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The bustling streets of the Land of Rivers were alive with the shouts of merchants hoping to attract passersby.
"Fresh fruits, just picked this morning! Come and take a look!"
"Konoha's authentic three-color dango! Free samples available!"
"Our grand opening special: 20% off your entire stay at our hotel! Don't miss out!"
"Unlimited drinks at our shop! Come and enjoy!"
In the midst of the lively scene, a man in a traditional kimono walked slowly down the street, leading a young girl with short blonde hair by the hand.
"Master... are we leaving already?" the girl asked, her voice tinged with reluctance.
"Hotaru, we can't stay in one place for too long. It's dangerous," the man replied softly.
"But Master... why?" Hotaru pressed, looking up at him.
"Because, Hotaru, I'm a rogue ninja," Utakata answered, his tone a mix of regret and resignation.
"Oh..." Hotaru's expression fell as she looked down. She understood that her master, Utakata, was once the Jinchūriki of the Six-Tails from Kirigakure. Now a rogue ninja, they were forced to stay on the move constantly to avoid capture.
"Master, why did you leave the village in the first place?" Hotaru asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. "If you hadn't, we wouldn't have to live like this, right?"
"Hotaru," Utakata began gently, "You're still young, so you don't fully understand the way Jinchūriki are treated in their villages. Being monitored every day, living under constant suspicion... it's not a life I could endure. The freedom we have now, even if it's fleeting, is worth the risk."
Hotaru nodded, though she didn't entirely grasp the depth of his pain. She had been with her master for as long as she could remember, and though she longed for the peacefulness of the Land of Rivers, she didn't want to add to his burden.
"Is there anything you'd like to eat or play with? Just tell me, and I'll get it for you," Utakata said, his voice tinged with a hint of guilt.
"No need, Master. I'm just happy to be with you," Hotaru replied, forcing a smile. Despite the challenges they faced, she cherished their time together.
Seeing her trying to mask her feelings, Utakata bought a skewer of candied haws from a nearby vendor and handed it to her. "Here, have this."
"Thank you, Master!" Hotaru exclaimed, her smile now genuine as she eagerly accepted the treat.
As they left the town behind, Hotaru asked, "Master, where are we going next?"
"We're heading to the Land of Birds," Utakata replied after a moment of thought. "It's not going to be an easy journey."
They were on the northern border of the Land of Rivers, and ahead of them lay vast forests, the treacherous Land of Rain, and then the Land of Birds. It would indeed be a long and arduous journey.
"I understand, Master. I'm stronger now—I won't slow you down," Hotaru declared, determination lighting up her eyes.
"Heh, I'll be keeping an eye on your progress," Utakata said with a rare smile. The ninja world had changed drastically since Takuya's rise to power. While the nations still bore their names, they were slowly moving toward unification. For now, they could still hide in smaller countries, but once the world was truly unified, even these small villages would no longer be safe.
As Utakata pondered their uncertain future, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Hotaru, walking closely behind him, bumped into his back.
"Ouch! Master, why did you stop so suddenly?" she asked, rubbing her forehead.
Utakata didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the figure leaning against a thick tree ahead of them. The man wore luxurious robes and watched them intently.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Utakata asked, his voice calm but laced with caution. Though the man didn't bear the typical markings of a Kirigakure ANBU, his presence in such a remote area was highly suspicious.
"Are you Utakata?" the man asked with a slight smile.
He's here for me, Utakata realized, his gaze sharpening. Without hesitation, he hurled several shuriken at the stranger.
Clang! Clang! Clang! The man effortlessly deflected the shuriken with a swift movement of the long knife at his waist.
"No need to be so hasty. I'm here to discuss something with you," the man said calmly.
"First, tell me who you are and what you want to discuss," Utakata demanded, his stance tense.
"My name is Senju Takuya. I'm here to ask you to hand over the Six-Tails," the man stated, his tone matter-of-fact.
Utakata's eyes widened in shock. Senju Takuya, the one who had reshaped the ninja world, stood before him.
"Why should I trust you?" Utakata asked, his voice cold.
"Trust isn't necessary," Takuya replied evenly. "As long as you hand over the tailed beast, I can guarantee your resurrection."
"That's a nice story, but even a child wouldn't believe it. Even if you are Senju Takuya, there's no way you can pull off something like that," Utakata retorted, readying his bubble blower—a tool he used for both attack and defense.
"Separate the tailed beast and then bring me back to life? What a joke!" Utakata said, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
"Hotaru, stay back," he instructed firmly.
"Understood, Master. Be careful," Hotaru replied, quickly taking cover behind a nearby tree. She had been through this many times and had faith in her master's abilities.
"I understand your skepticism. It does sound unbelievable," Takuya acknowledged. "But once you witness my power, you may think differently."
With those words, Takuya's aura shifted, radiating a powerful, oppressive energy.
"Water Style: Soap Bubble Technique!"
Utakata placed his bubble-blowing device in his mouth and exhaled gently.
Instantly, countless bubbles formed in the air, drifting slowly towards Senju Takuya.
"Is this supposed to be a threat?" Takuya remarked with a hint of disdain, shaking his head at the approaching bubbles.
"You'll see soon enough," Utakata replied with a scoff.
These bubbles were infused with the chakra of the Six-Tails, Saiken. Not only could they explode on command, but they also released a corrosive acid mist upon detonation, making them effective for both offense and defense. Being surrounded by these bubbles was a near-certain death sentence.
Despite the bubbles closing in, Takuya remained motionless, not even attempting to dodge. Utakata's expression darkened.
Does he really think he can just ignore me? Fine, let him learn the hard way.
As Utakata maneuvered the bubbles to encircle Takuya, a smirk spread across his face. "You're finished."
"Is that so?" Takuya replied calmly, his expression unchanged, as if the bubbles were no more than a minor inconvenience. He intended to show Utakata just how vast the gulf between their abilities was.
"We'll see how long you can keep that smirk," Utakata sneered. "Detonate!"
With a sharp command, the bubbles exploded in unison, unleashing a powerful blast that tore through the ground, leaving massive craters in its wake. A thick, acrid mist filled the air, obscuring everything.
A triumphant smile crept onto Utakata's face. "It's over. No one could survive that—not even a Jinchūriki."
"Is that what you think?"
Takuya's voice rang out clearly, shattering Utakata's certainty. As the acid mist gradually dissipated, Utakata's eyes widened in disbelief. The ground was a devastated wasteland, stripped of all life, yet Takuya stood at the center, untouched, his clothes immaculate.
"How... how is this possible?" Utakata muttered in shock. His most potent attack had failed to even scratch Takuya.
"Your turn is over. Now, it's mine," Takuya stated as he deactivated the protective Susanoo that had shielded him. He raised his hand towards Utakata.
"Universal Pull!"
At Takuya's command, a powerful gravitational force yanked Utakata towards him. Despite Utakata's desperate attempts to resist, he was swiftly pulled in.
With a swift motion, Takuya's hand closed around Utakata's throat. "A simple squeeze is all it takes to snap your neck. Do you understand now, the difference in our strength?"
"Damn you," Utakata growled, releasing his hold on the Six-Tails' chakra. Instantly, his form expanded, enveloped in the violent chakra of Saiken. A colossal, slug-like creature coated in sticky mucus appeared, looming over Takuya.
"Saiken, stand down," Takuya commanded, his tone unyielding.
"ROAR!" Saiken bellowed in defiance, refusing to retreat.
"It seems you need to be taught a lesson," Takuya remarked coldly.
In a flash, a massive wooden palm—part of Takuya's Wood Style technique—materialized and crashed down on Saiken with tremendous force.
*BOOM!*
The ground quaked as a deep crater formed where the blow landed. Saiken howled in pain before shrinking back, revealing Utakata's battered form lying in the pit.
"You... you really are Senju Takuya," Utakata croaked, his voice filled with both pain and awe. His body ached as if it were about to shatter, but the shock of seeing the Six-Tails subdued so easily far outweighed the physical agony. Such overwhelming power was unimaginable, something only the legendary Takuya could possess.
"Now, do you believe me?" Takuya asked, looking down at the defeated ninja.
"I believe you, Takuya-sama. Please forgive my earlier insolence," Utakata said sincerely. He now fully grasped Takuya's strength. There was no need for someone of such power to deceive him. Perhaps, just perhaps, Takuya really could fulfill his promise.
"Good. The tailed beast may grant you power, but it's also the source of your suffering. Let me help you put an end to this," Takuya said, pulling Utakata closer to begin the extraction of the Six-Tails' chakra.
At that moment, a noise interrupted the tension. With a casual wave of his hand, Takuya deflected several shuriken that had been hurled towards him. A young girl rushed forward, placing herself protectively in front of Utakata.
"Please don't hurt my master!" Hotaru exclaimed, spreading her arms wide. Though her voice quivered, there was a fierce determination in her eyes.
"Hotaru, it's alright," Utakata said gently, afraid she might provoke Takuya's wrath.
"Master... is what he said true?" Hotaru asked, looking up at Utakata.
"Yes. You saw his power for yourself. A man this strong has no reason to lie," Utakata replied with a weary smile.
"Then... Takuya-sama, I apologize for my rudeness!" Hotaru bowed deeply to Takuya, her respect for him clear.
"A spirited child," Takuya noted with mild amusement. He didn't take offense at her actions—Hotaru was, after all, just a child.
"Step aside. I need to proceed," Takuya instructed.
After Hotaru moved out of the way, Takuya placed his hand on Utakata and began the process of extracting the Six-Tails' chakra.
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