Battle Against Hashirama Senju

"Heh, I have to say, Kakuzu really wasn't bragging. I thought he'd just tossed a Kunai from far away and run off!"

Land of Whirlpools, Uzushiogakure.

Speaking of Kakuzu, Takenaka Kaguya could not help picturing that money-loving man who did not care whom he had to kill. The higher the bounty, the more interested Kakuzu became.

At that thought, Takenaka Kaguya looked at Hashirama Senju and smiled. "I never expected Kakuzu from Takigakure to have such courage, actually daring to go to Konoha and assassinate Brother Hashirama."

"Hahaha, that guy was indeed quite capable, but he wasn't very bright. He actually went to Konoha and openly asked around the streets for information about me." Hashirama Senju laughed heartily.

Hearing Takenaka Kaguya say this, Hashirama Senju could not help laughing as well. It was one thing for Kakuzu to come to Konoha and attempt to assassinate him, but he had actually gone around Konohagakure asking people about his whereabouts.

As a stranger, he had naturally been discovered with ease.

So Hashirama had sent a clone to play with him. Unexpectedly, Kakuzu had some real skill and had even defeated his clone.

"Heh, he really was rather foolish. If Brother Hashirama could be taken down that easily, could he still be called the God of Shinobi?

Still, he would have something to brag about in the future. As long as he told people he had once tried to assassinate Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, he could probably scare quite a few people." Takenaka Kaguya teased.

"Hahaha..."

It was quite the vivid image.

After chatting and laughing for a while, they sat down for a meal. When it was over, Mito Uzumaki looked at Takenaka Kaguya and said gently with a smile, "Takenaka, you have learned the Yin Seal over the past half month. From here on, you only need to accumulate Chakra little by little.

There is nothing more I can teach you. You can only rely on yourself now.

Also, remember this well: before you have fully cultivated the Yin Seal, you must not use Chakra. Otherwise, all your efforts will be wasted, and you will have to start over."

"Mm-hm, thank you, Sister. I understand. Once I begin cultivating the Yin Seal, I absolutely won't use Chakra." Takenaka Kaguya nodded with a smile.

He had long known this, and Mito Uzumaki had reminded him of it many times. Still, with their parting imminent, she remained somewhat worried about his safety.

Sure enough, Mito Uzumaki fell silent for a moment before looking at Takenaka Kaguya again. "Takenaka, how about coming back to Konohagakure with us? You can return after you have completely mastered the Yin Seal.

That way, with Hashirama and me in Konohagakure, we can protect you, and there will be no need to worry about your safety."

"Thank you for your concern, Sister. Although I cannot use Chakra while cultivating the Yin Seal, my taijutsu is enough to keep myself safe." Takenaka Kaguya smiled and refused once more.

He was very confident in the results of his Rokushiki training and his mastery of Haki.

To be honest, as long as he did not encounter top-tier experts like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, he was confident he could handle even Kage-level experts from the other four great hidden villages without using Chakra.

Hearing this, Hashirama Senju became interested and immediately said with a smile, "Takenaka, how about I test you? Your Sister Mito is worried about your safety. Once I've tested you, she'll be more at ease. What do you say?"

"Hahaha, sure. I've been learning Sealing Jutsu these past few days and haven't had a chance to stretch my limbs. My bones are about to rust." Takenaka Kaguya immediately agreed.

After all, words were cheap. It was better to let Hashirama Senju test him himself.

Beside them, Mito Uzumaki nodded and smiled. "All right, then. Takenaka, spar with Hashirama. If you can last ten minutes against him without using Chakra, I won't insist that you return to Konoha with me."

Crack! Crack!

As soon as she finished speaking, Hashirama Senju and Takenaka Kaguya both nodded. They stood and walked to the center of the courtyard, each stretching his body until a series of cracking sounds rang out.

"Takenaka, be careful. You cannot use Chakra, but I have no such restriction. If you feel you can't hold on, surrender quickly." Hashirama Senju said with a cheerful smile.

"Come on, Brother Hashirama." Takenaka Kaguya drew the famed blade Shusui from his waist, held it in one hand, and smiled at Hashirama Senju.

"Be careful."

Chakra instantly surged around Hashirama Senju, blasting the dust in the courtyard into the air. Then he rapidly closed in on Takenaka Kaguya, arriving before him in the blink of an eye.

Clang!

The moment Hashirama Senju closed in, his fist shot directly toward Takenaka Kaguya's head. The punch was so fast and powerful that it stirred up a gust of wind.

It was clear that Hashirama Senju was holding back, but Takenaka Kaguya did not mind. He merely tilted his head slightly and neatly evaded Hashirama Senju's fist.

"What quick reflexes!"

Hashirama Senju was greatly surprised when Takenaka Kaguya dodged his attack so easily.

But the next second, a flash of cold light swept past as the razor-sharp Shusui slashed toward his neck.

Whoosh!

In that instant, Hashirama Senju did not dare take the blade head-on with his body. He immediately lowered his head and dodged it.

Hashirama Senju truly deserved his title as the God of Shinobi. Even as he evaded, he was able to counterattack.

Bang!

He kicked toward Takenaka Kaguya's chest, but under the detection of Observation Haki, no matter how fast he was, it was useless.

Sure enough, Takenaka Kaguya kicked out as well. In an instant, their legs collided.

With a clang, Hashirama Senju felt as if he had kicked a piece of steel.

"What?"

Hashirama Senju was utterly astonished.

Before he could react, Takenaka Kaguya grinned, and Shusui slashed at him once more.

"Good kid. No wonder you're so confident."

Hashirama Senju leaped back, swiftly dodging Shusui's attack.

Whoosh!

Yet the sword energy from that slash cut off a corner of his clothes. Had Hashirama Senju reacted any slower, that strike might have wounded him.

Looking down at his damaged clothes, Hashirama Senju's fighting spirit burned fiercely.

As the God of Shinobi, he naturally had his own pride. Although he could use Chakra and ninjutsu, he also wanted to see just how strong Takenaka Kaguya's taijutsu truly was.

However, in his current state, his flesh and blood could not withstand the incomparably sharp Shusui in Takenaka Kaguya's hand.

"Hahaha, Takenaka, let's try again. Sage Mode!"