagawa asked, echoing everyone's question.
"Simple." Kazuku flexed his arm, pain gone.
Though Morning Peacock caused heavy injuries, no-seal healing fully restored him.
He inhaled, unleashing Hashirama's chakra.
Instantly, a gust erupted, shattering the ground.
Purple chakra cloaked him.
Identical to "Hashirama's" display!
Masagawa's team stood stunned, staring at Kazuku.
"This is Monstrous Strength, a Senju specialty."
"It precisely controls chakra, cloaking the body, then erupts."
"My chakra closely resembles the First Hokage's."
"That's how I fooled Gold and Silver Horn."
Kazuku spread his hands, explaining.
To Masagawa and others, Kazuku's chakra wasn't just similar.
It was identical.
Crucially…
Kazuku was only seven!
At seven, with such a terrifying chakra pool.
And precise control.
How horrifying!
Even…
During his transformation, they saw no flaws.
As if…
The true God of Shinobi stood before them!
Masagawa could envision Kazuku donning the Hokage robe.
Others thought the same.
"Without Kazuku's quick thinking, we'd have died."
Sakumo remarked.
No one objected.
They…
All agreed.
Undoubtedly, none could face Gold Horn.
Even Masagawa, the lead jonin.
He figured three rounds, and Gold Horn would kill him.
He'd planned to sacrifice himself for their escape.
"But to devise that plan in such a dire moment, reversing the situation…"
"Few could do it."
"Especially knowing he couldn't beat Gold Horn, yet staying composed, delivering such masterful acting."
Kagami's heart was fully won by Kazuku.
(End of Chapter)