"If I remember correctly, he should be called Amachi. He assisted Orochimaru with his research."
Takumi said softly, ensuring everyone around could hear.
"Amachi?"
Anko seemed to recall something. "So it's him."
Isaribi had already hid behind Takumi.
Only behind Takumi did she feel safe enough.
"Huh?"
Naruto recognized another person. "I remember seeing that guy during the Chunin Exams."
"Akado Yoroi, one of Orochimaru's subordinates, a spy from Otogakure."
Shino immediately identified him. "So this is indeed one of Orochimaru's bases."
"Even if it is, it's an abandoned one."
Ino looked around. "I don't believe Orochimaru would leave only a few people in one base."
"I remember this guy had a weird technique that could absorb Chakra."
Naruto said gravely. "Sasuke fell for it, but he still couldn't beat Sasuke."
"As long as you avoid physical contact, it should be fine."
Shino analyzed calmly. "He absorbs the opponent's Chakra through physical contact."
"So that's it!"
Naruto understood.
"I'll handle this guy. I'm better suited to deal with him."
Shino looked up at Yoroi.
"Then I'll take the other guy."
Naruto rolled up his sleeves, excited.
It had been a while since he had been on a mission.
He was thrilled.
Ino immediately felt hesitant.
Her Ninjutsu was more support-oriented, and her offensive capabilities were lacking.
Moreover, the remaining person, Amachi, didn't look easy to deal with. After thinking, she wisely didn't speak up.
After deciding, Shino and Naruto immediately charged forward.
But the two soon encountered some trouble.
Yoroi, trained by Orochimaru to be a spy, was decent in terms of strength.
And his Chakra-absorbing ability couldn't be underestimated.
The other guy, Tsurugi Misumi, used a strange Ninjutsu.
"Whoa! What's up with his arm?!"
Naruto yelled, dodging the enemy's attack.
His opponent could stretch his arms like rubber.
Even Takumi's gaze was drawn for a moment.
'Pity, it wasn't the legendary pirate, Monkey D. Luffy.'
Takumi withdrew his gaze, focusing on Amachi.
"I'll help!"
Seeing Naruto struggling, Ino stepped up to help. "Mind Body Disturbance Technique!"
She sneak-attacked, and the enemy had no defense.
Immediately, she seized partial control of his body.
"What's happening?"
Misumi, feeling his body out of control, panicked and shouted.
But it was futile.
Soon, Ino used his ability to stretch his arms to tie his hands to a stone pillar, turning him into an immobile target.
"That helped a lot, Ino!"
Naruto laughed heartily, then summoned a clone and formed his strongest attack.
"Rasengan!"
Bang…
Misumi was sent flying far away, his fate unknown.
"Tch, trash."
Amachi curled his lip, completely indifferent to Misumi's fate.
He didn't even move, leisurely watching the battle between Shino and Yoroi.
Yoroi had more combat experience than Shino.
Shino was soon suppressed.
But with Naruto and Ino joining the fight, Yoroi quickly lost.
"All trash. Looks like I have to do it myself."
Amachi said, leaping down from the mountainside to the sea surface.
Then, his body suddenly transformed, turning from a person into a fish-man monster.
"Truly ugly."
Takumi gave his evaluation, then turned to Isaribi and said gently, "Far worse than you."
Isaribi shyly lowered her head.
"What's going on? How did he turn into a monster?"
Naruto looked surprised.
"It's normal. Some people abandon their bodies in pursuit of power."
Shino said calmly.
"So ugly."
Ino couldn't help but look away, she didn't want this thing to taint her eyes.
"Damn it! How dare you look down on me!"
Seeing the kids dare to mock him, Amachi became furious. "Let me show you the power of the battle-type complete form!"
He suddenly spewed a powerful jet of water from his mouth. The intense stream immediately sent the unprepared Naruto flying.
"Strong power."
Shino analyzed, his expression grave.
The main issue was that Amachi used this move without hand seals.
Compared to those who needed seals, he was naturally faster.
"Aren't you going to intervene?"
Anko tilted her head to look at Takumi. "If you don't, they might get hurt."
"As Shinobi, getting hurt is part of the job."
Takumi said indifferently. "From the day they became Shinobi, they had sufficient determination. Please don't say such discouraging words."
"Hahaha, it seems I said the wrong thing."
Anko said with a smile.
Then, Naruto, Shino, and Ino fought Amachi together.
But Amachi's attacks were too fast… Naruto and the others couldn't get close.
Soon, Naruto, who charged ahead the most, was covered in injuries.
Although Shino and Ino weren't injured, their panting showed they had expended too much.
"I'm tired of playing with you."
Amachi bit his thumb and pressed his hand to the ground. "Come forth, Umibozu!"
Special water flowed across the sea surface, then rose, forming a gigantic monster made of water.
Naruto was immediately grabbed and stuffed into the monster's body.
From Naruto's difficulty breathing, it was clear one couldn't breathe inside the monster.
"Like a Water Prison."
Takumi raised an eyebrow, then flashed away.
Poof!
"Huh?"
Amachi was stunned. The trapped Naruto had disappeared from inside the Umibozu.
Looking closely, he saw Naruto had been rescued and was now coughing violently on the shore.
"Was it you, kid? Not bad."
Only then did Amachi notice Takumi.
Living long in the remote Land of the Sea with almost no information sources, he didn't recognize Takumi, who had been making waves in the Shinobi World recently.
"Pity. Before my invincible Umibozu, no one is my match. Once caught by Umibozu, you're dead!"
"Hahahaha!"
Amachi laughed wildly.
Suddenly, he felt the sky darken.
Something seemed to be blocking the sunlight.
He focused and saw a gigantic Chakra monster before him.
"Wh-what is this?"
Amachi panicked, his body trembling uncontrollably, though his mouth still tried to reassure himself. "No matter what monster this is, with Umibozu, I am invincible…"
Boom!
A massive Fire Release completely evaporated the so-called Umibozu.
Takumi looked at him expressionlessly. "Anything else to say?"
Amachi slumped to the ground, completely dumbfounded.
His proud Umibozu was instantly annihilated by the opponent!
He finally understood the gap between their strengths was like heaven and earth.
He was underground.
And Takumi was high in the sky.
From here, things proceeded smoothly.
Takumi and the others captured the three and handed them to the Land of the Sea's authorities. Then, after safely delivering the official gold transport ship to the Land of Water, the mission was completed.
"Have you decided? To stay here?"
At the parting moment, Takumi held Isaribi's hand and asked softly, "If you want, I can take you to Konoha."
"No need."
Isaribi gently shook her head. "You know my dream. I want to be a teacher, to teach those children the right values."
"A great decision. I'm proud of you."
Takumi gently hugged her.
Isaribi rested her head on Takumi's shoulder, greedily breathing in his scent.
She had a feeling that after this parting, she might not see Takumi for a long time.
"If anything happens, remember to come to Konoha to find me."
Takumi said softly.
"Mm, I will. I will always remember you."
Isaribi said. "Will you remember me?"
"Of course."
Takumi showed a gentle smile. "I will remember you, always."
"Thank you."
Isaribi immediately showed a brilliant smile.
Then, Isaribi bid farewell to the others one by one.
Takumi and the group embarked on their journey back to Konoha.
"How exactly did you cure her?"
Anko was still curious.
She had specifically asked Isaribi, but to her confusion, Isaribi just blushed and refused to answer no matter how she pressed.
"Hmm, you asked Isaribi?"
Takumi asked.
"I did, but she wouldn't answer. Is this method a secret?"
Anko asked puzzledly.
"Not exactly a secret, just... hard to talk about."
Takumi smiled lightly. "Actually, the process of treating Isaribi can be seen as detoxification."
"Her strange appearance was due to infection by a unique type of cell, which can also be seen as a toxin."
"This toxin is the source of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal."
"Cursed Seal?"
Anko immediately covered the back of her neck.
"Right."
Takumi nodded. "When Orochimaru attacked the village, he tried to place a Cursed Seal on me, but he failed."
"Because I have strong poison resistance, the Cursed Seal couldn't take effect on my body."
"Based on this, I injected my poison-resistant bodily fluids into her. The toxins in her body were naturally resolved."
"Bodily fluids?"
Anko frowned. "Saliva?"
"No. It must be fluids containing genetic material. Saliva doesn't contain the poison resistance."
Takumi shook his head, a hint of a strange smile on his face.
"Genetic material?"
Anko's face immediately flushed red.
She glared at Takumi and quickly walked away from him.