The moment Kaede spoke those words, the room went completely silent.
Hashirama stared at him.
Uzumaki Mito blinked.
Even Tobirama paused for half a second.
"…You mean Tenpūton?" Tobirama asked slowly."You've already mastered it?"
Kaede nodded.
"Yes, Tobirama-sama."
Inside his heart, Kaede couldn't help complaining.
So I'm 'little devil' before, and now suddenly I'm 'you'? Classic Tobirama.
Then—
"Hahahaha!"
Hashirama burst out laughing.
"Excellent! Absolutely excellent! You really are a once-in-a-generation genius!"
"Two kekkei genkai at such a young age!"
Kaede hesitated, then scratched his cheek.
"Um… Master… Tenpūton isn't a normal kekkei genkai."
The laughter froze.
"…What?" Hashirama said.
Kaede answered honestly.
"It's closer to a kekkei tōta."
The atmosphere stiffened again.
Even Mito inhaled sharply.
Kekkei genkai were rare.
Kekkei tōta were almost mythical.
Entire countries might not produce a single one in centuries.
Now a six-year-old child was standing in front of them, casually stating he had one.
Hashirama slowly exhaled.
"No wonder the Amakaze Clan could survive with so few members…"
Tobirama looked at Kaede with renewed interest.
"So you've been refining and combining multiple natures on your own."
"That explains everything."
Unlike Hashirama, Tobirama wasn't shocked.
He had already suspected something after seeing Kaede's techniques.
Now it was confirmed.
His mood visibly improved.
"Eat first," Mito said decisively.
"Whatever experiments you want to do can wait until after dinner."
Hashirama nodded eagerly.
"Yes, yes. Eat quickly. Then we test everything."
After the table was cleared, the group moved to an open training ground behind the Senju residence.
Mito followed along, clearly curious.
Hashirama formed a seal.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone."
A wooden duplicate rose beside him, identical in appearance.
"Attack the clone. Don't hold back."
Kaede stepped forward.
His expression sharpened.
"Shōton: Crystal Bloom Lance."
Chakra surged.
A translucent crystal bud formed in his palm, rotating slowly like a closed flower.
Kaede hurled it forward.
The moment it touched the clone's arm—
The bud exploded open.
Petals unfolded violently, expanding several times in size and forming a massive crystal lotus.
The clone raised an arm and blocked.
Cracks spread across the crystal before it shattered and fell apart.
Hashirama nodded.
"Very good."
"You created this yourself?"
Kaede nodded.
"I prefer developing my own techniques."
Tobirama gave a small approving grunt.
"At six years old… this level of construction is absurd."
Mito tilted her head.
"Is it real crystal?"
"Yes," Kaede replied. "It won't dissolve."
Without hesitation, he formed a crystal pillar beside her.
"For souvenirs."
Mito's eyes sparkled.
"What a good kid."
Tobirama spoke again.
"Any other techniques?"
Kaede nodded.
"May I test it on a living target?"
Tobirama pulled out a sealing scroll and released a rooster.
Hashirama frowned.
"Why not use my clone?"
Kaede shook his head.
"It won't show the effect clearly."
Hashirama accepted that.
Kaede raised his hand.
"Shōton: Crystal Poison."
A thin crystal spike grew from his palm.
He pressed it into the rooster's back.
The rooster shrieked.
After several seconds, its movements slowed.
Crystalline veins spread outward from the wound.
Feathers hardened.
Skin turned translucent.
Within a minute, the rooster became a perfect crystal statue.
Tobirama's eyes lit up.
"Excellent assassination technique."
"Low-profile. Lethal. Difficult to defend against."
Hashirama stared at the statue.
"At this age… you're already designing battlefield-grade techniques."
"Unbelievable."
Kaede felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.
Praise from the First Hokage carried weight.
"Alright," Hashirama said, turning toward him.
"Now…"
"Show me Tenpūton."
The air subtly tightened.
Kaede exhaled slowly.
And stepped forward.