Tobirama's emotions surged, unable to settle.
He had arranged this wilderness survival exercise because of his brother's terminal illness.
The ninja world had achieved peace.
Konoha, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure.
The five great ninja villages had signed a peace treaty.
But Tobirama knew peace wouldn't last.
In his view, this hard-won peace rested entirely on his brother's terrifying strength.
The other villages' Kage combined might not defeat Hashirama alone.
Once Hashirama passed due to his illness, the calmed ninja world would descend into chaos again!
Though cruel, this was the inevitable future!
Tobirama could even foresee that wars, once fought between clans, would escalate to battles between ninja villages!
The number of participants would multiply tenfold, a hundredfold!
Desert villages craved water sources.
Island villages coveted land.
Barren cliff villages yearned for fertile soil.
And Konoha possessed all the resources they desired.
Though Hashirama devised the "Tailed Beast deterrence" plan, making villages wary of each other's beasts to prevent war…
In reality, the Tailed Beasts were far weaker than the Kage.
What truly gave the peace treaty binding power was Hashirama's existence as Hokage!
In other words, the current peace had an expiration date.
Hashirama's lifespan!
Once the treaty lost its enforcer, it would become fragile as paper.
Between ninja villages, between nations, there was no friendship or bonds.
Only interests!
Especially for Tobirama, who had lived through the Warring States era.
His brothers, Kawarama and Itama.
Their deaths shattered his naivety and innocence time and again.
They shaped his current personality.
He deeply cared for Hashirama, his family, and the village.
He felt sorrow, pain, and anger at Hashirama's illness.
But he wouldn't let it stop him, give up, or wallow in grief over losing his brother.
That would only lead to the collapse of the Konoha Hashirama built!
So, after learning of Hashirama's illness, Tobirama began selecting gifted children from various clans.
Hiruzen from the Sarutobi.
Danzo from the Shimura.
Kagami from the Uchiha.
Koharu, Menma, and Torifu Akimichi.
He trained them to become Konoha's pillars.
When Hashirama passed, their strength would ensure Konoha stood firm!
They…
Were the hope of Konoha's future!
The inheritors of the Will of Fire!
This was Tobirama's plan, the true purpose of the wilderness survival exercise.
Hiruzen, in particular, was his top pick, groomed as a future Kage.
After all, Kima hadn't inherited Hashirama's talent.
Forget Wood Release—he couldn't even use monstrous strength.
Tobirama had no heirs himself.
Handing Konoha to an outsider sounded noble, aligning with Hashirama's vision of erasing divisions.
But bluntly, it was a last resort.
That sense of powerlessness weighed heavily on Tobirama.
Now, his excitement matched that weight!
Kazuku's performance opened another path.
Another possibility!
His talent far surpassed Hiruzen's!
No!
It even surpassed himself, Hashirama, and Madara!
Most crucially, Kazuku was Hashirama's grandson!
The real deal!
Tobirama couldn't think of a single reason not to train Kazuku.
Everyone understood a simple truth.
Power like this wasn't handed to outsiders.
Would you give it to someone who'd oppose you?
That'd be idiotic!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura…
Step aside!
My brother's grandson is the one destined to inherit the Hokage's mantle!
Tobirama's eyes widened, a sudden image flashing in his mind.
"Wait…"
He realized he'd overlooked a critical detail!
When Kazuku fell from the centipede's back, he hadn't shown panic or fear.
Instead, he adjusted his center of gravity mid-air and caught Koharu.
Though he dropped her upon landing, it proved Kazuku's composure and calmness under pressure!
And he was only seven!
"Is this even possible?"
Tobirama gasped, his mind conjuring more images.
Kazuku had landed right between the rhino and centipede!
A wolf in front, a tiger behind!
No, worse than that!
Either the rhino or centipede could crush a pack of wolves and tigers!
"Facing two ferocious beasts, Kazuku never showed fear or panic."
"This means he had absolute confidence."
He either believed Hiruzen's team would save him…
Or trusted his second grandfather would arrive in time.
That was a possibility.
But no one would exude such strong confidence based on that alone!
"The only thing that could give Kazuku such certainty and confidence is his belief in his own power to resolve the crisis."
This man, who invented over ninety percent of Konoha's ninjutsu and was hailed as the God of Ninjutsu…
Felt unprecedented shock!
For the first time, he was stunned by his own deduction!
If his guesses were correct, Kazuku's monstrous strength wasn't a fluke or an awakening under pressure.
Kazuku knew he had this power from the start.
"Not an initial awakening, but mastery from the beginning?"
Tobirama's heart roared.
He never dreamed he'd be shocked by Kazuku again and again!
An unconscious awakening versus full mastery were entirely different concepts.
The former only happened under severe life-threatening conditions.
The latter was freely wielded.
What terrified Tobirama even more…
Until Kazuku was five, Tobirama had watched him grow up.
He'd held him, even changed his diapers!
For the two years Kazuku was away from the village, he was with Kima and Ayako, both average in talent.
Tobirama's ninjas had been secretly watching and protecting them.
"Kima didn't mention this when he returned, meaning he didn't know."
"No one taught Kazuku how to precisely control chakra, let alone monstrous strength."
"My god."
Tobirama's pupils dilated, his breathing quickened, his heart pounding.
"This kid mastered monstrous strength on his own through sheer talent?!"
"Is this even possible?"
"And in just two years away from the village!"
"No, at most two years—maybe even less."
As Tobirama realized this, his worldview shattered.
The word "genius" no longer sufficed to describe Kazuku's talent.
This was straight-up cheating!
What was Big Brother Hashirama doing at seven?
Competing with clan kids to see who could pee the farthest!
(End of Chapter)