Takumi's expression instantly turned cold.
Isaribi trembled even more, at a loss.
She didn't want to argue with people.
But because of her past mysterious disappearance and the recent Sea Demon incidents, she was disliked by the villagers.
After all, she always wore bandages despite not being injured.
This naturally made people suspect she was hiding something.
"Such a noisy bunch."
Takumi stood up and walked towards the door.
Isaribi quickly grabbed Takumi's hand. "Don't. They're just ordinary people."
"Don't worry, I won't kill them."
Takumi turned back with a smile. "I'm not a bloodthirsty person, but I won't ignore injustice when I see it."
"Wait here at ease."
He left Isaribi in the room, slid open the door, and stepped out.
"It's you, right? You bastard, how dare you make my son cry!"
A burly, ferocious-looking man with a mean face waved a pitchfork in his hand, as if ready to poke several holes in Takumi.
"You must be the Sea Demon's accomplice! Get out of the Land of the Sea! Life has gotten harder because of people like you!"
"The Sea Demon is an ill omen! You brought disaster upon us! Get out!"
"Damn Sea Demon! Die!"
"Get out! Or we'll kill you!"
The others also shouted.
These adults all held weapons.
Though 'weapons' might be generous… they were more like farming tools.
But they were enough to kill.
"Shut up!"
Takumi's loud roar instantly drowned out all other voices.
"Finally, some peace."
He let out a breath, then said coldly, "I am Takumi, a Shinobi of Konoha, the future Hokage. The girl in the house behind me is my woman. Let's see which fool dares to touch my woman."
"See that small mountain in the distance?"
He raised his hand, pointing at a small hill in the distance.
Everyone was confused but dazedly followed his gesture.
Boom!
A loud explosion rang.
The entire small hill instantly shattered, turning into flat ground.
"Ah!"
The crowd recoiled, faces full of shock.
But Takumi had no intention of stopping.
He wanted to make these stupid villagers remember once and for all.
His woman, Takumi's woman, was not someone anyone could bully.
If they wanted to bully her, they had to be prepared to pay the price.
A Chakra giant slowly rose from him. The majestic Susano'o caused further panic, and some even fainted.
Under Takumi's control, Chakra condensed into a massive sword. Susano'o casually swung, flattening two more hilltops.
Rumble...
The hilltops slid down, creating another loud noise.
Takumi stood before the villagers, with the majestic and solemn Susano'o behind him.
Clatter...
The villagers powerlessly released their grip. The farming tools they used as weapons fell to the ground with clear sounds.
In the end, no one held a weapon anymore.
They didn't want to die.
"Good."
Takumi nodded satisfied. The Susano'o nodded with him.
"From today, if anyone dares to bully my woman, I will flatten the Land of the Sea!"
Takumi's words were filled with killing intent.
All the villagers shook their heads in unison, showing they didn't dare.
They didn't even dare speak, afraid their voices might displease Takumi.
"Get lost."
Takumi waved his hand.
Immediately, there was a flurry of chaotic activity, dust flying everywhere.
When the dust settled, apart from a mess on the ground, no one was left.
Takumi nodded satisfied.
Behind him, Isaribi leaned against the door, gazing dreamily at Takumi's back.
The figure wasn't large, but for the first time, she understood what a sense of security was.
Not only did he not look down on me, he even announced publicly that I am his woman...
Isaribi's cheeks burned as if on fire.
But this time, she wasn't so nervous she couldn't speak.
Although they had only met a few times, Takumi had already left a deep mark on her heart.
It could never be erased.
Finally, as that figure turned around, Isaribi could no longer control her emotions. She rushed forward.
She threw herself into Takumi's arms, tears in the corners of her eyes, but a warm smile on her face.
"Why the tears?"
Takumi gently lifted her face, softly wiping her tears.
"From now on, no one will ever bully you again. I promise."
Isaribi nodded emphatically. "Mm!"
Takumi held Isaribi for a long time.
Both of them cherished the warm moment.
"Isaribi, do you... want to become a normal human again?"
Takumi suddenly asked.
Isaribi, whose cheek was against Takumi's chest, suddenly opened her eyes. She looked up at him in disbelief. "C-can I?"
"If you want, I can help you."
Takumi said with a smile. "I see you don't like being a mermaid."
"I want to! I dream of becoming my old self again!"
Isaribi said excitedly. "What should I do?"
"Don't rush. Let me explain the situation carefully. Then you can think about it properly."
Takumi softly comforted her, asking her to calm down.
Takumi's attitude made Isaribi's excited heart settle, but it also brought some anxiety. "Is it dangerous? Or is it a big burden for you? If so, then I won't change back. As long as I have you, I'm already content."
"It's no burden for me. But this matter is significant. You need to consider it carefully."
Takumi said softly.
"Th-then, alright."
Isaribi nodded obediently, waiting for Takumi's explanation.
"I mentioned before that Orochimaru once attacked our village, trying to put a Cursed Seal on me, right?"
Takumi said. Seeing Isaribi nod but look puzzled, he explained, "The Cursed Seal's effect is to turn a person into a monster, but it greatly increases strength… similar to your current state."
"But Orochimaru didn't succeed because I have a very strong poison resistance."
"Orochimaru's Cursed Seal doesn't work on me."
Isaribi immediately showed a realization expression, but confusion remained on her face.
She didn't understand what this had to do with helping her become human again.
"My constitution can even help others detoxify through a certain method."
Takumi said slowly.
Isaribi's eyes immediately lit up. She understood this. "Is that your method? I don't see anything that needs special attention. Why not start right away?"
"The key is the carrier for helping others detoxify."
Takumi said. "To help someone else detoxify, it can only be done with my bodily fluids containing genetic material."
"Genetic material... bodily fluids?"
Isaribi was stunned for a moment, then she understood. Her cheeks completely flushed.
Takumi looked at her expectantly. He didn't continue, as Isaribi already understood.
"Pl-please..."
She lowered her head, her voice trembling with nervousness.
"Please what?"
The voice was too soft. Takumi had to lower his head to listen carefully.
"Please... be gentle."
Isaribi mustered her courage to finish, then blushed again.
"Alright!"
Takumi grinned. He picked the girl up and rushed into the house.
"Tu-turn off the lights!"
Isaribi's panicked voice came from behind the closed door.
…
"Is it true, Anko-senpai?"
Ino asked surprised. "That girl is really one of Orochimaru's experimental subjects?"
"I just remembered it too."
Anko frowned, rubbing her forehead.
Since coming near the Land of the Sea, the Cursed Seal on her body occasionally burned, reminding her of its presence.
"But back then, she was just a little girl. I didn't expect her to become the Sea Demon."
Anko looked sighing.
"Is that really so?"
Naruto sounded disbelieving. "Speaking of the Sea Demon, those two who attacked us yesterday seemed more like the Sea Demon, right?"
"Correct. It also fits my earlier speculation."
Shino agreed.
"Regardless, she is definitely involved."
Anko said. "She is definitely a key figure. If we find her, we can roughly understand the truth."
"I hope she's not a bad person."
Ino couldn't help but sigh. "If she is the Sea Demon, she must have gathered quite a bit of wealth. So why was she selling fish at the shop?"
"That is a blind spot."
Anko said admiringly. "That greatly adds to your point. But the fact that she is key to the incident remains unchanged."
"When the time comes, it will be a matter of capturing her or protecting her."
Anko led the three to the seaside cottage.
She had in advance asked for its location.
"Look, that house is where she lives."
Hiding behind a rock in the distance, Anko pointed at the house covered in various graffiti and insults.
"It's really sad."
Ino's eyes were full of sympathy. "She likely isn't the Sea Demon, yet she is so misunderstood. I don't know how she endured this time."
"Maybe it's nothing to her."
Anko said with a grave expression. "After all, during the experiments..."
"Experiments what?"
Naruto asked curiously.
"Nothing."
Anko said with a complex expression. "Keep your eyes peeled. Don't let the target escape."
"Hmm?"
Shino looked towards another side. "There are some children over there. Is it okay not to disperse them?"
Anko glanced at the playing children in the distance and shook her head. "No. We'll be exposed if we go out now. Besides, it's far enough. If a fight breaks out, it shouldn't reach them."
"Wait! The door opened!"
Ino said nervously.
Then, her eyes widened in surprise. "Takumi-kun? Why?"
She couldn't believe why Takumi, who had left the team earlier, was here.
Walking out behind Takumi was a slender girl.
The crucial point was: this girl had no bandages on her body.