Tanuki Rise of the Yokai Clan

He talked to everyone about his plan and how to develop his power in Shikoku.

While he also decided to build his power outside, he would only use it to develop his power in the human world.

Still, the most important thing was the leader's strength, so he told them that he was going to train to become even stronger.

Even if one was smart, if they were weak, they would be eaten regardless.

The survival of the fittest has always been how the world of youkai works.

"Eight years!" He looked at everyone and said, "In eight years, I will defeat my father and become the official commander of the Shikoku Hachijuuhakki Yakou that everyone will acknowledge!"

"Eight years..."

Their eyes shone, and they believed in him. While eight years might seem long for humans, it was rather quick for the youkai since they could live so long. After all, they were different from the "Land God," which needed the belief of the human to stay alive. The youkai could live a long life as long as they didn't die.

In other words, they were like another species.

They might have been born from myth and legend, but their existence had become something normal in this world, like plants, animals, and humans.

They were all living beings.

Though there was an exception, there was no need to explain.

"Then, what about the outside of Shikoku? When are we going to conquer this country?"

One youkai asked, and the other also looked at him curiously.

"We can start to spread once I have turned 15 years old," he said after a moment of thought.

"So, in total, ten years?"

"That's quite quick, right?"

"Hahaha, then after ten years, we can show them the power of the Shikoku youkai!"

Everyone was excited, but then someone asked, "Is there a reason why you have to wait till then, Tamazuki-sama?"

"By then, I'll become more powerful than my father, and I have the confidence to protect all of you in case something wrong happens," he said calmly.

Wit and trickery might be the advantage of the tanuki over all the youkai in this country. Their shape also made them appear gullible, but if one let down their guards, the tanuki wouldn't let go of the chance to bare their fangs!

However, the core of everything was still the strength of the leader since without one protecting them; they would die to the other youkai.

Fortunately, the de facto leader of the Shikoku youkai was his father, and he could try many things that he wanted to do.

What was even nice was the fact that the Shikoku was an individual island, and it wasn't connected to the mainland, so many things could be hidden.

His ambition was big, but he knew his strength was still weak, so he needed time to grow.

Hearing those words, everyone was silent and felt frustrated. Their leader was working hard to become stronger, so they could protect them. How could they just lie down doing nothing?

"I'm all fired up!"

"Now, I'm going to train to become stronger!"

"That gun... it might be better for us to learn how to make it too."

Many youkai and tanukis talked about how to become stronger.

Especially the group of tanukis, since even if they had the greater physical ability because they had beast-like bodies, some of them were quite weak, so they thought creating a gun with their transmutation ability might be a good choice.

As for their choice, he agreed since he knew how scary it was for them to learn to wield a firearm. After all, what was shot wasn't a mere bullet. If they could add "Osore (Fear)," the damage caused by the bullet would be even greater.

If they could manipulate their power better, it might be possible for them to sniper a Nurarihyon from a distance.

Still, the power of his race was versatile, and they could do many unique things, so he wasn't going to limit what they wanted to do.

However, this wasn't the end since when a group of youkai wanted to follow someone as a leader, they had to do a certain tradition.

That tradition was known as sake exchange.

It was a tradition where they swore to become his subordinates by drinking sake.

Somehow, this reminded him of a yakuza tradition when the member decided to join the group. Still, the yakuza was probably the one who copied the youkai since it was easy to tell who was older, right?

While he felt this tradition was quite taxing, he decided to follow it since this was how sacred this vow was. By exchanging sake, they would show their determination to follow him even if they died. After all, for a youkai, death wasn't something they were scared about. Instead, following someone fun and strong, having fun, and rampaging around the world was something they were looking forward to!

Even if that price was their life.

"After we drink this, we'll become Tamazuki-sama's Hyakki Yakkou!"

"I can't wait for it!"

Everyone was eager and looked at him anticipatedly.

He looked at the red sake cup filled with clear sake in his hand. He was five years old, but he was drinking alcohol which made him speechless. However, even if he was a child, he was a man from now on, and the responsibility that he carried was different from before.

He is no longer a child, especially when he has everyone in this place as his Hyakki Yakkou.

'Hyakki Yakkou...'

This might be the dream of every youkai to have their own Hyakki Yakkou, and he was about to have them.

Still, it should be called Hachijuuhakki Yakou in Shikoku.

"Tamazuki-sama... please take the lead."

There was no doubt in their eyes, and they looked at him with a determination that they were going to follow him no matter where he went. Even if he told them they were going to hell to fight the Yama or go to heaven to fight the Buddha, they would follow him!

He looked at everyone in silence, and he must admit they were all idiots. They didn't even show doubt about him and thought that he was going to show them a bright future.

'What if you're fooled by me, you idiot.'

Still, he didn't hate such an idiot.

There was no need for words, and he just raised his cup before he drank it.

Everyone also followed the same and gulped them almost at the same time.

The wind, leaves, sky, insects, and even heavens were still, watching over them in silence as if they couldn't take their eyes from the sacredness of their vow.

After they were done, he smashed the cup on the ground, and everyone also followed him.

"Enough of the heavy talk. Let's party, you idiots!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

With the roar of excitement, he showed a helpless smile since he knew he didn't have another choice but to become stronger now.

Still...

*Crack!*

The ground cracked, and everyone was silent. Everyone instantly looked at his mother at the same time with a hint of fear.

Rika, Tamazuki's mother, looked at everyone with a smile and said, "Don't forget to clean up those pieces of cups on the ground, alright?"

"...yes." Everyone answered meekly.

"...." He thought that no matter how strong he was, it was impossible to defeat his mother.