Even though they were ultimately repelled, the damage caused by Killer B was too great.
'To avoid trouble, it's better to find an excuse to leave first.'
Having made up his mind, Takumi didn't even eat breakfast.
He headed straight for the Hokage Tower.
"What? You want to take on another mission?"
Hiruzen, smoking in his chair, was shocked upon hearing Takumi's request.
"D-don't you want to rest properly?"
"Didn't you just have a battle?"
"I've rested enough."
Takumi shook his head, then said righteously, "How can Konoha's Shinobi indulge in too much leisure? Now is the time for us to make sacrifices. For Konoha's peace, I am willing to be the vanguard, clearing all obstacles on Konoha's path forward!"
"This…!"
Looking at Takumi's serious and solemn expression, Hiruzen felt as if struck by lightning!
Moved, shocked, gratified...
Various emotions filled his heart!
"I understand your resolve. I won't stop you, but recently there really isn't anything suitable for you..."
He paused, then said, "How about this? Orochimaru has repeatedly launched surprise attacks on Konoha, and we can't just sit back and wait every time!"
"Why don't you go search for Orochimaru!"
"Find his location. If possible, capture him and bring him back!"
"No problem, leave it to me!"
Takumi patted his chest with a thump.
Though he might not necessarily capture the slippery Orochimaru, at least he could avoid the trouble brought by Killer B this time.
"For this mission, you decide who to take."
Hiruzen took a deep drag of his cigarette. "You can take anyone you want. From now on, for your missions, arrange the personnel yourself!"
"Then I'll go gather my team now."
Takumi didn't want to stay a moment longer.
Judging from the simulation, Killer B would appear before long.
He had to leave as soon as possible.
So the number of people shouldn't be too many.
Leaving the Hokage Tower, he happened to run into four people coming his way.
It was Team 7.
"Yo, here so early today?"
Kakashi put away his Icha Icha Paradise, raising a hand to greet with a smile.
Takumi's eyes lit up. "Kakashi-senpai, you guys are...?"
"We've rested enough. Naruto here has been clamoring nonstop, so we're planning to go complete some missions."
Kakashi said. "What's up? Want to join us?"
"Kakashi-senpai, how about you take a break for the next few days."
Takumi smiled. "I just accepted a mission. Hokage-sama told me to choose my own team members. I just ran into you as I stepped out."
"I see. Is it alright if I don't go?"
Kakashi said. "With you there, I'm not worried about their safety, but I'm still a bit worried Naruto might cause trouble..."
"Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto pushed away Kakashi's hand resting on his head, dissatisfied. "When do I cause trouble?"
"Idiot, you cause trouble all the time."
Sakura said irritably, then stepped forward and grabbed Takumi's arm. "Then let's set off quickly, Takumi-sensei!"
"S-Sakura?"
Kakashi reached out dumbfounded. "I'm your Jonin Instructor..."
But Sakura simply ignored Kakashi, pulling Takumi towards the village exit.
"Wait! Where do you think you're going?"
However, Sakura's intention didn't succeed.
Ino, appearing from around the corner, immediately noticed this scene and hurried forward to grab Takumi's other arm. "What are you trying to do, broad-forehead?"
"Tch!"
Sakura's face instantly darkened but quickly returned to normal. "What are you saying, Ino-pig? I'm just going on a mission with Takumi-kun."
"What! I'm going too!"
Ino immediately shouted. "I absolutely won't let you go on a mission alone with Takumi-kun!"
"Hey hey, we're here too."
Naruto pointed at himself helplessly. Sasuke turned his face away, but the corner of his eye was fixed intently on Takumi.
Lately, the former genius Sasuke had realized.
He was no longer the center of attention.
Whether his identity as the last survivor of the Uchiha Clan, or his genius talent…
Neither could garner everyone's gaze anymore.
And the person who caused all this was precisely this boy of the same age before him.
Sasuke was jealous.
But not jealous that Takumi had stolen the attention that once belonged to him.
But jealous of Takumi's immense strength.
Bearing the mission of his clan's revival, bearing the fate of revenge, Sasuke desperately chased after power.
He once thought that as long as he trained hard, he would eventually catch up to that man's footsteps.
But with a peer like Takumi as a mirror, he found his efforts insufficient, and his talent lacking.
He had fantasized: if he had Takumi's strength, would he have already taken revenge on that man?
Under these circumstances, every time he was with Takumi, his gaze would focus on Takumi.
As if there was some attractive quality about him, always drawing everyone's eyes to him.
Takumi noticed Sasuke's gaze.
But when he looked back, Sasuke had already averted his eyes.
He could roughly guess Sasuke's thoughts.
'Sigh, it can't be helped.'
'Though I also want to keep a low profile, my strength doesn't allow it!'
"Alright, cheer up. Let's set off."
Takumi said. "Although this mission is just reconnaissance, don't underestimate it. The opponent is, after all, the cunning Orochimaru."
"How many traps await us ahead is also unknown."
"Once we enter the Land of Rice Fields, we must be vigilant. Absolutely do not eat anything randomly, understood?"
Takumi seriously instructed them once.
He received enthusiastic replies from Ino and Sakura, a lazy response from Naruto, while Sasuke just nodded.
Takumi didn't waste any more time, otherwise, unexpected changes could occur.
So he immediately led the four out of Konoha.
Just five hours after Takumi and the others left the village, at Konoha's Training Ground 4, Killer B, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but grumble.
"Bakayaro! Koroyaro! Didn't they say this is the training ground he frequents most? Why hasn't he shown up yet?"
"He's not even diligent. How did he gain such strength at that age?"
Among the group of Kumogakure's Shinobi who followed, no one could answer Killer B's question.
They didn't know why Takumi's strength was so formidable either.
"Maybe he's on vacation today?"
A subordinate suggested.
"Damn it, I didn't want to wait for him anymore. I want to leave!"
Killer B said, about to leave, but was pulled back by a subordinate.
"That won't do, Killer B-sama."
"This is Raikage-sama's highest order. Unless absolutely necessary, we absolutely cannot retreat."
"Damn it..."
Killer B gritted his teeth, saying unwillingly, "Then... we'll wait one more day!"
"If we really can't wait for him, I'm really leaving!"
"Bakayaro, koroyaro!"