The Eight-Year-Old Me Became Hokage

Tobirama stared at Kazekaze's transformed state, his eyes widening in shock! Yes—he was shocked again! Not just shocked—he was completely bewildered! As the God of Ninjutsu, Tobirama couldn't possibly be mistaken about what he was seeing. There was no doubt about it—Kazekaze was using The Eight Inner Gates Release Technique! But… Why?! How?! How was Kazekaze able to use The Eight Inner Gates?!

A storm of questions raged in Tobirama's mind. Kazekaze's father, Mokuken, knew nothing about The Eight Inner Gates, so it was impossible that Kazekaze had learned it during his two years away from the village. Unlike chakra bursts, which could be explained by natural talent, The Eight Inner Gates required rigorous training and precise control. Even if, somehow, Kazekaze was an unprecedented genius who had independently created The Eight Inner Gates… He was only seven! A seven-year-old inventing a technique powerful enough to be classified as a forbidden jutsu?! Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

And yet— Right before his eyes, Kazekaze had undeniably opened the First Gate—Gate of Opening! The stance, the aura—Tobirama could not be mistaken! He swallowed hard, staring in disbelief. At last, he understood where Kazekaze's confidence had come from. It wasn't because he was Hashirama's grandson. It wasn't arrogance from mastering Senju monstrous strength at a young age. It was because… Kazekaze had a trump card. And that trump card was The Eight Inner Gates Release Technique!

'However…' Tobirama inhaled sharply, his expression tense.

'Even with the First Gate, defeating Danzo is still a fantasy.' 

The First Gate—Gate of Opening only unlocked the brain's natural limiters, allowing the body to use 100% of its strength, but it also caused rapid energy depletion. Kazekaze's base strength was only five. Even with Gate of Opening, it doubled to ten. But Danzo, who was nearly an adult, already had a base strength far surpassing ten! Even though Kazekaze's transformation shocked him, Tobirama still believed— Kazekaze had no chance of winning.

However… Kazekaze knew this too. From the very start— He had never planned to beat Danzo with just the First Gate!

"Second Gate—Gate of Rest—OPEN!"

Kazekaze let out a loud shout, unlocking the second limit! Gate of Rest removed the fatigue restrictions, allowing the body to forcefully recover stamina to counter the exhaustion from Gate of Opening. In this match, Tobirama had forbidden Kazekaze from using chakra bursts— Which meant he couldn't use Senju monstrous strength. But Tobirama never said Kazekaze couldn't use that chakra to fuel other techniques. If Kazekaze had to rely solely on his own chakra, he might not have been able to maintain even ten seconds of the First Gate. But with a portion of Hashirama's chakra, he could fully adapt to the technique's strain. This was— The innate advantage of Chatonra (Chakra Tons)!

"Next—Third Gate—Gate of Life—OPEN!"

Blood vessels bulged across Kazekaze's forehead, neck, and arms. His strength and speed surged again, His skin turned from white to red, And a visible green aura radiated from his body. It was worth noting— Gate of Life was the final safe limit of The Eight Inner Gates. At this stage, the body's full potential was unlocked without any risk of permanent injury. Because Kazekaze's reward from the check-in system wasn't just the technique itself— It also included the muscle memory needed to use it perfectly! In other words— Kazekaze hadn't just obtained The Eight Inner Gates. He had completely skipped the entire learning process and mastered it instantly!

But… His physical strength was still that of a seven-year-old. That was why— Even after getting The Eight Inner Gates, Kazekaze had continued his physical training with Might Bai. His body wasn't ready for sustained combat in Gate of Closing yet.

'However…' 

Kazekaze bent his knees slightly, Watching Danzo's completely dumbfounded face. 

'If I activate Gate of Closing at the exact moment I see an opening, I can enhance my attack and then immediately exit the state. My current body should be able to handle that strategy. Which means… I only have one chance.'

Kazekaze wasn't really a seven-year-old. He was a transmigrator. And— A transmigrator who had watched Naruto! Every character with a name— Their specialties, their trump cards, Kazekaze already knew them all. Ninja battles were all about information warfare. Kazekaze not only knew all of Danzo's abilities— He even knew his future! Tobirama, watching from the sidelines, felt his mind go blank. His ears buzzed. He had once again been shocked beyond belief. Kazekaze had opened the Third Gate already?! This was beyond ridiculous! What did he think unlocking the body's limits was?! Drinking water?! How could a child have such unnatural control?!

'Does this brat have cheats or something?!' Tobirama racked his genius brain, but he couldn't figure out how Kazekaze had learned The Eight Inner Gates.

No matter how talented he was— Even if he had witnessed Might Bai open the First Gate just once— There was no way he could have deduced the entire technique himself! 

'He's only seven!'

At this point, Tobirama felt like he had been shocked so many times he was going numb.

"Lo-Lord Tobirama…" Might Bai's forehead was drenched in sweat as he approached Tobirama nervously.

He needed an explanation.

"Lord Tobirama, you never told me Kazekaze-sama already knew The Eight Inner Gates! If he opens the Fourth Gate—Gate of Pain, it will damage his body! Letting him use this technique at such a young age is reckless!"

From Might Bai's perspective— The best age to start learning The Eight Inner Gates was around fifteen. By that time, the body would have fully developed, allowing it to handle the strain of the technique. What he didn't know was… Tobirama was even more confused than he was.

'Why are you looking at me like that?! Do you think I taught him The Eight Inner Gates?! I'M JUST AS CONFUSED AS YOU! HOW THE HELL DID HE LEARN IT?!'

However— Before Tobirama could respond, Might Bai suddenly changed his tone.

"Each gate is exponentially harder to open than the previous one. It took me a year and a half just to train from Gate of Opening to Gate of Rest. If I weren't seeing this with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it… That someone like Kazekaze-sama could even exist in the ninja world! Truly…" Might Bai's eyes burned with admiration.

"As expected of the First Hokage's grandson!"