"So what!"
Sasuke continued his hoarse roar.
There was no helping it, that's just how Sasuke was. He couldn't stand others being stronger than him.
Especially being defeated by someone usually unremarkable.
He felt his self-esteem had suffered a heavy blow.
"Don't you understand yet?"
Kakashi shot Sasuke a glance.
"Takumi realized, without anyone noticing, that his strength had surpassed yours."
"He never showed his true strength because he didn't want to damage your self-esteem."
"He was protecting you!"
With Kakashi's words, the rookies present were all shocked!
'Takumi, he...'
'Was actually hiding his power to let Sasuke protect his dignity?'
'Could such a thing really be true!'
"Oh my god, Takumi, he's... he's such a good person!"
"Yeah! To actually pretend to be weak just to spare Sasuke's feelings! He's so considerate of others!"
"What is this feeling welling up in my heart? Warmth? Takumi is just too warm!"
Thanks to Kakashi's divine follow-up strike, all the Konoha's rookies now viewed Takumi in a new light!
Hinata, Ino, Sakura...
They all looked at him with shocked expressions, their hearts filled with complex emotions!
"I... I think I understand now..."
Hinata weakly covered her chest.
"Takumi-kun's strange behavior before must have been because he wasn't resting well!"
"He couldn't train during the day when he was with us, to avoid discouraging Sasuke-kun, so he could only train at night..."
"That's why he was often mentally confused, it must be!"
Delusional! She's becoming delusional!
Hinata started having delusions!
"So when he stood still and didn't attack earlier, was he also letting Sasuke win?" Ino asked, utterly shocked.
"Actually... that fight just now... I don't think it was a draw. Sasuke even used weapons, but Takumi was still holding back until the end!"
Reflecting! She's reflecting!
Sakura started reflecting!
It had to be said…
Takumi's simple two sentences directly elevated his entire image by several levels!
Now, standing next to Sasuke, the difference in their images was like heaven and earth!
One was just a roaring, perpetually scowling Uchiha Young Master who couldn't stand others being better than him.
The other was amiable and kind, possessing strength but not flaunting it to avoid hurting others' self-esteem… a warm, nice guy...
Which one to choose? Was there even a question?
Seeing the respectful and touched looks in the eyes of Sakura, Hinata, Ino, Naruto and all the other Academy's classmates, Takumi felt this move was the right one.
However, to be precise…
His personality here shouldn't really be called that of a hot-blooded youth.
Because true hot-blooded youths aren't this calculating.
They speak from the heart, saying what they genuinely feel.
But him…
After careful calculation and layered analysis...
This should be called 'pink on the outside, black on the inside', or black-hearted!
…
Hokage Tower, Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen sucked on his pipe, listening seriously to Kakashi and the others' report.
"Oh, is that so?"
"There's actually a kid stronger than Uchiha Sasuke?"
The news of Takumi's fight with Sasuke had already spread through the village.
As the village's highest leader, Hiruzen naturally had to show some concern.
"That's right. Based on my estimate, the power of Takumi's fists should be roughly equivalent to Guy's Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates."
"What!? The Sixth Gate? Are you kidding me, Kakashi?"
Asuma said skeptically.
"He's just a brat. How could he possibly have that level of strength?"
"You know Guy has a student, that Rock Lee. He's trained for so much time and still hasn't reached the level of the Sixth Gate!"
Regarding this point, most people found it hard to believe.
After all, in the Shinobi World, talent is everything.
How strong a person is can often be guessed by their surname.
Takumi was a nobody, an orphan picked up from the battlefield. No one even knew who his parents were, and he didn't even have surname.
How could he, in such a short time, develop Taijutsu comparable to the Sixth Gate?
"If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. But that's the fact."
"I felt Takumi's fist up close. That power was definitely not fake. I didn't even dare to block it directly."
Kakashi's tone was serious, and it didn't sound like a joke at all.
Hiruzen and the others in the office fell into silent thought.
Finally, Hiruzen made a decision.
"Such a talented person shouldn't have his talent wasted."
"The Academy probably doesn't hold much meaning for him anymore. Kakashi, go bring Takumi here. I want to hear his thoughts."
"If he has the aptitude, let him become a true Shinobi. Going out for training wouldn't be a bad idea!"
…
Soon.
Led by Kakashi, Takumi was brought to the office.
Originally, Takumi had planned to simulate a new life at home today.
But since the Sandaime Hokage summoned him, he had to come.
In front of the desk…
Takumi stood solemnly before Hiruzen.
The latter played the part of the kindly Hokage grandfather.
"Takumi, I heard you've been training hard in secret to protect everyone. Is that true?"
Takumi nodded.
"Mhm, good, good..."
"A hot-blooded youth like you is the village's hope. You will surely achieve great things in the future!"
"Konoha and the Shinobi World need pure and kind children like you!"
Looking at Hiruzen's kindly and amiable appearance, Takumi couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Others might not know Hiruzen's true nature, but Takumi knew it very well!
In the second Fist Emperor path simulation, he was the number one fierce general cultivated by Hiruzen, his status even surpassing the Legendary Sannin!
Having dealt with him for decades, Takumi had probed every detail of Hiruzen, inside and out!
Assassinations, massacres, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals...
It was through the extreme missions given by Hiruzen, one after another, that he grew into the 'Fist Emperor'!
Konoha needs pure and kind children?
Bullshit!
What Hiruzen needed was talent capable of leading Konoha back to the pinnacle of the Shinobi World, or even unifying it!
In other words:
Make Konoha Great Again!
"Hokage-sama, actually..."
Takumi's eyes darted around slightly, looking as if he wanted to say something but was hesitating.
Hiruzen, seeing this, immediately understood.
He gave a look, signaling for Kakashi and the others to leave the office.
A few seconds later, the room was cleared.
Hiruzen looked serious.
"Speak your mind."
Takumi's expression was calm.
But inside, he was filled with amusement!
After the previous simulations, this Hiruzen had no secrets from him!
His thoughts, his way of thinking… Takumi knew them like the back of his hand.
In other words, Hiruzen's mind was practically already controlled by Takumi!
"Actually..."
"What I said at the Academy wasn't my true intention."
Takumi began to guide Hiruzen's thoughts step by step.
"Then what is your true intention?"
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe, looking somewhat surprised.
"I honed my strength not just to protect my comrades."
"I have an even greater vision, and that is to return Konoha to the pinnacle of the Shinobi World!"
"Even... to have Konoha annex the Five Great Nations, and unify the entire Shinobi World!"
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FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER