"Alright then. I don't believe a little brat like you has any kind of significant aura."
Takumi smiled faintly, then placed his hands on Kurenai's cheeks, turning her face to his.
"Then I'll begin releasing my aura now."
"Ha, go on then..."
The two of them sat there, eyes locked.
Ten seconds passed.
"Hey, haven't you started yet?"
Kurenai's ears felt warm.
Being stared at so intently by Takumi was embarrassingly intimate.
No man had ever been so bold as to touch her like this.
Face to face, eye to eye.
Their noses were almost touching.
"Hey! Brat! Aren't you going to start?"
"Are you trying to cop a feel…"
Instantly…
Kurenai's voice cut off. Her expression, a mix of shyness and disdain, twisted violently!
Because she could feel it… an utterly vile, terrifying, brutal aura of death emanating from Takumi!
It wasn't something a pure, innocent boy should possess!
It felt like a presence accumulated from bathing in endless blood, from mutilating countless people!
It was like a super-powered serial killer was sitting right in front of her, wearing a harmless mask!
"This!"
Kurenai's eyes widened in shock.
Her body, seized by terror, began to writhe!
She tried to pull back!
"So? How was it?"
Takumi withdrew his aura, released her face, and smiled.
"Th-this is just..."
Kurenai's taut nerves suddenly relaxed.
She clutched her chest in terror, a fine sweat beading on her forehead, her heart hammering wildly!
For a moment there, she had genuinely felt she was about to be killed!
Brutally, bloodily murdered by Takumi!
"Wh-what technique was that?!"
Takumi spread his hands, "That wasn't a technique. It's aura."
"How can an aura be so evil and bloody?!"
"How did you train it?!"
Takumi laughed it off, feigning ignorance, "By thinking, I guess. I just thought about it and it manifested."
"My god! Are you even human?!"
"This... this could absolutely become a formal Ninjutsu!"
"It might even surpass some Genjutsu!"
Kurenai's mind was reeling!
She felt she might have encountered a true genius!
A once-in-a-decade, no, a once-in-fifty-years genius!
Just by thinking, he could develop such a powerful mental-type Ninjutsu?
Something not even a genius from the Uchiha Clan could accomplish!
To this, Takumi merely smiled calmly.
This 'Aura Projection' ability was, honestly, quite handy.
Developed properly, it might genuinely become a deterrent weapon, like 'Haki' or 'Reiatsu'.
Except his weapon was more aggressive.
Haki and Reiatsu relied on overwhelming power, using sheer might to intimidate.
But his aura was mixed with murder, bloodlust, cruelty... countless dark facets.
It was far more terrifying!
Takumi could hardly wait for his next 'Murderer' talent draw.
High intelligence, homicidal urge, sadism, psychopathy...
Mixing those together, the resulting aura would likely dwarf this 'Sadist' aura!
Maybe a single glare could literally scare someone to death!
He could become like Konoha's Yellow Flash or Shunshin no Shisui… figures whose mere reputation made Shinobi from other villages abandon their missions.
After calming down, Kurenai slowly stood, her expression serious as she advised Takumi.
"In any case, practice this ability diligently. It might become an immensely useful technique."
"And also..."
She gulped, a trace of lingering fear in her throat.
"Absolutely do not tell anyone else about this ability. And... do not use it on people lightly..."
…
Sarutobi Residence.
Asuma sat in the courtyard, hands clasped, staring blankly at the grass.
Whenever he recalled the scenes from the Interrogation Division, the screams echoed unbidden in his mind.
Sharp, fearful, saturated with pain...
"Hey, Asuma. Still not recovered?"
On the perimeter wall, Kakashi crouched, looking over with his usual bored gaze.
Swish!
Seeing no reaction, Kakashi jumped down.
"It's you, Kakashi..." Asuma finally noticed.
"I mean... are you sure you're okay like this?" Kakashi sounded concerned.
'Asuma hadn't even noticed my arrival?'
'If it had been an assassin, Asuma would be dead already.'
"It was just a bit of blood, right? Is it worth getting this depressed over?"
Asuma shook his head, "I'm better, really. I've seen battle. How could something like this break me? ...By the way, where's Kurenai? Have you seen Kurenai?"
Asuma was confused. He was clearly unwell, yet Kurenai hadn't visited.
"Ah, her..." Kakashi scratched awkwardly at his mask.
"Better not to ask."
"What? What's wrong with Kurenai?" Seeing Kakashi's evasiveness, Asuma grew instantly anxious.
She was his goddess, after all!
"Nothing major. Yuhi Kurenai is just focused on mentoring Takumi right now. She probably has no time to visit you."
"Takumi... huh..." Just the name made Asuma's heart clench with discomfort again.
He felt Takumi's mocking laughter echoing in his mind, even though the boy wasn't present.
He, a Jonin, had been made to look a fool in front of Takumi.
"That brat should be getting his mission assignment from Sandaime-sama soon."
"I wonder if he'll succeed."
…
Hokage's Office.
Takumi and Kurenai stood before Hiruzen's desk, summoned for the purpose of receiving a mission assignment.
"Takumi, I've been briefed on your actions in the Interrogation Division. While your methods are unclear, you performed admirably. It led us to several other Kumogakure's Shinobi spies. This is your reward."
With that, Hiruzen placed a bag of money on the desk.
It contained a full 100,000 Ryo, which is enough for Takumi to live on for months.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Takumi accepted the money without ceremony.
Kurenai watched, a pang of jealousy striking her.
'Seriously? Takumi was forced into that test of courage and still got a bonus?'
'His luck was absurd!'
'100,000 Ryo! That's the payout for a B-Rank mission!'
Hiruzen took a satisfied puff from his pipe.
He then retrieved an official mission scroll from his desk.
"Your skills appear sufficient for missions. This time, I intend to assign you a..."
Before Hiruzen could finish, Takumi immediately interjected.
"Hokage-sama, I have a request."
"Speak."
"Regarding the mission... may I choose it myself?"
---
FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER