"Careful! That stream of water can slice through solid rock!"
"Kai-sama!"
Below, Kakashi, Shikaku, and the others shouted warnings.
That thin water line looked harmless—barely thicker than a little finger—but the cutting force within it was terrifying.
Even from over a hundred meters away, they could feel their skin stinging.
It was an instinctive reaction.
Their cells—their skin—were warning them of danger even from that distance.
If that was the case for them…
Then what about Kai, who was facing the attack head-on?
Naturally, they shouted without thinking.
Below the Hokage Tower—
"Cut through rock?"
When Kai heard Kakashi's warning, he immediately caught the key point.
He raised his head slightly.
He looked at the deadly water blade capable of slicing steel, crushing stone, and tearing through metal.
Yet his face showed no panic.
Instead—
The more he looked, the more satisfied he seemed.
If he took something like that and used it properly…
Wouldn't it be perfect for leveling foundations for Konoha's construction projects?
Especially those massive boulders.
If someone like the Raikage had to smash them one punch at a time, how long would that take?
But with a single sweep of this water blade—
A hundred meters of rock could be flattened instantly.
"And Edo Tensei bodies have unlimited chakra and stamina, right?"
"Isn't that basically a perpetual motion machine?! Damn!"
If perpetual motion really existed, the benefits for the living world would be immeasurable.
The only real criticism would be that it desecrated the souls of the dead.
But…
Edo Tensei was Orochimaru's doing.
What did that have to do with Uchiha Kai?
Thinking that, Kai's eyes brightened with excitement.
He stopped looking at the deadly water blade and instead swept his burning gaze across the two ancient figures on the rooftop.
The ancients.
After observing them for a moment, his eyes settled on Tobirama's cold, expressionless face.
"Heh."
Kai let out a soft chuckle.
There was an indescribable tone in his voice.
"I may not have black rods…"
"But I do have black chains."
"I wonder if black chains work on Edo Tensei bodies…"
Then he simply raised his head and stared straight at Tobirama.
"Hm?"
Sensing that fearless—almost eager—gaze, Tobirama frowned.
"He's not afraid?"
"And… this brat seems to be looking forward to it."
"What exactly is he expecting?"
"Does he seriously think he can enslave my brother and me?"
"Ridiculous."
Tobirama found the thought absurd.
Yet for some reason—
A faint unease suddenly surfaced in his heart.
It felt like he was being targeted by some kind of monstrous predator.
In all his years, he had only felt that sensation from one person—
Hashirama Senju.
Not even Uchiha Madara had given him that feeling.
"..."
Tobirama shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Perhaps Edo Tensei was affecting his senses.
He focused again on the Uchiha brat below.
But—
Just as the deadly water blade was about to pierce Kai's body—
A ripple suddenly appeared in the air.
Buzz.
Kai's figure rippled like a reflection in water.
Then—
It vanished.
Gone.
Just like that.
The razor-sharp Severing Wave passed straight through where his body had been.
Instead—
PSSHT!
It struck Kimimaro, who had been watching the fight behind him.
The attack punched a clean hole through his shoulder.
And it carved a deep trench in the ground behind him, the edges smooth as if cut by a blade.
Kimimaro: …
He quietly covered the bleeding hole in his shoulder.
Then walked away.
After thinking about it, he decided that might not be safe enough.
So he changed direction.
And hid behind a tree.
Meanwhile, Tobirama had already noticed something was wrong.
"Body Flicker?"
"No… that's not it. That was—"
A trace of shock flashed across his eyes.
Even his usually expressionless face showed surprise.
That technique—
It definitely wasn't the Body Flicker.
In that moment, he had clearly sensed a disturbance in space itself.
It was subtle.
But as the greatest master of space-time ninjutsu—
He would never mistake it.
"That Uchiha brat… actually learned—"
Before he could finish the thought—
A chilling killing intent suddenly appeared behind him.
Like a parasite clinging to bone.
Without warning.
Right at his back.
"Dear Lord Tobirama, it's our first meeting."
Kai's calm voice suddenly whispered beside his ear.
"Nice to meet you."
Behind me?!
The moment he heard that casual Uchiha tone, Tobirama's pupils shrank violently.
He hadn't expected the boy's speed to be this fast.
So fast that for a moment he almost doubted his own title as the fastest ninja in the world.
"So even an Uchiha brat… can learn the Flying Thunder God?"
That thought flashed through his mind.
Then anger erupted within him.
He shot a cold glance toward the Third Hokage.
An Uchiha brat had actually touched the forbidden space-time technique he, Tobirama Senju, had created?
What kind of Hokage allowed that?
And the brat even dared use it against him?
"Arrogant child!"
Tobirama barked.
His pride as the fastest shinobi in history crushed all other thoughts.
Only one thing remained.
Kill him.
His body snapped forward like a drawn bowstring.
His speed exceeded visual perception.
His hands formed seals again, leaving only afterimages.
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
After shifting positions, Tobirama threw three special Flying Thunder God kunai.
One flew behind Kai.
One toward the edge of the rooftop.
And the last—
Straight toward Orochimaru, who had been watching the fight.
"Hm?"
Orochimaru froze.
His long tongue stuck halfway out.
Wasn't he just watching?
Why was he suddenly getting attacked?
Just like the legends said—
Tobirama really was ruthless.
A snake burst out in front of him and was instantly pierced by the kunai.
As Orochimaru prepared to throw it away, he suddenly realized something.
Ten meters away—
Tobirama's body was fading.
SHWIP!
The next moment, Tobirama—who had just vanished—reappeared beside the kunai flying toward the rooftop.
Using the Flying Thunder God kunai—
He completed an ultra-fast teleportation.
"Hmph. Brat, your combat experience is still lacking!"
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
In his hand formed a blade of shimmering water infused with lightning.
The Sword of the Thunder God.
He swung backward in a diagonal slash.
He was certain—
Kai would be right behind him.
And sure enough—
As he turned and struck, he saw Kai's figure.
Right there behind him.
And at the same time—
He saw the faint smile at the corner of Kai's mouth.
"A smile?"
Tobirama paused for a split second.
Then the strength in his arms surged violently.
"I'll cut you so badly your mother won't recognize you."
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