Chapter 328: Trap
In the vast primordial forest, danger lurked everywhere.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Three figures advanced in a triangular formation at high speed, reaching the border of Taki Village in less than two days.
They were a newly formed ninja squad from Konoha Village, consisting of the classic two-boys and one-girl team.
A Jonin, a Chunin, and a Genin.
On the surface, this squad seemed weak, especially since the average age of the members was only twelve, the typical age for Genin graduates.
However, in reality, even the elite squads of Konoha's ANBU couldn't match these three kids.
Because their names were Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Marisa, and Uzumaki Naruto.
The genius of Konoha, the daughter of the Sixth Hokage and the former leader of the Akatsuki—this was a more accurate description of their abilities.
After two days of relentless travel, we are covering thousands of miles.
In a clearing within the forest.
Sasuke and his team temporarily stopped to rest, replenishing food and water to recover their strength.
Swoosh.
Marisa took out a scroll that contained the details of their mission and read it aloud:
"Let's see…
The incident started with a renegade ninja named Suien from Taki Village, who led a group of followers back to the village and assassinated the village chief, Shibuki, in an attempt to steal the Hero Water.
Although Fuu led the villagers in a fierce counterattack, they couldn't drive the enemy away, and the situation became increasingly dire. So, she sent a distress call to Konoha.
By the way, what is this Hero Water?"
Marisa scratched her head, looking at Naruto and Sasuke with curiosity, wondering if they had any information.
"I've heard about it from Fuu before."
Naruto said seriously, taking over from Marisa, "It's said that Taki Village has a sacred tree that has grown for a thousand years, towering hundreds of meters high, with branches and leaves that cover the sky. Every hundred years, a holy water flows from within the tree, and drinking it causes one's chakra to increase tenfold instantly. This water is known as the Hero Water among the villagers."
"Really? I want to drink it!"
Marisa's eyes widened, expressing her desire for the Hero Water without hiding her intentions. She dreamed of defeating her father.
However, Sasuke quickly poured cold water on her enthusiasm.
"Marisa, you might be disappointed." Sasuke said calmly, his expression unwavering.
"Why?" Marisa asked, and Naruto also looked at Sasuke for an explanation.
Sasuke glanced at them and said flatly:
"You both know about the Otsutsuki clan, right? Thousands of years ago, they came to Earth and planted the God Tree to absorb the planet's natural energy. The so-called sacred tree is actually the Ten-Tails, which has now merged with the Sixth Hokage."
Dan hadn't hidden the truth about the Otsutsuki clan. After the Chunin Exams, he informed the major ninja villages, the Uchiha clan, and Konoha's top officials to prepare for the potential threat from powerful enemies from outer space.
Enemies who could arrive at any time to destroy the planet.
If someone else had said this, people would think they were crazy, spouting nonsense.
But coming from the Sixth Hokage Uchiha Dan, it carried a different weight.
Now.
Both the major ninja villages and Konoha, along with the Uchiha clan, were secretly preparing for war.
Dan wasn't interested in being the saviour of the ninja world.
If someone else could defeat the Otsutsuki clan from outer space without his intervention, that would be ideal.
Hearing Sasuke's explanation, Naruto and Marisa were stunned.
"Does that mean the sacred tree in Taki Village is somehow connected to the God Tree planted by the Otsutsuki clan?"
Naruto was the first to react, speculating.
"Surprisingly, you're quite smart."
Sasuke nodded, his tone serious, "Based on my information, the so-called sacred tree in Taki Village was likely part of the original God Tree, maybe a piece of its trunk.
The Hero Water is probably just natural energy refined by the God Tree, nothing particularly magical.
It might increase the chakra of ordinary ninjas tenfold, but for the strong, the enhancement would be limited."
"I see, that makes sense."
Naruto nodded in understanding.
If the Hero Water could truly increase someone's chakra tenfold, drinking it would give someone like him more chakra than the Nine-Tails.
So, Naruto agreed that the villagers of Taki likely exaggerated the Hero Water's effectiveness due to their lack of knowledge.
"Damn it, getting my hopes up for nothing."
Marisa pouted, sitting back down dejectedly.
But just as she sat down, Sasuke called her up again: "We've rested enough. Let's keep moving. Taki Village is waiting for our help."
And so.
The three set off again, entering the territory of Taki Village.
Like other small ninja villages, Taki Village was located between great nations, such as the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, and survived in the gaps between them.
Logically, such villages, like the Village Hidden in the Rain and the Village Hidden in the Hot Water, would inevitably become battlegrounds for the great nations.
But Taki Village was an exception.
This was thanks to its complex terrain.
The area was filled with rolling hills and various-sized waterfalls, forming natural barriers that kept invading nations at bay.
Without external threats, Taki Village had once thrived, being the only village apart from the five great nations to possess a Tailed Beast.
Moreover, Taki Village's Seven-Tails wasn't an ordinary Tailed Beast; its power ranked just below the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails.
At one point, it even seemed poised to become the sixth great ninja village.
Thus, the major ninja villages had all vied to ally with Taki, and Taki leveraged this to thrive.
Unfortunately.
Without external threats, internal strife arose.
Years of comfort and flattery from other villages they inflated the ambitions of Taki's leaders.
To realise their dream of dominating the ninja world, they sent their elite ninja, Kakuzu, to assassinate the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, in Konoha.
Naturally, the mission failed.
Kakuzu barely escaped with his life and returned to Taki, only to be imprisoned and severely punished by the village leaders.
The rest is known to the entire ninja world.
Kakuzu escaped, killed all the village leaders, and stole the village's secret technique, Earth Grudge Fear.
Hubris leads to downfall.
Since then, Taki Village has declined, gradually fading from the ninja world's stage.
"This is it."
Sasuke and his team emerged from a dense forest, following the roar of water to a massive waterfall a hundred meters high.
The waterfall roared like thunder.
Taki Village was hidden behind this waterfall.
There was a scent of blood.
The three exchanged glances and walked a few more meters, parting some bushes to find several Taki ninja corpses, their deaths brutal.
It seemed the situation was worse than they had imagined.
"I'll lead the way."
Naruto said, striding towards the waterfall.
Due to Taki Village's hidden location and the information provided by Fuu, the Akatsuki had once established a hideout here, and Naruto had used the Rinnegan to control the village leader at that time.
So, he was familiar with the area.
Thus.
The three entered the cave behind the waterfall via a mountain path beside it.
**Chapter 328: Trap**
Tap, tap, tap.
Reaching the end of the cave, a bottomless pool appeared before the three.
Splash!
The three dove in, swimming to the deepest point, and then followed an underwater passage, surfacing again.
Splash.
When Sasuke and the others emerged, they had arrived in Taki Village.
Not far away, the hundred-meter-tall sacred tree on the island in the lake was ablaze, countless charred branches falling into the water, with flames and thick smoke rising high.
On the shore, Taki Village's buildings were mostly destroyed and burned, turned into ruins.
"Kill!"
Amidst the ruins, two groups of ninjas were fiercely battling, with shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags flying around, flames and blood splattering everywhere.
"I'll say it one last time, hand over the Hero Water, or I'll kill everyone here!"
The rogue ninja, Suien, looked vicious and fierce as he issued his final request to the villagers.
Opposite him, a wounded and panting Fuu replied resolutely:
"Suien, do you think I don't know? Even if we hand over the Hero Water, you'll still kill us all. So, Taki will fight to the last person, and you'll never get the Hero Water!"
Compared to monsters like Naruto, Fuu's power has significantly decreased since losing her Tailed Beast.
Faced with Suien and his band of desperadoes, she led the villagers in a desperate defence, but after these days of struggle, they were reaching their limit.
Their only hope now was for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive quickly.
At that moment.
Whizz.
With a piercing sound, the Kusanagi Sword flew in like lightning from a distance, instantly piercing an enemy's body.
Kusanagi Sword: Sky Blade.
This was a technique Sasuke had learned from Orochimaru, albeit reluctantly taught by the latter.
"Konoha has come! We're saved!"
Fuu looked towards the sound; her spirits lifted as she saw Sasuke and the others approaching the water.
In contrast, Suien, who had been arrogant moments ago, turned pale with fear.
Even though Konoha had sent three kids, their fame in the ninja world was immense; almost everyone recognised them.
So, Suien knew he stood no chance.
"Stop them!"
He shouted to his followers and turned to flee.
"Think you can escape?"
Sasuke, Naruto, and Marisa charged forward, quickly dispatching the enemies and catching up with Suien.
Suddenly.
"Master, save me!"
In a panic, Suien looked up and shouted desperately at the sky.
The words had barely left his mouth when—
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Dozens of figures appeared from all directions, forming a circular formation around Sasuke, Naruto, and Marisa.
These figures wore thick clothing, headscarves, and masks, and their foreheads bore a crescent moon emblem, exuding an air of mystery.
"We've been tricked. Suien was just bait, be careful!"
Sasuke's face changed, warning Naruto and Marisa.
The three stood back to back, adopting a defensive stance against the sudden new enemies.
"These guys... I remember them. They're the ones who kidnapped Hanabi! They're puppets sent by Toneri Otsutsuki!"
Marisa shouted excitedly after recognising the enemies.
Indeed.
"Capture these three Konoha ninjas and present them to Master Toneri."
The puppet leader's mouth didn't move, but a cold, mechanical voice emerged from somewhere.
As soon as the words were spoken, the puppets attacked Sasuke, Naruto, and Marisa.
"Fuu, quickly lead the villagers away! The upcoming battle isn't something you can handle!"
Naruto shouted at Fuu and the villagers who were trying to help.
"...Okay, be careful!"
Gritting her teeth, Fuu led the villagers to escape from the village.
The battle by the shore intensified.
Toneri Otsutsuki's puppet subordinates were all equipped with mechanisms and possessed self-awareness, fighting as skillfully as ninjas.
They were even more troublesome than the human puppets from the Hidden Sand Village.
Ordinary people would be powerless against these puppets, easily falling victim.
But Sasuke, Naruto, and Marisa were no ordinary people.
"Zzzzz!"
"Whirr!"
The chirping of Chidori and the high-speed rotation of Rasengan mixed with dazzling flashes of light as Sasuke and Naruto unleashed their powerful attacks.
Crunch.
One by one, the puppets were shattered by their strikes.
"The seventh."
Sasuke coolly stated after piercing a puppet's chest with Chidori.
However, just as he spoke.
"The eighth."
Naruto crushed a puppet's head with Rasengan, giving Sasuke a pure smile.
"Hmph."
Sasuke snorted, competing with Naruto again, charging ahead of him towards the remaining puppets.
Unfortunately, Marisa was even faster.
"Die, all of you! Ora Ora Ora Ora!"
Marisa roared like a mad gorilla, storming into the midst of the puppets and unleashing a barrage of iron fists.
Boom, boom, boom!
The remaining puppets had no time to resist before being smashed to pieces, becoming a heap of scrap metal.
With that, all the puppets were destroyed by the trio.
But the expressions on their faces were not relieved; instead, they grew even more serious.
They knew the real battle had only just begun.
"Toneri Otsutsuki, you cowardly scumbag, come out and face me!"
Marisa shouted, filled with killing intent as she scanned the surroundings.
Hinata Hanabi was her best friend from the Ninja Academy.
Toneri Otsutsuki had kidnapped Hanabi and gouged out her eyes. Marisa would never forgive him for his cruelty and wanted revenge for Hanabi.
"Hehehe, ignorant brats."
A mocking laugh came from above them.
Huh?
Marisa's eyes narrowed as she looked up to see a fair-skinned, blue-white-haired boy in a white robe floating in mid-air.
Curiously, his eyes were tightly shut beneath his slender eyebrows.
Under the trio's watchful eyes, Toneri Otsutsuki slowly descended to the ground.
"Look at me, bastard! Why don't you open your eyes? Are you too ashamed to show your face?"
Marisa shouted angrily.
"As you wish."
Toneri smiled slightly, slowly opening his eyes, and a dazzling blue light burst from his pupils...
(End of Chapter)