The ninjas who suddenly emerged from the shadows were none other than the Root operatives personally dispatched by Danzo.
They had come with three clear objectives.
First, they were to ambush the Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki and deliberately expose Yakushi Nonou's whereabouts. By doing so, they would make her a target of Takigakure's pursuit and, more importantly, lure Hirakawa Qingshui into the Land of Waterfalls. During this entire process, they were under strict orders to ensure that Nonou would not escape the country's borders.
Second, once Hirakawa Qingshui arrived, they would force the Seven-Tails into a rampage and guide the raging Tailed Beast toward him. Their hope was simple—use the uncontrollable power of the Seven-Tails to eliminate him.
Third, after confirming Hirakawa Qingshui's death at the hands of the Tailed Beast, they were to dispose of Yakushi Nonou as well. To Danzo, betrayal—real or perceived—was unforgivable.
If, however, the Seven-Tails failed to kill Hirakawa Qingshui…
Then they would step in personally.
Even if it meant sacrificing their lives.
Thus, the current battlefield came into being.
"Hmph. So the rats hiding in the dark have finally decided to show themselves."
Hirakawa Qingshui's tone was calm, but his eyes were cold.
He had detected them long ago.
Within the range of his Malice Perception, their killing intent shone like torches in the night—impossible to ignore, impossible to conceal.
His words caused subtle shifts in the expressions behind their masks.
But the arrow was already on the string.
Retreat was no longer an option.
Without hesitation, the Root ninjas launched their attack.
Qingshui did not intend to show mercy.
With a smooth motion, he drew his ninja sword and stepped forward, executing Hatake Swordsmanship with flawless precision.
White flashes cut through the air.
The sound of steel slicing flesh echoed in rapid succession.
Within moments, several heads fell to the ground.
The Root operatives died before they could even complete a coordinated assault. Their eyes remained wide open in disbelief, as if they had never imagined such an overwhelming gap in strength.
When it came to eliminating fodder, Hatake Swordsmanship truly lived up to its fearsome reputation.
After the final body collapsed, Qingshui flicked the blood from his blade and calmly sheathed it.
He then turned and walked toward Mori Ryosuke.
Meanwhile, the Takigakure shinobi who had been delayed by the Root ambush finally arrived at the battlefield.
What they saw left them speechless.
The land was torn apart. Trees had been flattened. The ground was fractured and scorched.
And most eye-catching of all—
A massive wing belonging to the Seven-Tails was embedded deep into the earth like a fallen monument.
The sheer scale of destruction made their scalps tingle.
Was this… truly something a human ninja could accomplish?
"Mori Ryosuke! What happened here?!" Mori Kota, another Takigakure Jonin, was the first to regain his composure.
Ryosuke swallowed before answering.
"After the Seven-Tails went berserk… the Konoha hero, Hirakawa Qingshui, suppressed it."
The statement was simple.
But its implications were staggering.
Gasps rippled through the gathered shinobi.
He suppressed a Tailed Beast… alone?
The gap between Takigakure and Konoha—was it truly this vast?
Was this the foundation of one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?
Mori Kota quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"We are deeply grateful for your assistance."
Without Qingshui's intervention, Takigakure would have suffered catastrophic losses once again.
"It was nothing," Qingshui replied lightly.
As he spoke, he knelt beside Mori Ryosuke and began channeling Medical Ninjutsu.
Green chakra glowed softly from his palms.
"You… know Medical Ninjutsu as well?" Ryosuke's tone had unconsciously grown more respectful.
"I know a little."
The understatement left the surrounding ninjas speechless once more.
While Qingshui treated Ryosuke, the Takigakure shinobi inspected the corpses of the fallen attackers.
They removed disguises.
Underneath were uniforms resembling Kumogakure attire.
Mori Kota's expression darkened.
This was a classic Danzo tactic—frame another village, stir conflict, benefit from chaos.
His gaze then shifted toward the massive wing of the Seven-Tails.
How were they even supposed to handle something like that?
At that very moment—
A tall figure wearing sunglasses appeared silently on the battlefield.
Before anyone could react, he retrieved a sealing scroll and pressed it onto the severed wing.
With a puff of smoke, the enormous appendage vanished.
"Who are you?!" Mori Kota drew his blade instantly.
The other Takigakure shinobi surrounded the man.
But he did not respond.
He turned as if to leave.
Mori Kota lunged to intercept him—
Suddenly, countless black thread-like tendrils burst from the stranger's body, writhing like serpents.
Mori Kota froze.
"This technique… Earth Grudge Fear!"
His eyes widened.
"You're Kakuzu!"
The name alone caused visible tension among the Takigakure shinobi.
Kakuzu—the most infamous rogue ninja in Takigakure's history.
He had stolen their village's secret technique and murdered high-ranking officials before defecting. His betrayal was comparable to Orochimaru abandoning Konoha.
In truth, this "Kakuzu" was Pain—controlled remotely by Hirakawa Qingshui.
His purpose was simple.
Retrieve the Seven-Tails' wing.
When the Seven-Tails first rampaged, Qingshui could have easily fled with Yakushi Nonou.
But he had chosen to stay.
Not out of kindness.
Not for Takigakure.
But for the Tailed Beast's flesh.
History had proven that Tailed Beast cells retained chakra properties.
The Gold and Silver Brothers had consumed the Nine-Tails' flesh and gained its chakra.
Orochimaru had once cultivated Eight-Tails tissue to reproduce its horn.
Even Edo Tensei Bee had displayed partial Tailed Beast transformation.
The evidence was clear.
Tailed Beast flesh possessed extraordinary potential.
Thus, the moment Qingshui saw the Seven-Tails, he decided—
He would acquire a piece.
With it, he intended to create a special summoned beast infused with Tailed Beast power.
And so, while battling the Seven-Tails, he had dispatched Pain—Kakuzu—to retrieve the prize.
Back on the battlefield, Mori Kota forced himself to speak sternly.
"As a rogue ninja, you dare return to the Land of Waterfalls? This time, we will not let you escape!"
Despite his words, he did not advance.
No one did.
Takigakure had long since adopted a policy of reluctant tolerance toward Kakuzu.
They lacked the strength to capture him.
And asking for help from another village would only deepen their humiliation.
Seeing no one truly challenge him, Pain—Kakuzu gave a cold snort and departed.
Only after he vanished did everyone exhale in relief.
Their hearts had nearly stopped.
Meanwhile—
[Treatment of Mori Ryosuke complete. Reward: One Gold Orb.]
[Congratulations. You have obtained: Water Release – Water Needle Senbon Technique.]
Qingshui remained calm.
He then moved to treat the unconscious Jinchuriki, Erika.
She was not a Perfect Jinchuriki.
The Seven-Tails' rampage had injured her as well, though not severely.
Within moments, the healing was complete.
[Treatment of Erika complete. Reward: One Gold Orb.]
[Congratulations. You have obtained: Secret Technique – Scale Powder Concealment.]
Qingshui fell into thought.
He had expected a higher-tier reward from treating a Jinchuriki.
It seemed the system did not recognize Tailed Beast power as belonging to the host—unless they had fully mastered it.
Interesting.
At that moment, his Shadow Clone returned with Yakushi Nonou.
The instant she saw him unharmed, she rushed into his arms.
"Brother Qingshui! I was so worried!"
He patted her gently.
"I told you. It's only the Seven-Tails. It can't do anything to me."
The Takigakure shinobi nearby could only remain silent.
Their village's ultimate weapon… dismissed so casually.
Yet they had no grounds to argue.
Because it was true.
"Lord Qingshui," Mori Ryosuke said sincerely, "please allow us to host you in Takigakure for a short rest."
Qingshui nodded politely.
"Very well."
He then glanced at the Kumogakure-disguised corpses.
"How do you intend to handle these?"
Mori Kota hesitated.
Kumogakure was notorious for its aggression.
Takigakure did not possess the strength to confront them directly.
"How about this," Qingshui suggested calmly. "Leave the bodies to Konoha. We will handle the matter."
In truth, he intended to use them against Danzo.
Mori Kota exchanged looks with Ryosuke.
"This will require our leader's decision."
Later—
Inside the secret base.
Qingshui observed the newly created Pain—Hiruko.
Unlike Kakuzu, Hiruko lacked combat ability.
Therefore, Qingshui granted him the Animal Path's powers.
At the very least, he would not be useless outside research.
Hiruko's new mission was clear:
Perfect the Kiyomi no Jutsu.
Then use the Seven-Tails' wing to create the first Rinnegan summoned beast.
As Qingshui pondered further possibilities, a bold idea surfaced.
If he gathered flesh or cells from all nine Tailed Beasts…
And fused them together through Kiyomi no Jutsu…
Could he create a pseudo–Ten-Tails?
If he sealed such a being within himself—
Would he ascend to the Six Paths level?
He did not know.
But experimentation would reveal the answer.
Practice yields truth.
Elsewhere—
Inside the Root headquarters.
Danzo had received the report.
Hirakawa Qingshui was alive.
Yakushi Nonou was alive.
The Seven-Tails had been suppressed.
The mission had failed completely.
Rage consumed him.
He smashed furniture, shattered vases, and overturned tables.
"Useless!"
"All of them useless!"
"With so many men, they couldn't even kill one Hirakawa Qingshui!"
The Root operatives stood silently, trembling like cicadas in winter.
Danzo's breathing grew heavy.
"How did his strength grow so quickly?"
If only he had discovered Qingshui earlier…
If only he had recruited him into Root…
With such power under his command, he might already have claimed the Hokage's seat.
Instead—
That power stood against him.
And that was something Danzo could not tolerate.
His eye darkened.
Hirakawa Qingshui had become a threat that could no longer be ignored.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)