Hagoromo didn't get the chance to defend himself; in fact, it wasn't his turn to speak.
"It's fine, Tsunade-sensei. Hagoromo can look after himself. My having him with me is no different from you always having Shizune around," Kushina countered with a smile. As if on cue, Kato Shizune walked into the tent.
Shizune served tea to the guests. After setting down the tray, she bowed politely to Kushina and then retreated somewhat timidly. Ever since the death of her lover, Kato Dan, Tsunade had kept Dan's niece, Shizune, by her side.
Hagoromo watched Shizune's retreating figure, trying to recall what he knew about her. Not much came to mind, but what did triggered a somewhat absurd thought.
Tsunade adopting Shizune... is this the legendary 'raising a child to provide for one's old age'? Well, regardless of whether Hagoromo was right, Shizune eventually became Tsunade's ultimate caretaker, managing every aspect of her life.
"It's not quite like Shizune, is it? More like that kid Minato has with him?" Tsunade's expression turned less than friendly at Kushina's words.
She means Kakashi. Has Tsunade met him? Hagoromo wondered.
"That brat is pushing himself too hard. He's desperate to prove he's the White Fang's son, desperate to prove his father was a Konoha hero. That kind of behavior on the battlefield... it's a quick way to get killed."
Tsunade likely understood Kakashi's urgency, but she also saw his approach as foolish. In a Great Ninja War, even Tsunade couldn't guarantee she'd survive until the end, let alone a reckless kid like Kakashi. After all, her own grand-uncle, the Second Hokage, had fallen on the battlefield.
Shinobi specialized in small-scale infiltration, sabotage, assassination, and... well, "lock-picking." Their combat shouldn't be about open, head-on confrontations; the four-man squad was the most efficient model. Yet, the war forced villages to throw thousands of ninjas into front-line brawls like common soldiers. It was a poor strategy, but a necessary one.
"Hagoromo is a bit different from Kakashi..."
"Hagoromo? That's his name?"
"Yes, Kamishiraishi Hagoromo. He's much smarter than Kakashi, and he's strong. I wasn't joking when I said he can take care of himself. Put it this way: I might lose to Minato in the race for Hokage, but my disciple will definitely beat Minato's disciple," Kushina declared with absolute confidence.
Hagoromo looked at her, thinking she looked like a child bragging about a new toy to an elder. Must be an illusion, he told himself. Definitely an illusion.
"On the way here, we encountered a Sand squad. One Jonin, one Chunin, two Genin... Hagoromo repelled them alone."
"Repelled them?" Surprise flickered across Tsunade's face. She didn't approve of Kakashi's methods, but she respected his strength. She hadn't expected Kushina to view her student as even more capable than the White Fang's son.
"Three dead, one heavily wounded. His own injuries are negligible."
"Oh? Your name is Hagoromo?"
Tsunade was finally interested. That record was impressive—on par with Kakashi's.
To Tsunade, Hagoromo looked like just another child, wrapped in what she saw as a "shabby black cloth" (his cloak). He had white hair, but unlike most peers, he didn't look around restlessly. He stood behind Kushina with a calm, steady presence.
"Yes, Kamishiraishi Hagoromo, Tsunade-sama," Hagoromo spoke for the first time.
Tsunade nodded. "Good look to you..."
She walked over and raised her left hand, appearing as if she were going to kindly pat his head. But just as her hand reached him, she suddenly curled a finger.
Hagoromo sensed danger immediately. Before her finger could flick his forehead, he lunged backward!
In an instant, blue electrical arcs crackled across his body. By the time Tsunade's finger snapped forward, he had seemingly "teleported" to the tent entrance ten meters away.
Hagoromo had to dodge. If he took a hit from Tsunade's "Monster Strength" flick, a concussion would be the best-case scenario. More importantly, he wasn't a masochist.
Tsunade blinked, momentarily stunned. She had intended to test him, but she had flicked at empty air.
"See? Great reflexes, right?" Kushina looked even more smug.
Tsunade nodded, pulling back her hand. "Not bad. Fast. Minato's student took that hit full-on and ended up in a daze. Putting everything else aside, his reaction time is top-tier."
Seeing her stand down, Hagoromo dispersed the Chidori Stream. She really is a Sannin. She wasn't known for speed, yet if he'd been a fraction of a second slower, he'd have shared Kakashi's fate. Poor Kakashi, he thought, getting flicked into a daze... that's actually kind of funny.
"That jutsu just now... did you or Minato teach him?" Tsunade asked, her brow furrowing. She had a feeling that despite his defensive move, at that speed, he could have counter-attacked if she had been an actual enemy.
"His own technique. A high-level original ninjutsu."
"Original?"
Tsunade was genuinely impressed now. If Kushina was telling the truth, and a boy this age could develop a technique of that caliber—a seal-less, instant-activation jutsu of at least A-rank—then she had to admit his genius. He might just be another talent like Minato.
Technique Analysis: The Flick Test Tsunade's "Flick" is a rite of passage. Passing it means you have the reflexes to survive a Jonin-level encounter.
Chidori Stream (Mobility Variant): Uses Lightning Release to stimulate the nervous system, boosting reaction speed.
Tactical Result: Avoided "Seven Dazes and Eight Faints" (unlike Kakashi).