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Ignoring the corpses scattered on the ground, Takuya and Kakuzu advanced deeper into Takigakure.
Despite the chaos, Takigakure's population remained sizable. As they passed through the village, curious and cautious glances were cast at the duo, especially at Kakuzu, whose presence instilled fear.
"How did you get in? Where are the elders?" A Takigakure shinobi stepped forward, glaring suspiciously at them.
Kakuzu didn't miss a beat. "I'm Kakuzu. Summon the current leader of the village," he commanded coldly.
"What? Kakuzu? The rogue ninja?!" The shinobi's eyes widened in shock. "I thought you were dead! What have you done with the elders?"
Fear began to ripple through the assembled shinobi as they recognized Kakuzu. They knew the elders had left with nearly a hundred of Takigakure's finest. Now, Kakuzu stood before them, and the elders were nowhere to be seen. Everyone anxiously awaited an explanation.
"Yuta and the others are dead. If you want to avoid the same fate, I suggest you cooperate," Kakuzu said with chilling detachment.
"You killed them all?!" A wave of horror spread among the ninjas.
The Takigakure elite, nearly a hundred strong, led by the elders, were supposed to be an impenetrable force. But how long had they been gone? Had Kakuzu wiped them out in such a short time? How was that even possible?
"Enough talk! We'll capture you and wait for the elders to return!" A group of shinobi, determined despite their fear, charged at Kakuzu in unison.
"**Katon: Zukokku!** **Fūton: Atsugai!**" Kakuzu shouted, unleashing a combined fire-wind technique.
In an instant, the overwhelming power of the combined Fire and Wind Ninjutsu created a massive inferno that consumed the charging shinobi. The temperature surged, and the acrid stench of burning flesh filled the air.
The remaining ninjas recoiled in horror. The display of power was terrifying. Could it be true that the elders had really perished?
"Don't blame me," Kakuzu sighed, noticing the fear in their eyes. "If I hadn't acted, the person next to me would have, and then none of you would be left alive."
"Kakuzu, what is it you want?" An elderly man with graying hair stepped out from the crowd.
"We've come to Takigakure for the Seven-Tails. Hand over the Jinchūriki," Kakuzu demanded, his voice cold as ever.
"Kakuzu, aren't you afraid of angering Takuya-sama by doing this? Takigakure is under his protection now," the old man said, his voice steady despite the tension.
Kakuzu stepped aside, revealing the figure beside him. "The man you're talking about is right here. This is Takuya."
"What?!" The old man's eyes widened in disbelief. After a moment of scrutinizing the figure, he confirmed it was indeed the legendary Takuya. "Takuya-sama, if you wanted the Seven-Tails, we wouldn't refuse you. But why did you have to kill our people?"
Takuya remained calm. "I already spoke with your elder at the entrance to the village. He rejected my request and tried to threaten me. I had no choice but to act."
The old man remained silent for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh. "Such misfortune… Takuya-sama, forgive Yuta's ignorance. I am the second elder. I will bring the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki to you now."
Without hesitation, the second elder brought forth a small, timid girl from the crowd. "This is the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki. Please, take her, Takuya-sama."
"Then I will consider this matter settled," Takuya said, taking the girl by the hand and dissipating his killing intent. "Takigakure is now leaderless. From this moment, Kakuzu will be the new leader of the village."
"As you command," the second elder said, kneeling. The other shinobi followed suit, recognizing Takuya's authority.
Satisfied, Takuya smiled faintly. "That's more like it. Now that the matter is resolved, I'll be on my way. Kakuzu, once you've settled things here, contact Kanziri."
With that, Takuya activated Kamui and vanished with the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki.
"Why the rush..." Kakuzu muttered as he watched Takuya disappear. His eyes widened in sudden realization. His salary—thirty million ryo—hadn't been paid yet! "Damn it!" Kakuzu clenched his fists. Takuya had escaped without paying him! Thirty million ryo—gone!
"Kakuzu-sama, is something wrong?" The second elder asked, noticing Kakuzu's agitation.
"Huh? No, it's nothing," Kakuzu said, taking deep breaths to calm himself. He turned to the second elder. "You're smart. From now on, you'll be my deputy. Together, we'll restore Takigakure to its former glory."
The second elder nodded, and the remaining shinobi voiced no objections. Although Kakuzu was once a rogue ninja, his appointment by Takuya meant they had no choice but to accept him. Moreover, they had seen his terrifying strength firsthand.
"Kakuzu-sama, we will follow your lead. How do you plan to restore our village?" the second elder asked.
"First, find the most beautiful girl in the village and train her to her fullest potential," Kakuzu said after a moment of thought.
The second elder blinked in confusion. "Kakuzu-sama, isn't it a bit inappropriate to choose a wife just after taking office?"
"Choosing a wife? I'm training her for Takuya-sama! Forget it, I'll explain later," Kakuzu waved his hand dismissively. No wonder Takigakure had declined—these people were so outdated. In the shinobi world, everyone knew that pleasing Takuya could get you anything. If the girl they trained became Takuya's wife, Takigakure's rise to power would be inevitable.
---
*Konoha Village.*
Takuya gazed at the small, nervous girl standing before him, offering her a gentle smile.
"Hey there, what's your name?" he asked softly.
"Fu. My name is Fu," the girl whispered.
"Fu… that's a lovely name. Do you know who I am?" Takuya asked, keeping his voice calm.
"Yes, you're the strongest ninja in the world today, Takuya-sama," Fu replied in a hushed tone.
Takuya chuckled softly. "That's right. From now on, you'll be with me. Don't worry, your life will be a hundred times better than it was in your old village."
Fu, a perceptive girl, nodded but then hesitated. "But… Takuya-sama, aren't you going to take the Seven-Tails out of me? If you do that, I'll die."
As a Jinchūriki, she knew that removing a tailed beast usually meant death.
"Don't worry. Even if I take the tailed beast, I won't let you die," Takuya reassured her.
"Really? That's great. I thought… I thought I was going to die," Fu said, relief washing over her.
"You really are a cute little one," Takuya noted, studying her short blue-green hair, handsome features, and wheat-colored skin. She had a unique appearance.
"Alright, let me show you around Konoha," Takuya said, hoping to ease her nerves.
The bustling streets of Konoha left Fu in awe. Having spent her life in a small village, she had never seen such a vibrant place. While Takigakure's natural beauty was undeniable, the lively cityscape and towering buildings of Konoha were unlike anything she had ever seen.
For the rest of the day, Takuya guided Fu through the village, treating her to various delicacies and buying her new clothes to replace her worn-out ones. Gradually, Fu began to open up, becoming more talkative and comfortable around him.
By evening, Takuya brought her to his clan's compound. The luxury of the estate left Fu speechless, and when she saw the room assigned to her, she trembled with excitement.
"Takuya-sama, can I really live here from now on?" Fu asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Of course. If this room feels too small, I can find you a bigger one," Takuya replied with a smile.
"No, no, this room is perfect," Fu shook her head quickly. It was larger than the home of the wealthiest person in her village.
"As long as you're satisfied," Takuya said, handing her the key. "You'll stay here from now on. Two attendants in the outer courtyard will take care of your needs. If you have any concerns, feel free to come to me or Kushina."
"Understood, Takuya-sama," Fu nodded obediently. She had no intention of troubling him. Living in such a place, what could she possibly need?
"Alright, you must be tired after all the excitement today. Get some rest, and I'll check on you tomorrow," Takuya said calmly.
"Takuya-sama, I'm not tired. Aren't you going to remove the tailed beast from me? It's better to do it now," Fu suggested, trying to be helpful. She believed that her only value to him was as the Jinchūriki.
"Alright," Takuya agreed. He had planned to wait until she had settled in, but since she suggested it, there was no reason to delay.
With Fu's cooperation, Takuya extracted the Seven-Tails and sealed it within himself. Afterward, he revived Fu using a reincarnation technique and gently laid her down on the bed. Watching her sleep peacefully, Takuya quietly left the room.
In his office, Takuya summoned the Seven-Tails. The beast, a mix between a beetle and a dragonfly, with a hard shell, large mandibles, six wings, and a tail, materialized before him.
"Takuya-sama," the Seven-Tails, Chomei, greeted him respectfully.
"Chomei, you know my rules. Shukaku and the others must have told you. I have only one request: don't cause trouble," Takuya stated calmly.
"Understood," Chomei nodded. Thanks to Takuya, no ninja dared disrespect the tailed beasts anymore. Chomei had no intention of causing problems.
"Good. You're free to go," Takuya said, dismissing the beast with a wave of his hand.
Chomei hesitated. "Is this really okay?"
"Yes, you're free to go," Takuya confirmed.
"Thank you, Takuya-sama," Chomei said, flying off happily to enjoy the open air.
Once Chomei had left, Takuya crossed its name off his list. Only the Eight-Tails remained. One last trip to Kumogakure, and he would have all the tailed beasts.
"Haha… just wait. I'll deal with you Ōtsutsuki pests soon enough," Takuya's eyes gleamed in the dim light. Since arriving in this world, the Ōtsutsuki clan had been a constant threat. Now, he finally had the power to confront them head-on.
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