In the Land of Rivers, within a not-so-large village.
A man in black, wearing a fox mask, walked along the village road.
When nearby villagers saw him, they couldn't help but shy away, pulling their children close to prevent them from approaching the masked man.
Finally, Takuno stopped in front of a relatively luxurious residence in the village. Instead of knocking, he stepped directly inside.
Seeing this scene, the surrounding villagers hesitated, wondering whether to go and help.
"Who are you?!" Inside the residence, there was a couple and their young child.
"I am a ninja who enjoys collecting peculiar items," Takuno introduced himself.
"A ninja?!" The young man with light blonde hair was surprised and became wary. He said, "I don't have any peculiar items here, Lord Ninja. You've come to the wrong place."
"This child's name is Temujin, isn't it?" Takuno came before Temujin and reached out to ruffle his hair.
This scene left Temujin's parents completely stunned. Temujin's mother couldn't help but cry out, "Don't hurt my child!"
"Lord Ninja, this is indeed my child, Temujin." Temujin's father's heart slowly sank; the other party was clearly prepared.
"Then there's no mistake. May I ask you to give me the Book of Gelel?" Takuno asked directly. He remembered that Haido had killed Temujin's parents when he was young, all for this book.
This book also recorded everything about the Gelel Stone, including how to use it, which would save him a lot of research time, so he had to get this book.
Upon hearing 'Book of Gelel,' Temujin's father's face immediately turned pale.
At this moment, Temujin seemed to sense that Takuno was 'bullying' his parents, and he pounded Takuno with his small fists.
This scene almost made Temujin's mother faint. When she wanted to beg for mercy for Temujin, she found that the other party didn't care.
"Well, actually, I'm the kind of person who prefers peaceful transactions, but if you don't give it to me, I might have to use some unconventional methods, which you might not be able to bear," Takuno said.
Saying this, he looked into Temujin's father's eyes. His eyes quietly turned blood-red, with a single tomoe spinning within, displaying some memories to the other party in the form of an illusionary realm.
After a long while, Temujin's father's face was pale. He looked around and realized he wasn't dead, and Temujin hadn't been deceived by the people who killed them, nor had he almost been killed by them after helping them.
"If you agree to give it to me, I can help you deal with that person," Takuno said at this moment.
Immediately, Temujin's father fell silent, then nodded with difficulty.
It wasn't that he wanted to believe in some illusionary realm, but he couldn't do anything even if he didn't believe it. The other party could perfectly kill him first, just like that fellow in the illusionary realm, and then take the Book of Gelel.
Moreover, did the other party really need to deceive him?
"So, can you give me the Book of Gelel now?" Takuno looked at him and said.
Temujin's father paused, then sighed. What right did he have to make conditions?
He went into the house and took out a tightly wrapped book, handing it to Takuno with a reluctant gaze.
"The transaction is complete. That person will no longer appear before you." Takuno quickly flipped through it to confirm it was real, then let out a light chuckle before disappearing from their sight.
At this time, Temujin's parents rushed to Temujin, embracing him and checking on his safety.
They finally breathed a deep sigh of relief when they confirmed that Takuno had indeed done nothing to Temujin.
Walking on the road towards the base of the great merchant Haido, Takuno sighed, realizing he was indeed a peace-loving ninja.
No deaths occurred when he obtained the Gedo Statue. Well, what others killed was none of his business.
No deaths occurred when he obtained the meteorite, and now, no casualties have occurred with the Book of Gelel he has obtained.
It was only when he wanted to obtain the Shikotsumyaku that the crazy Kaguya Clan attacked without reason, and he merely punished them slightly.
As for Haido, whom he was now going to eliminate, that was merely part of the transaction. Blame Temujin's father.
Moreover, Takuno looked at the fresh blood in his hand; this was Temujin's blood, which he had collected along the way.
The other party was a royal member of the Grell Kingdom, and it was said that only those of royal Kekkei Genkai could perfectly control the power of the Gelel Stone.
But Takuno didn't believe it, because the Gelel Stone was not created by them, but discovered by them, and the power was ultimately refined by them.
Therefore, to the Gelel Stone, the royalty was initially no different from ordinary people. At most, during the refining process, they deliberately used some means, which is why only the royal family could use the Gelel Stone without side effects.
Takuno obtained Temujin's blood to study what was special in his Kekkei Genkai.
As for whether fusing with the other party using the Chimera Technique could perfectly utilize the power of the Gelel Stone? That was impossible; the Gelel Stone was not worthy of him wasting a fusion slot.
After putting away Temujin's blood, Takuno quickly headed towards his next destination.
Soon, he arrived at Haido's base and walked in as if no one else was there.
"Who are you!"
The guard tried to stop Takuno, but his movements ceased the next moment. His body was split in two, and blood splattered everywhere.
"Water Release: Water Blade Rotation Technique!"
A rotating stream of water appeared around Takuno, moving with him as he walked. Those who tried to stop him were cut into several pieces, just like those madmen from the Kaguya Clan.
The good thing, compared to the Kaguya Clan, was that they weren't madmen, so they were afraid after seeing this scene and didn't rush forward as if they had a death wish.
Indeed, most of them had already fled.
Takuno did not stop them; his target was only Haido. Killing a few in a bloody manner first was to scare away the remaining people and save trouble.
Soon, the strong smell of blood attracted the people from within the mansion.
The one in the middle, with a benevolent expression, was Haido. He always deceived others, claiming to want to realize some ideal nation, but in reality, he only wanted to gain immortality using the power of the Gelel Stone.
As for any ideal nation, that was, of course, his deception.
"Who are you?! Why are you killing my men!" Haido looked at the man in black wearing a fox mask, angrily exclaiming. He couldn't remember offending anyone.
"I am a ninja who enjoys collecting peculiar items. Do you have the Gelel Stone on you? Can you give it to me?"
Takuno did not mention a transaction this time, because the other party was already the subject of a transaction.
Next, he just needed to deal with the other party and get the Gelel Stone.