As soon as Kazuki finished speaking, the Mist shinobi behind Yagura Karatachi exploded with rage.
"It's you?!"
Yagura still had enough control to stay seated—
But the three behind him snapped.
"Wait—!" Yagura tried.
Too late.
"Water Release: Wave Impact!"
"Water Blade Slash!"
"Water Prison Jutsu!"
Kazuki smiled faintly.
"A bunch of amateurs."
The moment he spoke—
The Hokage Building trembled violently.
Massive tree roots and vines burst from underground, tearing through the first floor, then punching straight through the second.
They surged upward like a living fortress, blocking in front of Kazuki.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The incoming Water Release techniques smashed against thick, twisting roots—
Not even getting close to Kazuki's clone.
Hokage Office – Upstairs
Hiruzen Sarutobi steadied himself.
"Earthquake?!"
An ANBU appeared instantly.
"Hokage-sama! The Mist delegation engaged Director Kazuki on the second floor!"
Hiruzen's face darkened.
"They dare fight inside the Hokage Building?!"
"The Mist struck first, but…"
"But what?"
"…Director Kazuki's Wood Release has pierced through both lower floors."
Hiruzen's chest heaved.
"…After this is over, bill them."
"Ten times reconstruction cost."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Administration Floor
Yagura realized the situation had crossed the point of no return.
He formed seals immediately.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
Dense fog flooded the entire floor.
Visibility dropped to zero.
The mist pressed against the skin, heavy and suffocating.
The other three Mist ninja moved instantly.
If Kazuki was the one who killed the Third Mizukage—
They would at least draw blood today.
Even if they died here—
They wouldn't disgrace Kirigakure.
Yagura knew retreat wasn't an option.
Not inside Konoha.
Not with Hiruzen upstairs.
"Don't kill him!" Yagura shouted.
System Prompt
[Ding! Based on the current situation, three options are available.]
[Option 1: Kill all of them as a warning.Reward: A-rank Wind Release – Wind Blade.]
[Option 2: Spare Yagura, execute the others.Reward: A-rank Water Release – Great Waterfall Technique.]
[Option 3: Subdue all of them without killing.Demonstrate Konoha's dignity.Reward: Puppet Technique (Basic).]
Kazuki chose without hesitation.
"Option 3."
The A-rank ninjutsu didn't interest him.
Puppet techniques?
That was new.
Interesting.
Mist clones and water attacks surged in from every direction.
Water Spikes.
Water Blades.
Layered Water Barrages.
A massive wooden skull erupted beneath Kazuki's feet.
He rose atop it instantly.
Every Water Release attack smashed into the wooden construct.
Cracks formed—
But it held.
And then—
The wooden skull snapped shut.
Capturing the three attackers inside.
Yagura felt cold sweat drip down his back.
Something was very wrong.
He leapt backward—
Just as roots burst from beneath his feet.
If he'd reacted half a second slower—
He would've been wrapped.
Roots and vines shot toward him relentlessly.
Kazuki's clone unleashed:
Wood Release: Wooden Human Technique.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
The entire lower floors transformed into a dense forest.
The two clones at the entrance dispelled from chakra drain.
Yagura's heart pounded.
"Is this man insane?!"
"This is the Hokage Building!"
"Hokage-sama is upstairs!"
"Ka–zu–ki!"
Hiruzen's roar echoed downward.
If he'd known this would happen—
He would've reconsidered appointing him.
First day on the job—
And the building was getting remodeled by force.
Unbelievable.
Outside the Administration entrance—
Shindo Utatane and Ryosuke Mito, still bound from earlier, stared in horror as massive wooden constructs erupted.
"…Is he human?!"
"Does he not care Hokage-sama is upstairs?!"
Crash!
A falling stone smashed into Shindo's head.
Blood poured instantly.
"Help!"
Before they could finish shouting—
A massive wooden foot descended.
CRUNCH.
Ryosuke Mito was flattened into paste.
The others screamed in terror and struggled free with everything they had.
It was absolute chaos.
Hokage Rock – Meanwhile
Kazuki and Kushina were sitting peacefully atop Hokage Rock.
This was their place.
Where their relationship had begun.
Where they had talked late into the evening.
Kushina squeezed his hand gently.
Then—
Kazuki received the memory feedback.
His entrance clones had dispelled.
He nearly laughed.
"First day on the job…"
"And I might've demolished half the office."
Still—
The Mist attacked first.
Responsibility?
Clearly theirs.
Could this justify pressure on Kirigakure?
Kazuki smiled.
"Maybe I'm a genius."
Then—
He suddenly turned.
A figure stepped out from the forest behind them.
Black robes.
Mysterious presence.
"…Madara."
The moment Kazuki recognized him—
The Sharingan flared.
Genjutsu: Narakumi no Jutsu.
"Damn it!"
Kazuki instantly pulled Kushina behind him.
Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!
A colossal wooden dragon burst from the ground—
Ten times larger than normal—
And tore the black-robed figure apart.
Poof.
Shadow Clone.
Kazuki exhaled slowly.
The face he saw had been young Madara.
For a second—
He'd thought Madara had somehow rejuvenated.
Kushina looked worried.
"Kazu, what happened?"
"…Nothing."
He'd overreacted.
In the burst of chakra—
Every shadow clone across Konoha dispelled at once.
Kazuki rubbed his forehead.
"Talk about overkill…"
Hokage Building – Aftermath
Yagura and the other three were bound tightly by roots.
Whimpering.
Struggling.
Then—
Poof.
Kazuki disappeared.
They stared blankly.
"…That was a clone?"
"We were defeated by a shadow clone?"
Across Konoha
Clones negotiating with merchants—
Gone.
Clones mediating disputes—
Gone.
Clone teaching Team Seven—
Gone.
Clone chatting with Orochimaru—
Gone.
Team Seven froze.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
Obito shouted.
Rin teared up.
"Sensei was teaching us with a clone?!"
"So disrespectful!"
At the medical department—
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"How interesting…"
"Even I didn't notice it was a clone."
Somewhere Deep Underground
An old man connected to a massive tube sighed.
"So genjutsu is ineffective."
"Even targeting his emotional vulnerability… useless."
"He truly is the inheritor of Hashirama's bloodline."
"It's identical…"
This had only been a test.
From Madara.