The Cruelty of War, Adoptive Mother Becomes Aunt

Kirigakure, Kaguya Clan territory.

After leaving Liehu Island, Takenaka returned directly to the Kaguya Clan territory.

Unlike the bustling atmosphere within Kirigakure, the Kaguya Clan territory was deathly still, cold and desolate, like a patch of wasteland.

Moreover, because the major families of Kirigakure were deeply wary of the Kaguya Clan, the entire Kaguya Clan territory was not located within Kirigakure itself.

This was also one of the reasons Orochimaru had been able to find Kimimaro and take him away after the Kaguya Clan's rebellion in the original story.

Along the way, Takenaka looked at the barren scenery and the indifference on the faces of the clan members he occasionally encountered. When they saw him, they looked at him as though he were a stranger.

Some who had just returned from the battlefield even carried a faint trace of killing intent.

However, whether they were wary of Takenaka's Shili or for some other reason, none of them came forward to disturb him.

Takenaka frowned slightly. Even after coming to this world so many years ago and living with the Kaguya Clan for several years, he still could not adapt to such indifference.

As expected of a clan known for having well-developed limbs and simple minds. With a sigh in his heart, he spotted the former clan leader's house.

Pushing open the door, he saw a middle-aged woman preparing food. Hearing the sound of the door, she turned her head and glanced at him.

"You're back?"

The woman was Yuko Kaguya, the former Kaguya Clan leader's wife and Takenaka's adoptive mother in this life.

Hearing the coldness in Yuko Kaguya's voice, Takenaka did not mind. He nodded, then respectfully bowed. "I've been back for a while, but I had some matters to deal with. I came to see you today only after handling them."

Upon hearing Takenaka's explanation, Yuko Kaguya did not respond. She merely continued with what she was doing and did not speak with him again.

Takenaka could only feel helpless. He knew this was in the Kaguya Clan's nature, though he did not know whether it was caused by the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai.

Everyone in the Kaguya Clan was extremely cold, whether toward outsiders or family. It always felt as though they regarded everyone with hostility.

When Takenaka had first arrived in this world, he had struggled to adapt. He had enthusiastically tried talking to every clan member, only to receive coldness in return, endless coldness.

Only after discovering that his enthusiasm could not move anyone did Takenaka withdraw it. Whenever he was in the clan territory, there was never a smile on his face.

That was also why he had not returned home, even though several months had passed since the war ended.

At dinner, after a simple prayer, the two began eating without exchanging a single word.

Only after Takenaka had finished eating did he take a spatial scroll from his ninja tool pouch and place it on the table. In a low voice, he said, "This is the reward money I earned from missions over the past few years, along with the reward Lord Byakuren granted based on my merits when the village was established. There are thirty million ryo in total. Keep it. If I am unfortunate enough to die in battle someday, this money will be enough for you to live on."

At those words, panic flashed through Yuko Kaguya's eyes. She looked at Takenaka again before saying coldly, "Keep it yourself. If you die in battle, I won't be able to survive alone in the clan either. The money would be useless to me."

Takenaka fell silent for a moment. He knew Yuko Kaguya was telling the truth.

Within the Kaguya Clan, if both a husband and son died in battle, the wife would be thrown into the clan prison by those led by the clan leader, supposedly to avoid wasting food, and left to starve to death.

Even if the clan leader and his son died, the clan leader's wife would be treated the same way by the next clan leader. It seemed to have become a custom.

Takenaka could not understand it, yet somehow, he could.

"Times are different now. The Five Great Nations and the surrounding smaller countries have all entered a full ceasefire. At least for a short while, there won't be another war," Takenaka said solemnly.

"Really?"

Yuko Kaguya found it hard to believe. Wars had continued for centuries up until now. How could they simply stop because someone said so?

Seeing the disbelief in her eyes, Takenaka was not surprised. For so long, the Shinobi World had been filled with war and death. It was understandable that Yuko Kaguya could not believe it.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded and explained, "The war has indeed ended. Given the current state of every country, none of them can continue waging war.

"Not only that, even if war breaks out again in the future, ordinary people probably will not be dragged into it unless a country is conquered. Otherwise, no one will involve ordinary people again."

Upon hearing that, tears began streaming down Yuko Kaguya's face. Yet the experiences of most of her life kept her from making a sound.

"Don't cry. The war is over, and better days will slowly come.

"Take this money. Buy whatever you want, even if you spend it all.

"My Shili is fairly good now. Even Hashirama Senju, the strongest person in the Shinobi World, revered by all as the God of Shinobi, could not kill me.

"So unless something unexpected happens, very few people will be foolish enough to provoke me in the future.

"Likewise, when you live in the clan from now on, you won't have to live in fear anymore, worrying that something might happen one day." Takenaka handed her the spatial scroll and spoke in a deep voice.

After hearing him out, tears still flowed from Yuko Kaguya's eyes. Yet the numbness in her gaze seemed to have lessened considerably, and she appeared a little more alive.

After a while, seeing the sincerity on Takenaka's face, Yuko Kaguya picked up the scroll, rose to her feet, and went inside to lock it away.

Only after quite some time did she come back out and ask Takenaka, "If the war has ended, why might you still die in battle?"

Faced with her question, Takenaka considered it for a moment. He did not hide anything and said, "It doesn't necessarily mean I will die in battle. In a one-on-one fight, there aren't many people in this world who can kill me.

"But there is nothing ninja do that isn't dangerous. Although the war is over now, that doesn't mean there won't be wars again in the future.

"At the very least, there will certainly be frictions between countries and between villages.

"After all, the hatred accumulated over so many years of war will not be forgotten by everyone just because peace has arrived.

"Of course, with my current Shili, the chance of me dying in battle is extremely, extremely small. As long as I don't deliberately seek death, I can keep living."

After hearing that, Yuko Kaguya stared blankly at Takenaka's unbelievably youthful face. After a long time, she finally said, "It seems that during those three years you were sent into the clan's Forbidden Grounds, you gained power that even my husband never obtained.

"Now I finally believe what my husband said before he died. If you were given ten years, and the Kaguya Clan were handed over to you, you would surely make the Kaguya Clan the strongest ninja family in the Land of Water."

Takenaka froze at those words. A moment later, an image of his Adoptive Father flashed through his mind.

It could be said that if every person in the Kaguya Clan who awakened the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai was a madman, then his Adoptive Father had been a powerful madman who could barely keep himself calm.

Unfortunately, he was already gone.

"He never mentioned any of this to me," Takenaka said, shaking his head.

"He never expected me to tell you these things. Oh, and from now on, call me Aunt. Perhaps your parents never told you before they died, but I am your mother's younger sister!"