Kakashi stood and explained why they brought Fu to Takigakure.
He also described why they scaled the village's cliff the previous night.
"So, you had to climb under those conditions?" Takikage said calmly.
"Hey, old man, we risked our lives to bring Fu back! Why doubt us? Don't you know how important she is?" Obito snapped, jumping up before Kakashi could respond.
"If you're rude like that, I won't cure the poison from your breakfast," Takikage said, his face darkening.
Dosuke and the others stood, tensed. Dosuke's hand brushed the summoning scroll in his ninja pouch.
"You old crook, trying to hurt us!" Obito shouted, grabbing a kunai and charging.
Thud.
Obito froze in place.
Takikage's fist slammed into Obito's stomach.
Obito's eyes bulged. With a retch, he vomited his morning sushi and collapsed.
"Obito!" Rin cried, starting to run forward.
"Rin!" Dosuke blocked her with his arm.
"Dosuke?" Rin looked at him, confused.
"Don't worry, Rin. Takikage did it on purpose," Dosuke said.
A Kage, recognized or not, was no weakling. If Takikage meant harm, he could have killed Obito, not just made him sick.
As a village leader, he had no guards around. No one else appeared in the house.
* He's testing us * , Dosuke thought.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Takikage applauded. "As expected of a Sannin's disciple. Sharp for your age," he said, looking at Dosuke with genuine praise.
"Your breakfast contained Hero Water, unique to our village. Long-term use boosts chakra."
"But we dosed it for four people. This boy ate too much alone. Too much Hero Water makes ninjas irritable, causes stomach pain, and, over time, disrupts chakra."
"I had to act," Takikage said, sitting at his desk. He crossed his hands, propped his elbows on the table, and rested his chin on them, watching the group.
Obito stood slowly. "Old man, couldn't you have used a gentler way?"
"It's not that he couldn't. It's a warning," Dosuke said quietly.
Since entering Takigakure, Takikage had shown goodwill, but the group stayed wary. Any small threat could rattle Dosuke and Kakashi, as Fu's safety was their priority.
* He's showing our caution is nothing to him * , Dosuke thought.
"Obito," Kakashi said, his face grim.
"Sit. Feeling better?" Takikage asked Obito.
"Damn it, I got hit and can't hit back. But yeah, I feel better," Obito grumbled.
"Takikage-sama, why did you summon us?" Dosuke asked, staring intently.
"To ease your guard," Takikage said, smiling. "You're still wary of me, little one."
"I mean no harm."
"Since you brought Fu, I'll share a story." Takikage stood, walked to the window, and turned his back to them.
"After the First Ninja World War, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, the God of Ninjas, ended the Warring States chaos and began the ninja village era. He divided the nine tailed beasts among the nations to balance their power."
"Takigakure, though not one of the Five Great Nations, was fortunate to receive the Seven-Tails."
Dosuke and the others listened closely. Such secrets were rare.
"Tailed beasts are vital to a village, and choosing a jinchuriki is critical. When the village struggled, the First Takikage's daughter volunteered to host the Seven-Tails."
"But the sealing failed. Her body couldn't handle the Seven-Tails' power. In desperation, the seal was placed on both her and the First Takikage's newborn daughter."
"Ten years passed. The Seven-Tails jinchuriki grew, meeting a village boy. They did missions together, chased off wild beasts, and fell in love under a magnolia tree. The boy vowed to protect her and the village."
"He grew to become Takikage. But the girl, pregnant, suffered a leaking seal. The Seven-Tails' chakra escaped, wrecking the village. Against the man's pleas, she left one night with her childhood nanny and a chunin, without a word."
"She left a letter, promising to preserve the tailed beast for the village, no matter the cost." Takikage turned, staring at Fu in Rin's arms.
"The magnolia tree's other name is hibiscus."
The group sat in silence, processing.
"My story's done. Leave now. The former jinchuriki's family will show you the village," Takikage said.
After a long pause, Kakashi stood. "Thank you, Takikage-sama. We'll go."
"Go. Don't eat so much next time. Hero Water's hard to digest," Takikage said.
The group turned to leave. Fu, confused, looked around with wide eyes.
Takikage watched them exit the office, silent.
"Lord Takikage, you're letting them go? The masked boy and the one with the short ponytail are rare talents," Mizusuke said, appearing behind him.
"If we used the village's brainwashing…"
"Enough, Mizusuke. Those kids are a Sannin's disciple, the son of Konoha's White Fang, and an Uchiha. We can't keep them."
"Not unless we want war with Konoha. Their team leader, Minato Namikaze, fought last night. You saw the battle site. The destruction was unreal."