A Beastly Master

The Land of Water, though spoken of by outsiders as a grim and terrifying nation, is in reality a place of beautiful scenery.

It is a pity, however, that the civil strife which erupted even earlier than the Third Shinobi World War caused considerable damage to the land. Although the internal conflict has ended, the scars of the civil war remain visible everywhere.

Qi was currently on the road to the territory of the Kaguya Clan. Through his conversations with the member of the Yuki Clan who was escorting him, he finally learned the time period in which he found himself.

It was the early stage of the Third Shinobi World War, meaning he belonged to the same generation as Kakashi and the others.

However, because they did not participate in the Third Shinobi World War, the Land of Water had become the first of the Five Great Nations to achieve peace, unlike the other four which were still locked in the stalemate of war. One had to admit, this was quite ironic.

Most importantly, the Third Shinobi World War seemed far from over. The legendary feat of the Yellow Flash instantly taking out five Rock Shinobi with the Flying Thunder God technique had not yet occurred, which meant that Qi had plenty of time.

It wasn't easy, but he finally had some good news.

Qi couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

After the Third Shinobi World War, a conflict between Konoha and the Cloud Village would soon follow. This was rare; most powerhouses were born in times of war. He would have ample time to grow stronger, provided, of course, that he didn't provoke certain monsters.

As for what would happen once he became strong, that wouldn't matter.

The distinction between the strength of a ninja is sometimes quite subtle; once a certain level is reached, it is no longer just about cultivation.

This is what they call life and death being governed by fate. Once you become a ninja, you have one foot in the gates of hell; it is not strange to die anywhere.

A ninja can use any means necessary to survive, but they cannot fear death. Those who fear death lack ruthlessness and dare not fight, resulting in them dying even faster.

These were the words the elder had spoken to Qi a few days ago, calling it the way of a ninja's survival. After hearing it, Qi had to admit that although he had been in this world for six years, he was still not one of them.

The differences between the two worlds could not be distinguished by the form of civilization alone. Whether it was values, worldviews, or even the most basic logical thinking, this place had completely different standards from Earth.

It seemed that getting used to this place, or even becoming a true "local," would inevitably be a long-term process.

The journey was neither long nor short, and Qi walked for a full week.

This was not surprising, as the current traffic safety situation in the Land of Water was even more "cool" than the Africa of his previous life!

Along the way, Qi calculated that the time spent eating, sleeping, and walking added up to only about one-third of the total, while the other two-thirds were spent doing one thing: fighting off petty thieves, bandits, or refugees who jumped out from the roadside.

As one of the wounds caused by the war, groups of refugee bandits were now rampant in the Land of Water. Most of them were farmers who had lost their homes and land; in order to survive, they had to resort to this kind of desperate business.

However, once they failed, it wasn't just a loss of money, but a loss of life.

Qi was still a relatively kind-hearted lad, so he pleaded with the clansman to show mercy. Although there were many skirmishes along the way, there was very little slaughter, which could finally be considered a good deed.

"Truly kind-hearted. It's a pity that a ninja's motto is that no good deed goes unpunished."

The clansman agreed to Qi's request. He indeed did not kill anyone, but every time he wounded and drove them away, he would point at those people and say to Qi, "Look, there is only hatred in their eyes. This is what a ninja is: living amidst the hatred of others."

To be honest, this week of travel had a far greater impact on Qi than his six years in the Yuki Clan. These scenes were something he could never have seen in the anime of his previous life.

Especially the way the clansman looked at ordinary people as if they were pigs or dogs, which told him exactly what power represented in this world.

Several times, he saw the clansman use an almost playful expression to sever people's limbs from a distance with ice spikes, laughing heartily as if he thought it were merely entertainment.

No wonder he had agreed to Qi's request to show mercy without hesitation; to him, these ordinary people were just ants. Whether to kill them or not depended entirely on his mood; it was of no consequence.

However, for Qi, this was quite a formidable test. He had never seen such gore before, so after the first refugee was disemboweled before his eyes, he didn't hesitate to turn his head and vomit violently.

Once there was a first time, there was a second and a third. As the clansman's methods became increasingly ruthless, his frequency of vomiting began to decrease, and the amount he vomited became less and less.

Eventually, the vomiting stopped. Qi gradually went from feeling unbearable to, in the end, simply becoming numb. In this way, he completed his first transformation in this world.

What he didn't notice was that after the clansman discovered his slow transformation, a trace of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Afterward, his methods for driving away refugees became more peaceful, and he never performed such acts again.

Regardless, when Qi finally arrived at the Kaguya Clan, he had developed a much greater immunity to scenes with high levels of bloodshed compared to before.

"Alright, from now on, you will live here. Cultivate well; the future of the clan depends on you children."

Having escorted Qi to the main gate of the Kaguya Clan, the clansman patted Qi on the shoulder and began to say his goodbyes with a smile.

"Us?"

Qi realized that this guy wasn't actually a cruel person. He was not only cheerful when he smiled but also very caring toward him. Yet, such a person was so cruel when dealing with those refugees.

The world of ninjas sometimes really makes one feel like they are having a mental breakdown.

"Of course, it's 'you all.' How could one person revitalize the clan? The clan has long been secretly cultivating many children like you. In the future, if the clan falls, you will be the hope for its revival."

After saying a few casual words, the clansman's gaze suddenly turned toward the gate.

Compared to the exquisite architecture of the Yuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan was clearly much more "rugged."

Perhaps, in the eyes of these rough men, as long as a house could shelter people and was sturdy enough, that was all that mattered.

The buildings of the Yuki were all wooden structures, while the Kaguya Clan used a mix of stone and wood. For instance, the main gate was carved from a single massive boulder; he truly wondered how they had managed that.

"Hmph, hmph! You sissy from the Yuki Clan, don't you dare corrupt my nephew!"

The voice arrived before the person, a harsh, grating tone echoing from afar.

The Yuki clansman escorting Qi couldn't help but frown.

Clearly, although the two families hadn't rolled up their sleeves to fight, their relationship wasn't exactly friendly either.

"Boy! Are you not convinced? For the sake of you escorting my nephew, I won't make things difficult for you today!"

The owner of the voice finally appeared; to be precise, it was a group of people.

The Kaguya Clan is a very famous combat clan in the Land of Water, and outsiders' assessments of them are often very direct and simple.

Lunatics, psychos, savages...

In short, nothing good.

Just as in the original work, the Kaguya Clan's attire is truly archaic, especially their hairstyles. Regardless of gender, they are all the same: a pair of "braided buns" on the sides of their heads, which makes Qi feel a massive headache.

Fortunately, he grew up in the Yuki Clan; if he had to style his hair like that, how could he ever show his face in public?

The burly man walking at the very front appeared before Qi while wearing a "hehe" grin, his face full of ill intent.

"The Yuki women don't feed their kids! Look at my nephew, he's skinny as a rail!?"

"Hahahaha!"

"That's right, that's right!"

The big, rough men behind him let out lewd laughs, their eyes, fierce enough to kill, constantly drifting toward Qi.

Some people are born with a fierce look, but the Kaguya Clan is a bit more extreme; their entire clan has a fierce look. Even when they smile, it's a sinister grin!

Of course, there are exceptions, such as Kimimaro from the original work, who didn't look "Kaguya" at all...

Although he didn't know for what purpose the Kaguya Clan imprisoned Kimimaro, no matter how Qi thought about it, he felt it couldn't have been out of "fear."

In the original work, the Kaguya Clan ran off to fight the Mist Ninja as a whole, and even knowing they were doomed, they were all happy as could be. Such single-mindedness is truly insulated from the word "fear."

However, the reality is that Kimimaro hasn't even been born yet, and the large group of Kaguya clansmen before him doesn't look like the type to lock their own kin in a dark dungeon.

On the contrary, they are overly enthusiastic; Qi can't hear anything else, only roars growing louder by the second.

"Kid! Don't be afraid, if the Yuki won't give you meat, we will! Eat until you're full!"

This remark was purely meant to stir up trouble. Amidst the boisterous laughter, the burly man seemed to become a bit embarrassed, and he turned back to curse fiercely:

"Shut up! You glutton!"

After this burst of shouting, the rough men of the Kaguya Clan finally quieted down.

"Alright, since my nephew has been delivered, you can go back and report."

Without ceremony, he signaled for his clansmen to take Qi away, and the burly man—the current patriarch of the Kaguya Clan—issued an order of eviction to the Yuki who had escorted Qi.

"We agreed long ago: our two families will not infringe upon each other. My people will not enter your territory, and your people will do the same."

"That is natural, but our clan elder has a personal letter. I ask the patriarch to take a look so that I may return and finish my duty."

The Yuki escorting Qi bowed slightly, then calmly took out a letter and handed it to the Kaguya patriarch.

"That old man is such a nuisance, let me see!"

The Kaguya patriarch smacked his lips in dissatisfaction and opened the letter to read it.

Slowly, his expression began to darken, and his brows furrowed deeply.

"Hmph!"

Suddenly, he let out a cold snort. Then, he read the letter from beginning to end again. Finally, after browsing through it about three times, he raised his hand, tore the letter to shreds, and threw it into a nearby fire pit.

"Since the patriarch has finished reading, this humble one will take his leave."

Seeing the Kaguya patriarch's expression and actions, the Yuki naturally knew that the other party had indeed read the letter, and his mission was complete.

"Get lost. Tell that old man that the Kaguya have their own way of handling Kaguya affairs."

Waving his hand impatiently, the Kaguya patriarch didn't even glance at the Yuki clansman, returning directly inside the gate and leaving only two Kaguya guards to stare at the Yuki with ill intent.

Looking left and right, knowing he was unwelcome here, the Yuki took one last look at the direction Qi had left in and departed quite decisively.

In the near future, more Yuki children would be slowly dispersed just like Qi. In the days to come, those among them who survived would be the sparks for the Yuki Clan's revival.

As for the Kaguya patriarch, although the elder's letter annoyed him, he didn't dwell on it too much and hurried back to the main hall.

Although the Kaguya Clan doesn't care much for formalities, they do have a place for clan members to gather, and since the Kaguya population is small, this was a genuine gathering of the entire clan.

"Kid, come up and kowtow!"

Sitting on the only chair in the hall, the Kaguya patriarch urged Qi, who was standing in the center, impatiently.

"Once you've kowtowed, you'll be recognized as part of the clan and can begin practicing the Kaguya Combat Arts."

"Oh."

Qi didn't waste words. Before he left, the elder had instructed him to do whatever the Kaguya Clan ordered.

Obediently, he knelt down and kowtowed three times.

"Very good! Very good! From today on, you are Kaguya Qi!"

Qi's decisiveness made the Kaguya patriarch overjoyed, so much so that as soon as Qi finished kowtowing, he pulled him up.

"Your body is a bit weak, so let's train your bones and muscles first. If your body isn't strong, you won't be able to use the Kaguya Combat Arts!"

As he spoke, he crooked his finger at a Kaguya clansman.

"Come here, from today on, you will teach him!"

The ceremony to welcome Qi "home" ended just like that—very simple, and very "Kaguya."

The subsequent taijutsu training allowed Qi to truly understand what the "Kaguya Style" was all about...

He also understood why his cheap uncle from the Kaguya Clan had said his body was too weak.

The taijutsu of the Kaguya Clan was actually very similar to the Muay Thai of his previous life.

Without any superfluous movements, using the fastest speed and the greatest force to attack from the most suitable position and angle to kill the enemy—that was the only standard for Kaguya Combat Arts.

This was also the universal standard in the ninja world, but only the Kaguya Clan had pushed it to the extreme.

This clan was even more extreme than the Hyuga Clan of Konoha. At least the Hyuga had the Byakugan, which allowed them to be immune to genjutsu and see through ninjutsu, but the only capital the Kaguya Clan possessed was their physical bodies.

Therefore, in terms of pure taijutsu cultivation, the Kaguya were even more terrifying than the Hyuga.

When outsiders mentioned the Kaguya Clan, the first thing they thought of was not the Shikotsumyaku, but the Kaguya Combat Arts; the Kaguya Clan's tempering of their physical bodies and combat techniques was the foundation of their standing in the world.

After all, the Shikotsumyaku was too rare. As the Kaguya Clan developed to this day, those who possessed the Shikotsumyaku were counted generation by generation; most commonly, an entire generation would not have a single person with it.

As time went on, the Kaguya Clan, despite being a bloodline family, had no real interest in whether their clansmen would awaken the Shikotsumyaku; they poured all their energy into the tempering of their bodies and combat arts.

As for why Kimimaro, who awakened the Shikotsumyaku with such difficulty later on, was imprisoned, perhaps no one knew the reason except for the parties involved.

In short, after all that rambling, an important problem was placed before Qi: his body... was too weak.

The requirements for Kaguya Combat Arts were not just high; they were incredibly demanding. A weak body meant a lack of necessary strength, and even speed.

In terms of physical constitution, Qi was clearly more in line with the Yuki Clan, and the Yuki were a ninjutsu-oriented faction; their physical constitutions were simply incomparable to the Kaguya Clan.

Of course, it wasn't that Qi hadn't inherited a single benefit from the Kaguya Clan. Although his body was fragile compared to the rest of the clan, it possessed a very strong healing ability—basically several times that of an ordinary person!

And this point was verified after he had been beaten to a pulp countless times...

"You brat, you're really too fragile! It's a good thing your stamina is decent, otherwise I wouldn't know how to teach you!"

This sentence had been said countless times by the burly Kaguya man responsible for teaching him combat arts, and he was equally distressed.

It wasn't that he was intentionally being ruthless; it was just that the Kaguya Clan had always trained this way.

Their clan was born with thick skin and sturdy flesh, so ordinary roughhousing was useless against them. Training naturally involved blows that landed with full force; they would just sleep it off and be fine by the next morning.

Of course, if they were slashed by a blade, they would still die; no matter how tough the Kaguya body was, it hadn't mutated into something non-human.

But by Qi's standards, he was indeed too weak, though this didn't mean he couldn't practice Kaguya Combat Arts.

In fact, it wasn't as if the Kaguya Clan hadn't produced weaklings before. The clan had already perfected the tempering of combat arts and the physical body to such a degree that as long as one was human, the Kaguya Clan could train them.

Since his absolute strength level was too low, he would just have to train his explosive power!

It had to be said that this approach was very suitable for Qi, because his explosive power was actually quite strong.

The Kaguya clansmen, finally having found the right path, were immediately happy. They promptly changed Qi's instructor. The latter was the most skilled in one-hit kills within the Kaguya Clan, and the only taijutsu master famous throughout the entire Land of Water.

"Brat, we meet again. Have you been eating your meat properly lately? Hahaha!"

This voice was truly familiar. Qi suddenly remembered: wasn't this the guy who had been scolded as a "glutton" by the clan head at the gate?

The current generation of the Kaguya Clan seemed to be filled with burly men who grew horizontally, and this gentleman was no exception; he was also a "pure man" type.

"Don't look around, brat! You need to know your master's name; how can a disciple not know his master's name!?"

Seeing Qi staring at him intently, the burly man rolled his eyes and, with zero decorum, reached out to pick his nose.

"My name is Kaguya Ogata. I won't speak for other places, but in the Kaguya Clan, no one can compare to my one-hit kills! You're a lucky brat to take me as your master!"

"Is there anyone outside who is stronger than you?"

Qi couldn't help but ask. He was genuinely curious, and besides, this boast was a bit too large. In the original work, only Kimimaro escaped the Kaguya Clan; he didn't know if this guy was still alive at that time. People in the ninja world didn't seem to have very long lifespans, given the high mortality rate.

After all, according to the timeline of the original work, the annihilation of the Kaguya Clan was still several years away, unlike the Yuki Clan, which could kick the bucket at any moment.

He didn't know if it was because he was too weak, but he always felt that the people around him were ridiculously strong. In the anime, these people were just background characters...

"In the Land of Water, I suppose there isn't."

Scratching his head, Ogata didn't seem too sure.

"But there is one in Konoha, though I don't know if he's still alive."

"Konoha?"

Qi was stunned. He really hadn't expected to hear the name of a Konoha ninja in the isolated Land of Water; even the Yuki had very limited information about the outside world.

"His nickname is the White Fang of Konoha!"

The White Fang of Konoha!?

Qi understood immediately. In terms of fame, this gentleman was probably the number one in the ninja world at the moment. However, he didn't know if he was dead yet; it seemed like the White Fang committed suicide around this period...

"But I heard he has a son, about your age."

Ogata suddenly looked at Qi with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Since you've learned my skills, you must defeat that brat when the time comes. I can't beat the White Fang, but my disciple should be able to beat his son, right?"

"Ah?"

Qi was dumbfounded. He was being asked to go up against Kakashi? He hadn't forgotten how monstrous Kakashi was. Although he had to change his original fighting style in his youth because of the Sharingan, he remained ridiculously strong, and only truly suffered losses at the hands of Itachi and Pain later on.

And if one really calculated it, Kakashi's talent was probably even more terrifying than Itachi's, because he had managed to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan inexplicably without having the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan.

Therefore, for the sake of caution, Qi Jia asked a question.

"Then, just in case, what happens if I lose?"

"That's easy!"

Ogata let out a strange, cackling laugh, though there was not a hint of mirth in his eyes.

"I'll beat you to death!"

"That's unreasonable! You admitted yourself that you aren't as good as White Fang, so how can you demand that I must defeat his son?"

Qi Jia swallowed hard; he felt that the beast before him was truly a man of his word.

"I am unreasonable, because I am your master!"

This time, there was a glimmer of amusement in Ogata's eyes.

"Kid, if you don't want to get beaten, then work hard at your cultivation!"