"Why would I expose you?"
Takumi asked in return. "What benefit would it bring me?"
"I'm a member of the Akatsuki. If you captured me and tortured me, you could get a lot of information about the organization."
As soon as she finished speaking, Konan immediately felt regret.
'What am I thinking?'
'He's the enemy of our Akatsuki!'
"I wouldn't do that."
Takumi shook his head. "How could I be so rough towards a cute girl?"
"Hmph, smooth talker."
Konan said. "Since you called me out, you must have some purpose, right?"
"I just want you to witness my true intentions."
Takumi smiled, not making it explicit. "Follow me. I'll show you."
"Huh?"
Konan was puzzled, but before she could get an answer from Takumi, she felt a blur before her eyes and found herself in a pitch-black place, surrounded by the crew members from before.
This kind of situation had been recorded before.
Konan immediately thought of what had happened to Obito.
Back then, Obito had suddenly felt a collision, then found himself several kilometers outside Konoha.
It was very bizarre.
At the time, they had speculated it might be Takumi's ability.
Now she could confirm that speculation.
She felt a bit heavy inside, but also a bit secretly pleased.
"Wait, what am I happy about?"
She fell into confusion again.
For some reason, she had recently completely been unable to understand her own heart.
To her and the Akatsuki, Takumi was clearly the enemy.
But now, her heart seemed to be leaning towards this enemy.
In the past, she would never have forgiven herself for having such thoughts.
But recently,
She felt her heart increasingly leaning towards Takumi, this outsider.
Perhaps it was because the Akatsuki had recently increasingly deviated from its original direction.
"Alright, the cast is all here."
Takumi clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention. "Koyuki, you're the leading actress, so stay behind me. I'll protect you."
"I'll leave it to you."
Koyuki, smiling sweetly, came to Takumi's side and gently tugged at the corner of his clothes behind him, like a gentle little woman.
"Damn it!"
Sakura was furious. She quickly ran to Takumi's other side and then, also pitifully, grabbed another corner of his clothes. "But I also want Takumi-kun to protect me."
"Quick! Film it!"
The director whispered excitedly. "A third party intervening, a major crisis for the couple's relationship!"
But it was very quiet around, and they were in a corridor-like place. His words immediately echoed.
Sakura awkwardly let go and stepped back.
"No! Continue!"
But the director shouted at her, "Don't give up on your feelings!"
"Old man, shut up!"
Sakura shouted at the director, her face flushed red. "If it weren't for your nagging..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but the anger in her eyes was real.
"Enough with the playing house. Someone's coming."
Temari took out her giant fan, her gaze heavy looking ahead.
There, some soldiers who felt no pain and wouldn't get injured were rushing towards them.
Probably attracted by someone's loud voice.
The director immediately pointed the camera at Takumi.
His intuition told him it was Takumi's turn to shine.
"Don't worry. I'll handle these guys."
Takumi had grasped the positions of everyone through his Observation Haki and confirmed they hadn't reached Haido's main hall yet. He spoke lightly.
Then, he stepped forward one by one. Koyuki firmly followed behind him.
She looked ahead with determination on her face, showing no fear even as the huge hammer came crashing down.
Because she knew the boy in front of her would shield her from all storms.
"It's very rude to raise a weapon against a lady."
Takumi chuckled lightly, raised his hand, and blocked the heavy hammer. His body didn't even shake, as if he had caught a weightless balloon.
No matter how the soldier pulled and tugged, he couldn't take the hammer back from Takumi's hand.
It was as if Takumi's hand had super glue on it, sticking the hammer to his palm.
This was just a Chakra Control technique.
Like the training for walking on trees or water, he gathered Chakra on his palm where it touched the hammer.
As long as the soldier's strength was less than Takumi's, he couldn't take the hammer from his hand.
"You want it? Here you go."
Takumi released the Chakra on his palm. The soldier immediately regained possession of the hammer, but his body, due to Takumi's sudden release, lost its balance.
Just as he was about to fall, Takumi planted a punch directly into his chest and abdomen.
Boom!
With a loud noise, the soldier flew away like a cannonball.
Along the way, he knocked over several other soldiers, and instead of deviating from his path, he pushed them all far away as well.
"Such frightening power."
Konan gazed intently at Takumi's back.
Her black cloud-patterned uniform easily hid her in this dimly lit place.
Although Takumi said he wanted her to witness, she also didn't want to appear in public.
Especially while wearing this uniform.
After all, the people from Konoha knew that their Akatsuki had repeatedly attacked Takumi.
If they saw her, it might cause unnecessary conflict.
Logically, she should just leave now. It didn't seem like Takumi was trying to stop her.
But she did want to see what Takumi meant by his 'true intentions'.
"Good! Well done!"
The director cheered from behind, not caring whether his voice was picked up or not.
It could all be fixed in post-production. Worst case, he could spend some money to have Takumi come in for some dubbing. It wouldn't take much time.
In his opinion, this movie would definitely be a huge hit again.
Thinking of the fortune he would make, what was a little initial investment?
And next time, he could invite Takumi to film another movie.
If there were big scenes every time, he could completely make a series of movies starring Takumi. Surely a lot of people would buy tickets!
This wasn't special effects; it was real Ninjutsu!
Just this alone was worth ordinary people buying tickets to watch.
He just had to be careful about competitors stealing his idea. If other directors also invited Shinobi to film movies...
But it didn't matter. As long as he could invite Takumi, others were completely no match for him!
For big scenes, one still needed Takumi!
Koyuki's eyes sparkled with light.
Her gaze was fixed on Takumi's back, without a moment's distraction.
'This is my destined man!'
Her heart was now filled with pride.
'Father, did you see?'
'This is the outstanding man your daughter has found.'
In the future, your daughter will bear him many, many children and build a big, happy, harmonious family with him!
At this moment, the girl made a pact with her father in her heart.
She would live happily in the future.
Together with Takumi.
This scene was faithfully captured by the camera.
The director looked at Koyuki's genuine emotional display, his eyes full of excitement. 'This expression, this is the expression!'
'Koyuki is truly a top-tier actress! No one can match this kind of acting!'
Not just him, but the experienced cameraman also nodded repeatedly.
He had been in the photography industry for a long time and had filmed many beautiful girls.
But a girl with such excellent acting like Koyuki was rare, could even be said to be one of a kind.
To be able to capture such excellent acting...
For a cameraman, there was no happier thing.
"Tch!"
Sakura watched jealously as Koyuki held onto Takumi's clothes. "Shameless woman! Doesn't she realize she's older than Takumi-kun?"
"I'm clearly the one most suited for Takumi-kun!"
Although Sakura's words were very quiet, both Temari and Hinata beside her heard them.
Temari couldn't help but look awkward, but her gaze towards Koyuki was hard to conceal envy.
Hinata, on the other hand, looked at Sakura with envy.