He had just dealt with Kimimaro and returned with Lee.
He hadn't expected to run into Sasuke just a few steps after returning to the village.
"Hmm, alright."
He thought about it and didn't refuse.
Mainly, he wanted to see how much Sasuke had progressed in his training.
"Is that okay?"
Lee behind him asked. "You just finished a fight."
"That was just a warm-up. I hardly used any energy, and I recovered just by walking back."
Takumi waved his hand. "Lead the way."
"Follow me."
Sasuke didn't care about what Lee said.
Right now, he just wanted to fight Takumi and prove his current strength.
Having mastered the initial stage of Susano'o, he was feeling incredibly inflated.
He urgently needed someone to put him in his place.
Sasuke led the two to the training ground where he had been practicing earlier.
"After all my hard work these past few days, I have finally mastered Susano'o."
Sasuke said excitedly. "Now I'll show you my power!"
"Oh?"
Takumi raised an eyebrow. Sasuke's words piqued his interest.
'He dared to claim he had mastered Susano'o?'
'Did he master the Complete Susano'o in just a few days?'
'Was that possible?'
However, Sasuke soon dashed his expectations.
Swish!
"Look! This is my Susano'o!"
Sasuke laughed wildly, almost maniacally. "Look at its perfect skeletal structure! Its powerful arms! Its majestic head!"
"Behold, this is my invincible Susa…"
Thump!
Takumi's expression was blank.
Sasuke's face was stunned.
"And here I was getting my hopes up. This is it?"
Takumi shook his head speechlessly. "You're still far off. With this state, if you encounter Uchiha Itachi, you won't even know how you died."
Sasuke didn't respond, still staring blankly at his Susano'o, shattered by a single punch.
'Why? It's also Susano'o.'
'His can shatter mine with one punch?'
'Why?'
Sasuke fell into deep confusion.
"Sigh, arrogance is not the way. Humility and caution are the path to progress."
Takumi shook his head and said a couple of lines.
Then he turned and left.
Lee watched from the side, suddenly feeling Sasuke was quite pitiful.
But he reached out, not knowing how to comfort Sasuke.
In the end, he could only sigh and pat Sasuke on the shoulder. "Don't compare yourself with Takumi-kun. He's not someone we can match."
After teaching Sasuke a lesson, Takumi felt in a very good mood.
Returning home and seeing the gentle and virtuous Kurenai made his mood even better.
He spent a wonderful night.
"Let me see which fool is coming for me today?"
Takumi was in a genuinely good mood.
Kurenai's attentiveness last night had been very bold, and even an old hand like him couldn't handle it.
Thankfully, he had Infinite Stamina as a safety net.
Honestly, Infinite Stamina hadn't been showcased much in battle, but it showed its strength in daily life.
'System, start today's targeted simulation.'
[9:00 AM: As usual, strolling around the village.]
'Does the system feel like it's mocking me?'
'Or is it my imagination?'
Takumi couldn't help but frown.
That makes it sound like he's idle all day, every day.
'I'm very busy every day too, okay?'
Takumi thought indignantly.
[10:00 AM: You are ambushed at the training ground. The enemies are the Kumogakure's Elite Jonin, Darui and Nii Yugito's team.]
'Are you kidding me? Again?!'
Takumi's expression immediately fell.
If it were someone like Kimimaro, he could handle it casually.
But who is Yugito?
She's the current Nibi's Jinchuriki.
Jinchuriki are all very strong in combat, with devastating destructive power.
If she went on a rampage here, Konoha would be in big trouble.
[11:00 AM: You and numerous Konoha's Shinobi finally subdue the rampaging Two-Tails Matatabi, but at a heavy cost. Konoha is mostly destroyed, with heavy civilian casualties.]
'Exactly as expected!'
Takumi's expression turned grave.
He didn't need to see the rest of the simulation.
He definitely wouldn't let that happen.
He had just done a simulation yesterday, and the cooldown wasn't over yet.
He only had one choice now.
'It seems I'll have to go out after all.'
'These guys are really relentless.'
'Kumogakure today, Iwagakure tomorrow, Akatsuki the day after... really...'
Takumi shook his head helplessly.
But there wasn't much he could do.
After all, his current strength was still insufficient.
If he had the power to challenge the entire Shinobi World alone, why would he need to be so cautious?
Come one, kill one! Come two, kill a pair!
For now, he could only avoid the confrontation.
Not that he couldn't win, but the cost of winning was too heavy.
Konoha was essentially his future base.
Although Hiruzen, with his help, didn't die by Orochimaru's hands, looking at him, it was clear he wouldn't live much longer.
By then, wouldn't he, with his soaring reputation, be the best candidate for Hokage?
So, protecting Konoha was also protecting his own future.
Of course, his wings weren't fully grown yet, and he still needed Hiruzen to shield him from the wind and rain.
'Better hurry. Don't want to miss the mission assignment.'
At that moment, in the Hokage's office,
someone was already there.
"Sea Demon causing trouble?"
Mitarashi Anko asked in confusion.
"Sea Monster, can also be called Sea Demon."
Hiruzen said calmly. "There have been disturbances recently at the border of the Land of the Sea, reportedly caused by such things."
"I plan to have you handle this mission. Any problems?"
"...No."
Anko shook her head.
As a Shinobi, she naturally had no right to refuse.
"The Land of the Sea has many islands, so ships are their main mode of transport."
Hiruzen explained the situation in the Land of the Sea. "However, there have been many incidents of attacks and robberies recently. All victims claim it was a Sea Demon."
"So the mission is to eliminate the Sea Demon?"
Anko asked.
"Essentially, yes."
Hiruzen tapped his pipe to shake off the ash, then continued. "The Land of the Sea has no Shinobi Village, so to maintain security, they signed a contract with the Land of Water. The Land of Water handles their internal security in exchange for payment."
"But not long ago, the ship transporting the payment was also attacked."
"I see."
Anko pinched her chin in thought. "To maintain relations with the Land of Water, they must pay. Without payment, the Land of Water won't care about the Land of the Sea."
"Correct. This mission is to escort the official gold transport ship and eliminate the Sea Demon."
Hiruzen nodded. "For this, I've specially arranged a few subordinates for you. I leave this to you."
"Subordinates?"
Anko was puzzled.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
Hiruzen said.
Then, three people entered.
They were Shino, Naruto, and Ino.
"Ah!"
Upon seeing Anko, Naruto immediately shouted, pointing at her. "It's the super-scary proctor from the Chunin Exams!"
It was a minor incident that happened during the exams.
To warn the other examinees, Anko had cut a small gash on Naruto's face.
Although the mark was long gone, the lingering fear remained with Naruto.
"Now that you mention it, I remember too."
Anko showed a mischievous smile.
"Mitarashi Anko-sensei?"
Ino exclaimed in surprise, clearly recognizing Anko.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Naruto, Ino, Shino. From now on, you three will follow Mitarashi Anko on this mission."
Hiruzen said.
"Huh?!"
Naruto exclaimed in surprise.
"But... won't that break up our teams?"
Ino also looked panicked.
After all, she was part of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. If assigned to another team, she couldn't utilize her specialty.
Hiruzen was about to explain when another knock came from the door.
"Hmm?"
Hiruzen was surprised. "The people I called are already here."
"Enter."
Takumi pushed the door open.
He was also surprised to see the people in the room.
Then his face lit up. "Is this a mission? Count me in. I've been in the village for quite a while."
"This is just a small mission. Moreover, your stamina from fighting Uchiha Itachi probably isn't fully recovered yet?"
Hiruzen said with concern. "You should rest more. When the village needs you, I'll definitely call you back immediately."
Hiruzen was becoming increasingly protective of Takumi.
Not only was he powerful, but he also respected Hiruzen greatly and posed no threat to his position as Hokage.
He was also one of Konoha's top combatants currently.
No matter how you looked at it, Hiruzen was very satisfied.
"How can that be!"
Takumi puffed out his chest. "As a Shinobi of Konoha, I must strive for Konoha's future! Moreover, missions have no size. A mission is a mission, and completing it is a Shinobi's duty!"
"Takumi-kun..."
Hiruzen was deeply moved, quickly wiping away old tears from the corners of his eyes. "Alright, then I leave it to you."
Anko stepped forward, extending her hand generously. "This is our first time working together. I hope we cooperate well."
Takumi quickly shook her hand. "Likewise. I hope Anko-senpai will guide me well."
Ino, who had been looking surprised, now blushed intensely.
She could actually go on a mission with Takumi!
And without that annoying Sakura in the way!
The team was assembled.
Everyone else went back to make some preparations, then gathered at the main gate.
Ino held a brief description of the mission target. "Characteristics of the Sea Demon: half-human, half-fish... What is this?"
"Must have been seeing things."
Naruto couldn't help but say. "How could such a creature exist?"
"No, nothing is absolute."
Shino analyzed calmly. "It could be some down-and-out Shinobi. Both Transformation Technique and Genjutsu could achieve such things."
"Regardless, we need to gather information."
Anko summarized. "Takumi-kun, what are your thoughts?"
'This mission is on the sea?'