Naruto: By lying low and hiding, he eventually became the leader of the Legendary Sannin.

They finally breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the water's edge and saw the group of children playing and laughing.

They leaped quickly out of the water and approached the village at a leisurely pace.

Not far away, several patrolling ninjas from Takigakure noticed them.

With a flash of afterimage, they quickly rushed to Kagura's side.

They looked at the unfamiliar visitors with surprise in their eyes.

Kagura ignored their vigilance and calmly spoke:

"We are ninjas from Konoha, here on a mission."

For some reason, the person you sent to guide us is unable to come.

I need to see your senior management now.

The guards looked at each other, and finally, with the leader nodding, one of them quickly ran towards the village.

Ten minutes later, inside a building.

Kagura and her three companions sat quietly to one side. Opposite them was a Jonin from Takigakure named Hikogi.

After Kagura and the others were identified, they were quickly invited into the village.

Hikoki, who is now sitting in front of them, is one of the high-ranking officials in Takigakure.

This person has short, neat hair, and although his facial features are ordinary, he is very clean-cut.

The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes revealed his age, but the passage of time also gave him a sense of composure.

After Kagura's brief explanation, Hikoki understood what was happening outside.

Turning to instruct one of his subordinates to quickly go outside and bring back the injured Chunin, he frowned and said:

"So, Kakuzu and that Uchiha Shizu who defected from Konoha have already infiltrated our village?"

Kagura corrected her, displeased:

"First of all, that Uchiha Shizuka was not a defector."

She is being controlled by some kind of creature, and her actions are no longer under her own control.

Furthermore, I am certain that these two have already entered the area.

He hesitated for a moment, glanced at Yanmu in front of him, and then continued:

"From what I understand, the main reason these two came here is probably because of the Seven-Tailed Lioness in your village."

In fact, I was also very confused.

"Why haven't they made a move after being here for so long? And why is it still so peaceful here?"

When Kagura mentioned the Seven-Tails, Hikoki's pupils visibly contracted.

He didn't answer Kagura's question immediately. Instead, he lowered his head and pondered for a moment before nodding behind him.

As he did so, the guards in the room wisely withdrew, leaving only the five of them.

Looking at the young men and women from Konoha before him, Yanmu rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on, before finally speaking:

"I roughly know the reason."

Seeing the questioning looks from Kagura and the others, he tapped his hand lightly on the table a few times before beginning his explanation.

It turns out that the seven-tailed beast living in Takigakure Village is somewhat different from the tailed beasts of the other major countries.

Like the One-Tailed Beast from back then, it was not actually captured and sealed by Hashirama Senju and sold to other countries.

This is why a small country like the Land of Waterfalls would possess a Tailed Beast.

(According to the storyline, the One-Tailed Beast was not captured by Hashirama back then, but has always existed in Sunagakure.)

This is why the Land of Wind said at the first Five Kage Summit that they didn't want the Tailed Beasts, only land and money.

In reality, it's more accurate to say that the Seven-Tails just happens to reside in Takigakure rather than saying that Takigakure possesses the Seven-Tails.

For a beetle-like creature, the Tree of Life behind Takigakure Village is its best habitat.

Oh, right, the so-called Tree of Life is that hundreds-of-meters-tall tree that surprised Kagura and the others when they came in.

This is the name they have used since ancient times.

Compared to the brutality of other tailed beasts, this seven-tailed beast appears much more docile.

Since the founding of Takigaku Village, the two sides have maintained a good relationship.

Before Takigakure Village had the ability to capture and seal this tailed beast, they were happy to have such a powerful creature protecting the village.

Over time, they and the tailed beast developed a tacit understanding and established a certain way of getting along.

Yanmu recounted with a grim expression:

"Over the years, we have reached a certain understanding with that tailed beast."

Every month, it flies down to our altar to receive our offerings.

"Accept the offerings?"

Kagura looked at the man in front of her suspiciously and asked inquiringly.

This was something he had never known before.

In fact, the original storyline didn't provide much information about Takigakure Village; it only appeared in the side stories.

As for the capture process of the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, it was only briefly mentioned in the original story.

Therefore, Kagura really didn't know the specifics of this tailed beast.

Hearing Kagura's question, Hikoki nodded and explained:

"Yes, every month, it comes down to drink the 'Hero's Water' that we collect."

It likes this very much.

Chapter 85 Hero's Water

"Hero's Water?"

Upon hearing this familiar name, Kagura began to recall memories related to this item.

In the side story about Takigakure Village outside the original work, it was this item that attracted former rogue ninjas of Takigakure to return to the village, thus triggering a battle with the main characters.

Seeing Kagura deep in thought, Hikoki didn't take it to heart.

In fact, it is common knowledge on the continent that Takigakure Village possesses the "Hero's Water".

However, unlike the side story, the various countries were not interested in this item.

This, in fact, has its own logic.

The effects of this item are well understood by all countries; it is a drug that can stimulate one's own chakra.

If I had to use a metaphor, this water would be like a stimulant on Earth.

Aside from temporarily boosting the drinker's chakra levels, it doesn't offer any significant additional benefits.

However, its side effects are deadly; users have a high chance of losing their lives after drinking it.

Therefore, countries have not shown much interest in this somewhat useless item.

Seeing that Kagura and the others didn't speak, Hikoki continued the previous topic:

"In fact, the creation of Hero's Water is closely related to the Tree of Life."

At the base of that tree, a mysterious liquid is secreted every now and then.

After our ancestors discovered the miraculous effects of this liquid, the village developed the custom of collecting it, and this liquid is known as the Hero's Water.

At this point, he sighed slightly with a hint of regret and continued:

"Unfortunately, this 'Hero's Water' has significant side effects, so even the ninjas of our Takigakure Village rarely drink it."

At this moment, Kagura interrupted him curiously and asked:

"Then it can also be given to that seven-tailed creature as a tribute?"

"Won't the Seven-Tails suffer any side effects from drinking it?"

Yanmu nodded in response to these words:

"In fact, after so many years of research, we have gained a certain understanding of this 'heroic water'."

It is essentially a condensation of the powerful life force of the Tree of Life.

When human ninjas drink it, they are stimulated by its powerful life force, which is why they can release a large amount of chakra in a short period of time.

However, for tailed beasts or certain special summoning beasts, this concentrated liquid of powerful life force is the best tonic.

Therefore, for the Seven-Tails, this was a rare delicacy.

Upon hearing this, Kagura and the others showed expressions of sudden realization.

Simply put, the human body is too weak to be nourished properly, which leads to death.

However, for creatures with enormous bodies like tailed beasts or summoning beasts, this is the most natural nutrient solution.

As Kagura listened to this description, a thought seemed to flash through his mind, but it was fleeting and he couldn't think about it in detail.

Hikoki, unaware of Kagura's absent-mindedness, continued:

"Starting about a hundred years ago, the Seven-Tailed Fox would come to the altar every month at a set time."

We will prepare a bottle of 'Hero's Water' as a sacrifice beforehand.

The next sacrifice will take place tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, Kagura seemed to understand something and realized why the two people hadn't made any moves after entering the village.

It seems we'll meet our target tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in a residential building in Takigakure Village.

In an ordinary room, a couple was lying on the floor.

Although the two lay on the ground with their eyes closed, there was no sign of injury on their bodies, indicating that they were merely unconscious rather than dead.