The Land of Waterfalls, a country bordered on three sides by the Land of Earth, the Land of Grass, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Iron, and facing the sea to the north, actually possesses a fairly large territory.
Takigakure is the only legitimate ninja village in this country, likewise adopting the one-country–one-village system established by the First Hokage of Konohagakure.
As a small-country ninja village, Takigakure is quite famous in the shinobi world, because aside from the Five Great Ninja Villages, it is the only village that possesses a Tailed Beast.
This is owed to the formidable strength Takigakure displayed at the time of its founding. They were always able to continuously produce powerful jōnin; for a time, their momentum was unmatched, and they became the first small country to have the strength to challenge the Five Great Nations.
Back then, like the later Land of Rain, they also had the dream of becoming the sixth great nation.
However, as the village's strength has declined severely over the years, Takigakure now exists in a semi-transparent state within the shinobi world, a typical case of growing worse the more it muddles along.
Among the Five Great Ninja Villages, even Kumogakure—who has always liked engaging in zero-yen shopping—has little interest in them.
The intelligence systems of the great ninja villages are extremely well-developed; they naturally know that Takigakure mass-produces powerful jōnin through the so-called Hero Water.
Drinking that substance means nine deaths and one life. Even if one survives the side effects, one can only unleash a brief burst of combat power, and in the end, very few are able to continue living.
It is simply a self-destructive and unsustainable practice of exhausting the pond to catch the fish. The great ninja villages have their own mature systems for training elite shinobi; naturally, they look down on something that is hardly different from poison.
Moreover, the current output of Hero Water is extremely scarce, making it even less likely to arouse the desire of the great ninja villages to seize it.
The main issue is that it is simply not cost-effective. To resist, Takigakure would certainly use up all of its Hero Water at once. In addition, there is also a Seven-Tails. Even if one defeated them, in the end one would gain nothing, only sacrificing the lives of one's own people for nothing.
The only secret technique of value, Earth Grudge Fear, was seized by their own rogue ninja. Before leaving, that man conveniently wiped out the entire upper echelon, causing Takigakure's already declining strength to suffer yet another heavy blow.
Now, the only thing truly worthy of praise may be Takigakure's location.
It is a ninja village situated among encircling mountains and waterfalls, a place that ordinary people would find very difficult to locate.
The unique geological environment forces underground water upward under pressure from the mountaintop, creating countless waterfalls of various types in the surrounding area. The scenery is extremely peculiar.
People dwell among forests in the valley; water comes down from the mountaintops as if from the sky.
The only village that can compare to it in terms of concealed location is probably Hoshigakure of the Land of Bears, a village encircled by a natural canyon of toxic gas.
...
In front of a waterfall outside Takigakure, the one who came to receive Makoto and his party was a middle-aged man dressed in traditional shinobi attire, who did not seem to be a ninja.
At his side stood two boys, one older and one younger.
The older one appeared to have just reached adulthood. A forehead protector bearing the symbol of Takigakure was tied around his head. His expression was quite arrogant, as if he did not place others in his eyes. After seeing the height of the three from Makoto's side, that arrogance grew even more pronounced.
Although all three wore ANBU masks and their appearances could not be seen clearly, judging from their height, the oldest looked to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old. How formidable could they possibly be?
Konoha really has fallen—were the casualties in this war so heavy that they can't send any decent shinobi anymore?
The younger one was probably five or six years old. His features resembled the middle-aged man somewhat, and his eyes were full of curiosity.
Aside from that, there were also two Takigakure squads standing guard to their left and right.
The middle-aged man first saluted Makoto's group of three, then introduced himself: "Welcome, honored guests from Konohagakure who have come from afar. I am Hisen, the leader of Takigakure Village.
"This is my disciple, Suien. On the right is my son, Shibuki. They have long admired the shinobi of Konohagakure, so they followed me out to welcome you together—please forgive the embarrassment."
As everyone knows, the title 'Kage' can only be used by the boss of one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. The head of a small ninja village is not qualified to bear the name 'Kage'; they can only be called 'leader.'
With the exception of a certain shameless "Hoshikage"—he shuts his doors and entertains himself, calling himself the Hoshikage, and others can't be bothered to interfere.
Hayate and Yūgao did not speak, silent as statues. ANBU had to look like ANBU—everything could be answered by the captain.
Makoto returned the salute. "Leader Hisen, it's our first meeting. I am the captain of Konoha's ANBU Owl Squad, codename Forest Owl. This is our identification, as well as the reply letter from the Fourth Hokage."
After Hisen took the identification and letter and read them, confirming that the three of them were indeed who they claimed to be, he said, "Then the matters afterward will trouble you all. Now, first follow me into the village to rest."
Naturally, the three from Makoto's side had no objections—but someone was displeased. The young Suien pointed at the three of them and shouted at Leader Hisen, "Hey, hey, sensei, did you see that? Konohagakure only sent three little brats over—what use can that be? Bastards, are they looking down on our Takigakure Village?"
Hisen sternly reprimanded him. "Suien, shut your mouth. You must not be rude to Konohagakure's honored guests."
He did not make Suien apologize. It seemed that this leader, too, had forgotten the saying 'A shinobi cannot be measured by common sense,' and had made the mistake of judging by appearances.
Perhaps, in his heart, he also had doubts about the strength of the people Konohagakure had sent.
Makoto was already a mature shinobi. He would not get so angry that he tore off his mask on the spot and revealed the title 'Konoha's Shield' that the Raikage had forcibly stuffed onto him, just to shock them.
For a shinobi, endurance is a required course; he would not easily let other people's words disturb his emotions.
He only raised his foot slightly and tapped the ground lightly, then said, "Leader Hisen, please do not waste time on such boring matters."
"Apologies, everyone. My disciple has lost his composure. He cares too much about the village's safety, and that is why he said such discourteous words."
As he explained, the leader guided the three toward the waterfall.
But after they had only taken a few steps, an anxious, clear voice came from behind—his son, Shibuki.
"Suien-sensei, what's wrong with you?" Shibuki pushed at Suien, who did not move at all, and found it was like pushing a boulder. He could not help but call to his own father for help. "Father, Suien-sensei, he…"
In an instant, Hisen appeared beside Suien, and then discovered that his disciple's entire body was covered in sealing patterns. He could not move at all, and could only express his anxious emotions through his eyes.
Seeing this complex sealing technique—one he had never encountered before—the leader found himself at a loss and could only lower his posture and soften his tone. "Captain Forest Owl, I am deeply sorry. As Suien's sensei, it is my failure in discipline. I apologize here to the three of you. I sincerely ask that you not make things difficult for my disciple."
After speaking, he gave a ninety-degree deep bow, kneeling with remarkable smoothness, without the slightest trace of embarrassment.
Makoto had accepted the commission to complete a mission, not to make enemies. Seeing that the authority of Konohagakure's shinobi had already been established, he lightly tapped the ground once more with his right foot, releasing Suien from his restraints.
Dense sealing patterns peeled away from Suien's body like swimming fish, flowing into the ground and completely disappearing.
Fūinjutsu: Nightmare Binding!
A sealing ninjutsu modified on the basis of the "Four Limbs Heavy Seal Technique" and the "Chakra Sealing Technique." The one struck by it would have all movements restrained, including chakra, with only the brain still able to think, as if trapped in a nightmare.
Its temporary effect was similar to Danzō's Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, but unlike that technique, it did not require physical contact with the opponent's body to be cast, making it more concealed and convenient.
At present, Makoto was attempting to incorporate Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique into it, turning it into a true Nightmare Binding. In the future, it could be used to bully children—surely making their childhoods more fulfilling.
As Konoha's publicly acknowledged ninjutsu genius, after learning various sealing techniques from Kushina, how could Makoto be satisfied with merely using others' techniques? Naturally, something improved by himself would be more enjoyable to use.
After regaining his freedom, the young Suien could not help but touch his own body. His eyes had become much clearer. Looking at the mysterious masked faces of the three from Makoto's side, a trace of fear appeared in his gaze.
Having grown accustomed to acting as a local tyrant in Takigakure, he had thought that shinobi outside were nothing special. Only now did he realize how far he fell short. It seemed that once the village's crisis had passed, it would be time to suggest to his teacher the use of Hero Water.
He naturally knew the side effects. But young people always believe they are unique—I will surely survive smoothly, and then my chakra will surge dozens of times, becoming stronger than ever before!
Hisen also let out a sigh of relief inwardly, marveling that they were indeed from the strongest ninja village. Even though they appeared young, their strength was something he could not comprehend.
Suien was his disciple, the most talented shinobi in the village. Having just reached adulthood, he had already obtained the title of jōnin and was an idol admired by the younger generation.
Yet in the hands of Konohagakure's shinobi, he had been taken down in a single exchange.
The other party had not even grown serious. This single sealing technique alone was enough to leave them bewildered. It seemed that Konohagakure had not perfunctorily dealt with Takigakure—they had indeed sent a sealing expert.
Having swallowed this reassurance, Hisen's attitude became even more humble. He led the three to the waterfall, where a subordinate handed over three black strips of cloth.
Hisen explained, "My apologies, honored guests from Konohagakure. The location of Takigakure is our highest secret. All outsiders must be blindfolded before entering."
Hayate and Yūgao looked at their captain. Makoto said, "I understand. Then I will trouble Leader Hisen to lead the way."
What a joke—what use is covering the eyes? Do you not know what sensory ninjutsu is?
I have never relied on my eyes to move through the shinobi world.
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