76-80

Chapter 76: Scaring Jiraiya Senseless  

The moment Kazama returned to Konoha, the Sandaime Hokage summoned him.  

“Kazama, I’m getting old. When Orochimaru attacked Konoha last time, I was powerless to stop him. I’m thinking of having Tsunade take over as the Godaime Hokage. What do you think?”  

Kazama was floored. To think the Sandaime would ask his opinion on something as monumental as choosing the next Hokage!  

But then it clicked. His strength had already surpassed every ninja in Konoha. He’d protected the village and even brokered an alliance between Hi no Kuni (Land of Fire) and Kaminari no Kuni (Land of Lightning). With his power and reputation, it made sense the Sandaime would consult him.  

“Sounds good. Princess Tsunade is the First Hokage’s granddaughter, your student, and one of the legendary Sannin with a stellar record. She’s more than qualified to take the Hokage mantle.”  

“Really?”  

Seeing Kazama’s approval, the Sandaime’s worries melted away.  

After all, with Kazama’s strength, he was the most obvious candidate for Hokage.  

“Kazama, to be honest, your strength and contributions make you the ideal choice for Godaime Hokage. But you’re still so young—it’s not quite the right time. I hope you’re not upset.”  

“Don’t worry, Sandaime-sama. My dream is to become Hokage, but that’s for the future. Right now, I know I’m not ready to take on that role. Tsunade’s the perfect choice.”  

“Great! Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”  

The Sandaime nodded with a smile, relieved by Kazama’s response.  

And Kazama was being honest. Becoming Hokage wasn’t on his radar yet. His main focus was hunting down divine artifacts and absorbing the power of the Tailed Beasts to grow stronger. That meant leaving the village often. If he became Hokage, he’d be buried in paperwork—how would he ever get anything done?  

So, Tsunade as the Godaime Hokage? Perfect fit.  

“Next, I’ll send Jiraiya to find Tsunade. Naruto will go with him to continue his training. I’d like you to join them, Kazama. Your job is to make sure Jiraiya hurries up and brings Tsunade back. And if she refuses… well, tie her up and drag her back.”  

The Sandaime knew Jiraiya might not convince Tsunade on his own. That’s where Kazama’s strength came in—only he could handle Tsunade’s monstrous power.  

“Got it. No problem!”  

Kazama agreed instantly.  

He knew the search for Tsunade would lead them to Orochimaru. That was his chance to use Orochimaru’s knowledge to track down the Enbu no Kuni (Land of Flames) divine artifact, the Futen Bow.  

“Ugh, the Sandaime’s such a pain, sticking me with two brats.”  

Jiraiya didn’t take Kazama seriously, lumping him in with Naruto as just another kid.  

“Hey, Ero-Sennin! Don’t underestimate Kazama. He’s crazy strong!”  

“Don’t call me Ero-Sennin!”  

Jiraiya snapped at Naruto’s nickname, his voice booming.  

“Jiraiya-sama, we should get moving.”  

“Hmph. Don’t think just because the Sandaime put you in charge, I’ll follow your orders, kid. I heard you single-handedly protected Konoha and sent Orochimaru running. Let’s see if you’re really that good.”  

“Fine by me. I’ve been wanting to test my skills against you, Jiraiya-sama!”  

“Alright, kid. Beat me, and I’ll do whatever you say. Ready? Three, two—Rasengan!”  

Before he even finished counting, Jiraiya lunged at Kazama with a Rasengan.  

“Ero-Sennin, you’re cheating!”  

Naruto yelled from the sidelines, spotting the dirty trick.  

“Haha! That’s called strategy, kid! Enemies don’t wait for you to get ready!”  

Ding! Rasengan absorbed successfully. Congratulations, host, you’ve unlocked Ōdama Rasengan! 

Ding! Absorb nine more ninjutsu to unlock the eleventh strange fire!  

“What the—?! You absorbed my Rasengan?!”  

“No time to be shocked. Check this out—Ōdama Rasengan!”  

Before Jiraiya could process what happened, Kazama formed an Ōdama Rasengan, far larger and more powerful than the original.  

“Holy—! Alright, I give! Let’s go find Tsunade!”  

Seeing Jiraiya surrender, Kazama powered down his attack with a grin. 

Chapter 77: Starting to Overwhelm Tsunade  

“This kid’s a total monster. The Fourth Hokage spent three years developing the Rasengan, and this guy mastered it in a flash—and even created a stronger version on top of it. Man, you can’t help but be impressed!”  

Jiraiya shook his head helplessly as he thought to himself. Only now did he truly believe the stories about Kazama thrashing Orochimaru.  

“See that, Pervy Sage? I told you Kazama’s crazy strong!”  

Seeing Jiraiya’s deflated look, Naruto burst out laughing.  

“You’re laughing? You two graduated from the same academy, and you don’t feel like you’re completely outclassed by Kazama?”  

“Ugh, how dare you underestimate me! Kazama, teach me that Giant Rasengan right now! I’m gonna beat Pervy Sage!”  

“I told you, stop calling me Pervy Sage!”  

It wasn’t long before Jiraiya led Kazama and Naruto to Tsunade’s whereabouts.  

“Tsunade, I’ll cut to the chase. After Orochimaru attacked Konoha, the Third feels he’s too old to keep serving as Hokage. He hopes you’ll return to take up the mantle as the Fifth Hokage…”  

“I refuse!”  

Before Jiraiya could finish, Tsunade smirked coldly.  

“Old man Sarutobi’s still playing hero at his age. He’s lucky he didn’t die this time, but next time he won’t be so fortunate. Me, become Hokage? No way. Only an idiot would take that job!”  

“You jerk!”  

Hearing this, Naruto charged at her, fists swinging, only to be yanked back by Jiraiya.  

Jiraiya knew Tsunade’s strength all too well—Naruto was just asking for a beating.  

“Kid, I wasn’t even talking about you. Why’re you so worked up?”  

Tsunade found Naruto’s reaction hilarious.  

“Shut up! Being Hokage is my dream! Not only did you insult the Third Hokage, but you called anyone who wants to be Hokage an idiot! I don’t care if you’re a woman—I’m not afraid to take you on! Pervy Sage, let me go!”  

“Kid, we’re in a tavern. Can you not make a scene?”  

Naruto was like a wild animal, and even Jiraiya was struggling to hold him back.  

“Fine!”  

Tsunade slammed the table and stood up.  

“Kid, since you care so much about the Hokage title, let’s make a bet. If you can beat me, I’ll apologize. But if I beat you…”  

Her eyes drifted to the bulging wallet at Naruto’s waist.  

“No surprise there, Princess Tsunade, the gambling addict!”  

Kazama, standing nearby, gave a wry smile. He knew Tsunade wasn’t seriously trying to insult the Hokage title. She’d seen too much war, too much death, and it had left deep scars. That’s why she refused to return to Konoha or take on the Hokage role.  

“Kid, I don’t want people saying I’m bullying the weak, so I’ll only use one finger against you. If you win, I’ll apologize on the spot!”  

Outside, Tsunade wagged a finger at Naruto.  

“You said it! Shadow Clone Jutsu!”  

“Save it!”  

The moment Naruto attacked, Tsunade saw through his moves. With just one finger, she sent him flying ten meters back.  

“So, kid, you give up yet?”  

Seeing Naruto’s pathetic state, Tsunade burst into laughter.  

“Let me tell you, only naive kids like you take the Hokage title so seriously, blabbing about becoming Hokage all day. Dreamers like you need a wake-up call from me!”  

“Damn it!”  

Naruto trembled with rage but was powerless. The gap between him and Tsunade was just too vast.  

“My dream is to become Hokage too. Think you’ve got what it takes to wake me up?”  

Kazama helped Naruto to his feet, his voice cold as he addressed Tsunade.  

“Here we go! I knew Kazama wouldn’t stay quiet. This is gonna be good!”  

Jiraiya snickered to himself. He’d already witnessed Kazama’s strength, and now it was Tsunade’s turn to eat her words.  

“Kids these days really don’t know their place. Fine, you want a beating? I’ll humor you. Same rules—one finger!”  

“You’d better use everything you’ve got. I’ll even let you use both hands and feet!”  

“What?!”  

Tsunade’s face flushed with anger. She never imagined that she, one of the legendary Sannin, would be looked down on by some wet-behind-the-ears kid. 

Chapter 78: Sending Tsunade Flying with One Punch  

“Jerk!”  

With Tsunade’s signature curse, a powerful attack came roaring in.  

Furious at being underestimated by Kazama, Tsunade still held back, not using her full strength.  

But what she didn’t expect was that even if she had gone all out, it wouldn’t have scratched Kazama.  

Boom!  

The sheer force of Tsunade’s punch shattered the surrounding stone walls into fragments.  

Yet Kazama, the target of her strike, stood completely unscathed—not even a step out of place.  

Ding! Monster Strength absorbed successfully. Congratulations, host, you’ve unlocked Monster Strength Sky-Shattering Fist! 

Ding! Absorb eight more ninjutsu to unlock the eleventh strange fire!  

While Kazama secretly celebrated gaining a new skill and getting closer to another strange fire, Tsunade let out a series of shocked exclamations.  

“Good heavens! Is this kid even human?”  

Shizune, Tsunade’s apprentice, was equally stunned.  

She knew all too well how terrifying Tsunade’s monster strength was. Normally, anyone hit by Tsunade would be lucky to walk away with just a missing arm or leg.  

But this seemingly ordinary genin, Kazama, had blocked Tsunade’s attack. Sure, Tsunade hadn’t gone all out, but Kazama’s insane defensive power was still mind-blowing to Shizune.  

“Is this guy really a genin?”  

“Hmph. He’s no ordinary genin,” Jiraiya said with a sly chuckle.  

Even he was floored by Kazama’s defense.  

“I thought Kazama would use ninjutsu to counter, but to think he blocked Tsunade’s monster strength with just his body? Even I couldn’t pull that off!”  

“You’ve got some guts, kid!”  

Tsunade rubbed her slightly sore fist as she spoke.  

Kazama’s body was coated in volcanic stone flame—not something to mess with. If an ordinary person hit him that hard, they’d probably die from the recoil.  

“Some guts? I’ve got more than that—I’ve got three moves! Come on, put some real power into it. I can take it!”  

“You little punk! You dare mock me over and over?!”  

Kazama’s taunting words sent Tsunade into a rage she’d never felt before. The ground beneath her cracked from the sheer force of her aura.  

“Is this kid trying to piss off Tsunade-sama?”  

Shizune quickly backed away, knowing full well the consequences of Tsunade’s anger.  

“Man, Kazama’s got some serious nerve. This is intense—so intense!”  

Jiraiya, ever the spectator, was practically cheering for chaos.  

“Kid, your defense is impressive, but you won’t block this one! Tentsūkyaku (Heavenly Foot of Pain)!”  

“What?! Tsunade’s getting serious!”  

As Tsunade leaped into the air, Jiraiya recognized her trump card—a monstrous attack capable of shattering mountains.  

“Kid, dodge it!”  

Certain Kazama couldn’t withstand it, Jiraiya shouted in panic.  

“Tsunade-sama, please calm down!”  

Shizune tried to intervene, desperate to stop her.  

“Kid, it’s not too late to beg for mercy!”  

As Tsunade came crashing down, Kazama flashed his trademark grin.  

“Monster Strength Sky-Shattering Fist!”  

“What?!”  

With Tsunade’s shocked cry, her Tentsūkyaku collided with Kazama’s Sky-Shattering Fist.  

A graceful arc streaked across the night sky, signaling that Tsunade, the queen of monster strength, had been defeated. 

Chapter 79: Helping Naruto Crush Tsunade  

“Lady Tsunade lost?”  

“Tsunade, of all people, got beaten?”  

As Tsunade hit the ground, Shizune and Jiraiya gasped in unison. What shocked them even more was that Kazama could use Tsunade’s signature monstrous strength.  

Jiraiya already knew Kazama was extraordinary, but this still blew his mind.  

“Lady Tsunade, are you okay?”  

Shizune rushed to help her up.  

“You really can’t judge a book by its cover,” Tsunade admitted, genuinely impressed by Kazama’s strength.  

In both defense and raw power, she’d been completely outclassed. Though their fight lasted only two brief rounds, the gap between her and Kazama was crystal clear.  

“But!”  

A sly grin crept across Tsunade’s face.  

“You lose, kid. You said I could use both hands and feet, but you used your right hand just now.”  

Kazama couldn’t help but chuckle at her logic. She wasn’t wrong—he had used his hand.  

“Hey, picking on a kid like that? Don’t you feel embarrassed?”  

“Buzz off!”  

Tsunade’s fist sent Jiraiya flying with one punch.  

“Since you lost, I don’t owe you an apology.”  

With that, Tsunade turned to leave.  

“Wait! You still have to face me!”  

Just as Kazama was about to stop her, Naruto limped forward.  

“Give me three days, and I’ll take you down!”  

“Hmph, kid, you really don’t know when to quit, do you?”  

“That’s right! Never giving up—that’s my ninja way!”  

“Fine. I’ll give you three days.”  

“Tsunade, we should head back to Konoha!”  

“Get lost!”  

Another punch, and Jiraiya went soaring again.  

Kazama had no issue with the deal between Tsunade and Naruto. His main goal was to keep Tsunade here to lure out Orochimaru. Then, he could control Orochimaru and track down the divine artifact, the Fentian Bow.  

“Damn it! I gave it everything I had, and I still failed!”  

To prepare for his showdown with Tsunade in three days, Naruto was training day and night, relentlessly practicing the Rasengan.  

Truth be told, even if Naruto mastered the Rasengan, his current strength wouldn’t be enough to beat Tsunade. But that didn’t stop him from pushing forward.  

“Keep moving forward, never give up—that’s your ninja way, isn’t it, Naruto?”  

Watching Naruto from behind a tree, Kazama couldn’t help but admire his determination.  

Without his system, Kazama might’ve been mocked and looked down on just like Naruto. Seeing Naruto now reminded him of his own past.  

So, Kazama decided to help Naruto make a jaw-dropping comeback in three days.  

“Kazama! What’re you doing here?”  

Drenched in sweat and exhausted, Naruto finally collapsed to the ground.  

“I’m here to help you!”  

Kazama extended a hand, channeling the Yang Fire from his Yin-Yang Dual Flames into Naruto’s body. It instantly healed his injuries and revitalized him, leaving him full of energy.  

“Thanks so much, Kazama!”  

Naruto was no stranger to this technique, having been healed by Kazama before, so he took it in stride.  

“Naruto, do you really want to beat Tsunade in three days?”  

“Absolutely! I want to hear her apologize with my own ears. I won’t let anyone insult the Hokage title!”  

“Alright then, I’ll help you. Learn this technique, and in three days, you’ll definitely take Tsunade down!”  

“Really? You’re gonna help me master the Rasengan?”  

Naruto’s eyes lit up with excitement.  

“I’m not teaching you the Rasengan. I’m teaching you the S-rank Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!”  

With a piercing buzz, the powerful Wind Release: Rasenshuriken took shape in Kazama’s hand. 

Chapter 80: Knocking Out Kabuto with One Punch   

With a single strike from Kazama, a nearby hill was obliterated into dust.   

“That’s an S-rank ninjutsu? Its power is insane! But can I really learn it?”   

“You absolutely can!”   

Kazama clapped Naruto on the shoulder.   

“Naruto, this technique was always meant for you. I’m just teaching it to you a bit early!”   

With that, Kazama began explaining the key points of the jutsu.   

Initially, Kazama had only mastered the Ōdama Rasengan. But after absorbing the Fūryū En (Wind Dragon Flame), his mastery of Fūton (Wind Release) had reached unparalleled heights. Combined with his understanding of the Fūton: Rasenshuriken (Wind Release: Rasenshuriken), mastering it himself was a piece of cake.   

Kazama also infused Naruto’s body with the Fūryū En strange fire. Though temporary, it permanently boosted Naruto’s understanding and control of Fūton.   

Plus, Kazama had Naruto use Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clones) to practice the Fūton: Rasenshuriken from the start, saving him a ton of trial and error.   

Three days later, when Kazama and Naruto arrived at the agreed-upon meeting spot, it was completely deserted.   

“Damn it! Did that old hag Tsunade bail at the last second?”   

Naruto grumbled, frustrated.   

He’d worked hard to master the Fūton: Rasenshuriken and was eager to show it off, but now there wasn’t a soul around.   

“Tsunade may love gambling, but she’d never run from a fight. Oh no—don’t tell me she’s already fighting Orochimaru!”   

Realizing this, Kazama activated his superhuman sensory abilities.   

Just as he suspected, Tsunade and Orochimaru were locked in a heated battle.   

“Naruto, follow me!”   

Using Shūshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), Kazama vanished in a matter of seconds.   

“Hey, wait for me!”   

Naruto shouted, chasing after the direction Kazama had gone.   

“To think Princess Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, is afraid of blood!”   

Orochimaru had exposed Tsunade’s weakness, and now Yakushi Kabuto had her on the ropes, forcing her to retreat again and again.   

Jiraiya was tied up fighting Orochimaru, unable to help.   

As for Tsunade’s apprentice, Shizune, she was no match for Kabuto.   

“Princess Tsunade, I hope you’ll accept Orochimaru-sama’s offer to join him in destroying Konoha. Otherwise, you’re as good as dead!”   

“Join Orochimaru? In your dreams!”   

“Then you’re finished!”   

Kabuto used his Chakra Scalpel to sever the meridians in Tsunade’s body.   

Not only could she no longer mold chakra, but even breathing became a struggle.   

“I’ve cut the meridians around your heart. In less than an hour, you’ll suffocate and die. To think I, Kabuto, would kill the legendary Princess Tsunade! This feels incredible—haha!”   

“Let’s make it feel even better!”   

Before Kabuto could react, a fist sent him flying ten meters away.   

That single punch left half his body completely numb.   

“Strength even more terrifying than Tsunade’s?! Who the hell are you?”   

Humiliated at being floored by a teenager, Kabuto seethed with rage.   

“Kazama!”   

Tsunade’s heart leaped at Kazama’s sudden arrival.   

She didn’t know the full extent of his power, but she had a gut feeling that as long as Kazama was there, any enemy could be dealt with.