If possible, Gengetsu didn't want to use Steaming Danger Blast.
Though its power was immense and tricky, his strongest technique…
Its weakness was glaring.
After use, his body entered a weakened state.
Making him vulnerable.
However…
Gengetsu had to admit, though Kazuku was only seven, he was the most formidable ninja he'd faced.
Even the Iwagakure ninja…
Mu.
The man he most respected couldn't compare to Kazuku.
Admitting a seven-year-old was stronger…
Was worse than being called "mustache."
Boom!
With a loud explosion, steam erupted before Gengetsu.
It rolled upward, filling the sky, forming a eerie smile.
His real body vanished.
"That's…" Danzo's eyes widened, his mind buzzing from the blast.
Then, hail fell.
As a transmigrator, Kazuku instantly recognized the technique.
Gengetsu's signature move.
Steaming Danger Blast!
"A technique even the Second Tsuchikage Mu found troublesome."
Kazuku's eyes narrowed, watching the eerie smile in the sky.
In fact, the Second Tsuchikage's bandaged body…
Wasn't a quirky preference.
Years ago, he fought Gengetsu.
His body was severely burned by Steaming Danger Blast, requiring bandages.
"At the Five Kage Summit, Mu attended as the First Tsuchikage's guard, already bandaged."
Thus…
Gengetsu and Mu's first fight was before the Five Great Villages' peace treaty.
Their second fight ended in mutual destruction.
"But since I've met Gengetsu here, he won't get to die with Mu."
Kazuku's eyes gleamed with killing intent.
This wasn't a battlefield.
Their conflict stemmed from the Land of Waves' commission.
"Gengetsu and I are both fulfilling our villages' missions."
"Dying in a mission only means Gengetsu wasn't strong enough."
Kazuku radiated killing intent.
Gengetsu wasn't Mizukage yet, just a Mist jonin.
Killing him wouldn't spark a war.
Kazuku understood the balance of power.
"Plus, after using Steaming Danger Blast, Gengetsu's body weakens, making him easy to kill."
Determined, Kazuku clapped his hands.
As hail fell, Gengetsu's clone shrank.
It resembled a child.
Its smile was sinister, cold, lips perpetually upturned like a ruthless killer.
Crack!
Next second…
A giant blade protruded from the clone's right arm.
It leaped, charging Kazuku.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
Facing a future Second Mizukage, Kazuku acted decisively, using Wood Release.
The ground trembled, cracking, brown vines sprouting, growing thick and large.
As the clone reached Kazuku, vines converged, forming a giant hand, blocking the blade.
The forces clashed, evenly matched.
A terrifying gust erupted, spreading outward.
Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, Koharu, Kagami, and countless samurai were caught off guard, forced back.
Weaker samurai flew like kites with cut strings.
Their hearts were shocked.
Kazuku's fight with the Mist ninja…
They couldn't intervene!
Hiruzen hesitated, preparing to bite his thumb to summon Enma.
Kazuku noticed, shouting, "Don't! This isn't a technique you can handle!"
As he spoke, the Wood Human's fingers curled, grasping the clone.
More vines joined, forming a massive, sturdy body and head.
Instantly, a ferocious Wood Human appeared before Kazuku.
Under his control, it pinned the clone, pressing it to the ground to stop its explosion!
Yes.
Steaming Danger Blast was an infinitely explosive technique!
Kazuku retreated, closing his eyes, using Kagura Mind's Eye to locate Gengetsu's real body.
Meanwhile…
The clone struggled under the Wood Human, each move inflating its size.
In moments, it reached its limit, exploding.
Rumble!
White steam soared, forming a massive mushroom cloud over the city.
Destroying most buildings.
The eerie smile reappeared, looming over the ninja.
The temperature dropped.
The clone's explosion was real, not genjutsu.
More shocking…
As they thought the secondary explosion was the attack…
Hail fell again!
Lowering the temperature.
The steam sank, condensing…
Forming another child-like clone!
Hiruzen, Kagami, Danzo, the daimyo, and her samurai…
All gasped.
To them, this technique was eerie and terrifying!
Flawless!
The clone moved again.
But this time, it bypassed Kazuku, feinting toward him, then redirecting to the daimyo.
To Gengetsu…
Fighting Kazuku head-on was pointless.
The priority was killing the daimyo and escaping!
"This Konoha kid is too terrifying…"
Gengetsu, hidden, sighed.
(End of Chapter)