"Uchiha Izuna used the Impure World Reincarnation to summon Shimura Danzō for two reasons: first, to enrage Senju Tobirama and throw off his rhythm; second, to use him as bait to test Tobirama's trump card."

Kazuki's expression turned serious as he began his explanation: "Because Tobirama now possesses a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, and the two dōjutsu hidden within those eyes are powerful enough to decide the outcome of the battle in an instant. So Izuna needed intel—fast."

"On the surface, it looked like Tobirama fell for the provocation. He used Wakatsuki to kill Danzō… You're quite familiar with that technique, aren't you, Kaguya?"

Kaguya's face soured slightly, and she gave a reluctant nod.

Back when she first met Kazuki, she had tried to devour all the tailed beast chakra she encountered—and mistakenly swallowed Kazuki's dojutsu: Wakatsuki, which drained a good chunk of her own chakra...

"But in truth, Tobirama was playing along. He feigned rage and threw a Flying Thunder God kunai to lay the groundwork for a teleportation strike against Izuna."

Kazuki continued calmly: "But in reality, Izuna had already spotted the Flying Thunder God kunai. He just pretended not to. That's because his dōjutsu, Kanrō, can freeze chakra and space. If Tobirama teleported over, he could freeze him mid-movement and strike down this powerful enemy with one blow."

"Izuna's plan was solid. But Tobirama had anticipated it. He noticed that Izuna was faking his excitement over using Danzō to provoke him—pretending not to see the kunai and deliberately showing an opening…"

"Tobirama decided to double down. His dōjutsu, Ame-no-Iwato, creates a barrier of ocular power that grants immunity to ninjutsu-based control. With that, he resisted the effects of Kanrō and launched a surprise attack. The blade, imbued with the flames of Wakatsuki, cut deep into Izuna's body."

"But Izuna had also taken precautions. He sensed Tobirama would counter, so he struck back as well—landing a blow on his enemy at the same time…"

Kaguya's eyes swirled as if she'd activated the Rinnegan—concentric rings spinning with confusion.

This layered game of counters and traps had completely spun her around.

So this is what goes into a simple fight?

Can't they just compare bloodlines or chakra reserves or something?!

She grumbled inwardly in frustration.

Mortal battles are so ridiculously complicated… They just make me, an Ōtsutsuki, look like a total idiot—like some kind of useless goddess who doesn't even know how to wield her own power…

As Kaguya followed Kazuki's gentle explanation—step by step, through his logical breakdown—she realized that she actually understood the battle now.

If she'd tried to figure it out on her own, who knew how long she would've stared blankly before grasping even a sliver of it.

All she could say was: truly worthy of being Kazuki-sensei!

[From the target Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, you have obtained the ninjutsu - Ame-no-Minaka!]

Kazuki's smile grew even warmer.

As expected of his beloved student—just one short lesson and she rewarded him with such a precious technique. That's what it meant to truly respect one's sensei!

"Kazuki, how did you know what their dōjutsu abilities were?"

A beat late, Kaguya blinked and curiously asked, "So who's going to win in the end? It looks like a tie right now, doesn't it?"

"I've told you before, Kaguya…"

Kazuki spoke softly.

"My dōjutsu allows me to replicate other people's techniques or bloodlines. There are two conditions for replication: First, if the target experiences strong emotions because of me, then I can randomly copy their ability."

"Second, if I fully perceive and comprehend their technique, then I have a high chance of recreating it."

"I anticipated their back-and-forth mind games, so I deduced the general scope of their jutsu. And since they were fighting because of me, of course their emotions were tied to me."

"Therefore, I've already mastered both of their dōjutsu."

As he spoke, a glowing ripple appeared across Kazuki's body—exactly like the one Tobirama had used.

It was Ame-no-Iwato.

Kazuki then turned and glanced at Kaguya. A flash of red light flickered in his eyes.

In that instant, his pupils displayed the swirling pattern of Uchiha Izuna's Mangekyō Sharingan…

Kaguya immediately felt the space around her freeze, her breath catching in her throat—only for everything to return to normal a heartbeat later.

This was exactly what Kazuki had described—Kanrō, the dōjutsu that freezes chakra and space!

Kaguya stared blankly at Kazuki.

Wait… he wasn't kidding?

She had thought his so-called replication ability was something similar to the Rinne-Sharingan's insight—maybe just incredibly sharp perception or something like that.

But he never said anything about replicating actual Mangekyō Sharingan abilities!

Why was it that Kazuki only had a pair of basic three-tomoe Sharingan…

Yet she, with her fully evolved Rinne-Sharingan with nine tomoe, couldn't replicate anything even close?

Unfair!

"Kazuki… this dōjutsu of yours… isn't it way too overpowered? Can you copy my abilities too?"

Kaguya asked in astonishment and doubt. "Does that mean you can just keep growing endlessly? Every time you face an enemy, you can steal their powers…"

Kazuki gave her a small smile and replied with surprising honesty: "Some I can. Some I can't. At first, I couldn't copy yours at all. But ever since I started teaching you techniques, it seems like your impression of me has slowly shifted. So once in a while, I've been able to acquire certain bloodline refinements."

"My dōjutsu was actually set into motion back during our very first fight. I hope you'll forgive me for that."

"But you're an Ōtsutsuki. The gap between our tiers is enormous. My dōjutsu simply isn't capable of replicating too much from you…"

Then Kazuki's expression turned serious, as if remembering something.

"Oh—and let me make this absolutely clear: the reason I share combat techniques with you is to help you master your power as quickly as possible. Nothing else."

"I can swear that on the honor of the Uchiha clan."

Hearing such a heavy phrase as swearing on one's clan, Kaguya quickly shook her head.

"That's not what I meant, Kazuki… In fact, I want you to gain more of my power. I know you're doing it all for my sake—I'd never misinterpret your intentions!"

Given Kazuki's Will of Fire and his deep commitment to his clan, the village, and the shinobi world—how he would protect it all even at the cost of his life…

A vow made in the name of the Uchiha carried a heavy weight, and Kaguya knew it.

What she didn't know was…

Kazuki actually swore on the Uchiha name all the time.

Honestly, the so-called clan name was barely worth more than a chamber pot.

Whenever he needed it, he'd take it out and use it. When he didn't, he'd toss it aside. It never really bound him in any way…

But because of the persona he had built, it ended up working really well?

Plenty of people still fell for that trick…

"You and I, we got to know each other through a fight—but it's been smooth sailing since then, hasn't it?"

Kazuki spoke gently, and when he saw Kaguya nod in agreement, he glanced toward the distant battlefield…

At that moment, Uchiha Madara had summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!

With the Nine-Tails unavailable, Madara had modified his signature jutsu, Majestic Attire: Susanoo, replacing the Nine-Tails with the Demonic Statue. Even so, the displayed power was still impressive.

But what caught Kazuki's attention even more…

Was the abnormal strength being displayed by the reanimated Senju Hashirama.

Despite being in an Impure World Reincarnation body, he was exhibiting power nearly identical to his prime. He used Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands effortlessly and was evenly matched against Rinnegan-wielding Uchiha Madara…

Although the current Madara wasn't quite at his absolute peak—after all, his reincarnation hadn't been fueled by Obito's vitality as the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, but rather through Orochimaru's method using White Zetsu's altered life force…

Even so, he was operating at around 80 to 90 percent of his peak strength.

In the original timeline, the reanimated Hashirama hadn't stood a chance against Madara with the Rinnegan—

He had barely arrived on the battlefield before Madara broke through his Sage Art: Gate of the Great God with sheer physical power, followed by a devastating combo that ended in a clean kill, absorbing all of Hashirama's senjutsu chakra...

But this battle was different.

Even though Hashirama was at a disadvantage, he could still barely hold his ground against Madara's offensive.

"Did Tobirama improve the Impure World Reincarnation?" Kazuki narrowed his eyes. "No… even if it were improved, there's no way it could come that close to his former power. This is practically identical to a living, breathing Hashirama…"

"There's only one possibility left… Hashirama's soul was summoned directly from the Pure Land. The only one with both the motive and the power to do that… is the Sage of Six Paths."

Kazuki had sensed the anomaly in Hashirama.

Most likely, there was a hidden contingency from the Sage embedded within him. Extreme caution would be needed.

"Kaguya, this battle is about to reach its conclusion. And the shadowy players behind the scenes… will start stepping out one by one."

Kazuki spoke softly. "It all began when Senju Tobirama defeated Uchiha Izuna."

Kaguya nodded, tense with anticipation.

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