[Ding! The check-in location has been updated. Please sign in promptly! ]
Kazuhiko felt a bit disoriented as the voice resonated in his mind.
Kiyoshi by his side noticed Kazuhiko's expression and assumed it was due to his words.
"Hahaha, Kazuhiko, don't be taken aback. Our Uzumaki clan boasts a rich history!"
"Come along, let me show you the legacy of our Uzumaki clan!"
"We're standing in our clan's ancestral hall. You've always wanted to explore it since you were a child, but were held back."
With that, he pulled Kazuhiko along.
Upon hearing Kiyoshi's words, Kazuhiko quickly deduced what was happening. He accessed the attribute panel and found.
[Host: Kazuhiko
Age: 10 years old
Current check-in location: Naruto World · Land of Whirlpools
Sign-in destination: Uzumaki Clan Secret Chamber! (unfinished)
Signed-in at: Uzumaki Clan Land
Reward: Template of Admiral Kizaru from the One Piece World (25.18%, in progress)
Note: Please complete the sign-in process promptly! ]
Kazuhiko quietly followed Kiyoshi 's lead.
"Just as I suspected, the Uzumaki clan's Shinigami masks are indeed stored here!"
"I once tried entering the ancestral hall before, but my attempts were in vain. It appears that there's something unique concealed within the ancestral hall!"
"The Uzumaki clan's secret chamber... My new sign-in location, I'm eager to see what's inside!"
After some time, Kiyoshi led Kazuhiko to the entrance of the ancestral hall.
At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary family ancestral hall.
No one was guarding it, which was expected given its history.
Disregarding this, Kiyoshi entered the hall directly.
They proceeded to the inner room, where various tablets were placed before them.
Without saying a word, Kiyoshi guided Kazuhiko to kneel and bow three times.
Following the bowing, Kiyoshi stood up, signalling Kazuhiko to remain kneeling.
Looking at Kazuhiko on the mat, Kiyoshi's serious expression was tinged with nostalgia.
"Kazuhiko, this is a hidden aspect of the Uzumaki heritage, shared only with two individuals in each generation."
Gazing at Kazuhiko kneeling before him, Kiyoshi saw a reflection of his younger self, much like Butsuma when he was mentoring Hashirama.
In those days, there was someone who spoke the same words to him.
Even many years ago, within these walls, countless generations of Uzumaki had spoken similar words.
"Today, I shall disclose the Uzumaki clan's hidden secrets to you."
"Our lineage traces back to the legendary Sage of Six Paths."
"This legacy grants our clan robust vitality and Chakra!"
Saying this, Kiyoshi regarded Kazuhiko with pride in his eyes.
And Kazuhiko intentionally displayed a stunned expression, akin to an ordinary individual learning they were of noble descent.
"Stunning! My forebear is the Sage of Six Paths!"
Kiyoshi was satisfied with Kazuhiko's reaction, stroking his chin's moustache before continuing.
"The Sage of Six Paths is real, and he is the progenitor of our lineage!"
"Additionally, the Senju clan shares our ancestry. When the Senju clan proposed a pact, we readily agreed, for we are kin."
"Others possess distant histories, and the passage of time has eroded many facts."
"However, our compiled data indicates the Uchiha clan, Hyuga clan, and Kaguya clan likely share connections to the Sage of Six Paths."
"Yet, the specifics remain uncertain. Different views exist about whether they are direct descendants. It remains a clan speculation."
"They may be remnants of slaves abandoned by the Sage of Six Paths. Perhaps."
"You need only be aware of this; avoid disseminating this information!"
With these words, Kiyoshi adopted a solemn expression.
"Yes, Clan head!"
Kazuhiko promptly and earnestly responded.
It mattered not if he was hearing this for the first time. Kazuhiko would not divulge it.
After all, boasting about one's illustrious heritage while belittling others was reminiscent of self-praising market vendors.
Furthermore, his strength was insufficient, and having a formidable ancestor would only emphasize his own inadequacy.
"Mm."
Kiyoshi approved of Kazuhiko's attitude, and continued his discourse.
"Unfortunately, my descendants proved ineffectual, forced into obscurity, and now we face an imminent crisis."
"Fortunately, you were born, Kazuhiko. Your headstrong actions exposed Konoha's pretensions, rallying our clan for the impending struggle."
With this statement, Kiyoshi regarded Kazuhiko with immense satisfaction.
"Thus, Kazuhiko, as agreed, this battle is fraught with peril.
Should I fall in combat, you will ascend to become the Uzumaki clan's leader and uphold our banner!"
"If the foe proves insurmountable, prioritize retreat to preserve a glimmer of hope!"
"With your capabilities, should you decide to retreat, it is acceptable! Remember this, Kazuhiko!"
As his speech concluded, Kiyoshi's eyes turned stern, fixed upon Kazuhiko.
This determination had clearly been established through private discussions.
Kazuhiko was on the verge of speaking, but observing Kiyoshi's unyielding resolve, he relinquished his intentions and sighed inwardly.
"Understood, Clan head. If circumstances indeed warrant it..."
"Very well."
Witnessing the reluctance in Kazuhiko's eyes, Kiyoshi comprehended his emotions.
"Son, bear in mind, us elders are secondary, you are the Uzumaki clan's beacon of hope! At critical junctures, safeguarding yourself is paramount! Distinguish priorities!"
After uttering these words, Kiyoshi helped Kazuhiko to stand up.
Turning around, they stepped aside and pressed a concealed spot that others might easily overlook. This action gradually caused a stone door to creak open.
"Is this the Uzumaki clan's secret chamber!? It's finally before us!"
With a wave of his hand, Kiyoshi motioned for Kazuhiko to follow.
"Remember this location, press it to enter. This is the Uzumaki clan's secret chamber."
As they walked, torches ignited, revealing a narrow path, one meter wide and five meters long, stretching ahead of Kazuhiko.
Strolling through the narrow passage and turning around, Kazuhiko laid eyes on a small room that had appeared before him.
The room was compact, seemingly no more than ten square meters.
It was well-illuminated at that moment, candlesticks on both sides aglow.
There was nothing but a stone wall.
The stone walls were adorned with Shinigami masks, precisely twenty-seven in number.
Each mask was distinct, encompassing expressions of sorrow and joy, silence and serenity.
Every mask was affixed to the wall, as though imbued with life.
Even Kazuhiko could feel their gazes upon him.
Their gazes shifted as he moved.
"Refrain from gazing at them!"
At that moment, Kiyoshi uttered a low growl.
Swiftly, Kazuhiko averted his gaze.
"You've laid eyes on all these Shinigami masks, yet all you've perceived are eerie toys bought by children in clan markets."
"But these are not toys. These are authentic ninja tools capable of summoning Shinigami!"
"However, the cost is indeed our very own souls, traded to the Shinigami!"
"Not even death offers escape; this is more fearsome than death itself!"
"Hence, only utilize these masks when truly necessary!"
Glancing at the preoccupied masks on the wall out of the corner of his eye, Kazuhiko promptly nodded upon hearing Kiyoshi's words.
"Observing such things at night makes sleep elusive and renders them quite unsettling."
"Their forms are truly bizarre... Damn it, that eyeball just moved slightly! It must have!"
Contemplating this, Kazuhiko involuntarily swallowed his saliva.
It was said that Kazuhiko harboured no fear of such occurrences.
Yet, an inexplicable trepidation emerged when confronting such apparitions.
"Perhaps it's because, in my previous life, I spent countless hours watching those miscellaneous horror movies.."
Kazuhiko ruminated to himself.
"Kazuhiko, these masks are eerie and unconventional."
"Nonetheless, they have been passed down for generations."
"While terrifying, they represent our family's heirlooms and treasures. Guard them diligently henceforth!"
"Allow me to elucidate; upon my first sight of these masks, I..."
Just as Kiyoshi's gaze shifted toward the Shinigami masks, lost in a reverie of his youth.
Kazuhiko understood that once the middle-aged man began reminiscing, he would be ensnared by the memories for a while, hence he opted to intervene.
"System, initiate sign-in into the Uzumaki clan's secret chamber!"
["Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully signing in at the Uzumaki clan's secret chamber!"
"Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the reward: Zaraki Kenpachi's template, the captain of Gotei 13's 11th Division."
"The system has delivered the reward to the Host's designated space, available for inspection and claiming at any time!]
"Zaraki Kenpachi? Fantastic!"
Unlike those who held the view of disdain, Kazuhiko felt rather content.
In an instant, Kazuhiko thought of Zaraki Kenpachi's explosive might during battles.
Virtually every slash mirrored the potency of a critical strike.
"I'm genuinely eager to see the outcome when Zaraki Kenpachi's formidable Reiatsu converges with Kizaru's Amakusa Cloud Sword!"
Kazuhiko prepared to accept the reward directly.
"...Consequently, I was naive back then, only comprehending it later on, Kazuhiko, do you understand?"
Kiyoshi snapped out of his reminiscence.
"Never mind. We can discuss this later."
Kazuhiko replied to Kiyoshi first.
"Understood, I comprehend fully, Clan Head!"
"Very well."
Kiyoshi bore the air of an instructable child, his fingers fondly grazing his goatee.
"Currently, what shall we do?"
Observing the still-entralled clan head, Kazuhiko swiftly offered a reminder.
"Oh, yes, let's take these Shinigami masks out and place them within the ancestral hall."
"Take them out?"
Kazuhiko struggled to grasp the concept.
"Indeed, Kazuhiko, these masks are unique, summoning distinct Shinigami upon their utilization."
"Not everyone can wield them, and even among those who can, the summoning effects differ greatly!"
"For the sake of the Uzumaki clan, the elders and I have reached a resolution!"
"In the final moments, we shall all employ these masks, risking everything!"
"As the clan head, I shall be the first to use the Shinigami mask and confront the foe!"
Kiyoshi spoke fearlessly, as though this were an unquestionable duty.
Kazuhiko also inwardly sighed.
"And to avoid any wastage of time, let us initially relocate these masks to the ancestral hall."
"When the need arises, we can select the mask best suited for us."
"Only at the last moment will we know which mask is most compatible."
"Thus, we can harness the maximum potential from these Shinigami masks!"
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