The mountain concealing Takigakure was so steep it seemed to rise at a ninety-degree angle. From above, it resembled a massive circular green canopy.
This green canopy had two layers. The innermost layer was formed by the sprawling branches of an enormous, towering tree.
If one possessed the ability to fly, they could slip directly through the gaps in the tree and reach Takigakure.
However, a concealment and alarm barrier was placed above this entrance. While its defensive strength was uncertain, entering from this point would undoubtedly alert the villagers.
Takigakure was a hidden village built inside the mountain, resembling a dormant volcanic crater filled with water and overgrown with lush greenery. It gave off the impression of a secluded paradise.
At the heart of the village was a circular lake, its surface gently shrouded in a veil of mist, soft and tranquil. The rippling water shimmered, layer upon layer, like delicate silk adorned with fine patterns, smooth and verdant.
Looking further out, the lake's color deepened gradually, transforming into a rich emerald.
At the center of the lake stood a colossal tree, its trunk so wide it spanned dozens of meters, as if it could support an entire world.
Sunlight struggled to penetrate the dense canopy of leaves, casting a shimmering, silver-like glow on the rippling water. It was as though the lake's surface had been adorned with fragments of glittering silver or a flawless green satin had been artfully crumpled.
On the opposite side of the giant tree, numerous houses were built along the lake's edge.
In one of the older houses, several ninja wearing Takigakure headbands gathered together.
"This can't go on..."
"The hard-earned peace we've enjoyed seems like it's about to be shattered again..."
"Sigh!"
A long-faced man in his thirties sighed deeply.
"If only that incident hadn't happened back then!"
"Our village's top forces wouldn't have been wiped out."
"And even that Secret Technique—"
"Enough!"
A stout, middle-aged man with a stern expression interrupted sharply. He appeared to be in his forties, with graying hair on both sides of his head while the center remained black, giving him a somewhat unconventional and asymmetrical appearance.
"That man!"
"That Forbidden Technique!"
"No one is allowed to mention them again!"
"But, Chief..."
The long-faced man started to speak but was stopped by the person sitting beside him.
"Chief, what about the Seven-Tails? Are we just going to leave it as it is?"
"Ever since the First Hokage entrusted the Seven-Tails to us, we've never been able to produce a Jinchūriki..."
"Konohagakure even helped us set up the Sealing Technique for the Seven-Tails back then..."
"If we could train a proper Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, then even if war broke out in the ninja world, we'd at least have a way to protect our small village, wouldn't we?"
The man sitting to the chief's left spoke up.
"Hmm..."
The Takigakure chief assumed a contemplative expression.
"That's true, that's true!"
"Every time we've had conflicts with other nations, we've had no choice but to select our elites and have them drink the Hero Water..."
"While this has allowed us to maintain brief periods of peace, it's also prevented Takigakure from producing any ninja capable of shouldering the village's future..."
The long-faced man leaned forward, adding his thoughts.
"Have we discovered any promising talent in the village recently?"
The chief folded his hands under his chin and asked in a deep voice.
"Among the younger generation, there's only one named Mizukiri who shows exceptional talent in Water Release techniques. Other than that, there's no one particularly noteworthy."
The man in black on the chief's left replied, his tone tinged with disappointment.
"Chief, what about your son?"
"As your descendant, surely he must have extraordinary potential, right?"
After some hesitation, the long-faced man finally decided to broach the subject.
"..."
For a moment, the four men at the table fell silent.
"Sekigi..."
"Sigh!"
"Though he's still young, his timid nature... it's already evident..."
"He won't be able to control the Tailed Beast..."
Mentioning his only son, the chief's face darkened with a shadow of worry.
While he wished for his son to grow up safe and happy, being the son of the village chief yet lacking sufficient talent...
It was far from a blessing.
Just as a sense of weakness and helplessness began to pervade the room—
Boom!
A deafening roar jolted everyone out of their negative emotions.
"Hmm?!"
"What happened?"
"Are we under attack?"
The stout chief was the first to react, his face instantly adopting a decisive and capable expression that inspired trust.
Chirp! Chirp!
A series of sharp, insect-like screeches echoed through the air.
The Takigakure chief rushed out of the house ahead of everyone else.
But as he looked ahead, the lake's mirror-like surface had turned into a raging tempest, as if a violent beast hidden beneath the water had triggered a tsunami.
"Hmm?!"
"This power?"
"Could it be that the Seven-Tails' seal has failed?"
The chief's eyes widened in shock. This was the worst-case scenario!
If the Seven-Tails went berserk, how could Takigakure, with its limited resources, possibly withstand it...
Even if every Takigakure ninja drank the Hero Water, it might not be enough...
"Chief! What's going on?"
"What happened?"
"Oh no! What's happening to the lake..."
The other three high-ranking men followed closely behind. When they saw the lake's transformation, they too were left dumbfounded.
Villagers began emerging from their homes, equally stunned by the shocking scene. Some of the more timid children even burst into tears, clinging to their parents' legs.
"Chief, could this be..."
Sweat beaded on the forehead of the man in black. Clearly, as someone privy to the truth, he shared the chief's grim suspicion as he watched the violent upheaval of the lake.
"Quick! Evacuate the area immediately!"
"Organize the civilians and retreat! Leave the lake! I'll deactivate the barrier and lead everyone out of the village from the top!"
The chief wasted no time. As the first wave of surging water rushed toward the village, he decisively issued his orders.
A one-meter-high wave crashed forward, slamming directly into the houses.
Boom!
Under the immense force, the houses crumbled like fragile clay, shattering into pieces.
"Papa!"
"Mama!"
"Taro!"
The cries of children and the shouts of parents filled the once-tranquil village.
"Rescue them quickly!"
Fortunately, under the chief's command, several ninja swiftly pulled the drowning villagers from the water and escorted them to a high slope at the back of the village.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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