Even as Ginkaku's attack was about to land, Tobirama Senju's expression remained cold, without the slightest change.
The instant he was struck, Tobirama burst into a cloud of smoke. When it cleared, the "Tobirama" struck by the Seven-Star Sword turned out to be nothing more than a wooden log.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku frowned slightly at the sight. Relying on their keen senses and astonishing speed, they darted around, searching for their target! Suddenly, their gazes fixed on a humanoid silhouette sprinting ahead.
Found him!
Kinkaku immediately gave chase, laughing mockingly. "Second Hokage, weren't you supposed to be so capable? Why are you running away so desperately now?"
Ginkaku joined in the mockery. "Heh, big brother, maybe he actually ran his way into becoming Hokage?"
"..." Yet despite their repeated taunts, "Tobirama" showed no reaction whatsoever.
Seeing this, Kinkaku kept jeering, but he also began watching his surroundings warily.
And—perhaps he was imagining it, but this "Tobirama's" chakra seemed weaker than before?
The man running ahead clearly wasn't the real Tobirama. It was Uchiha Gen, who had used the Transformation Technique to take on Tobirama's appearance, intending to lure them away and buy time.
Uchiha Gen also had an idea, but whether the plan would work depended on Tobirama's intuition—whether he could coordinate with Gen without any communication between them.
Tobirama, who had been preparing to counterattack, was completely baffled. He had no idea why Kinkaku and Ginkaku had gone chasing off in another direction, nor did he know whom they were pursuing.
However, that direction led to the exact place he had planned to go. Was it a coincidence? Tobirama wondered with a frown. With no one chasing him, he would have more time to set things up.
These thoughts took less than a second, and Tobirama immediately followed.