Takizo: "Senior Zabuza, you're quite rude."
Zabuza waved his hand impatiently, letting the Executioner's Blade hover just inches from Takizo's nose.
"Talk. What does the Kaguya Clan want? And before you answer, think carefully about the consequences of pissing me off."
Takizo stared at the massive blade in front of him and smiled. "Eh? The Kaguya Clan? But I was talking about my needs."
"Hmph?" Zabuza paused, intrigued. "Interesting. So what do you want, kid?"
Takizo reached out and gently pushed the Executioner's Blade away with one finger.
"Senior, put the sword away. It's scary," Takizo said with a grin.
Zabuza shifted the blade slightly, revealing Takizo's face, but didn't sheath it.
Seeing this, Takizo smiled and took a step forward.
The blade that was beside him was now pressing directly against his neck. The sharp aura of the chakra metal made the fine hairs on his skin stand up.
Takizo remained calm.
"No one knows how long the Kaguya Clan has existed. Since the dawn of shinobi, the Dead Bone Pulse has been passed down. The glory of our history is lost to time, but the echoes of the Warring States period still ring loud."
"Back then, the Kaguya were undeniably one of the strongest kekkei genkai clans. There wasn't a ninja alive who didn't fear our slaughter."
"But then what happened? The Senju and Uchiha joined forces, pressed the heads of every other clan into the dirt, and forced them to submit."
"The Kaguya were forced out of the fertile Fire Country to this remote island, hired by the Daimyo of the Water Country."
"We never failed in our duties. In every war, we were the vanguard. But how did the Mist treat us?"
"Surveillance. Segregation. They guarded against the Kaguya more than they guarded against the enemy."
"They didn't even let us fight in the Third Great Ninja War."
"And look at us now."
"We are a warrior clan that doesn't farm or produce anything. The village restricts us, and our resources are drying up."
"First, we fought for resources."
"Then, we started enslaving our own kin who couldn't awaken the Dead Bone Pulse, forcing them into labor to support the warriors."
"The desire for battle has nowhere to go. Suppressed for too long, it has twisted the minds of the Kaguya."
"From adults to children."
"Meaningless infighting is increasing. We use our own family as outlets for our bloodlust. People die every month from internal brawls."
"The Kaguya are on the brink of extinction!"
Zabuza watched Takizo get more and more agitated. He moved the sword slightly away, just in case the kid accidentally cut his own throat in his excitement.
He glanced at Mangetsu.
Mangetsu nodded slightly, confirming that the Kaguya situation was indeed that bad.
Zabuza interrupted Takizo's monologue. "So, you want to save the Kaguya?"
"No." Takizo suddenly went calm. "I want to accelerate its destruction."
Mangetsu looked at Takizo in shock.
Zabuza furrowed what would have been his eyebrows. "Kid, what the hell are you talking about?"
Takizo spoke with zero emotion. "The vast majority of the Kaguya are beyond saving. Especially those who have awakened the Dead Bone Pulse. They are little more than slaughter puppets."
Mangetsu hesitated. "What do you mean?"
Takizo said firmly, "I want to build a New Kaguya!"
"New Kaguya?" Zabuza asked.
"Kill all the madmen!" Takizo declared.
Zabuza lowered his sword, his expression serious. "Are you serious?"
Mangetsu couldn't believe his ears. "You want to kill your own clansmen?"
"There is no construction without destruction," Takizo said resolutely. "The Kaguya Clan will be like a bone spur breaking through skin—new life will sprout from the corpses of the old."
"Besides," he looked at Zabuza, "Senior, you should understand this logic better than anyone."
Zabuza fell silent.
That was exactly the mindset he had when he slaughtered his classmates to force the Mist to change.
Mangetsu asked, "Is that why you were testing me?"
"Correct. This is the best opportunity for the Kaguya," Takizo replied. "A Kaguya attack will draw a huge number of Mist ninjas. This is nothing but beneficial for your coup."
Mangetsu asked, "What do you need us to do?"
"Nothing," Takizo said coldly. "Once the war starts, my crazy clansmen will rush into the battlefield on their own to kill or be killed."
As if suddenly remembering something, Takizo added, "If you succeed, I might need you to finish off any Kaguya survivors still on the battlefield."
Letting the mad Kaguya die in battle was the greatest mercy for a clan that defined itself by war.
Zabuza sensed something. "And you? What will you do?"
"I will take the children who have awakened the Dead Bone Pulse and leave the Mist," Takizo answered. "I'll leave the ones without abilities to you. They are normal people, mostly civilians. After the war, the village will need to replenish its population."
Mangetsu: "Why not stay? I guarantee the Kaguya can live normally in the village afterwards."
"Forget it. The Mist and the Kaguya are sick of each other," Takizo replied. "Besides, it's not certain you'll succeed. I need to preserve the seeds of the Dead Bone Pulse."
Mangetsu looked at Zabuza. "Senior?"
Zabuza thought for a moment, then looked up. "I accept your proposal."
YES! Takizo was ready to pop the champagne.
But then Zabuza stood up and cracked his neck. "Now, show me your resolve."
?
A giant question mark appeared over Takizo's head.
Mangetsu smiled at him. "Follow me, Takizo. There's a training ground in the backyard."
?
Wait, what are you doing?
I rolled a nat 20 on persuasion! Why are we entering combat?!
Are you ninjas sick in the head?!
Oh, right. "Top-tier ninjas communicate through battle," is that it?
Do I look like a top-tier ninja to you?!
Takizo was dragged into the training ground in a state of disbelief.
Hahaha, here comes the battle. Battle is such a joy. Must taste it.
"What are you spacing out for?" Zabuza was already at the other end of the field, the Executioner's Blade resting on his shoulder.
Phew. Takizo exhaled deeply.
Since a fight was unavoidable, he might as well see how big the gap was between him and these canon powerhouses.
Takizo took off his shirt. A bone sword slid out of his palm.
He crouched low, staring at Zabuza.
"Since you never went to the Ninja Academy, let me teach you lesson one," Zabuza pointed his sword at him. "If you don't come at me with the intent to kill, you will die here."
A torrent of violent killing intent exploded outward.
Takizo's pupils shrank to pinpoints. "What the hell is that?!"
He saw it clearly. Behind Zabuza, the chakra formed the image of a blood-red demon visage.
The demon grinned hideously, staring straight into Takizo's soul.