Chapter 33: The Current State of the Taketori Clan
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Douluo: Summoner Of Nine Treasure Clan
Haruko walked around the outskirts of the Village, carefully observing the so-called "Taketori Village" before him.
Calling it a Village was an understatement; its scale wasn't small, with an estimated few hundred households. Wooden houses were scattered along the hillside, and curling smoke from cooking fires gave it a lively atmosphere.
Two Ninja wearing protective gear stood guard at the Village entrance; judging by their attire, they belonged to the Village's guard force.
Haruko stepped forward, wearing a harmless smile. "Excuse me, brothers, I'm a passing traveler. It's getting late; would it be possible to stay in the Village for the night?"
The two guards sized him up. Haruko's outfit indeed didn't look threatening.
He wore loose grey cloth clothes, ordinary black trousers, and carried a small pack. His medium-length white hair was particularly striking in the sunset.
"Don't cause trouble once you're inside. The inn is two hundred meters straight ahead."
Haruko thanked them and stepped into the Village.
As he walked, he secretly observed the characteristics of the villagers.
'It's just as the information Hinata gave me suggested. The Taketori Clan members in this Village are clearly not the same sort as those from the Hidden Mist."
'The Kirigakure Taketori Clan are all black-haired, but here the hair colors are varied—black, brown, and even multicolored. Pure black hair has actually become the minority."
'Although some people with Chakra can be seen, most of their presences are weak. They probably can't even perform a decent Ninjutsu, let alone Shikotsumyaku."
'What differs even more was the atmosphere—a peaceful and easy-going vibe, completely lacking the aggressiveness of the Kirigakure Taketori Clan."
'Is it because the bloodline has been diluted? It would actually be suitable for Old Man Teuchi and the others to move here."
He found the Village inn and simply checked in.
The room was fairly clean, though a bit damp. Haruko put down his pack and decided to gather some information during dinner.
Quite a few people were sitting in the inn's dining hall, all of them villagers.
Haruko ordered a meal and found a seat by the window.
The nearby villagers noticed this stranger from outside the Village.
"Yo, young man, a fresh face, I see."
"Oh, I'm just a passing traveler. It's late, so I came here to find a place to stay."
Haruko chatted idly with the villagers; they were very interested in news from the outside world.
"By the way, I heard there's also a Taketori Clan in the Land of Water. They were wiped out for rebelling two years ago. Are they your relatives?"
As soon as he said this, everyone around fell silent.
A few young people looked bewildered, and one even asked his companion, "Land of Water? Do we have relatives there?"
A few men in their prime knew about it, but their faces were filled with expressions of schadenfreude.
"Isn't it good that those lunatics are dead? It saves people from thinking the Taketori Clan are all psychos whenever they're mentioned."
Only the Old Man sitting in the corner had his chopsticks tremble, a look of terror crossing his face.
Haruko lowered his head and continued eating, but he had already reached a conclusion in his heart.
...
In rural areas, gossip always travels fast, especially major events like the Hidden Mist Kaguya extermination.
By the time night fell, the news was known to everyone, and it was being discussed in every street and alley.
Haruko took a walk near the inn, calmly observing everyone's reactions.
Most of the younger generation had no idea the Kirigakure Taketori Clan even existed.
The young and middle-aged knew but were happy to see their extermination, likely due to the education they had received since childhood.
The reactions of the old-timers were the most varied.
Some were as excited as the youths, some felt a sense of shared sorrow, some were indifferent, and others had complex expressions that were a mix of all these.
But the most common reaction was—
"What are we going to do? Those lunatics were supposed to be our backup, but now only we are left..."
"Aren't there still those old men from the Main House? Let them work a bit harder."
"Heh, their bloodline isn't much better than ours. They've fathered many children, but what's the result? Even the most talented child can't use Shikotsumyaku, can they?"
"Sigh... Back then, we intermarried with other clans to suppress our bellicose bloodline, but it has led to this situation..."
'In this Naruto world where bloodlines are everything, the extinction of a bloodline is a major issue. Those old guys must be very anxious..."
Haruko strolled back to his inn room, silently calculating how to exploit this anxiety—
Knock, knock, knock.
—The sound of knocking interrupted his thoughts.
He opened the door to see the innkeeper and a middle-aged man.
"Hello, Mr. Haruko. The Clan Head wishes to see you. Please come with me."
...
Plans never keep up with changes.
Initially, Haruko only wanted to test the Taketori Village's attitude toward outsiders and the Kirigakure Taketori Clan.
He didn't expect that, in the blink of an eye, he would be speaking face-to-face with the Clan Head of the Land of Fire's Taketori Clan.
The Clan Head's residence was halfway up the mountain, an old-looking Japanese-style compound.
The Clan Head was a grey-haired elder. Though his posture was somewhat hunched, his eyes were quite sharp as he sized up Haruko.
"Please, sit." The Clan Head pointed to the cushion opposite him. "I am Taketori Sanuki."
"I heard that young brother Haruko has news of the Kaguya Clan in the Land of Water? Would it be convenient to elaborate?" the Clan Head asked casually while pouring tea, though his gaze was locked onto Haruko's face.
"It's all just rumors I've heard, if the Clan Head doesn't mind." Haruko emphasized first before taking a sip of the tea.
He then briefly recounted the "rumors" of how the Hidden Mist implemented the Blood Mist Policy a few years ago, and how Zabuza launched a coup two years ago with the Kirigakure Taketori Clan's involvement.
And how the coup ultimately failed, resulting in the extermination of the Kirigakure Taketori Clan.
"Those are roughly the rumors I've heard."
"Are there no survivors?" Sanuki asked with a hint of urgency in his tone.
"According to the rumors I heard, the entire clan fought to the last man; there were no survivors."
Sanuki sighed and closed his eyes in silence.
He knew very well that even if there were survivors, they would surely change their names and hide under the Hidden Mist's pursuit, making them impossible to find unless they sought refuge themselves.
Moreover, those radicals would never swallow their pride to seek refuge, even if they died out there.
Given the temperament of those lunatics, they likely did die in battle as Haruko said.
Seeing Sanuki's solemn expression, Haruko decided to probe further.
"Why does the Clan Head sigh? From what I've heard, the Land of Fire's Taketori Clan and the Land of Water's Taketori Clan were at odds. Most of the villagers were overjoyed to hear this news."
"That's because we... well, because although our philosophies differ and we have our grievances, we are still of the same clan after all."
Sanuki looked back at Haruko.
"Thank you for the news, young brother. If possible, please help spread a message: The Land of Fire's Taketori Clan is willing to accept survivors of the Kirigakure Taketori Clan. I will provide a corresponding reward."
"No problem. But is this wise? The Hidden Mist has Hunter-nin..."
"Hehehe, just a few Ninja. Our Kaguya Clan isn't exactly helpless either."
Having reached this point, Haruko could basically confirm that the Land of Fire's Taketori Clan was truly willing to accept the Kirigakure Taketori Clan.
Although the other party concealed their motives, their attitude was clear, and they were willing to pay a reward for it; their desire for the Kirigakure Taketori Clan survivors was genuine.
Taking a deep breath, Haruko made up his mind and spoke slowly, "Actually... I am also a Taketori Clan Member."
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