Taketori Clan

Along a mountain path, two figures walked forward at an unhurried pace, stopping from time to time to confirm their direction.

After nearly three hours of walking, with the sky gradually darkening, Yan Hong finally could not help asking, "Tell me, can you actually find the Taketori Clan?"

His voice was not loud, but Funato Haiichi, who was leading the way, shuddered all over. He immediately turned around with a placating smile. "My lord, you really cannot blame me for this. The Taketori Clan roams from place to place and has no fixed territory. I only heard two days ago that they had been active around here, but where they are now can only be inferred from the traces they left behind."

"My time is limited. If we cannot find them before nightfall..."

"Please rest assured, my lord! I will definitely find them!"

Yan Hong said nothing more and followed Funato Haiichi as they continued searching for traces of the Taketori Clan. Funato Haiichi, however, feared that the ancestor behind him might kill him in a fit of anger, so he cautiously asked, "Is my lord looking for the Taketori Clan for revenge?"

Yan Hong glanced at him. "Revenge?"

Funato Haiichi explained, "Yes. The Taketori Clan goes around provoking indiscriminate battles with other clans, drawing the hatred of many clans. Plenty of them would love nothing more than to wipe them out completely."

"So your Funato Clan thinks the same?"

"Not really. Our clan has never had much contact with the Taketori Clan. We operate along the coast, while they roam inland, so we normally never cross paths."

"Heh. You do not need to concern yourself with why I am looking for them. Your task is to lead me to them."

"Un... understood."

After searching for another half hour, just as Yan Hong was beginning to lose patience, his ears suddenly twitched. He grabbed Funato Haiichi in front of him. Caught completely off guard, Funato Haiichi thought Yan Hong had run out of patience and was about to cut him down. He instinctively wanted to beg for mercy, but before he could even open his mouth, it was ruthlessly covered.

"Mmph... mmph..."

"Shut up! There is movement!"

"Hm?"

Yan Hong brought him swiftly to a mountain hollow. Looking down from above, they saw a camp at the foot of the mountain. Shouts of battle shook the camp, clouds of dust constantly billowed into the sky, and countless figures slaughtered one another amid blazing flames. From afar, it sounded like an Asura hell packed with countless vicious ghosts!

Yan Hong narrowed his eyes. "A clan war? Which two clans?"

Beside him, Funato Haiichi craned his neck to look. "The clan crest on that camp's banner looks like the Hoshigaki Clan? The ones fighting them are... My lord! It is the Taketori Clan!"

"We found them. Looks like you are somewhat useful after all."

Funato Haiichi immediately chimed in, "Hehe, my lord, I have always had decent luck. Um... since we have found them, can I leave now?"

"What is the hurry? Stay and watch the show with me."

"Watch... watch? My lord, are you not going to intervene?"

Yan Hong found a spot with a good view, sat down, and settled into a comfortable position. "It is not my clan. Why would I intervene?"

"Huh?" Funato Haiichi froze for a moment, silently grumbling, If he was not going to intervene, why spend all that time searching for them? Then he saw Yan Hong watching with great interest. To Yan Hong, the brutal war below seemed less like a bloody battle and more like a cricket fight.

"This young man's strength is unfathomable, yet his temperament is so steady. There is absolutely no such figure in the Water Country. He must be a gifted scion from a clan in one of the other great nations. Then what is his purpose in coming to the Water Country? Could it be..."

The more Funato Haiichi thought about it, the more terrified he became. He immediately fell silent, obediently found a place to sit, and watched the battle in the mountain hollow with Yan Hong.

"Kekeke, kill! Let them see the might of the Taketori Clan!"

"Everyone, hold on a little longer! I have already sent a request for aid to the Hozuki Clan. We absolutely cannot let these lunatics go this time!"

"Kill them!"

"Help!"

The camp was filled with flashing blades and flying shadows, the cries of battle unceasing. Blood flowed everywhere, mixed with severed limbs and mangled corpses, nearly forming a crimson river!

Clang—

A burst of sparks erupted in the middle of the camp. Two towering figures collided and immediately sprang apart, then stood facing one another.

Hoshigaki Heisha, the chief of the Hoshigaki Clan, gripped a five-foot broadsword, his expression unusually grave. "You lunatic really are tough."

On the other side, Chikuma, chief of the Taketori Clan, wore an expression of fanatical bloodlust. "Kekeke, is that all the Hoshigaki Clan can do? Nothing impressive!"

"Then let me show you just how capable I am!"

Hoshigaki Heisha roared, gripping his blade in both hands as he brought it down in a savage chop. Though huge in stature, he was not the least bit cumbersome. His broadsword carved a semicircle through the air and smashed toward Chikuma like a mountain!

Chikuma showed no fear at all. Laughing wildly, he charged forward, pulled a bone spike directly from his palm, and raised it to block the descending broadsword!

Boom—

A thunderous blast rang through the air as the enormous force instantly shattered the ground beneath their feet!

The Hoshigaki Clan was born with massive chakra reserves and monstrous strength comparable to wild bulls. Though the bone spike caught the blade, it could not hold its ground. Chikuma was forced backward, his feet crushing the earth and gouging two trenches half a meter deep!

After striking with his blade, Hoshigaki Heisha gave his opponent no chance to catch his breath. He lunged forward and followed with a horizontal slash aimed straight at Chikuma's waist and abdomen!

A savage grin suddenly curved across Chikuma's lips. He actually abandoned all defense, sending the bone spike in his hand shooting like lightning toward Heisha's shoulder!

Splat—

Heisha had never expected his opponent to fight with such reckless disregard for his own life. In his haste, the bone spike pierced flesh and lodged in his shoulder bone!

Chikuma was also sent flying by the slash. A hideous gash opened across his waist and abdomen, exposing the pale white bone beneath!

Chikuma gave a vicious grin and rose to his feet again as if nothing had happened. Bending his knees, he prepared to charge forward and fight once more!

"The Hozuki Clan's reinforcements are here!"

An excited cry echoed through the entire valley as dozens of figures came rushing toward them from afar!

Chikuma glanced into the distance and snorted. "Hmph, consider yourselves lucky! All Taketori Clan members, retreat!"

Though the Taketori Clan was battle-crazed, they were not stupid. Knowing they could not defeat two clans working together, they naturally would not stay and fight to the death. The instant the order was given, they immediately retreated!

The Hoshigaki Clan, on the other hand, could not chase after them without restraint. The Hozuki Clan had only come to relieve the siege and would not help pursue them, so they could only watch helplessly as the Taketori Clan departed in triumph!

"Those bastards!" Hoshigaki Heisha viciously clenched his fist.

"Oh? That angry?" The captain leading the Hozuki Clan's reinforcements slowly walked to his side. "How about it, Chief Heisha? Join our alliance. Once the ninja of the Water Country are truly unified, we can free up our hands to deal with this cancer."

"Phew..." Heisha let out a helpless sigh. "Fine. I will join."

"Welcome."

Meanwhile, a group of lunatics ran wildly through the wilderness, breaking into hearty laughter from time to time!

"Hahaha, that was satisfying!"

"Yeah, that felt incredible! Chief, which clan are we going after next?"

Madness gleamed in Chikuma's eyes. "Kekeke, the Ice Clan is at a critical moment in their effort to unify the Water Country. How can we not take part? Whoever joins their alliance, we will go after them!"

"Hahaha, Chief is brilliant!"

"Kekeke, of course I am. You..." Flattered by his subordinate, Chikuma felt immensely pleased. Just as he turned his head to offer a few compliments, the corner of his eye caught sight of a figure racing alongside their group at an eerie speed. In the blink of an eye, the figure overtook them, then leaped into the air and landed directly in their path!

A normal person would have stopped to observe the situation, but Chikuma clearly did not fall within the category of normal people. Not only did he not stop, he accelerated instead!

"Kekeke, you dare block my path? I'll kill you!"

Bang—

Chikuma's legs suddenly exploded with force. His clothes snapped in the wind as he charged forward violently, carrying a terrifyingly overwhelming aura as he rammed straight toward the figure before him!

What greeted him was a pair of scarlet eyes...