This wilderness survival exercise completely upended Tobirama's worldview.
Taking a deep breath, Tobirama used Flying Thunder God once more, appearing at Kazuku's side.
He had initially planned to observe Kazuku from the shadows.
But now, there was no need for that.
His grandson Kazuku was the one and only genius in the entire ninja world!
Tobirama maintained his stoic expression, but his heart was like an ocean churned by a storm, unable to calm.
This was a seven-year-old who, without any guidance, had mastered the Senju clan's monstrous strength—a super genius!
"Lord… Lord Tobirama?" Koharu, resting on the ground, was the first to notice him, her eyes wide with shock.
Then came Hiruzen, Danzo, Kagami, Menma, and Torifu.
No one expected Lord Tobirama to appear suddenly.
If it had been during that earlier scene, they could've understood.
After all, those two beasts had posed a severe threat to Kazuku and Koharu's safety.
Tobirama stepping in would've been reasonable.
But now, the crisis was over, and Koharu's wound wasn't serious.
Shouldn't the exercise continue?
Why was Lord Tobirama here?
Tobirama scanned the group's reactions.
Except for Kazuku, everyone's faces were filled with surprise and confusion.
"I've been monitoring this exercise with the Telescope Technique," Tobirama said slowly, his peripheral vision lingering on Kazuku, his inner admiration for him growing.
Truly worthy of being my grandson!
If not for maintaining his image, Tobirama would've scooped Kazuku up in a hug.
Mastering monstrous strength at seven.
Possessing chakra reserves even greater than the Uzumaki clan.
Most crucially, Kazuku hadn't yet reached his physical peak.
As he aged, his chakra would grow, and his physical condition would strengthen.
By the time Kazuku reached Kima's age…
No, probably even sooner, no one in the ninja world could rival him.
At this thought, Tobirama wished he could drag the Kage of the other villages here.
Let them see!
My grandson, Tobirama Senju's grandson, the future strongest Hokage!
This excitement clouded Tobirama's mind, making him forget he was only Kazuku's second grandfather.
Of course, to Tobirama, Kazuku was as good as his own grandson!
Anyone who dared harm him…
Would face the full wrath of Konoha's forbidden techniques!
"Koharu, do you realize how dangerous that was?" Tobirama said to her. "One misstep, and you and Kazuku could've died."
At his words, Koharu lowered her head in shame.
In hindsight, she should've used the recoil to propel herself and Kazuku to safety.
In her panic, she instinctively attacked the centipede's weak joint.
Nearly causing disaster!
But Koharu was just a girl, with only chunin-level strength.
Panicking in a crisis and choosing the worst response was understandable.
If not for Kazuku's timely intervention, they'd likely be dead or gravely injured.
"I was wrong, Lord Tobirama," Koharu apologized.
For her irrational judgment and for failing to protect Kazuku.
Noticing the group's morale dipping, Kazuku spoke up casually, "What's the big deal? Everything turned out fine, didn't it?"
Though Koharu became a scheming elder in the main storyline, she was only fourteen or fifteen now.
Her appearance was among the more striking female ninjas.
Most importantly…
She would later control Konoha's administrative department, holding a status akin to a village elder.
To say she lacked skill or means?
Kazuku didn't buy it.
The others felt the same.
Building rapport with these future big shots with a single sentence—why not?
Kazuku's small goal was to become Hokage, true.
But he wasn't a born killer.
These people hadn't threatened his interests or opposed him.
Killing them before they could grow?
Kazuku thought no one would be that foolish.
As the strongest of the five great ninja villages, Konoha's administration, military, and diplomacy were no easy tasks.
When Naruto became the Seventh Hokage, he was so swamped he needed shadow clones, practically a corporate slave.
To Kazuku, that kind of Hokage was a failure.
And with enough strength, there was no need to fear anyone coveting the Hokage's position!
Tobirama was momentarily at a loss for words at Kazuku's response.
"Lord Tobirama, what… exactly happened just now?" Hiruzen seized the chance to interject, easing Tobirama's awkwardness.
Firstly, to diffuse the situation.
Secondly, it was the truth everyone desperately wanted to know.
Tobirama glanced at Kazuku and began explaining, "Fine, it's not exactly a secret technique."
"The one who killed those two beasts… was Kazuku!"
The statement sent shockwaves through the group!
"K-Killed?" Hiruzen and Danzo's eyes widened, speaking in unison.
Hadn't Kazuku just knocked the beasts away?
Then they fled in fear.
Dead?
"Correct," Tobirama nodded. "On my way here, I encountered the black centipede. Its organs were shattered. The rhino likely suffered the same fate."
Hiruzen and the others gasped, their gazes locking onto Kazuku.
Not just knocked away—killed!
Those were entirely different concepts.
They couldn't even imagine what Kazuku's power would do to a human.
Too terrifying!
He was only seven!
Of course, the beasts' deaths were partly due to their massive weight.
Tons of mass tumbling and crashing into the ground—how could their organs withstand that?
With calm analysis, this was obvious.
But the group was too shocked to realize it.
"The power Kazuku used is a unique ability of the Senju clan," Tobirama continued.
"It's called monstrous strength, requiring precise chakra control to wield freely."
"Like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan."
"Not every Senju can possess this ability. It often requires immense talent and rigorous training."
"When I mastered it, it took me five years of hard work!"
As Tobirama explained monstrous strength…
Hiruzen and the others' mouths fell open into an "O" shape.
Five years?
Even Lord Tobirama took five years?!
Didn't that mean Kazuku started training at two?
But how was that possible?!
Tobirama was pleased with their reactions and continued.
"The First Hokage, hailed as the God of Shinobi, took three years to master monstrous strength!"
"Only Kazuku, with no one's guidance, mastered it on his own in less than two years!"
(End of Chapter)