"Might Duy, let me handle this."
Kazuki stepped forward and gently set Rin down.
Might Duy looked at him, confusion in his eyes.
"I'm Kazuki. A special jonin of Konoha. It's fine—leave this to me. Cancel the Eight Gates. If you continue, you'll die."
Duy shook his head.
"Leave. They're the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
He prepared to charge again.
Kazuki sighed.
Guess I have to show him.
"Mokuton — Deep Forest Bloom!"
This was an S-rank Wood Release he had awakened after reaching 50% fusion with Hashirama's character card.
An enhanced version of Deep Forest Emergence.
The earth split open instantly.
A thunderous roar shook the battlefield.
What had been forest transformed into a massive basin, the ground collapsing inward as titanic tree trunks erupted upward, splitting stone and soil.
The terrain changed in a single breath.
Even at 50%—
This was the power of the God of Shinobi.
Brilliant flowers bloomed across the trees.
As they opened, poisonous pollen spread into the air.
Anyone who inhaled it would become paralyzed.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen—
Now six—
Were trapped inside the newly formed basin.
"This is Wood Release?!"
"Who is he?!"
"So young—Konoha's new monster?"
"There's no intel on him!"
Mikoto carefully laid her student down, staring at Kazuki's back in stunned silence.
Haruno Akira's jaw hung open.
No one had truly seen Kazuki fight before.
And this—
This was overwhelming.
Might Duy stared in shock.
Slowly, he released the Eight Gates.
The moment he deactivated it—
He collapsed.
Only then did everyone notice—
His right arm and right leg were broken.
The recoil of opening the Eighth Gate had shattered his own body.
"Dad!" young Guy rushed forward.
Duy smiled weakly and patted his head.
"It's okay…"
Then he fainted.
Kazuki glanced over.
"He just passed out. He's not dying. But his limbs are severely damaged."
"Sensei! Please save my dad!"
Kazuki turned toward Mikoto.
"Mikoto, treat him. I'll deal with the remaining six."
"O-Okay!"
Before she finished speaking—
Kazuki vanished.
The remaining Swordsmen realized the danger immediately.
"Retreat!"
"No point fighting him!"
They scattered.
Too late.
Hundreds—
No, thousands—
Of Kazuki's shadow clones filled the sky.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
At the same time, massive roots and vines surged upward again, enclosing the basin like a carnivorous plant snapping shut.
Mikoto stared in disbelief.
"Kai, don't just watch—help your father!"
Rin knelt beside Duy.
"I know basic medical ninjutsu."
She placed glowing green hands over his injuries.
Mikoto blinked.
"You're one of Kazuki's students?"
"Yes, Mikoto-sensei. I'm Rin Nohara of Team Seven."
"So polite… and adorable."
Meanwhile—
The battle was one-sided.
Raiga Kurosuki, wielding his twin Lightning Swords, unleashed wild arcs of electricity, burning away approaching roots.
Crackling lightning filled the air.
Several clones rushed him—
Only to be pierced by Kushimaru Kuriarare's long needle blade, the threads slicing them apart.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Clones burst in smoke.
But on the other side—
A Kazuki clone formed lightning in his palm.
The sound of a thousand birds screamed.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Before Kushimaru could react—
His right arm was blown clean off.
Raiga lunged to retaliate—
But more clones overwhelmed them.
Within minutes—
All six were injured.
It was pure numbers domination.
The worst fate belonged to Mangetsu Hōzuki—
He was struck directly by Chidori and executed before he could reform his body.
Even Kazuki hadn't expected it to end that quickly.
Mikoto wiped sweat from her brow, glancing up.
The legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen—
Reduced to children in front of Kazuki.
Haruno Akira whispered, trembling,
"The Senju bloodline… this is terrifying…"
Suddenly—
Fuguki Suikazan and Zabuza Momochi roared together.
"Water Release — Hidden Mist Technique!"
Thick mist exploded outward.
Visibility dropped to zero.
The battlefield became white void.
A technique used for assassination—
Now reduced to an escape method.
Kazuki chuckled softly.
"You're not getting away."
"I still need to ask you something."
"Do you know where Terumi is?"