Taketori Clan

On 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, Enkō 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 ahead, shuddered all over. He immediately turned around with a placating smile. "My lord, you really can't blame me for this. The Taketori Clan roams everywhere and has no fixed territory. I only heard two days ago that they had appeared in this area, but where they are now can only be inferred from the traces they left behind."

"My time is limited. If we can't find them before nightfall..."

"Rest assured, my lord! I will definitely find them!"

Enkō said nothing more and continued following Funato Haiichi as he searched for traces of the Taketori Clan. Funato Haiichi, however, feared that the ancestor behind him would kill him in a fit of anger, so he cautiously asked, "My lord, are you looking for the Taketori Clan for revenge?"

Enkō glanced at him. "Revenge?"

Funato Haiichi explained, "Yes. The Taketori Clan goes around provoking indiscriminate battles with other clans, earning the hatred of many of them. Plenty of clans would love to uproot them completely."

"So your Funato Clan thinks the same way?"

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

"Heh. What I want with them is none of your concern. Your task is to lead me to them."

"Understood... understood."

They searched for over half an hour more. Just as Enkō was beginning to lose patience, his ears suddenly twitched. He grabbed Funato Haiichi in front of him. Caught entirely off guard, Funato Haiichi thought Enkō had run out of patience and was about to put a blade to him. He instinctively wanted to beg for mercy, but before he could open his mouth, it was ruthlessly covered.

"Mmph... mmph..."

"Shut up! There's movement!"

"Hm?"

Enkō led him swiftly to a mountain hollow. Looking down from above, they saw a fortified camp at the foot of the mountain. Shouts of battle shook the camp, clouds of dust constantly rising into the sky as countless figures slaughtered one another amid blazing fire. From afar, it sounded like a hellish Asura prison holding countless evil ghosts!

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

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

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

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

"What's the rush? Stay and watch the show with me."

"Watch... watch the show? My lord, aren't you going to intervene?"

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

"Huh?" Funato Haiichi froze for a moment, silently griping about why Enkō had spent so long looking for them if he was not going to act. Then he saw Enkō already watching with great interest. From his expression, the brutal war below might as well have been a cricket-fighting match.

Such a young man, yet his strength is unfathomable and his composure so steady. There can't be anyone like him in the Water Country. He must be a genius from a clan in another great nation. 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 alongside him.

"Kehehehe, kill! Let them know how formidable the Taketori Clan is!"

"Hold on a little longer, everyone! I've already sent a request for reinforcements to the Hozuki Clan. We absolutely can't let these lunatics go this time!"

"Kill them!"

"Help!"

Blades flashed throughout the camp and battle cries never ceased. Blood flowed everywhere, mixed with severed limbs and shattered corpses, nearly forming a crimson river of blood!

Clang—

A burst of sparks exploded in the center of the camp. Two towering figures clashed once, then sprang apart and faced one another.

Hoshigaki Heisha, the Hoshigaki Clan's leader, gripped a five-foot saber, his expression extraordinarily grim. "You really are tough, you madman."

On the other side, Chikuma, leader of the Taketori Clan, wore an expression of fanatic bloodlust. "Kehehehe, is that all the Hoshigaki Clan has? How disappointing!"

"Then let me show you what I'm capable of!"

Hoshigaki Heisha roared, gripped his saber with both hands, and hacked forward fiercely. Though he was huge, there was not the slightest hint of clumsiness in his movements. The saber swept through the air in a semicircle and crashed down upon Chikuma like a mountain!

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

Boom—

A violent explosion rang out through the air, and the tremendous force instantly shattered the earth beneath their feet!

The Hoshigaki Clan was born with immense chakra and Chakra Enhanced Strength like that of raging bulls. Though the bone spike caught the saber, Chikuma could not hold his ground at all. He was driven backward, his feet crushing the earth and carving two grooves half a meter deep into the ground!

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

A savage grin suddenly curled across Chikuma's lips. He completely abandoned defense, and the bone spike in his hand shot toward Heisha's shoulder like lightning!

Pfft—

Heisha had never expected his opponent to fight in such a suicidal manner. In his haste, the bone spike pierced his flesh and lodged in his shoulder bone!

Chikuma was likewise sent flying by the slash. A vicious gash was carved directly across his waist and abdomen, exposing gleaming white bone!

Chikuma gave a savage laugh and climbed back to his feet as if nothing had happened. He bent his knees, ready to charge forward and fight again!

"The Hozuki Clan's reinforcements are here!"

An invigorated cry resounded through the entire valley. Dozens of figures in the distance hurried toward them at high speed!

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

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

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

"These bastards!" Hoshigaki Heisha viciously swung his fist.

"My, you're quite angry." The captain of the Hozuki Clan's reinforcements slowly walked to his side. "How about it, Clan Leader Heisha? Join our alliance. Once the Water Country's ninja are truly unified, we'll be free to deal with this tumor."

"Hah..." Heisha sighed helplessly. "Fine. I'll join."

"Welcome."

Elsewhere, a group of lunatics ran wildly through the mountain wilderness, occasionally letting out hearty, exhilarated laughter!

"Hahaha, that was satisfying!"

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

Madness gleamed in Chikuma's eyes. "Kehehehe, the Ice Clan is at a crucial stage in unifying the Water Country. How can we not take part? Whoever joins their alliance, we'll go after them!"

"Hahaha, Chief is wise!"

"Kehehehe, of course I am. You..." Puffed up by his subordinate's flattery, Chikuma felt immensely pleased with himself. Just as he turned to offer a few compliments, the corner of his eye caught a figure racing beside 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 front of them!

A normal person would certainly stop to observe the situation at such a time, but Chikuma was clearly not within the category of normal people. Not only did he not stop, he sped up!

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

Bang—

Chikuma's legs suddenly exerted force. As he burst forward violently, his clothes snapped in the wind, and he charged straight at the figure before him with a terrifyingly overbearing aura!

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