Takumi understood what's going on.
It must be that yesterday, Kurenai coming to his house was seen by Asuma.
So he picked some nonsensical little things to complain about to Hiruzen again.
Knock, knock, knock.
A gentle knock rang.
Soon, Hiruzen's voice came from inside, "Come in."
Takumi pushed the door open and walked in. "Good morning, Hokage-sama."
"Takumi-kun, good morning. Are you here to take a mission?"
Hiruzen's face showed no trace of the disappointment he'd had with Asuma just moments ago, only a warm, beaming expression.
Asuma, standing nearby, pouted, then noticed Yugito, who hadn't entered yet, and his eyes widened in shock.
Clearly, he recognized Yugito.
"Not this time."
Takumi said with a smile, then turned to look behind him. "Come on in, it's okay."
Yugito walked in shyly.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He had received news yesterday and was wondering why she was at Takumi's house.
He didn't expect Takumi to bring her directly here.
Now, any trace of suspicion in Hiruzen's mind immediately vanished.
Anything beyond his control would arouse his suspicion.
But since Takumi brought her here, it meant Takumi was open and didn't intend to hide anything.
"Isn't this Yugito-san from Kumogakure?"
Hiruzen said with a beaming smile. "May I ask if Yugito-san's arrival brings any instructions from Kumogakure?"
"Hokage-sama, the situation is a bit complicated."
Takumi stepped in front of Yugito and answered for her directly. "Actually, she is no longer a Shinobi of Kumogakure."
"She defected?"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed slightly.
Sheltering defectors from other villages, if discovered, would definitely lead to being held accountable.
"Not exactly."
Takumi shook his head slightly, then gave an answer that shocked the two men. "Yugito died once."
"Died once?"
Hiruzen was slightly shocked. "What happened? If she died once, why is she still alive?"
"Did you save her?"
Because Takumi had a record of saving people who had just died, he naturally thought of that.
As for the Summoning Spirit technique, because of what Takumi had said before, Hiruzen calculated the time; it had been less than a year since the last use, so it shouldn't be time for the cooldown period yet.
"Yes, I was too late."
Takumi's face was full of regret as he said this. "It was those people from the Akatsuki. They extracted the Tailed Beast from Yugito's body."
"Them again?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are they trying to do?"
"I don't know yet."
Takumi naturally couldn't say now that Obito planned to execute the Eye of the Moon Plan, so he could only shake his head. "But the power of the Tailed Beasts is strong. We can't continue to let them do this."
"We have to stop them."
Takumi's expression was very serious.
Hiruzen also pondered carefully.
Asuma, standing by, couldn't help himself.
He couldn't resist finding fault. "Maybe they just have a collecting hobby. Why do you think they're going to do something harmful to the Shinobi World?"
"Asuma-senpai, are you serious?"
Takumi looked at Asuma like he was looking at a mentally challenged idiot. "Do you really think what you just said is even possible?"
"Get out!"
Hiruzen couldn't maintain his kind expression either. He roared, pointing his finger at the door.
"Tch!"
Asuma pouted, and as he passed Takumi, he glanced down at him, his eyes filled with hostility.
Takumi didn't care; he was just a buffoon.
Anyway, Kurenai's whole heart and soul were with him. No matter how Asuma jumped around, he was just a flea.
"He's been a bit off lately. As his father, I failed to teach him properly."
Hiruzen's face seemed to age instantly.
"It's okay, that's just Asuma-senpai's unique insight."
Takumi smiled comfortingly. "Although the probability is low, it's not impossible."
"But even so, we must stop them. After all, the Tailed Beasts' power is too strong. Even if the Akatsuki really intends to use them for collection, this power is still very frightening."
Takumi's words struck a chord with Hiruzen.
"You're right, but for now, we don't know where their base is. The Jinchuriki of other villages are also extremely well hidden, so we can't determine their locations at all."
Hiruzen looked worried. "And the other villages are a bunch of old stubborn folks. They will never agree to any agreement concerning their Jinchuriki."
"No matter how strong the enemy is, they will only use their own methods to protect their Jinchuriki."
Takumi knew Hiruzen's words were true.
Before clearly feeling the threat of the Akatsuki, the other villages would not easily expose their Jinchuriki.
Jinchuriki are like deterrent weapons; they are not easily sent to the battlefield.
They only appear at the last moment.
Because while Jinchuriki are powerful, they can also be defeated by top-tier Kage-level powerful Shinobi.
Once a Jinchuriki is defeated, that powerful weapon used to intimidate other villages disappears, and their influence in the Shinobi World automatically declines.
This is something no one in the Five Great Shinobi Villages would accept.
"Now we just have to take it one step at a time."
Takumi sighed, but inwardly, he wasn't really anxious.
He knew Obito's plan, and of course, he knew that Obito had to collect the Chakra of all Nine Tailed Beasts.
As long as he protected Naruto's Nine-Tails, Obito's, or rather Black Zetsu's, plan could not succeed.
"Enough of these worries."
Hiruzen changed the subject. "Since Yugito-san intends to join our Konoha family, I will certainly choose a place that satisfies you to arrange your accommodations."
"I want..."
Yugito spoke for the first time since entering. "I want to live next to Takumi-kun."
Her face was flushed as she said this, but her words were not hesitant; they were very firm.
"Your request is reasonable."
Hiruzen didn't refuse. And although Yugito no longer had the Tailed Beast or its Chakra for transformation, she was still a Jonin.
Staying by Takumi's side, he could also rely on Takumi to keep an eye on her.
He trusted Takumi. Since Takumi brought her back, he was willing to believe that Yugito had no intention of harming Konoha.
But after all, Yugito was originally from Kumogakure, and the relationship between Konoha and Kumogakure was clear for all the Shinobi World to see.
So, his caution was also due to the position he held.
After all, he was the Hokage.
"Thank you very much, Hokage-sama!"
Yugito immediately bowed happily in gratitude.
"Go on, Takumi-kun. Accompany her to buy furniture and such. I'll have someone vacate that house."
Hiruzen said with a beaming smile.
He liked Takumi more and more now.
After all, Takumi was not only strong but also very loyal to him, and he also constantly gave him surprises.
It was just a pity that Yugito was no longer a Jinchuriki.
If Yugito were still a Jinchuriki, they would have gained a powerful combat asset for nothing.
Of course, that would also easily provoke dissatisfaction from Kumogakure.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Takumi also expressed his thanks, then took Yugito and left the Hokage Tower.