Struck by Kazuku's kick, Hiruzen flew back eight meters.
Blood splattered the ground.
His body arced perfectly through the air, crashing heavily, carving a pit, rolling further.
Smoke and dust billowed, swirling around.
Clang.
The Adamantine Staff fell, transforming back into Enma with a poof.
He looked back at Hiruzen.
The scene was silent.
Danzo, Koharu, Homura, and Torifu stood frozen, eyes filled with disbelief and horror.
Kazuku used one kick…
To instant-kill Sarutobi Hiruzen?!
This power was too terrifying!
Was this the Senju clan's monstrous strength?
A seven-year-old with such fearsome power!
The vivid visual shocked everyone!
Especially Danzo, a chill invaded his body, making his spine cold, shivering.
In this moment, Danzo's thoughts flashed back to the start.
The day he first met Kazuku, when Lord Tobirama ordered a spar.
Back then, Kazuku, in Dusk Gate state, threw a punch.
Leaving an indelible psychological scar.
Danzo thought a month of intense training…
Would let him face Kazuku again, erasing that scar.
But…
This bell-snatching battle only made Danzo feel Kazuku's terror again!
That fearsome power left him despairing.
"Out of reach…"
Danzo swallowed, legs weakening.
His heart filled with dread toward Kazuku.
Even the mighty Sarutobi Hiruzen was kicked eight meters by Kazuku!
It shattered Danzo's courage to face him!
Koharu and Homura blinked hard, wondering if they'd seen wrong.
But looking again…
They saw Hiruzen, motionless on the ground, and dried bloodstains!
They hadn't misseen.
It wasn't an illusion.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, their only jonin, was truly taken out by Kazuku's kick!
Down for the count!
This meant a strength gap between Hiruzen and Kazuku.
Otherwise…
How could Hiruzen be instant-killed?
"Does Kazuku already have… elite jonin strength?"
Homura gasped, considering the possibility.
No one refuted him!
A seven-year-old with elite jonin strength.
How…
Absurd!
Too absurd.
"Can we really snatch the bells from Kazuku?"
Koharu's voice trembled. As she spoke, she shook her head.
Snatch the bells?
In this situation, still hoping to snatch them?
Hiruzen, Kagami.
Both were down!
Just them, and they wanted the bells?
A pipe dream!
Could they even touch the bells?
"Not coming?"
Seeing Hiruzen down, Kazuku turned, scanning Danzo and the others, speaking.
This bell-snatching battle…
Wasn't over!
"Alright, though Hiruzen and Kagami are down, you still have stamina, right?"
"Let's continue."
Kazuku paused, not rushing to attack.
To him, the two biggest threats were handled.
The rest couldn't possibly match him.
Their defeat was certain.
"If you'd all attacked together from the start, you might've had a chance."
Kazuku stood, a breeze making his bells jingle crisply.
But…
To Danzo and the others now…
The sound was terrifying.
An invisible pressure loomed, making them hesitate.
Kazuku didn't rush to strike.
Danzo crouched, seemingly analyzing Kazuku.
But in truth, his back was drenched in cold sweat, soaking his ninja uniform.
He couldn't think of any way…
To snatch those bells from Kazuku.
Koharu and Homura stared at Kazuku's figure.
Despair.
They felt despair from Kazuku!
"If this weren't an exercise, but a real fight…"
"We'd all die here today, right?"
Torifu gritted his teeth, wanting to counter Koharu, to say they weren't hopeless.
But…
The words felt like a thousand tons.
He couldn't say them.
Though Kazuku was seven, his strength was exaggerated.
Even at great cost…
Torifu had no confidence.
No!
Even so…
He wouldn't back down!
With that, Torifu stepped forward, pulling three colored pills from his pouch.
The Akimichi clan's secret drugs.
Green Spinach Pill, Yellow Curry Pill, Red Chili Pill.
Each unlocked potential.
At a cost of severe side effects.
Especially the Red Chili Pill.
It boosted strength a hundredfold, producing butterfly-wing chakra.
But…
Such external power came with equivalent risks.
While granting strength, it strained the body, even risking death.
Normally, such a thing…
Was reserved for desperate moments against enemies.
But…
Torifu refused to lose to Kazuku like this.
His prideful nature took over.
Weighing the risks, Torifu decisively chose the Red Chili Pill.
Koharu and Homura were startled.
"Torifu, you…"
Only Danzo, seeing Torifu's resolve, sighed in relief.
When Torifu clashed fists with Kazuku, their strength was equal.
Now, with the Red Chili Pill's boost, Torifu could gain even greater power.
"Koharu, Homura."
Seeing them try to stop Torifu, Danzo spoke, "We must go all out."
"Otherwise, we'll never snatch the bells from that monster!"
Danzo's words silenced Koharu and Homura.
Torifu swallowed the Red Chili Pill.
Unleashing power beyond his limits!
"Multi-Size Technique!"
With the pill's power, Torifu enlarged his entire body.
His form swelled, hardened, becoming a seven-to-eight-meter giant.
(End of Chapter)