Chapter 1

My back collided with the harsh broken cement floor, the unforgiving surface dug into my spine. Quickly I rolled over, just in time as my opponents feet slammed down with a force no human should have, unsurprisingly to me and my audience, my opponent was not human, and fortunately for me, I wasn't as well, at least not anymore.

Chunks of rock and debris scattered as he pressed forward.

The match had dragged on for quite a while, both of us had survived this far, it would do to be careful. He dashed forward, eager to make as much use with my momentarily lapse of footwork as he could. My chakra-enhanced arms, quickly pushed my self upright with a grunt.

His palm shot towards me, hoping to unbalance me even further. I offer him no such chance. Blocking his strike with one arm, I made a feint with the other. His other arm leapt to defend him, before I revealed my deceit and struck his shin with my shin.

He stumbled backward, his once flawless footwork unraveling as I intended. Disregarding the familiar ache that accompanied such actions, I surged forward. The veins around my eyes bulged grotesquely as I drove my palm into his stomach, infusing it with a controlled surge of chakra at a pressure point.

He soared through the air, landing in a defeated heap. Clutching his abdomen, he attempted to rise, but a combination of exhaustion, defeat, and my precise strike kept him grounded.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally it was over.

Off to the side, a man raised a flag, signaling the end of the match. "Shizukana wins," he declared.

I paid no heed to the man, the cheering audience or my fallen opponent. Back on earth, social decorum might dictate extending a hand in compassion perhaps a few words of consolidation, but in this world, power was paramount, and the loser was simply that—a loser.

Deactivating my Byakugan, I strode forward, ignoring the aches that riddled my young body. With a respectful bow, I acknowledged the judges, their expressions inscrutable. Eyes pale and stern, skin as white as paper, and horns protruding from their heads marked their age, though they didn't look it.

There were seven in total, five male and two female, if they turned their backs, one could see the famous symbol of the Ōtsutsuki imprinted on their robes back.

Their eyes roamed me, as though undressing me, peeling back layer after layer, to witness the true me in all my fearful glory. 

"Shizukana of Dorogakure." Began one of the judges, a man, and the eldest of the seven if I remembered correctly.

"Your performance in these trials has left a strong impression, showcasing not only your exceptional intellect but also your formidable prowess with arms, earning admiration from all who bore witness. Your journey thus far has been a testament to your dedication and talent, and it is with great anticipation that we look forward to witnessing your continued ascent, destined to carve out a legacy of glory and renown for our esteemed clan."

I bowed once again, cupping my hands together, "I thank you for your kind words, Elder Tsurada. May Shibai continue to favor you as you do me."

The man nodded, it wasn't much of a speech, but I had to be debriefed on it before I left for my match, I suspect my opponent was as well, though he had no use for it now.

"It is with great care and honor, that for your spectacular deeds, you be named Ōtsutsuki."

"Rise Shizukana of Dorogakure, and become Shizukana Ōtsutsuki."

The proclamation echoed through the arena, reverberating against the stone walls as I rose, it had been the words I had been most excited as well as dreading to hear. To be granted the name Ōtsutsuki was an honor beyond measure, already I was placed above most citizens in the Akai Tategami region.

The process of hierarchy was a rigid and strict pyramid. At the top sat the founding leader, the one who settled in the region within the infinite dimensions in the universe, beneath him/her are the royal family members, then the others that chose to accompany the founder, either distant relatives or just accomplices and their children from the former tribe they split from, seeking some kind of place to build their powerbase away from their immortal elders.

All these listed are considered considered Ōtsutsuki, not just by blood alone but by name. Below them are the lesser status Ōtsutsuki, who are Ōtsutsuki only by blood, but not by name, made in laboratories, they formed the backbone of any regions economy.

Blood-wise there's no inherit genetic difference between the lesser status Ōtsutsuki and the noble Ōtsutsuki, except form the more occasional genetic mutations that happens in an old family, it was just a matter of power they wielded due to the status they wielded.

Most know if you go back far enough, even the most noble of families were once made by an even older family.

"Thank you, Elder Tsurada, and esteemed members of the council," I began, my voice steady and strong. "I accept this honor with humility and gratitude. I vow to uphold the values of our clan and to strive for excellence in all endeavors. May my actions bring honor to the name Ōtsutsuki and to our cherished legacy."

The elders nodded in acknowledgment, their expressions unreadable yet filled with a silent approval that spoke volumes. With a final bow of respect, I turned to depart, feeling the weight I'd been carrying for such a long time fully dissipate.

Another thing that made such a difference between the noble Ōtsutsuki families and the sprawling mass of worker Ōtsutsuki, was the ritual of sacrifice. All noble Ōtsutsuki was exempt from this, but the lesser Ōtsutsuki were not.

The Ōtsutsuki were capable of living a long life on their own even without the need of medical intervention, we aged weird, there wasn't exactly some specific way we aged, some live for hundreds of years, some decades, while others thousands. It sometimes made it hard to tell exactly how old someone really was, other than their mannerisms which could be faked.

But if there was one thing the Ōtsutsuki where hellbent on achieving, it was immortality, it was what they formed their entire culture around; the promise of one day becoming on par with the legendary Kami, Shibai.

Using the divine trees known as ten tails, they would invade planets within their regions, and strip them of the life force within and consume, thereby increasing their power and lifespan, but to harvest a tree, an Ōtsutsuki would have to sacrificed, that was were the lesser Ōtsutsuki came to play, every so often when a divine tree had fully matured, they would choose randomly amongst the the villages of the lesser Ōtsutsuki to sacrifice.

I enter the Dorogakure section of the building made for the contestants. Peeling of my clothes wet from sweat, I enter the shower, scrubbing off all the accumulated dirt. Dirty water pooled at my feet.

I feel like a weight had just been lifted of my shoulders, for years under the threat of sudden death by sacrifice, I had trained, urged forward by my will to live, of course I could have simply not done anything, there was a chance I wouldn't be picked, with all the many villages around this world and all the many to choose from, I could have lived my entire life and not be chosen, it wasn't exactly an uncommon thing to happen, but I refuse to leave anything to chance. 

Just as easily as I could not be chosen I could also be chosen, the fact that it was a possibility was more than enough for me. Compared to other clans, the Akai Tategami is actually new and so there was more of a chance to rise the ranks as the founder was always looking for worthy Ōtsutsuki to fill the ranks of nobles.

Emerging from the shower, feeling clean and refreshed after the shower. Taking my time, I meticulously dry myself, ensuring every drop of water is absorbed, then brushing it before tying it into a tight knot. With a sense of anticipation, I slip into the carefully chosen attire I had prepared earlier, a kimono, a T-shaped robe with wide sleeves and a wrap-around design, secured with a sash called an obi. For added style I wore a pair geta sandals.

There were different ways one could prove themselves, whether through showing you have a mind for finances, governance or just showing great levels of competence that cuts you above the rest. The other way was by showing great strength of arms.

I had no great mental skill, I could scheme yes, but other could do it better, I could lead, but many other were born with greater talents than I and with centuries of experience. The only option that was logically left for me, was the path of a warrior.

Regions were always in need of more warriors, to defend their territories, to attack other territories and to also enforce their rule on their territories, it was a job with many slots, but the prize slots was what I aimed for, I had spent near three centuries in this world warring and increasing my skill in anyway I could, finally I participated in the once every century tournament, those who came first out of all the contestants would earn the right to call themselves Ōtsutsuki, by the decree of the Akai Tategami patriarch, Nishi Ōtsutsuki.