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When White Zetsu reported the news of Hōzuki Gengetsu's death, several figures flashed through Madara's mind. That guy, Tobirama. Mu from the Hidden Stone Village. Although Mu's strength was not even half of his own, he was at least a ninja active since the Warring States Period. His Dust Release technique was indeed impressive. Or perhaps someone from the Hidden Mist Village. Never did he expect that the one who killed Hōzuki Gengetsu would be Hashirama's grandson.
In fact, this wasn't the first time White Zetsu had brought back information about Kazekaze. The first time Madara heard this name was when Kazekaze used Wood Release to defeat Kinkaku and Ginkaku of the Hidden Cloud Village. At that time, Madara was shocked for quite a while. Especially when White Zetsu told him that Hashirama's grandson was named Kazekaze. He was only seven years old this year! At just seven years old, he defeated Kinkaku and Ginkaku!
What was I doing at seven? Not to mention seven. I only awakened my Sharingan at fifteen, and it was just a single tomoe. Almost twice Kazekaze's age! At seven, I was lamenting my lack of strength to protect my brother. And Kazekaze was already playing with Wood Release! What a joke! Hashirama's genes are just too powerful!
'No, it shouldn't be just because of Hashirama.' White Zetsu did mention that Kazekaze's Chakra reserves were terrifyingly immense. Using sensory abilities to confirm, he's practically another Senju Hashirama. 'In terms of Chakra reserves, Mito should also be credited.' Madara recalled that Kazekaze wasn't just impressive because of his grandfather. His grandmother was also remarkable! The renowned princess of the Uzumaki clan. And she sealed the Nine-Tails within her own body. She was quite a capable woman. She and Hashirama together gave birth to Kazekaze.
"How old is Kazekaze this year?" Madara took a deep breath, using all his strength to suppress his shock, and asked White Zetsu. He never dreamed that Kazekaze would grow into a ninja capable of defeating Hōzuki Gengetsu in the blink of an eye. 'It feels like it wasn't long ago that Kazekaze defeated Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Is it because I've been stuck in this hellish limbo that my sense of time has become blurred?'
In Madara's view, in terms of raw power, Hōzuki Gengetsu was much stronger than Kinkaku and Ginkaku. After all, without the Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths, those two brothers were basically nothing. So according to Madara's understanding, Kazekaze must have grown for some time to catch up to Hōzuki Gengetsu's strength.
"Kazekaze? He's still seven." White Zetsu looked utterly baffled. Lord Madara, did you think a few years had passed?
Madara: "???"
Kazekaze is still seven?
"Wait a minute, how long has it been since Kazekaze defeated Kinkaku and Ginkaku?" Madara blinked, gradually realizing the seriousness of the situation.
"A little over a month, maybe?" White Zetsu gestured, unable to remember the exact time. In any case, it hasn't been two months.
Madara: "???"
What is going on?
Hashirama's grandson, at just seven, defeated Hōzuki Gengetsu? It's not that I've been in this hellish limbo for too long, making my sense of time blurry. But rather... It really hasn't been that long? Is Kazekaze using some kind of cheat? Madara's eyes widened; he couldn't comprehend it. Why is Kazekaze so unbelievably powerful? Just because he's Hashirama's grandson. No... No...
Madara held his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Initially, he and Hashirama shared the same dream. Both wanted to bring peace to the world. To let children open their hearts and be honest with each other. But Madara found that such ideals were impossible to achieve. That's why he deciphered the Uchiha clan's stone tablet and sought answers in his own way. Hashirama, on the other hand, chose to entrust his ideals to the next generation.
In other words, Kazekaze's existence would affect whether his plans could proceed smoothly in the future! The stronger he becomes, the harder it will be for me to deal with him! And judging by Kazekaze's current growth rate, he's even more terrifying than his grandfather. This was not good news for Madara. But... Should I kill Kazekaze?
Madara looked at his hands; ever since he transplanted Hashirama's cells, his body had become weaker. Not to mention that his strength wasn't as great as it was during the Valley of the End. Nor whether eliminating Kazekaze would leave traces that would lead Hashirama to discover he wasn't dead, causing his plans to fail.
'Kazekaze is Hashirama's most important bloodline, and... he inherited Hashirama's Wood Release. If anything were to happen to Kazekaze, Hashirama would be devastated. In the past, we both had brothers we wanted to protect. And now, Hashirama has a grandson to protect.' The most crucial point is that Hashirama is now terminally ill. He doesn't have long to live.
"Forget it... White Zetsu, keep a close eye on Kazekaze and report his information to me at any time." In any case, let's observe Kazekaze for a while.
Konoha Village. Training ground. Tobirama pulled a kunai from his ninja tool pouch to demonstrate to Kazekaze. He took a deep breath and threw the kunai. Flying Thunder God Technique! The next second, Tobirama vanished from his spot. Kazekaze followed the direction the kunai flew. Just as he thought. Tobirama, who had disappeared, suddenly appeared at the kunai's location, grabbed it, and stabbed it fiercely into the wooden stake in front of him.
Bang!
With a loud bang, the kunai pierced the wooden stake forcefully, releasing a burst of air that spread outwards. Full of power. Looking at the destroyed wooden stake, Tobirama was satisfied, turning around, weighing the kunai, a smug, confident smile on his lips.
"How was that, Kazekaze? This jutsu is called the Flying Thunder God Technique. It's a jutsu I personally developed. It allows you to attack from an angle the enemy wouldn't expect. By the time they sense the killing intent, it's too late. I've used this jutsu to take down..." Just as he was getting excited, Tobirama suddenly stopped. The image of Izuna's unwilling face appeared in his mind.
"Hmm? Who did you take down?" Kazekaze asked instinctively. "Nothing, just some old matters, not worth mentioning." As soon as Tobirama finished speaking, he felt something was off. Hmm? Kazekaze? Why isn't he excited or thrilled at all? I just demonstrated the Flying Thunder God Technique! Why is Kazekaze's focus on who I took down? What's with this feeling of frustration?
"Kazekaze, what I just used wasn't the Body Flicker Technique. But rather... The Flying Thunder God Technique!"