Bone fragments scattered as a broken blade sank into the ground.
Takizo's palms were split open, his hands trembling. Cracks spread like spiderwebs along his bone sword.
Across from him, Zabuza stared at the decapitation blade in his hand, his expression unreadable. He raised his head and said, "You're quite capable, kid. But from here on, I'm going to take this seriously."
Takizo tossed his sword aside, lifted his chin with a grin, and said, "I give up."
Zabuza froze mid-hand sign. "What did you just say?"
Takizo raised his bloodied hands. "I can't fight anymore. I surrender."
Zabuza frowned. "You can still use ninjutsu."
Takizo spread his hands helplessly. "Can't."
Zabuza blinked, confused. "What do you mean, can't?"
Takizo dropped to the ground with a sigh. "First of all, I'm only eight. Second, the Kaguya clan doesn't exactly have many proper ninjutsu techniques."
"The only thing I can use is a few low-level lightning techniques," he continued, "and that's only because—"
"To counter the Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki clan," came a calm voice from behind.
Hozuki Mangetsu entered, followed by his younger brother, Hozuki Suigetsu, who tugged the broken blade from the ground.
He jogged over to Zabuza and grinned. "Hey, hey, since your Decapitating Blade can repair itself, can I keep this broken piece?"
Their interruption made Zabuza lower his hands, abandoning his jutsu. He lightly knocked Suigetsu on the head before looking back at Takizo.
"So, you're really not staying in the Hidden Mist?"
Takizo shook his head. "No."
"What a waste," Zabuza said with a sigh. "With your talent, in a few years you could inherit the Thunder Blades—maybe even join the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
Mangetsu stepped forward, wrapping Takizo's hands in bandages. "Which village are you heading to?"
"The Hidden Cloud," Takizo replied. "It's close to here, and they value bloodline clans."
Suigetsu, still clutching the broken blade, laughed. "Then you won't have to wait for them to kidnap you—they'll welcome you right in."
Everyone burst into laughter.
The Hidden Cloud's reputation for kidnapping talented shinobi was well-known across the ninja world. They preferred abduction over cultivation.
"When will your clan make its move?" Zabuza asked.
Takizo thought for a moment. "Hard to say. My clansmen aren't exactly known for their stability."
Zabuza nodded knowingly.
"But," Takizo added, "this Sunday is the clan assembly. It might happen then."
Mangetsu raised his eyebrows. "Only three days away? That soon?"
"The longer they wait, the more problems arise," Zabuza said. "Now that we have the Kaguya's support, there's no point dragging this out. Time only breeds risk."
He turned to Takizo. "How many fighters can your clan muster?"
Takizo replied, "About two hundred shinobi. A dozen or so Jonin, the rest Chunin."
That number made their decline clear.
For comparison, the Uchiha had over thirty Jonin-level members.
Zabuza nodded; the number was about what he expected.
"The village currently has fifty Jonin," he analyzed. "Subtract the ones on missions, and there are barely thirty here. Around seven hundred Chunin. The Kaguya will be under heavy pressure."
Mangetsu added, "I can mobilize a few extra shinobi temporarily. Too bad Kisame's been busy lately."
Takizo stood up and brushed the dust from his clothes. "No need. Your operation takes priority. Dying in battle is an honor for the Kaguya."
"Well, since that's settled, I should get going," he said with a smile.
"Won't you stay for dinner?" Mangetsu offered.
Takizo shook his head. "Every extra moment I spend in the village raises the risk of exposure."
He paused, glancing toward Suigetsu playing with the broken blade. "What about you, Suigetsu? What are your plans?"
Mangetsu answered for him. "I'll think about it."
Then he frowned slightly. "You sound like you're certain we'll fail."
Takizo shook his head. "I just prefer to consider defeat before victory."
Mangetsu fell silent for a moment, then went into the house. When he returned, he held a scroll in his hand.
He tossed it to Takizo. "Here. A Water Style ninjutsu scroll. Take it. I can't help you with Lightning Release, though."
Takizo caught it midair.
"Not going to open it?" Mangetsu asked with a smile.
Takizo unrolled it briefly, then nodded with raised brows. "This helps a lot. Thanks."
Looking at the three of them, he felt a rare pang of sentiment.
Zabuza and Mangetsu were about to attempt the assassination of the Mizukage—a mission with almost no chance of survival.
He himself was preparing to flee with a handful of children, crossing the sea under pursuit. Their fates were equally uncertain.
"This might be the last time we meet," Takizo said softly.
He extended his fist toward them. "May fortune favor you all in battle."
Mangetsu laughed and bumped his fist against Takizo's. "That sounded a lot more sincere than before."
Zabuza followed suit. "Stay alive, kid."
"And me, and me!" Suigetsu ran over and joined their fists.
Together, they said, "May our blades rise high, and our fortune never fade."
Takizo smiled and turned to leave. Zabuza departed as well, and the Hozuki brothers went back inside.
Silence settled over the training field once more.
Only the broken bone sword remained, a silent proof of what had just transpired.
Then, the ground began to ripple faintly.
A strange, mocking voice murmured, "Eh~ I think I just overheard something important~ Should I tell Obito~?"
Another, low and rasping, replied, "Remember. It's Madara."
"Yes, yes," the first voice mimicked in a singsong tone, "Mada."
"Shut up. Move before they notice."
The earth squirmed again, then grew still. After a long silence, a spark of lightning flashed across the discarded bone sword—and it vanished.
Far away, darting through the forest, Takizo's expression changed.
As expected.
Zetsu.
They'd been eavesdropping all along. No wonder Zabuza's rebellion failed in the original timeline.
But it didn't matter.
Takizo had never believed they could win anyway.
The Kaguya and Hozuki combined still couldn't match the entire Hidden Mist. Zabuza and Suigetsu were no match for Yagura, Kisame, or Obito.
All Takizo wanted was chaos—enough confusion to slip away unnoticed.
Now came the real challenge: dealing with the Kaguya clan itself How to ignite their fury toward the village?
He had a few ideas, but the words needed refining.
As he pondered, the silhouette of the Kaguya settlement appeared ahead.
His steps slowed.
Compared to yesterday, his heart felt strangely calm.
Alright then.
It was time to face his birth clan.
Kaguya Takizo smirked inwardly, his mood oddly light.