Conflict

"He never thought I would tell you these things. Oh, and from now on, call me Aunt. Perhaps your parents never told you while they were alive, but I am your mother's younger sister!"

Kirigakure, Kaguya Clan, the former clan leader's home.

Takenaka froze when he heard Yuko Kaguya's words, his face full of surprise. He had never known about this, nor had he ever heard his parents or his Adoptive Father mention it.

It could only be said that the Kaguya Clan cared little for family ties. Or rather, in these troubled times, family meant nothing when weighed against the safety of one's life.

"Aunt?" Takenaka called out tentatively.

"Mm."

Yet Yuko Kaguya's response remained as calm as ever.

Takenaka had already grown used to it. Although his adoptive mother had become his aunt, she was still family. For someone who had been an orphan in both lives, that was quite good.

After a moment of silence, Yuko Kaguya seemed to recall something. Her gaze fell upon Takenaka's face, and as she looked at his youthful features, she said calmly, "Motosawa said your military achievements are enough for you to become Kirigakure's First Mizukage?"

Motosawa, Motosawa Kaguya, was the current leader of the Kaguya Clan. He was fairly strong, an Elite Jonin.

With the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai added in, he should have been able to contend with somewhat weaker Kage-level fighters.

"Mm. If we were judging solely by military achievements, I could indeed become Kirigakure's First Mizukage.

However, Lord Byakuren has the support of the Yuki Clan, the Hozuki Clan, and several other small clans. On top of that, Lord Byakuren once saved the Daimyo's life.

Therefore, no matter what, Kirigakure's First Mizukage can only be Lord Byakuren.

Besides, I have no interest in the position of Mizukage. Ever since Father died on the battlefield, my only goals have been avenging him and growing stronger.

I have already avenged him. I chopped his enemy into eight pieces. So now, I only want to become stronger and protect what I want to protect," Takenaka said directly, without hiding anything from Yuko Kaguya.

At his words, a trace of sorrow flashed through Yuko Kaguya's eyes. After a long while, she looked at Takenaka and said again, "That is good. The position of Mizukage may grant you power, but you are still too young to command respect.

As for your strength, I am not worried about that. My only hope is that if someone ever uses me to threaten you one day, I hope you will not concern yourself with me."

Hearing this, Takenaka smiled and shook his head. "Growing stronger and protecting others are not in conflict.

If I cannot even protect you, my last remaining family, then there is no hope left in this world.

A world without hope should be torn down and rebuilt."

Takenaka's resolute words stunned Yuko Kaguya for a moment. Then she shook her head without saying anything more and turned to walk into the house.

He rested well at home that night. The next day, sunlight actually appeared in the skies that had long been shrouded in thick mist.

The sunlight fell upon him, bringing a warm and comforting feeling.

Yet early that morning, Takenaka was already drenched in sweat in the courtyard. The Six Powers martial techniques he had obtained from the system were all only at the beginner level.

Thus, the fastest way for him to increase his Shili now was to train the Six Powers to a higher level.

After all, beyond the beginner level came minor mastery, major mastery, and peak mastery—three major stages.

Although a martial art like the Six Powers was practically commonplace in the One Piece world, with any Marine elite able to learn a trick or two,

in the Naruto World, it could become something akin to Nintaijutsu.

Not to mention anything else, even Tekkai, which seemed the most useless in the pirate world, could not be cut through by ordinary swords.

And if he could train Tekkai to the point where he could use it while moving, it would be comparable to a very formidable Kekkei Genkai.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...

Move after move, strike after strike. However, without an opponent, his progress was extremely limited.

Furthermore, because of his current age, his body had yet to reach its peak condition, and his muscular strength was still far lacking.

Takenaka understood that this was something that could only be handled slowly.

After training for nearly three hours, the door opened and Yuko Kaguya walked out. Looking at Takenaka, whose clothes were soaked through with sweat, she said, "Takenaka, breakfast is ready."

"Alright!"

Hearing her voice, Takenaka turned to look over. He noticed that Yuko Kaguya seemed to have changed somewhat today. The change was minor, but he could feel it—the lifeless air around her had diminished considerably.

Soon, he took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and came out to have breakfast with Yuko Kaguya.

After some thought, Takenaka prepared to go out for a walk. However, before he could even greet Yuko Kaguya, the courtyard gate was suddenly shoved open from outside.

The force was so great that the wooden bolt on the gate snapped outright.

Takenaka frowned and was about to go take a look, but Yuko Kaguya moved before him and hurried outside.

A moment later, several men's curses and Yuko Kaguya's pleading voice came from the courtyard.

"We told you to move out earlier, but you refused to listen. Since that is the case, do not blame us for being rude."

Suddenly, a man with Chakra roughly at the Jonin level grew a sharp bone from his hand and viciously thrust it toward Yuko Kaguya.

Bang!

"What?"

In an instant, everyone in the courtyard saw the man who had just attacked Yuko Kaguya fly backward like a kite with its string cut, before crashing heavily into the wall.

The force behind it was immense!

"Who are you?"

The Kaguya Clan Ninja stared at the person who had suddenly appeared before them and immediately shouted their demand.

However, when they saw Takenaka's face clearly, the Kaguya Clan Ninja quickly scattered to the edges of the courtyard as though they had seen a ghost.

At that moment, in the center of the courtyard,

Takenaka ignored them. He merely helped Yuko Kaguya, who had just been knocked to the ground, back to her feet. Only after confirming that she was uninjured did he let out a sigh of relief.

Then he turned to look at them. Every Kaguya Clan Ninja swept by his icy gaze felt as though they had fallen into an ice cellar, as if some savage beast had fixed its eyes upon them.

Gulp!

The courtyard was silent enough that even the sound of them swallowing in fear could be heard clearly.

"I hope the clan leader will give me an explanation for this matter. Otherwise, I do not mind having the Kaguya Clan replace its clan leader once again."