Kumogakure.
Raikage's Office.
Gold Horn recounted the night's events.
Before this, Raikage Ai had high hopes, expecting the mission to suppress Konohagakure and capture the spy planted in Kumogakure, extracting more intel.
Though peace was the ninja world's current trend, villages still engaged in such covert actions.
But Raikage Ai never dreamed…
Gold and Silver Horn not only failed to catch the spy, but Silver Horn was gravely injured.
Worse, intel detrimental to Kumogakure fell into enemy hands.
Furious, Raikage Ai's fist slammed the desk.
"Forget it."
He sighed. "The opponent was the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi."
Facing such a formidable foe…
Retreat was wise.
Silver Horn's mere injury, not death, was lucky.
"First Hokage?" Gold Horn paused.
He quickly realized the issue.
Raikage Ai thought Silver Horn's injuries came from the First Hokage.
But in truth…
They never fought him.
More accurately, they didn't dare.
The power gap was too vast.
Even with the Sage of the Six Paths' tools, it wasn't enough.
After Gold Horn detailed the events, Raikage Ai's expression changed drastically.
Eyes wide, he stared at Gold Horn incredulously. "You're saying the one who injured Silver Horn wasn't the First Hokage?"
"Then who?"
Raikage Ai knew Silver Horn's strength well.
Before eating Nine-Tails flesh for tailed beast chakra, he was elite jonin level.
A powerful, troublesome opponent.
He assumed Silver Horn's injuries came from fighting the First Hokage.
But it was someone else.
Still, Raikage Ai soon relaxed.
Konohagakure's forces were strong, with many famed Warring States clans joining them.
Sarutobi Clan.
Shimura Clan.
Akimichi Clan.
Hyuga Clan.
And more.
Occasionally, a ninja surpassing Silver Horn wasn't surprising.
But…
When Gold Horn revealed the opponent's identity, Raikage Ai froze.
"The one who injured Silver Horn… was the First Hokage's grandson."
"And he's only seven."
Gold Horn's face was grim as he spoke.
Silver Horn was his brother.
A renowned figure in the Land of Lightning.
Not only did he lose to a seven-year-old, he nearly died.
If word spread…
Silver Horn would be devastated.
"What did you say?"
Raikage Ai couldn't believe it.
A ninja like Silver Horn nearly died to the First Hokage's grandson.
And…
This grandson was only seven?
Seven?
Was that possible?
"Didn't Silver Horn use Nine-Tails chakra?"
"He did," Gold Horn answered honestly. He sensed it when rushing to Silver Horn.
Even in tailed beast form, Silver Horn wasn't Kazuku's match.
No matter how you looked, they should've killed Kazuku there, preventing his growth.
But as Gold Horn resolved to eliminate Kazuku for the ninja world…
The First Hokage appeared.
Weighing the odds…
Gold Horn had to retreat.
Though reluctant, it was unavoidable.
That was…
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The God of Shinobi!
"The First Hokage's grandson."
Raikage Ai slumped into his chair, mind reeling with "seven" and "grandson."
Compared to the mission's failure, Kazuku's emergence hit harder.
He'd planned…
Once Hashirama died, he'd deploy thousands of ninja, leading a charge on Konohagakure.
But now, if Kazuku grew…
His strength might surpass Hashirama.
Then…
His carefully laid plans could collapse.
However…
Gold Horn mentioned Kazuku was on border patrol.
If they could eliminate him before Konohagakure recalled him…
Suddenly, Raikage Ai stood, slamming the desk, a plan forming.
Kazuku's existence couldn't be allowed!
Meanwhile…
The spy's identity was exposed.
He couldn't return to Kumogakure.
Masagawa decided he'd take the intel scroll back to Konohagakure, reporting to Tobirama.
Konohagakure.
Hokage Building.
Hokage's Office.
The spy knelt, reporting to Tobirama.
Kazuku's actions outshone the intel scroll.
"What did you say?"
Tobirama, shocked, wondered if he'd misheard.
His spy in Kumogakure was exposed.
Gold and Silver Horn set a trap.
Their escape…
Was thanks to Kazuku!
He used Multiple Shadow Clone, Morning Peacock, and Rasengan to defeat Silver Horn!
And…
He used Transformation Jutsu to fool Gold Horn.
Making him think Hashirama was at the border.
Forcing Gold Horn to retreat.
Crucially…
All this was Kazuku's doing!
Not only was he a combat prodigy, but his mind was astonishingly sharp.
"Hahaha."
Tobirama burst into laughter.
He wanted to see Gold and Silver Horn's faces when they learned the truth.
The man they feared wasn't his brother Hashirama.
It was Kazuku's Transformation Jutsu!
But…
Only Kazuku could pull off such a perfect disguise.
Especially the chakra burst.
Tobirama pictured Gold and Silver Horn's stunned faces.
As expected of Kazuku.
In that situation, Tobirama couldn't think of another way to escape.
Their opponents were Gold and Silver Horn.
Famed Warring States ninja.
Ones he'd take seriously.
But…
"What's this Rasengan jutsu?"
Tobirama asked, curious.
He didn't recall anyone in Konohagakure knowing the jutsu the spy described.
It piqued his interest.
And surprised him.
Had Kazuku invented some incredible jutsu?
(End of Chapter)