(Two updates today, organizing the subsequent plot.)
……………………
The founder of Takigakure must have been extremely learned.
The Land of Waterfalls was situated on the edge of the area affected by the Ten-Tails' rampage a thousand years ago. Subjected to violent shifts in the earth's veins, countless high mountains rose within its borders.
Snow perpetually fell on these mountains, and glaciers gathered.
As the snow melted, it formed numerous streams that encircled Takigakure, nestled amidst the surrounding mountains.
The rapid flow of water was Takigahara (waterfall).
Hidden from the world, Takigakure, residing amidst the waterfalls, thus derived its name.
(The character "泷" normally has only one pronunciation, Long. The pronunciation "shuang" in some works and translations comes from the old name of "shuangshui" in Luoding City, Guangdong Province. AB, deeply influenced by Chinese culture, is good at dissecting words.)
Takigakure lay between the Great Nations, bordered by the Land of Earth to the north and the Land of Fire to the south, and not too far from the Land of Lightning to the east.
However, the leader of Takigakure during the Warring States period was a man with foresight. He seemed to have foreseen that the Senju clan, based in the Land of Fire, would inevitably become a major power. Thus, he decisively chose to become an ally of the Senju clan.
Moreover, Takigakure possessed many powerful individuals at the time, who excelled in Water Release jutsu. Upon joining the Senju alliance, they provided considerable assistance.
Grateful for the past alliance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waterfalls, Hashirama Senju intentionally left a Seven-Tails for the absent Takigakure when distributing the Tailed Beasts.
However, as time passed, the older generation of Takigakure leaders who had followed Hashirama Senju in battle gradually passed away, and Takigakure’s connection with Konohagakure, which had already become the leading village among the Five Great Shinobi Countries, slowly weakened.
This situation reached a critical point at some point after Takigakure found itself unable to seal the Seven-Tails.
Perhaps resentful that Hashirama Senju had only gifted the Tailed Beast without providing a corresponding sealing method; or perhaps seeking to eliminate rivals, the Takigakure leader, blinded by greed, ordered Kakuzu, a young elite ninja of the village, to assassinate Hashirama Senju.
The result was obvious: Kakuzu was utterly defeated by Hashirama Senju's powerful Wood Style jutsu.
Although Hashirama Senju, recalling the past alliance with Takigakure, let Kakuzu go with a wave of his hand.
But after witnessing Hashirama Senju's true strength, Kakuzu immediately understood the truth that he had been abandoned by his village.
Kakuzu, of course, could not swallow this insult.
He then turned back, killed all the high-ranking officials of Takigakure, stole the village's ancestral Earth Grudge installment technique, and defected.
With the high-ranking officials killed and the secret technique stolen, Takigakure, once powerful, was struck a devastating blow and never recovered, losing its former reputation as the "Sixth Great Shinobi Village."
But human flaws have always persisted.
After many years of recuperation, the current leader of Takigakure, Suiketsu, began to scheme for the Seven-Tails and Konoha's sealing jutsu again.
However, he did not realize that Konohagakure today was no longer the Konohagakure led by Hashirama Senju.
Inviting people like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru, who were driven by self-interest, to help their village was no different from inviting wolves into the house.
…
Compared to other Tailed Beasts, the Seven-Tails had been living a very comfortable life in Takigakure.
When she was captured, she was just a plump grub before hatching.
Influenced by the negative emotions of the ninja world, in her wild state, she was, like her brothers and sisters, ignorant, chaotic, and violent…
But after being brought back to Takigakure, nesting in the Hero Tree, and transforming into a flying beetle with three pairs of wings and a long tail, everything changed.
The pollution in her mind vanished with the shedding of her exoskeleton, and her wisdom returned along with her freedom. The Seven-Tails, Saiken, was reborn.
The humid air of Takigakure was filled with the scent of freedom, and the life essence emanating from the Hero Tree was something she particularly loved.
With a turn of her small head, Saiken wisely decided to settle here.
After much thought, the Seven-Tails gave herself a grand title – Lucky Number Seven, Saiken!
With her new name, Saiken became even happier.
Every day, she would either fly around in the sky with her wings or sleep in her nest in the Hero Tree.
But Tailed Beasts possessed immense energy, especially someone like Saiken, whose nature was like that of a playful little girl. The time she spent sleeping in her nest was minimal.
This was a torment for the Takigakure ninja who lived under the same sky as Saiken.
Every day, watching the large creature flying overhead, they lived in constant fear.
They couldn't catch her, and even if they did, they couldn't defeat her.
Over the years, the ninja of Takigakure had not been able to eat or sleep well, fearing that one day, the creature above might feel like it and casually unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb downwards, which would lead to a rather comical end.
…
Chojuro Hozuki developed a great interest in the waterfalls of Takigakure.
As members of the Hozuki clan from Kirigakure in the Land of Water, water was essentially a part of their lives.
"Teacher, is the Takigakure you mentioned hidden behind these waterfalls?"
Chojuro Hozuki roused Isosuke from his deep slumber and eagerly approached Orochimaru, asking.
"Indeed!"
"Thanks to the protection of these waterfalls, Takigakure can be considered one of the few villages in the ninja world that has maintained its original appearance despite experiencing wars."
"Except for an expedition a few years ago that annihilated Kagero Village, also in the Land of Waterfalls, the ninja of Takigakure have remained hidden behind these waterfalls, rarely contacting the outside world."
Orochimaru, aware of his young disciple's thoughts, casually explained some of Takigakure's history.
"I see!"
"Teacher and Elder Madara, please rest for a while. Leave the small matter of finding the entrance to Takigakure to me!"
"I can't guarantee other places, but in Takigakure's situation, my Water Transformation Jutsu can be put to good use."
Chojuro Hozuki's eyes sparkled as he volunteered for the reconnaissance mission.
"Heh heh!"
"Don't wander too far. As soon as you find the entrance to Takigakure, return immediately."
Orochimaru, of course, did not need to specifically search for the entrance to Takigakure. With a sweep of his powerful spiritual energy, there were virtually no secrets in the current ninja world that could escape his perception.
However, to avoid dampening his disciple's enthusiasm, Orochimaru decided to let the boy have his fun.
"Orochimaru, does a situation like this really require someone to specifically scout it?"
Madara Uchiha frowned and looked up towards the top of the waterfall.
"A mere mountain, I can enter Takigakure from above in an instant."
Orochimaru turned to look at Madara, whose expression was disdainful, and smiled, shaking his head.
"That's why..."
"Elder Madara still has much to learn if he wishes to integrate into Konoha like the First Hokage!"
"For instance, trusting his juniors and entrusting tasks that his juniors are capable of completing to them."
"The process of nurturing juniors is also a process of oneself integrating into the new generation."
"Temporarily setting aside the mindset of a powerful individual might lead to some unexpected gains."
"What do you think, Elder Madara?"
Madara Uchiha's expression became slightly wistful.
"Is this where the gap between me and Hashirama lies?"