"I mean... come on, this is my own grandson we're talking about!" Hashirama laughed heartily. Although he was shocked by Kazekaze's extraordinary talent, he felt an unprecedented joy because of it. After all… This was his own grandson!
At just seven years old, he had already mastered Monstrous Strength and the Eight Gates, inherited my Regeneration Ability, and possessed a chakra pool as vast as mine. What about when he's seventeen or twenty-seven?
Perhaps.. Tobirama's prediction was correct. If he maintains his current growth rate, Kazekaze could become Hokage in less than ten years!
However… Having immense power alone is not enough to become an excellent Hokage. Strength alone is not enough to become a great Hokage—he must also uphold the Will of Fire. If not… he might end up walking down a dark path. Just like Madara!
"Lord Tobirama, can you announce the results now?" Kazekaze softly said, looking at the dazed Tobirama.
His match with Might Bai wasn't for spectacle—it was to earn the title of ninja. Tobirama's thoughts returned to reality with Kazekaze's voice, and he calmed his emotions.
"Hmm, you're right." Tobirama nodded slightly and then announced the results of the exam. "From today on, you are a Konoha Genin!"
However… Although Kazekaze possessed Chunin-level strength, he lacked experience in carrying out missions.
He also didn't know how to lead a team. In other words, Kazekaze still had a lot to learn. He should grow slowly from a Genin.
"Alright," Kazekaze responded without any dissatisfaction.
After all… The strongest in Konoha are Genin!
"Sarutobi." Then, Tobirama called out his most prized disciple.
Hashirama now suffered from a terminal illness and needed to rest. Tobirama, as the Second Hokage, had to handle various affairs every day. He couldn't personally guide Kazekaze.
No matter how you look at it… Becoming a Genin means Kazekaze is a real ninja now, and he needs to contribute to the village like everyone else. Simply put, he needs to take on various commissioned missions. For example, weeding or retrieving lost pets.
As the Second Hokage, he couldn't possibly take Kazekaze to help others weed! After thinking it over, Tobirama decided to leave Kazekaze to Sarutobi. Let him be Kazekaze's mentor. If he could help Kazekaze establish his ninja way, That would be ideal.
"Me?" Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over to Kazekaze, pointing at himself in surprise.
Thinking about Kazekaze's talent, which was exaggerated like a monster, an anomaly, He felt immense pressure! He was just an ordinary person! Apart from having more chakra than his peers and possessing more comprehensive chakra attributes than his peers, He had no outstanding qualities!
Suddenly, Hashirama spoke up from the side, "Oh, right! Didn't a genius graduate from the Ninja Academy recently?"
"Genius?" Kazekaze tilted his head and asked.
In Naruto, there weren't many people who could be called geniuses. But the timeline Kazekaze was in was very early. Tsunade wouldn't be born for a few months. A genius, born early, and not among Tobirama's disciples. These keywords immediately piqued Kazekaze's interest.
Could it be… Another genius not appearing in the Naruto storyline? Just like Might Bai?
"Ah, that person..." Sarutobi immediately thought of a child about the same age as Kazekaze.
Before Kazekaze, he was indeed regarded as a genius by everyone. Whether in written exams or actual combat, he was exceptionally outstanding, far surpassing his peers. He graduated from the ninja school in just a year and a half. The most incredible thing was… This person was not from a big clan.
He didn't inherit any bloodline limits like the Uchiha clan, nor did he have any family secret techniques like Kazekaze. Before attending the ninja school, he hadn't received any training. He was a true genius!
"Uh..." Thinking of this, Sarutobi couldn't help but glance at Kazekaze.
However, now he felt he could use the past tense. Although that person was indeed called a genius, compared to the current Kazekaze, he seemed… A bit mediocre.
That person at least spent a year and a half in the ninja school. Kazekaze hadn't even attended the ninja school! Who is the real genius is clear at a glance!
"So, what's that person's name?" Kazekaze's curiosity was instantly piqued.
You should know, Hiruzen Sarutobi might seem ordinary on the surface. But in reality, being able to sit firmly as the Third Hokage, pushing Konoha to its peak, and being known as the "Ninja Hero"... (* I imagine the author is referencing dying to Orochimaru to save the village. *)
Could he be an ordinary person? Who would believe that! Being recognized as a genius by someone like him means the person truly deserves the title of genius.
"I remember now, big brother is referring to Sakumo of the Hatake family." Tobirama suddenly realized, recalling the recent uproar at the ninja school.
Hatake Sakumo was extremely outstanding in every aspect. So they had to let him graduate early.
"Yes, it's that child from the Hatake family. He seems to be eight years old this year, the same age as Kazekaze. Why not let him join Kazekaze and Sarutobi to form a team and carry out missions?" Hashirama expressed his thoughts.
In his view, having a peer as a partner to grow together is a wonderful thing. Even now, he often reminisces about that afternoon when he met Uchiha Madara. Sarutobi and the others were, after all, ten years older than Kazekaze. Even if they carried out missions together, there would still be some generation gap.
"Hatake Sakumo?" Kazekaze frowned slightly, he had no impression of the name Sakumo.
But the surname Hatake was very famous. Konoha's most analytical warrior, Kakashi, had the surname Hatake! And he was also known as... Hatake '50-50'—a nickname joking about his perfectly even odds in a fight!
'The Hatake clan isn't a major family—Kakashi's humble upbringing in the outskirts of Konoha makes that clear. So... this Sakumo, is he actually... Kakashi's father? Hatake White Fang?' Kazekaze suddenly remembered.
The title 'White Fang' is like 'Yellow Flash' or 'Blue Beast'—a name earned through incredible strength and battlefield reputation..
'If it's White Fang, he truly is a genius, his fame resounding across nations, even the legendary Sannin held him in high regard. And now, he's become my partner?' Kazekaze couldn't help but be stunned.
He originally thought that only the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Hokage were related to him.
Wait... if Kakashi's father is my teammate, then when the future Sixth Hokage is born... does that mean he's gonna have to call me Uncle Kazekaze?!
"Big brother, you've finally come up with a good suggestion." Tobirama nodded, feeling that arranging Sarutobi, Kazekaze, and Sakumo in one team was very appropriate.
"From today on, the three of you are members of Team 7!" Tobirama declared firmly.
And… He had already thought of the first mission for Kazekaze. Recently, the Land of Whirlpools sent people over to discuss several important matters. Why not let Kazekaze and his team escort them back?
"A C-rank mission, just right for the current Kazekaze."