Takizo walked through the clan compound.
The Kaguya Clan had been granted a large tract of land by the Daimyo of the Water Country. With a population of nearly a thousand, the compound wasn't crowded.
Influenced by the Hyuga Clan, and due to limited resources, the Kaguya had also split into a "Main Branch" and a "Side Branch."
The division criteria were simple: if you awakened the Dead Bone Pulse, you were Main Branch, even if you were born to Side Branch parents.
Conversely, if a Main Branch child failed to awaken the ability, they were demoted to the Side Branch to work and support the warriors.
Distinguishing between the two was easy.
Main Branch members had two gray dots on their foreheads—the mark of the awakened Dead Bone Pulse.
Takizo arrived at the center of the compound, his home.
After greeting the two Side Branch members working at the gate, he walked straight to the backyard of the main house.
He stood at the bottom of the steps. "Father, I'm back."
A voice came from inside. "Enter."
Takizo slid the door open and walked in.
A middle-aged man with a fierce face that screamed 'I am a villain' was sitting behind a desk.
This was Takizo's cheapskate father, the Patriarch of the Kaguya Clan: Retsukawa Kaguya.
Retsukawa frowned. "Did you go see that white-haired brat again?"
"No, Father," Takizo replied. "I went to the Hidden Mist Village to gather some intel."
"Oh? What kind of intel?" Retsukawa was very satisfied with his son's strength, but he often felt the boy didn't act like a true Kaguya.
He didn't love fighting; instead, he liked gathering information. Boring.
Takizo said, "The village's rejection of kekkei genkai ninjas has worsened. Hoping for the Mizukage to change his mind is impossible."
Retsukawa asked, "Where did you get this information?"
"Mangetsu Hozuki," Takizo answered.
He raised his hand, showing the blood-stained bandages. "I visited under the pretense of a spar. Besides the intel, I also got a piece of news you might be interested in."
Retsukawa suddenly perked up. "Who did you spar with? Suigetsu? That kid is definitely not your match."
He glanced at Takizo's injured hand. "To make you bleed... the only one in the Hozuki younger generation capable of that is Mangetsu himself."
Is that really the point here?
Takizo sighed internally. "It was Zabuza Momochi."
Retsukawa sat up straight. "The Zabuza Momochi with the Executioner's Blade?"
"Yes."
"How did the fight go?" Retsukawa pressed, eyes gleaming.
"I lost, but I broke his Executioner's Blade."
"Good!" Retsukawa clapped his hands loudly. "That's my son!"
He paused, looking Takizo up and down with a predatory gaze. "I haven't tested your strength in a while either. How about right now—"
"Father!" Takizo interrupted quickly. "I'm already injured. The point is the news! The news!"
Retsukawa looked disappointed but waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. Tell me your news."
Takizo looked him in the eye and enunciated every word clearly.
"The Hozuki Clan is planning a rebellion!"
Retsukawa's head snapped up. "What did you say?"
"Mangetsu Hozuki and Zabuza Momochi are plotting a coup," Takizo took two steps closer. "And they want the Kaguya Clan to join them."
Retsukawa leaned forward. "Those two were the Fourth Mizukage's biggest supporters. Why rebel now?"
"Yes. They believe the Fourth's tyranny is a betrayal of their original ideals," Takizo lied smoothly, maintaining eye contact. "They want us to coordinate with them from the outside."
Takizo continued, "They said that if we succeed, the Kaguya Clan will be allowed to establish our own independent ninja village."
Retsukawa asked, "How did you respond?"
"I said I had to report to my father before making any decisions."
SLAP.
Retsukawa slapped his thigh. "Aiya! What is there to report? You should have just agreed right there!"
Takizo blinked. "Don't you need to convene a clan meeting to discuss it?"
Retsukawa stood up. "Discuss what? As long as there's a fight, those idiots will agree faster than anyone."
He walked to the door and shouted, "Someone come here!"
Two Side Branch members rushed over. "Patriarch!"
"Notify all Main Branch members! The clan meeting is moved to tonight! Everyone must attend!"
Takizo was stunned.
I know you're eager, but I didn't think you were THIS eager.
Chill out, old man!
Takizo quickly interjected, "Father, given our clansmen's... personalities... if they find out now, they'll get too excited and start something before the other side is ready."
Retsukawa snorted in dissatisfaction. "The Hozuki Clan is getting worse every generation. So slow! Fine, change it to tomorrow night. But everyone must attend!"
The Side Branch members bowed and left.
Are you sure it's not just you being impatient?
Takizo felt helpless. And to think, Retsukawa was considered the most sane person in the entire Kaguya Clan.
Retsukawa pondered. "How will we communicate with the Hozuki?"
"Once they are ready, they will send Suigetsu as a liaison."
Retsukawa nodded with satisfaction. "At least they know the rules. Sending a hostage. Otherwise, we might have just killed them along with the Mizukage when the time came."
"I'll take my leave then," Takizo said.
"Right. You come to the meeting too," Retsukawa ordered.
Takizo nodded and left.
Back in his room, Takizo pulled out the scroll Mangetsu had given him and started reading.
Hidden Mist Jutsu, Water Prison Jutsu, Water Trumpet, Waterfall Basin Jutsu, Water Dragon Bullet, Great Waterfall Jutsu, Exploding Water Colliding Wave...
Pity, no S-rank jutsu, Takizo thought greedily.
But then again, most S-rank Water Style jutsu in the series were character-specific.
Kisame had his shark dances, the Second Mizukage had his steam explosions, and the Second Hokage had... well, Tobirama had a lot of water.
Tobirama really had a lot of water.
I mean chakra.
Takizo shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and continued reading.
Below the jutsu list, there were Mangetsu's training notes.
And...
A request for Takizo to take Suigetsu with him when he fled.
That was why Mangetsu wanted him to open the scroll right there.
Takizo understood why Mangetsu was being secretive.
If Suigetsu refused on the spot, or if other Hozuki clan members found out, the clan's unity would shatter.
Why does your brother get to run away while my kid has to die?
No one would accept that, no matter the reason.
It was the same reason Takizo hadn't told Kimimaro or the others about his plan yet.
Takizo refocused on the scroll, muttering the hand seals under his breath.
His fingers moved rapidly, practicing the motions.
Step one of learning Ninjutsu: memorize the seal sequence and stop your fingers from cramping up.