A monk in traveling ascetic robes stood before him, Zen staff in one hand, removing his bamboo hat with the other.
He wasn't bald, with a small braid and a Roman numeral IV tattooed by his left eye.
Rosen hadn't expected to meet him.
Ci Xuan! A thousand-year-old monk, vessel for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Ci Xuan sat, eyeing Rosen. "I see curiosity in your eyes."
Knowing his danger, Rosen answered carefully.
"I sense a powerful force in you. I've met many ninja, but none like you. What faction are you from?" Rosen feigned curiosity.
"Are you a ninja?"
"Nara Rosen, Nara Clan. I'm a sensory type, attuned to chakra."
"Your senses are sharp. First time someone's felt my chakra," Ci Xuan said. "Sadly, I can't control it, so I'm no ninja."
Rosen knew the half-truth: his body couldn't handle Isshiki's full power.
"A pity. I hoped you'd join us," Rosen said, feigning regret.
"You don't seem like a ninja. They don't reveal identities to strangers."
Rosen shrugged. "I'm retired. Lost my chakra in a battle. Just an ordinary man now."
Ci Xuan sensed no chakra in Rosen.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for a place to settle. Surveying this town, avoiding clan wars."
"I'm at Huiming Temple. You could stay there."
"I need women, wine, meat. Chatting's fine, but living there? I'd lose it." Rosen stood. "Join me at the inn?"
"No, I must return to Huiming Temple."
A fleeting encounter. Ci Xuan sensed Rosen's restraint but didn't care.
Why would a ninja bare all to a stranger?
He gauged Rosen: strong physically, likely a taijutsu master.
No chakra, so between Jonin and Chunin. No threat.
Rosen returned to the inn, exhausted, leaning against the door.
Ci Xuan could destroy the world in three days if unleashed.
This town was too dangerous.
Rosen left that day. Soon after, he saw a hundred-person battle.
He crouched, waiting for it to end, Shadow Demons ready to fight or flee.
The Hyuga, Uchiha, and Taketori Clans fought—Hyuga and Taketori against Uchiha.
Hyuga had Byakugan, Uchiha had Sharingan, Taketori had bone growth.
The Taketori were the Kaguya Clan, later known for Kimimaro.
They allied with Hyuga in the Warring States, sharing Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo ancestry.
The Taketori were warlike due to their bloodline; stronger members were more belligerent, shorter-lived, plagued by a bloodline disease.
Surprisingly, the outnumbered Uchiha won, a Pyrrhic victory.
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The plans are now available.
1st Plan: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
2nd Plan: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu