Chiba Shun pondered for a moment. The Rabbit Goddess was Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra. He had not expected anyone in the Shinobi World to still worship her.
Was it something the people did voluntarily? Or was it Black Zetsu's handiwork? Or had Kaguya done this herself?
Could Kaguya's power directly influence the Shinobi World?
Driven by that curiosity, Chiba Shun agreed to let the three kids take part in the festival.
The three kids had little interest in the Rabbit Goddess. Their attention was fixed on the various snacks and street performances.
Meanwhile, Chiba Shun carefully observed the Rabbit Goddess statue in the center of the town shrine, as well as the female priestess beside it, who looked to be in her fifties or sixties.
The Rabbit Goddess statue differed greatly from the Kaguya Chiba Shun remembered. It was somewhat plump and looked kindly.
Its eyes were not Byakugan either, but ordinary eyes.
Its clothing, however, was very classical and somewhat resembled Kaguya-hime from the original story.
But what caught Chiba Shun's attention most was the ornament carved into the statue's forehead.
Having seen Kaguya-hime in the original story, Chiba Shun felt deeply uncomfortable, as though that ornament was an eye—the Rinne Sharingan.
He did not know whether it was merely psychological, but Chiba Shun always felt that she was examining him through that eye.
After giving it a cursory look, Chiba Shun left the shrine and went shopping with the three kids.
However, the moment he stepped outside, Chiba Shun sensed someone watching him.
This gaze felt different from the sensation brought by the Rabbit Goddess's forehead ornament just now.
Chiba Shun felt that the earlier sensation might have been psychological, but this time, someone was genuinely watching him.
He suddenly turned and looked toward the old priestess.
She was not looking at him. Another illusion? Or had she already withdrawn her gaze?
Before Chiba Shun could figure out why, Ayana was already urging him onward.
Without giving it further thought, Chiba Shun took them away from the shrine that made him uncomfortable.
Someone was actually selling long swords at the Land of Iron's festival.
Chiba Shun was quite interested.
Most of the long swords he had were ordinary. He could not afford a chakra-conducting sword, so perhaps he could find something cheap and worthwhile here.
After browsing several shops, Chiba Shun finally spent twenty thousand ryo on a fairly good-quality sword.
As for everything else, he either did not like it or did not think it was worth the price, so he made no further purchases.
The three kids, on the other hand, bought a huge pile of snacks.
Chiba Shun never objected to food. It was something that could improve a ninja's strength, so he generously paid for them.
After spending the whole day wandering around, the four returned to their lodging. Following a night's rest, Chiba Shun set off with the three of them toward the Land of Waterfalls.
Beyond the Land of Iron lay the Land of Waterfalls, the only small or medium-sized country that possessed a Tailed Beast.
As a result, Takigakure shinobi had a rather strange view of their own status.
They wanted their country to hold the same standing as the Five Great Nations, but their strength was lacking. They were not even as strong as Amegakure.
Still, one thing was good: security within the Land of Waterfalls was far better than in the Land of Moon or the Land of Hot Water.
For several days in the Land of Waterfalls, Chiba Shun and the others did not encounter a single enemy.
Just as Chiba Shun began to think they would face no danger in the Land of Waterfalls, a violent surge of chakra suddenly erupted far away from him and the three kids.
All four looked in that direction.
The three kids had limited eyesight and could not make out anything, but Chiba Shun quickly reached a conclusion.
Someone was fighting with Fire Release and Wind Release ninjutsu.
Chiba Shun judged that both the opponent's Fire Release and Wind Release far surpassed his own A-rank Mission Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique.
With Wind Release and Fire Release combined, the wind fed the flames. Even across several mountains, Chiba Shun and the others could still feel the oppressive force.
That level of power was absolutely Kage Level!
At this time, there were far fewer Kage Level experts in the Shinobi World than there would be later.
Chiba Shun quickly ran through the possible candidates in his mind.
Based on chakra nature alone, he could rule out the Third Raikage, the Third Kazekage, the Third Mizukage, Danzo, Tsunade, Chiyo, Hanzō, and every Jinchūriki.
That left only Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ōnoki, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu!
Kakuzu. It had to be Kakuzu! Kakuzu, with five hearts and Earth Grudge Fear!
Chiba Shun suddenly remembered the bounty on his head in the underground black market. Ten million ryo was enough to draw Kakuzu's interest!
His disguise might fool ordinary bounty hunters, but it definitely could not fool that undead old monster Kakuzu!
Whether Kakuzu was coming for him or not, he had to prepare for the worst!
Chiba Shun did not dare face Kakuzu.
At this point, Kakuzu surpassed Chiba Shun in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and tactics.
Even Kakuzu's Body Flicker Technique far surpassed Chiba Shun's.
If he encountered Kakuzu, Chiba Shun felt that he had no chance of surviving.
Moreover, Chiba Shun suspected that he might not even be able to break through Kakuzu's defenses!
He did not have Lightning Release. Once Kakuzu used his hardening technique, could his Earth Release even hurt him?
With that in mind, Chiba Shun immediately began thinking of a solution.
He did not think for long. This was the Land of Waterfalls, near Takigakure. The only ones who could save him were Takigakure shinobi.
Chiba Shun immediately ordered the three kids to turn with him and sprint directly toward Takigakure.
As he ran, Chiba Shun silently thanked the friend who had alerted Kakuzu and forced him to use such powerful ninjutsu.
If not for that person, he would have been finished once Kakuzu reached him.
The three kids did not understand what was happening, nor did they dare ask. They could only follow Chiba Shun and run.
Hayata had too little chakra. Before long, he exhausted it all, leaving Chiba Shun no choice but to carry him on his back.
Fortunately, Chiba Shun and the other three were in the central region of the Land of Waterfalls, not too far from Takigakure.
Kakuzu would need time and effort to track them, so Chiba Shun finally reached Takigakure's gates before Kakuzu caught up.
When the two Takigakure Chunin saw someone rapidly approaching, they immediately shouted for him to stop.
Chiba Shun stopped. Without waiting for them to question him, he said, "Takigakure's S-rank rogue ninja Kakuzu has returned. He wants revenge on you for betraying him back then!"
The two Chunin exchanged looks. Neither had heard of Kakuzu.
Chiba Shun said, "He's an expert with strength on par with the Kage of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Go report this to your leader!"
Only then did the two Chunin react.
They wanted to confirm it, but Chiba Shun directly left with the three kids from the side. He intended to bypass Takigakure.
The two Chunin hesitated. One of them said, "You keep guarding this place. I'll report to the leader."
The other opened his mouth. He wanted to report to the leader too. Staying here was far too dangerous!
Chiba Shun had no idea what kind of panic Takigakure's upper ranks went through afterward.
He heard the commotion behind him after running several miles away with the three kids.
While running, Chiba Shun glanced back, then swallowed hard.
The Seven-Tails!
Takigakure shinobi, thank you!
At that point, Chiba Shun had basically confirmed it. Kakuzu had definitely been coming for him!
Kakuzu must have followed the traces he left to the outskirts of Takigakure, then clashed with the panicked Takigakure shinobi.
The three kids also realized something was wrong. Tailed Beast-level chakra vastly exceeded their imagination, and the suffocating pressure frightened them so badly their legs nearly gave out.
Only after Chiba Shun repeatedly urged them did the three barely manage to follow him away from Takigakure.
To escape the Land of Waterfalls as quickly as possible, Chiba Shun even took out Soldier Pills.
Of course, he did not need them himself. They were for the three kids.
It was the first time the three had eaten Soldier Pills, and they were somewhat excited.
There was actually something in the world that could instantly restore stamina and chakra after being eaten.
However, the three kids soon could no longer feel excited.
Because Soldier Pills had side effects.
Not long after the four entered the Land of Grass, the effects of the Soldier Pills wore off.
The three only felt wave after wave of exhaustion rise from deep within their bodies.
Chiba Shun disguised himself and the three as ordinary people, then entered a city in the Land of Grass to rest for five days.
Only after five days of replenishing themselves with food did the three kids recover.
Only then did Ayana dare to ask about Kakuzu.
Chiba Shun said flatly, "He's an S-rank rogue ninja, with strength on the same level as Lord Raikage."
"Also, he likes money. He may have been after me, intending to kill me for the bounty!"
"Fortunately, the people of Takigakure helped hold him off. Otherwise, this would have been dangerous."
Upon hearing the words S-rank rogue ninja, the three kids' faces, which had only just recovered some color, immediately turned pale.
Their Ninja Academy textbooks had mentioned S-rank rogue ninja.
Chiba Shun had personally written in the textbooks that S-rank rogue ninja were rogue ninja their Shinobi Villages could not handle.
They were powerful and cruel, every one of them utterly wicked.
He described them that way because he had considered that Konoha, Suna Shinobi, and Iwa Shinobi would all produce S-rank rogue ninja in the future.
When the time came, everyone would compare them and think: As expected, only Kumogakure is righteous.
The other Shinobi Villages were all breeding grounds for demons!
However, when Ayana and the other two heard Chiba Shun say that Takigakure had helped him fend off Kakuzu, their expressions became extremely strange.
You were clearly the one shamelessly leading him to Takigakure, yet you were saying Takigakure helped you!
Then Ayana remembered something else and asked, "Teacher Shun, what was that huge monster?"
"Its chakra was so powerful. Even from that far away, I felt like I couldn't breathe."
Chiba Shun thought for a moment and said, "The village textbooks do not mention this, but you really should know about it."
"That thing is called a Tailed Beast. There are nine Tailed Beasts in the Shinobi World, from the One-Tail and Two-Tails all the way to the Nine-Tails."
"Other than Takigakure's Seven-Tails, the other Tailed Beasts are all in the hands of the Five Great Ninja Villages."
"Our Kumogakure has two Tailed Beasts: the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails."
Ayana asked, "Teacher Shun, have you seen the village's Tailed Beasts?"
Chiba Shun recalled his helplessness when the Eight-Tails went berserk. He nodded and said, "I've seen one once. When the Eight-Tails went berserk, the village lost several hundred ninja. It was also during that battle that Lord Raikage promoted me to Jonin."
The three kids nodded, half-understanding.
Then Hayata suddenly asked, "Teacher Shun, where did that monster come from? Why didn't we see it when we were at Takigakure's gates?"
"It was so huge. Could it have been hiding underground?"
Chiba Shun shook his head and said, "Tailed Beasts are generally sealed inside ninja by the major Shinobi Villages."
"Ninja with Tailed Beasts inside them are called Jinchūriki. Jinchūriki can use a portion of a Tailed Beast's power."
Before you continue