"Is this kid feeling conflicted?" Hiruzen couldn't help but take a drag from his pipe.
'Because his own abilities were too immense, using them freely might harm others or damage their self-esteem...'
'Just like with Uchiha Sasuke before.'
"He really is a kind-hearted kid. An ordinary person with such power would probably be eager to show off!" Hiruzen felt Takumi was completely different from his peers.
Both in strength and mindset, he far surpassed them!
And what concerned Hiruzen more was that, judging from Takumi's diary entry, he might possess other powerful abilities...
[Although I was conflicted, in the end, I still used my demolition ability.]
[After all, compared to everyone's lives, what does it matter if I get ostracized?]
[The path of a hero is always difficult. Sometimes, you have to make forced choices.]
Seeing this, Hiruzen felt a warmth in his heart.
A surge of emotion welled up inside him!
Takumi's words... were so well said!
They resonated deeply with his own experiences!
As the Sandaime Hokage, he had been criticized behind his back countless times.
People called him vicious, cunning, and deceitful.
But in reality, what Kage wasn't like that?
In politics, without some tactics, could you even survive?
Even the supposedly straightforward Shodaime Hokage had Nidaime Hokage by his side for strategizing.
Relying solely on truth, kindness, and beauty to stabilize the village and eliminate threats... that only happens in dreams.
[I destroyed all the structures and even defeated someone who seemed to be from the Akatsuki.]
[But I didn't kill anyone, because I wanted to resolve the conflict peacefully.]
[Whether it's everyone in Konoha or Shinobi from other countries, human life has no hierarchy. Everyone is important!]
[I don't know if what I did was right.]
[I hope Hokage-sama won't scold me when I return to the village.]
'Silly child, why would I scold you?' Hiruzen showed a gratified smile.
Reading this, he was basically certain that Takumi posed no threat whatsoever.
Not only was there no threat.
But he was also even more worthy of nurturing!
This level of thinking, this height… how many in Konoha could claim to have it?
[The mission is finally over. Although the process was a bit rough, after returning to the village and seeing Hokage-sama and everyone, my heart calmed down again.]
[And, I became even more convinced.]
[The path I'm walking is the right one. I will keep fighting to protect everyone!]
[Where tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again tree leaves shall bud anew!]
[The place where the leaves dance, the fire lives on!]
[Konoha's Year 59, July 8th, Sunny.]
After reading the final signature, Hiruzen closed the notebook, his heart filled with myriad emotions.
A moment later, he looked at the Anbu below.
"Go, bring Takumi to me. Take him to the Academy!"
"And, make several copies of this diary!"
"I want to use it as a model during meetings!"
…
Konoha Streets, Ichiraku Ramen.
Takumi was eating ramen with a contemplative expression.
Suddenly, an Anbu's member approached.
"Takumi, Hokage-sama wants to see you."
Seeing this, Takumi knew the diary had been read by Hiruzen.
'The fish had taken the bait!'
Academy.
Led by the Anbu, Takumi walked in.
The moment he stepped into the classroom, he saw Hiruzen sitting on the teacher's platform, showing a kind and benevolent smile.
"Takumi, you're here."
For others, Hiruzen's kindly demeanor might be an act.
But for Takumi, it was genuine, straight from the heart!
"Hokage-sama... hello."
"Did you... need me for something?" Takumi put on a timid appearance, as if still troubled by the matters in his diary.
And today, the classroom wasn't just filled with students like Naruto and Sakura. Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, Asuma...
Many of Konoha's Jonin had also been summoned.
"Mhm." Hiruzen smiled.
He walked over and patted Takumi's shoulder.
"Nothing major. Mainly, your performance on this mission was outstanding, and I wanted to commend you for it."
With that, Hiruzen strode forward.
Addressing the students below and Konoha's elite, he declared:
"Although Takumi is just a rookie, he fearlessly completed a difficult mission!"
"He is a fine example for Konoha!"
"Whether you are students still in school or mature adults, you should all embody Takumi's spirit!"
"Unyielding in the face of difficulty, passionate and motivated, using your strength for your comrades and the village!"
Hiruzen spoke with powerful conviction.
Many below applauded.
"To reward Takumi for his merits, I have decided to award him 500,000 ryo! I hope he continues to strive for excellence!"
As he spoke, an Anbu's member immediately brought over a tray.
On it were the banknotes prepared by Hiruzen!
Instantly, the entire classroom erupted!
"H-how much? 500,000 Ryo! Oh my god!" Sakura's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief!
"That's enough to live on for years! This is amazing!" Naruto also drooled with envy.
"Wow! Takumi hit the jackpot! He's rich now!" Kiba also exclaimed in surprise.
Besides the students, Kakashi and the others were also inwardly shocked!
'Good grief, 500,000 Ryo...'
'That's the full reward for a B-Rank mission!'
'What's wrong with Hokage-sama? Did he take the wrong medicine?'
'Since when did he become so generous!'
"Tch, it's just completing one mission. Is such a grand commendation necessary?" Asuma muttered disdainfully from the side.
He immediately received a glare from Kurenai.
"What did you say, Asuma?" Kurenai's face instantly darkened.
"Nothing, just think it's a bit exaggerated."
Hearing this, Kurenai let out two cold laughs.
Thinking of Takumi's true heritage and then looking at this scruffy, bearded man, she found it laughable!
"Asuma, honestly, you aren't even fit to polish Takumi's boots."
"???"
Kurenai's simple sentence hit Asuma like a spiked club to the head!
He was utterly dumbfounded!
"What? Polish his boots?"
"Is it that serious?"
"It's just completing a reconnaissance mission, right?"
Kurenai didn't respond.
She just shot Asuma a look of contempt, as if looking at garbage, then angrily walked away.
…
On the street.
Holding the heavy banknotes given by Hiruzen, Takumi happily went to the bank to deposit the money.
This move of his...
Could be said to kill three birds with one stone.
First, eliminate suspicion, make Sandaime trust him more… no, it should be said deepen his control over him.
Second, get 500,000 ryo for free and earn the praise of so many people.
As for the third...
Takumi couldn't help but prick up his ears.
"Father, I really don't know..." Asuma's voice came from the neighboring yard.
Followed immediately by Hiruzen's furious scolding.
"Shut your mouth! You useless fool!"
"What do you think you are? You think you're so great?"
"Do you have any idea that your little trick to mess with Takumi was seen through long ago!"
"And he endured it silently without exposing you!"
"Look at your morals! Saying Yuhi Kurenai is bewitched? It's you who's bewitched, led astray by evil!"
"Takumi sincerely wished the two of you well, and you harbor such low, selfish thoughts!"
Slap!
A heavy slap landed on Asuma's face.
Even through a wall, Takumi heard it clearly.
The third bird killed by this stone was using his 'good guy' persona to completely wreck Asuma!
At the very least, any possibility between Asuma and Kurenai was gone.
The next step was to find a way to give him a certain kind of 'hat'. (T/N: He's talking about green hat, since in China, green hat meant cuckolded.)
…
Evening.
After finishing his tasks, Takumi returned home.
He opened the drawer and found the diary had been returned.
Moreover, there didn't seem to be any Anbu's surveillance around his house anymore.
'It seemed I had completely gained Sandaime's trust.'
Closing the door and drawing the curtains, Takumi silently sat on his bed.
That's right, he was preparing to start another simulation!
Currently, Takumi possessed two super S-Rank abilities: the Fist Emperor's fists and his demolition skill.
These two were already enough to surpass all of Konoha's Chunin and even rival some Jonin.
But it wasn't enough!
One must remember, this simulation system could extend into all sorts of lives.
What strange abilities it could simulate was simply unimaginable!
Take this demolition skill, for example.
The strongest explosion expert in the entire Shinobi World was Deidara.
Yet Takumi, equipped with a Black-grade talent and decades of simulation, had created an even more advanced and outrageous demolition skill than Deidara's!
Didn't this mean that with proper simulation, Lightning Release, Fire Release, Water Release...
All kinds of ordinary Ninjutsu, he could surpass them all!
And besides that, hearing, smell, physical strength, durability, stamina...
As long as it was an attribute existing in this world, he could simulate it all!
He might even simulate things that didn't exist!
After steadying his mood, Takumi opened the system.
Then, began a new simulation!
'System! Start simulation!'
[Ding! Drawing a talent for you!]
The system's roulette wheel spun.
Three seconds later.
The pointer stopped.
[Ding! Draw successful!]
[You have drawn the talents: Non-Human Entity (Black-Gold), Human (Red), Charge Warrior (Red)]
Seeing the talents drawn this time, Takumi couldn't help but frown.
His face was filled with an extremely surprised expression!
"What's this situation?"
"Non-Human Entity? Human? And Charge Warrior?!"
If Takumi remembered correctly, this 'Non-Human Entity' turned him into something not human.
Like a rock, a stick...
'But why was there a 'Human' attribute now?'
'And…'
'There was actually another 'Charge Warrior'?!'
The First Bonus Chapter!!!