In the Stream Country, before a large waterfall.
"This is the designated meeting spot. Just wait quietly," Seiki Shimaseki said, sitting down on a nearby rock.
"I already told you, right?" Kakuzu showed no awareness of his prisoner status, sounding impatient. "The entrance is behind the waterfall!"
"The Takumi village treats this waterfall as a natural barrier," Seiki Shimaseki shrugged. "Under these circumstances, even if I know, I have to act like I don't."
"What a pain!" Kakuzu frowned. "With your strength, you really don't need to care about what weaklings think!"
Seiki Shimaseki shook his head slightly. "It's not others' opinions I care about—it's order!"
"Order? That kind of thing is completely irrelevant..." Kakuzu was speaking when suddenly three figures appeared before them.
"Are you the Konoha envoy, Special Envoy Seiki Shimaseki?" The man standing in the center stepped forward and introduced, "I am Lord Shibuya, leader of the Takumi village. On behalf of our village, I sincerely appreciate Konoha for capturing and returning our rogue ninja!"
Seiki Shimaseki returned a bow. "Lord Shibuya flatters me. This is merely what allies should do!"
Then Shibuya introduced the two people standing at his sides.
"The one on my left is our esteemed Jonin, Zukiri. Without using the Hero Water, my strength probably doesn't even match his. The one on my right is Chikuma, our Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. He is without a doubt our strongest warrior."
Kakuzu had assassinated the First Hokage under orders from several previous leaders of Takumi. They were concerned that Konoha might seek to settle an old grievance, so this time they practically summoned all their village's powerful fighters, at least ensuring they wouldn't lose in terms of momentum.
Kakuzu looked on coldly. "A bunch of idiots!"
This grouping didn't seem particularly threatening to him. If Seiki Shimaseki truly harbored ill intentions, it would be easy for him to wipe them all out at once.
This situation was utterly ridiculous—like three sheep strutting before a lion!
The two who had been exchanging pleasantries with Seiki Shimaseki frowned toward Kakuzu.
"What exactly did you mean by that?"
"You insolent rogue ninja! Who do you think you are to act so arrogant? Do you take yourself for one of our superiors?"
Kakuzu calmly spoke up. "Indeed, the comfortable life behind this waterfall has kept you too long out of touch with the shinobi world! You three—do you really believe he'd fear or retreat before you?"
Their expressions changed slightly. "What are you talking about? When have we ever had such thoughts?"
"Special Envoy Seiki Shimaseki is our esteemed guest from Takumi! We only hold respect for him!"
Kakuzu snorted contemptuously. "Hmph. Whether you do or not—that's something only you can judge!"
"This isn't something a rogue ninja like you should be commenting on!" Shibuya angrily cursed, then turned back to Seiki Shimaseki with an embarrassed but polite smile. "Please forgive any offense, Special Envoy Seiki Shimaseki."
Seiki Shimaseki smiled gently. "Lord Shibuya needn't worry. Of course I understand Takumi's goodwill toward Konoha. After all, our two villages forged deep friendships during the war!"
Shibuya broke into a delighted smile. "Haha, you're absolutely right, Special Envoy Seiki Shimaseki. It was indeed foolish of me just now."
"Special Envoy Seiki, please follow me. The entrance to Takumi village lies behind this waterfall." Shibuya added with an apologetic glance toward Seiki, "Once you return, we'd appreciate it if you kept the location of Takumi's entrance confidential."
Before Seiki could respond, Kakuzu sneered, "Takumi still can't be taken seriously after all these years. Wanting recognition as the Sixth Hidden Village while clinging to its comfortable existence behind waterfalls!"
A vein throbbed on Shibuya's temple as fury surged through him. "Shut up! Don't forget your status as a prisoner!"
Zukiri eyed him suspiciously. "The reports described Kakuzu as cruel and indifferent. You don't seem particularly talkative—could there have been a mistake?"
Kakuzu subtly twitched his lips. He used to speak little because anyone daring to provoke him was already dead.
But did he really have room to rebel now?
Seeing Kakuzu finally fall silent, Shibuya led Seiki behind the waterfall.
Behind the waterfall lay a deep pool, seemingly bottomless, exuding an eerie darkness.
"This pool's pretty deep—it connects down below with the lake in Takumi village. Just swim straight through and you'll reach it!"
With that, Shibuya dove into the water first.
Though deep, the pool posed no obstacle for them as trained ninja.
Soon, all five surfaced on the lake.
Surrounded by lush greenery and towering ancient trees, laughter echoed through what truly seemed like a paradise.
"Special Envoy Seiki, welcome to Takumi!" Shibuya proudly announced upon reaching shore.
"This tranquil peace really is something to envy!" Seiki exclaimed, then turned his gaze toward the massive tree at the village center. "What is this mighty tree?"
The ancient tree stood magnificently, its canopy seeming to uphold the sky like a guardian spirit, sheltering the entire Takumi village beneath its mighty branches.
"Haha, this is..."
As Shibuya hesitated over how to explain, Kakuzu cut in coldly, "This is Takumi's Sacred Tree. Every century, sacred water flows from it—called Hero Water by the villagers here."
"That bastard..." Irritated that Kakuzu had casually revealed village secrets, Shibuya could only nod and say, "Indeed, that is the Sacred Tree's blessing upon Takumi!"
Sacred Tree... Seiki raised his eyebrows, feigning curiosity. "I've heard that drinking the Hero Water multiplies one's chakra many times over?"
With a certain "Takumi traitor" nearby, Shibuya saw no way to hide the truth. "Correct. Hero Water does have such effects!"
Perhaps fearing Seiki might covet the Hero Water, Shibuya hastily added, "However, while increasing chakra, it drastically shortens the drinker's lifespan. Those who consume it sacrifice their lives in battle like heroes—that's why it's called Hero Water."
"Fascinating indeed!" Seiki marveled. "With the Hero Water, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito, and Yoton Ganmuku no jutsu—Takumi's future looks much safer than most would expect."
Needless to say, Takumi possesses the jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails, the Hero Water, and the Yoton Ganmuku no jutsu. With such strength and history, it stands alone among lesser ninja villages.
Even in Seiki's view, when Takumi's leaders sent Kakuzu to assassinate the First Hokage, it may well have been meant to demonstrate their power and demand recognition from Hashirama Senju.
After all, the original five great nations shaped the shinobi world's geopolitical order through the Kage Summit hosted by Hashirama Senju.
This situation resembles the five dominant superpowers of Seiki's past life — once they solidified the global order, it became nearly impossible for smaller factions to gain a foothold.
Words may be spoken without intent, yet they're always heard with meaning.
Zukiri, the only one among the three who hadn't mastered Takumi's secret treasures, couldn't help glancing at Kakuzu again and again, thinking to himself, [Yoton Ganmuku]'s power — shouldn't it be my turn to wield it now?
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