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Chapter 329-For The Good of the Village.
🕑 Added 2024-12-23 16:00:13 +0000 UTCThe facility’s towering gates groaned open, the metallic clang reverberating through the crisp night air as Hano Ayame stepped into its well-lit courtyard. Each step she took seemed to carry the weight of history, her presence commanding the respect of the shinobi stationed there.
Patrols moved with precision, their chakra signatures tightly controlled, yet Hano could feel the heavy undercurrent of tension that permeated the air.
Approaching her was Taira Hideki, one of the six S-rank shinobi tasked with safeguarding the facility. Taira was a striking figure, his tall frame draped in a dark, high-collared cloak that concealed the weapons bristling underneath.
His black hair almost gleamed in the moonlight, tied neatly at the nape of his neck, while a jagged scar slashed across his left cheek—a reminder of the countless battles he had fought in service to Kumogakure. His amber eyes, sharp and calculating, softened slightly as he bowed deeply in deference to Hano.
“Hano-sama,” he greeted, his voice low and resonant. “It’s an honour to have you here tonight.”
Hano barely acknowledged him, her piercing gaze sweeping the courtyard as if cataloguing every detail. Her stoic demeanour was unshaken, but her silence spoke volumes.
The tension between the older woman and the younger shinobi was palpable, like the taut string of a bow ready to snap.
Taira, sensing her impatience, cleared his throat and fell into step beside her.
“I take it the young prince Ay or Lord Killer Bee won’t be joining us tonight?”
“No,” Hano replied curtly, her tone as cold and unyielding as steel. “Suna has been stirring up trouble along our borders. They’re occupied ensuring the Land of Lightning remains secure.”
Taira nodded, his brow furrowing slightly. “It’s troubling how brazen they’ve become. It seems no one is willing to wait for the next war to start.”
Hano’s lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t bother to respond, her mind already moving to more pressing matters.
“Is she ready?” Hano asked sharply, her voice cutting through the night like a blade.
The one she was asking for was Tani Sakiko, the supposed next two tails jinchuriki. Tani, just like Taira and Hano, was an S-rank Shinobi and a generational talent from the Sakiko clan of Kumogakure, the same clan the third Raikage was from.
She was a brilliant strategist and just like Renjiro, she had already attained jonin status at a young age although she did so when she was ten years old. All this was why she was chosen as the next jinchuriki of Matatabi, the two tails.
Taira straightened, the weight of her question sobering his expression. “Yes. Tani Sakiko is prepared, and all the necessary arrangements have been made. Everything is proceeding as planned.”
“Good,” Hano said simply, her tone brooking no argument. “Lead the way.”
Taira inclined his head and began guiding her through the facility. The further they walked, the more apparent the layers of security became. Chakra detection barriers thrummed faintly in the air, while hidden alcoves bristled with sentinels ready to unleash lethal force at a moment’s notice.
Though Hano maintained her calm exterior, her thoughts churned.
'Are you sure about this, Hano?'
The raspy, feminine voice echoed in her mind, soft yet insistent. It belonged to Matatabi, the two-tailed beast whose power had been her burden and her blessing for decades.
“Yes, Matatabi,” Hano replied inwardly, her tone firm but laced with weariness. “I’m sure.”
'Can’t it wait until you reach the end of your life?'
Hano’s steps faltered briefly, her composure slipping for a heartbeat before she caught herself. Her hands, hidden within the folds of her robe, clenched tightly.
“We’ve already discussed this Matatabi. You know as well as I do that this is for the good of the village.”
Matatabi’s voice softened, tinged with something that almost sounded like regret.
'And what about what’s good for you? You are barely over six decades old and you want to throw your life away?'
Strangely enough, Hano was the only Jinchuriki that Matatabi had over the years that she come to respect as a partner.
Hano’s jaw tightened, her gaze fixed ahead as she walked. The truth was, she didn’t want to die. Despite her golden years, a rarity among shinobi, she found herself longing for more time.
Time to watch over the village, to offer her guidance, to simply exist. But that desire felt selfish in the face of her duty.
“I don’t matter,” she murmured under her breath, the words barely audible.
'You do', Matatabi countered, but Hano didn’t respond.
“Besides, she is more talented than I ever was,” Hano said quietly to Matatabi.
“She’ll wield your power better than I ever could.”
But even as she spoke, Hano knew there was more to her decision than admiration for Tani’s abilities.
The Raikage had left her with no choice. His orders were absolute, his strength terrifying enough to silence even the most rebellious voices. With the breakthroughs Kumogakure had made in harnessing the tailed beasts’ power, it was imperative that their jinchūriki be young and adaptable. Waiting for Hano to live out her natural life was a luxury the village could no longer afford. Especially with the relationship between the shinobi villages currently being tenser than usual.
The thought sent a bitter taste to her mouth, but she swallowed it down. This wasn’t about her. It never had been.
Finally, they arrived at the underground chambers. Massive iron doors loomed before them, etched with intricate seals that pulsed faintly with chakra. As they creaked open, a wave of cool, stale air rushed out, carrying with it the faint scent of incense and earth.
The chamber within was vast, its high ceiling disappearing into shadows. Flickering torches lined the stone walls, casting eerie, dancing light over the room’s contents. At its centre were two stone slabs, each adorned with carved runes that glowed faintly in the dim light.
On one of the slabs lay Tani Sakiko, her blonde hair splayed out like a halo around her youthful face. Her breathing was steady, but her fingers twitched slightly, betraying the nerves she tried to hide.
Hano approached her slowly, each step echoing in the cavernous space. She knelt beside the girl, placing a weathered hand on her forehead. “Tani,” she said softly, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. “You’ve been chosen because you’re strong, because you’re capable. Kumogakure’s future depends on you now.”
Tani’s eyelids fluttered open, and she met Hano’s gaze with a mixture of awe and determination. “I won’t fail you, Ayame-sama,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her words.
Hano allowed herself a faint smile before rising and moving to the second slab. She removed her outer garments, folding them neatly before lying down. The cold stone pressed against her back, and she exhaled deeply, preparing herself for what was to come.
Moments later, an old man shuffled into the chamber. His frail frame was draped in ceremonial robes, and his gnarled hands clutched a staff carved with intricate symbols. Though his milky eyes betrayed his blindness, his presence commanded respect.
“Are we ready to begin?” he asked, his voice cracking like dry parchment.
“Yes, Kudo-dono,” came the unified response from the shinobi gathered around.
The old man raised his staff, the carved symbols beginning to glow faintly as he opened his mouth to chant. But before the first syllable could escape, Taira Hideki’s head snapped up, his amber eyes widening in alarm.
“I’m sorry, Kudo-dono,” Taira interrupted, his voice tight with urgency. “It seems we have a bit of an issue on our hands.”
Without waiting for a response, Taira turned sharply and strode out of the chamber, leaving behind a heavy silence that seemed to press down on everyone present.
Hano’s gaze lingered on the doors as they swung shut behind Taira. Unease coiled in her chest, and Matatabi’s voice echoed faintly in her mind.
'What now?'
