Lu You nodded and vanished with the Hero Water, leaving his words echoing behind him.
"I'll be training near Takigakure for a while. This place of yours is quite peaceful. Come find me if anything comes up."
"Understood, understood."
The old village chief answered hastily.
As though he had finally set down a burden that had hung over him for a long time, he relaxed considerably.
Sitting on a low stool beside the window, he pushed it open. Sunlight slanted in from outside and fell across the backs of his deeply wrinkled hands.
How much longer could he live? He would probably be lucky to have two years left. When he was young, he had drunk some Hero Water himself to protect Takigakure.
In those chaotic times, nothing could be accomplished without strength, so he had never regretted it.
Back then, he had fought alongside the Takikage through countless bloody battles, struggling between the great nations for the Land of Waterfalls' development and survival.
"Things aren't what they used to be."
He murmured those words, then said nothing more. He simply sat quietly, as though waiting, or perhaps merely basking in the sun.
Takigakure no longer had a true leader.
Lu You took the gourd of Hero Water to a secluded spot on the village's outskirts.
Casually carving out a cave, he sat inside the rock face. Before him was the vessel of pale liquid, its surface giving off a soft gleam in the sunlight.
He rested it in his palm and closed his eyes, sensing the structure of the energy within and the characteristics of its fluctuations.
"This is an unexpected bonus. Finding Obito by searching the whole world would be difficult anyway. Madara Uchiha wouldn't lack even that much ability to hide someone.
"I might as well try