In the world of ninjas, even the most skilled warriors need a place to unwind, and the hot springs were a favorite retreat.
"Ah, this is the best. Soaking in the hot springs is the most comfortable thing in the world," one of the women sighed contentedly.
"Agreed. Keeping the seal intact all day really takes a toll," another replied, leaning back with a weary smile.
"Enough chatter! Let's enjoy it while we can—we've got the night shift coming up," the third woman reminded them, her voice carrying a note of urgency.
In the steaming waters, the three kunoichi relaxed, unaware of the pair of eyes observing them from a tree nearby.
Kazuyama perched quietly on a branch, his eyes fixed below as he muttered, "Different lands really do have their own charm." His gaze lingered, and he couldn't help but add under his breath, "That woman from Takigakure... her skin is absolutely flawless."
He knew his actions were anything but honorable, yet as a self-proclaimed professional in such escapades, he prided himself on remaining undetected. Still, a phrase from their conversation caught his attention: the seal.
"Could it be... the Seven-Tails?" he wondered silently, his curiosity piqued.
Back in the hot springs, the women's banter continued unabated.
"Kuroba, keep your hands to yourself!" one of them snapped.
"Why not? Syaro, your figure is amazing. I can't help but be a little jealous," Kuroba replied with a playful pout.
"Go away, you flatboard!"
"Aaaaaah! I'm not flat!"
The peaceful spring now buzzed with playful bickering, an idyllic scene that might even warrant a fee for the audience—if Kazuyama were the sort to share his view.
One of the women, who had been silent so far, leaned against a tree and spoke calmly. "Alright, enough fooling around. We need to rest. The seal on the Seven-Tails isn't stable yet, and they'll be calling us to switch shifts soon."
Her words drew immediate attention.
"Tomoe, stop acting like the cool one!" Kuroba shouted. "Take this! My Dragon Claw Hand!"
Their teasing turned into a lively splash-filled skirmish, shattering the tranquil atmosphere of the hot spring.
Kazuyama suppressed a nosebleed at the scene and decided it was time to leave. Quietly, he slipped away from the tree.
Kazuyama Gekkō began to ponder the information he had just received.
The seal of the Seven-Tails...
He never imagined he would encounter it during a casual visit to Takigakure. Yet, as a ninja village with a Tailed Beast, Takigakure's defenses were formidable. He acknowledged the challenge, but the thought of retreating didn't sit well with him.
Since I've come this far, turning back now would only be a disservice to myself.
A spark of determination lit up his eyes. He was resolved to fight. For the dream he'd clung to for so long—to soar through the skies—what was a little obstacle? If things got really bad, the Flying Thunder God Technique would give him a guaranteed way out.
Sometimes, you've got to take a leap of faith—like turning a bicycle into a motorcycle.
Outside Takigakure, Suzaku and Shibi sat on a rock, their gazes fixed on the cascading waterfall in the distance.
"Shibi, I have a bad feeling all of a sudden. Do you think that idiot Kazuyama will stir up trouble?" Suzaku asked, his voice edged with unease.
Shibi blinked in mild surprise before shaking his head with a chuckle. "Suzaku, you know what Kazuyama is like. He's all talk and no bite."
He paused, considering his next words. "For as long as I can remember, he hasn't even taken a B-rank mission. He rarely accepts C-rank ones, either. According to him, money and missions aren't worth risking his safety."
Suzaku nodded slightly at the response, his expression relaxing a fraction. He was a few years older than Kazuyama but well-acquainted with the younger ninja. After all, the Gekkō Clan was a part of Konoha, renowned for their expertise in intelligence work.
Still... He sighed inwardly. "I hope I'm just overthinking this."
...
The place where the Seven-Tails was sealed lay at the very back of the waterfall. A cave surrounded by cascading water served as the stronghold for the powerful seal. At this moment, a dozen Takigakure ninja sat around the waterfall, their expressions grim. In front of them was a complicated Fūinjutsu array, glowing faintly with chakra. The air was tense, punctuated by the constant banging sounds from deep within the cave—the unmistakable struggle of the Seven-Tails, Chōmei.
"Everyone, try harder!"
"The seal is about to stabilize!"
The leading Jōnin, gritting his teeth, barked out encouragement to his weary comrades. Not far away, hidden under the Transparent Escape Technique, Gekkō Kazuyama observed the scene with a calculating gaze. He was deep in thought, trying to devise a way to distract the Takigakure ninja long enough to slip inside unnoticed.
After much contemplation, he realized how difficult this would be. There were simply too many ninjas maintaining the seal, many of them Jōnin. For a mere Chūnin like him, taking advantage of the situation seemed nearly impossible. And even if he managed to sneak in, sealing the Seven-Tails inside himself presented an even bigger challenge.
As he mulled over his options, a mischievous grin spread across his face. He retreated from the seal's location and perched on a nearby tree, cross-legged. From his robe, he retrieved a scroll inscribed with the character for "seal."
"Hey, hey, Jiraiya's scroll of sealing techniques…" he muttered, an unmistakable glee in his voice.
"This is it—the Four Symbols Seal… heh…"
His sly grin widened as he glanced back toward the cave in the distance, already concocting a plan.
Step one: distract the Takigakure ninja.
Step two: infiltrate the sealed area.
Step three: convince Chōmei to let him seal it inside himself.
It sounded straightforward, but Kazuyama knew it would be anything but. Undeterred, he spent the next three days creating chaos in the village. Thanks to his Transparent Escape Technique, he carried out an absurd plan: stealing all the windows and doors in Takigakure.
Yes, windows and doors.
Under the cover of night, he dismantled them from homes and buildings, piling them up in the village center. On top of that, he pilfered ninja tools, food supplies—anything he could get his hands on. This bizarre theft threw the entire village into panic. From Genin to Jōnin, everyone was on high alert, patrolling the village nonstop. Meanwhile, they still had to monitor and maintain the Seven-Tails' seal, leaving the ninja of Takigakure utterly exhausted.
Kazuyama, however, was thrilled. His escapades had even marginally improved his physical and mental attributes. For the next three days, he closely monitored the seal. He discovered that it was changed every eight hours, leaving him with a critical 20-second window to sneak in—provided no additional alarms were triggered.
As a precaution, he set up the Flying Thunder God Technique at the four cardinal points of Takigakure. If anything went wrong, he'd be ready to escape in an instant.
On the fourth day, he finally made his move. Timing the shift change perfectly, he activated his Transparent Escape Technique and dashed into the cave in one smooth motion. His heart pounded as he carefully watched his step, fearful of triggering any traps. But when he reached the sealed chamber, he realized his concerns were unfounded.
Takigakure, confident in their natural defenses, had never imagined anyone would breach the village via the waterfall and penetrate the cave. Apart from the seal on the Seven-Tails, there were no other defenses in place.
Standing before the massive Tailed Beast bound by glowing chains, Kazuyama couldn't help but grin.