Silent Inviltration
A year had passed since Tsubasa's first encounter with young Madara and Hashirama by the riverbank. Over that year, Tsubasa's life was filled with various activities aimed at increasing his strength and developing their valley.
He continued to travel through the regions of the ninja world, honing 'Venom' and his new ninjutsu, as well as guiding his subordinates. This routine had become an inseparable part of his life, building discipline and perseverance within him.
The hidden valley flourished under Tsubasa's leadership. The wooden houses became sturdier and more comfortable, the vegetable gardens and rice fields yielded abundant harvests, and the chicken and goat livestock thrived.
Life in the valley grew increasingly prosperous and secure, thanks to Tsubasa's hard work and vision. The laughter of the children, now growing bigger, once again filled the valley, the sound of the rushing river, and the songs of forest birds created a beautiful and calming harmony of life.
The valley had truly become a safe and prosperous haven for Tsubasa and his six subordinates along with their new families.
They lived harmoniously and supported each other, building a strong and independent community, apart from the violence and chaos of the ninja world outside. Every morning, they woke with new spirit, ready to work and contribute to the progress of the valley, creating a better future for themselves and the next generation.
Tsubasa himself also experienced significant progress in controlling 'Venom' and his new ninjutsu created with the help of the 'Giant Brain'. His power continued to grow rapidly, surpassing his own expectations and hopes. He felt Venom increasingly merge with him, becoming an inseparable part of his being.
He became more proficient at using 'Venom' to move quickly underground, absorb chakra and nutrients from corpses, and control the black entities that could manipulate other people's bodies.
Venom's diverse and complex abilities gave Tsubasa flexibility and adaptability in various combat situations. He continued to experiment and develop Venom, seeking ways to maximize its potential and create even more deadly new techniques.
The elemental ninjutsu he taught his subordinates also continued to develop and strengthen, showing the great potential of the 'Giant Brain'. Kyoya, Benkei, and Ginga increasingly mastered their respective ninjutsu, showing remarkable progress in their training.
Every time Tsubasa saw them training diligently, he felt proud and optimistic about the future of the Takagami clan. He knew that with hard work and his guidance, they would become strong and reliable ninjas, capable of protecting the valley and their families from any danger.
However, amidst all the busyness and progress, Tsubasa never forgot his primary goal for this year: to seek information about the Bijuu. He realized that the power of the Bijuu was essential to realize his ambitions in this dangerous shinobi world. The Bijuu were the key to achieving unmatched power, to protect the Takagami clan and create a more peaceful and prosperous world.
Therefore, once again, Tsubasa decided to leave the valley, using 'Venom' to journey far. This time, his destination was a region believed to hold traces of the Bijuu, based on vague information he had heard from various sources. This information was widespread among merchants and travelers, legends hidden behind the veil of the ninja world's mysteries.
On his journey, Tsubasa decided to disguise himself as a traveling merchant. He donned simple clothing, carried a woven basket filled with a few merchandise items, and slightly altered his appearance to avoid being too conspicuous.
This disguise was a clever strategy to conceal his true identity and make it easier for him to interact with people without arousing suspicion. He moved from place to place, posing as an ordinary person seeking a livelihood, observing and listening carefully for any information that might be useful to him.
Tsubasa visited various towns and villages, from fishing settlements by the coast to bustling trading cities in the plains. He journeyed from place to place, peddling his wares, and listening to folk tales and ancient legends that might be related to the Bijuu.
Every interaction, every conversation, he utilized to seek clues and information that might bring him closer to his goal.
He also spread his small information network, enlisting the help of other merchants and travelers to find out if there was any news or strange occurrences related to the chakra power of large monsters. He built relationships with various people, creating eyes and ears throughout the ninja world, expanding the reach of his search and increasing his chances of success.
Several weeks passed without significant results. The information Tsubasa obtained was still in the form of rumors and vague stories, without concrete evidence pointing to the existence of the Bijuu. Feelings of frustration and despair began to haunt him. Would his search this time be in vain? Had he gone in the wrong direction and wasted his time?
However, Tsubasa did not give up. He knew that finding the Bijuu was not an easy task. He continued his search diligently, following every small clue and listening to every story that might contain valuable information.
His perseverance and patience were his main weapons in facing this difficulty. He was confident that with persistence and thoroughness, he would find what he was looking for.
One day, while Tsubasa was in a bustling port city, he stopped at a tavern to rest and fill his stomach. The tavern was crowded with people from all walks of life, from merchants and sailors to ninjas and wanderers.
The sound of chatter filled the tavern room, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere. The aroma of sake and grilled food mingled in the air, creating a typical port tavern ambiance.
Tsubasa ordered a warm drink and sat in a corner of the tavern, listening to the conversations of people around him. His trained ears suddenly caught the conversation of several men at the next table that caught his attention.
They were talking about a ninja clan that had recently been seen active in the area around the port city. Their tone of voice was hushed, as if afraid of being overheard, creating an aura of mystery and secrecy.
"The Karasuma clan… they suddenly appeared and caused quite a stir in this town," one of the men at the table whispered, as if afraid of being overheard. His tone was full of anxiety and uncertainty, creating a tense atmosphere around their table.
"I heard they are very strong and mysterious," another man chimed in with a curious tone. "No one knows what their real purpose is. Some say they are looking for something around here." Questions and speculations began to arise, creating an increasingly burning mystery.
The name "Karasuma" immediately jolted Tsubasa's attention.
Karasuma clan… the name sounded familiar and evoked bad memories in his mind. He was again reminded of the sham engagement plan with the Karasuma clan, the cunning trap that was one of the main factors in the Takagami clan's destruction. The anger and resentment that had been buried in his heart rekindled, ready to explode at any moment.
Tsubasa's heart pounded, his blood boiled with renewed anger and resentment. The sudden appearance of the Karasuma clan in this area felt too suspicious. Tsubasa sensed that there was something important behind their arrival. A bad premonition began to haunt him, he was sure that the Karasuma clan did not come to this city without a clear reason.
Without hesitation, Tsubasa decided to find out more about the Karasuma clan and their purpose. He approached the table where those men were sitting, pretending to be interested in their conversation. He hid his anger and resentment behind a mask of friendliness and innocence.
"Excuse me, gentlemen," Tsubasa greeted in a friendly and polite tone, hiding the anger and resentment raging in his heart. "What are you talking about? It sounds very interesting." He put on an expression of curiosity and interest, hoping to blend in with them and get the information he needed.
The men turned to Tsubasa, slightly startled by his sudden appearance. They exchanged glances for a moment, assessing whether this foreign young man could be trusted or not. Their gazes scrutinized Tsubasa from head to toe, finding out if he had any hidden intentions.
"Oh, it's nothing, young man," one of the men at the table replied dismissively. "Just talking about the Karasuma clan who are currently a hot topic in this town." His tone was flat and unfriendly, as if not wanting to involve Tsubasa in their conversation.
"Karasuma clan? What clan is that?" Tsubasa asked, feigning ignorance, putting on an innocent and curious expression. "This is the first time I've heard of them. Are they a famous ninja clan?" He tried to elicit information from them, pretending to be ignorant so they wouldn't be suspicious and would be willing to tell him more.
The man chuckled hearing Tsubasa's question. "You really don't know? The Karasuma clan is a fairly well-known ninja clan in the northern region," the man explained in a slightly arrogant tone.
"They are a powerful and influential ninja clan there. But for some reason, they suddenly moved their entire clan to a small port town like this. Very strange, isn't it?" He expressed his surprise and suspicion towards the Karasuma clan's appearance in this town.
Tsubasa listened intently to every piece of information the man gave, recording every detail in his sharp memory. He tried not to appear too interested or suspicious, keeping his expression neutral and friendly.
However, in his heart, the determination to investigate the Karasuma clan grew stronger. His instincts told him that this clan might be related to his search for the Bijuu. His sharp ninja intuition sensed something was wrong with the Karasuma clan's movements, as if they were harboring a dark secret hidden deep within.
After feeling he had gathered enough information from the brief conversation, Tsubasa thanked the men at the tavern and immediately left the place.
His footsteps were quick and firm, his mind already filled with plans to investigate the Karasuma clan further. He rented a room at a nearby inn, locked himself in the silence of the room, and began to formulate a plan to investigate the Karasuma clan more deeply.
The simple inn room became his temporary headquarters, a place where he formulated strategies and prepared himself to face any danger that might lie ahead.
That night, under the pale moon hanging in the sky, Tsubasa decided to move. He activated 'Venom', letting the darkness envelop his body, and slipped out of the inn without making a sound.
With 'Venom', Tsubasa moved quickly and stealthily towards the area believed to be the Karasuma clan's base, based on the information he obtained from the tavern.
He was determined to uncover the mystery behind the Karasuma clan and find out their purpose in moving their base to this city. Curiosity and suspicion drove him to take risks, even though he realized the danger that might await him.
Tsubasa felt a bad premonition haunting him, but he still moved forward with burning determination. Resentment and curiosity were the fuel that drove him to keep going, even though he knew he was walking into the enemy's lair. He would not let his past continue to haunt him; he would face the Karasuma clan and find out the truth hidden behind their movements.
As 'Venom' moved underground, Tsubasa prepared himself for the worst possible scenarios. He was ready to face whatever awaited him at the Karasuma clan's base. He sharpened his ninja instincts, increased his vigilance, and prepared various strategies to face an unknown enemy.
Unbeknownst to him, Tsubasa was getting closer and closer to the Karasuma clan's territory, a place that would reveal the dark secrets of his past and change his destiny forever. He did not know what he would find there, but he was sure that there was something suspicious behind the Karasuma clan's sudden relocation.
His resolve was firm, he would not back down and would face whatever stood in his way. With steadfast determination, Tsubasa continued forward, deeper and deeper into enemy territory. His resolve was strengthened by the darkness of the night that veiled his actions.
The night wind blew coldly, as if warning Tsubasa of the danger lurking ahead. The rustling wind through the trees sounded like mysterious whispers, adding to the night's chilling impression.
However, Tsubasa did not flinch; he continued to move forward, guided by his ninja instincts. He would not let fear control him, his determination to uncover the truth was far stronger than any fear.
This night would be a long and eventful night for Tsubasa. This night would test his courage and determination, challenging him to face his past and determine the direction of his future.
He did not know that at the Karasuma clan's base, he would find something more terrifying than he had ever imagined.
And in the darkness of the night, Tsubasa got closer and closer to the gates of hell, unaware of what awaited him there.
His footsteps were steady and without hesitation, he walked towards his destiny, towards an encounter that would change his life forever. His destiny as the successor of the Takagami clan would be tested, and he had to prove that he was worthy of bearing the name of that destroyed clan.
----| Author Thought |----
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