After a night.
Waking up early and seeing Kurenai still sleeping soundly in bed, Takumi went to the kitchen and made himself a cup of goji berry tea.
"Let me see how things are today."
Takumi smiled, planning to do a simulation.
Although yesterday was calm, it didn't mean today would be trouble-free.
He had many enemies now. To avoid a careless mistake, he needed to be sufficiently vigilant.
Moreover, he already knew that Orochimaru had resurrected the Third Raikage via Edo Tensei.
He couldn't afford to slack off.
'System, perform a targeted simulation. Let me see what happens today.'
With the system, he could predict events around him in advance.
Better than any warning method.
No matter what trap you set,
I'll just predict it!
Knowing the enemy's movements in advance ensures an unbeatable position!
Takumi was smug.
[Simulation begins!]
[9:30 AM, go to check outside the cinema and find it's still packed. You feel very satisfied.]
[10:00 AM, Sasuke, having watched the movie, is not convinced and challenges you. You easily defeat him while in a good mood, earning the adoration of many watching girls.]
[Just then, the Sound Five appear, using their Cursed Seal states to wreak havoc in Konoha, drawing the attention of many Konoha's Shinobi. After that, the Third Raikage appears before you.]
Bang!
Takumi slammed the windowsill hard, his good mood instantly gone.
Looking up at the clear sky, his heart was now clouded with gloom.
"Orochimaru, that guy, is like a stalker, a pervert!!"
Takumi couldn't help but curse. He had originally planned to take Kurenai to see his masterpiece.
Now it was all ruined by Orochimaru's surprise attack.
Takumi had to admit, Orochimaru had chosen his timing well.
The movie was a huge hit in the village, the streets were crowded, especially around the cinema.
If the Sound Five caused a disturbance, it would easily lead to massive civilian casualties.
Konoha's Shinobi would definitely be drawn there.
And after this diversion, Takumi would be left alone.
Then Takumi would have to face the Third Raikage by himself.
Clearly, Orochimaru had great confidence in the Third Raikage's strength.
'But do you have some misunderstanding about my strength?'
Takumi couldn't help complaining. 'You think I'm afraid of you? I just don't want you causing trouble in Konoha!'
Takumi felt completely underestimated.
Just a Third Raikage, is he strong?
Yes, he is strong.
But definitely not as strong as him!
Although they hadn't fought, Takumi had too many trump cards.
A mere Third Raikage was nothing in his eyes.
"I'll even let you have a Susano'o handicap!"
Takumi said arrogantly, put on his clothes, and walked out.
He couldn't let the battlefield be in Konoha.
He would intercept Orochimaru and his group halfway.
As for the simulation,
He turned it off. Since Orochimaru and his gang were coming to cause trouble, the rest of the simulation was unnecessary. It would just show Konoha suffering heavy losses.
In a forest,
Several figures leaped forward rapidly.
This mode of travel was unmistakably Shinobi.
They moved quickly, maintaining distance from each other to guard all directions and avoid detection.
Their goal was a surprise attack, so they couldn't be seen.
If Takumi saw them, he would immediately recognize them.
"Raikage-sama, latest intel. Takumi returned to Konoha yesterday, seemingly after completing a mission."
Darui, with his dark skin, reported the newly acquired information.
"Mm, this is a perfect opportunity."
A said calmly. "People are most relaxed after completing a mission. We must finish him in one strike, to permanently remove the threat. You hear that, B?"
He looked at B beside him, who was covered in short swords and looked completely unmotivated.
B had originally wanted to continue his creative work, but A had dragged him along.
He had made an appointment with a famous singer from the Land of Lightning, and now he had to stand them up.
He just hoped that famous singer wouldn't be too angry.
Although that was unlikely.
"Got it, got it."
Hearing A's words, B replied weakly.
"This mission is of utmost importance. There can be absolutely no carelessness, understand?"
A was very dissatisfied with B's attitude and loudly emphasized.
"Sir, perhaps we should be quieter. We're already approaching the Land of Fire's border."
Darui said quietly.
"Everyone, speed up! Stay fully alert!"
After hearing this, A immediately shouted.
The others were left with wry smiles.
But they did speed up considerably.
Speed was crucial for a surprise attack.
If they moved slowly and were detected, the element of surprise was lost.
However, they had no idea someone had already beaten them to it.
And Takumi also didn't know that in the simulation he didn't finish, there were other guests.
But to Takumi, another group didn't matter.
Except for a few specific people, no one in the entire Shinobi World could threaten him now.
But what Takumi didn't know was that someone else was approaching quietly.
"Konan, you did well this time. Black Zetsu is still helping Kakuzu find powerful hearts. Monitoring Takumi is now your task."
Pain was very satisfied with Konan's initiative to take them to the movies.
Although he had slightly misunderstood her intentions at first, the result was good.
Little did he know,
He still misunderstood Konan's true intentions.
"Understood."
Konan nodded silently. This saved her from having to find an excuse.
Anyway, staying here, watching these people train hard to kill Takumi, made her feel suffocated.
She might as well leave and be out of sight, out of mind.
She had no intention of attacking Takumi.
In her heart, she had firmly believed that Takumi was the inheritor of the Akatsuki's original will.
Although she still occasionally wondered how Takumi knew about the early Akatsuki.
"Go. I'll continue thinking about how to restrict him."
Pain began to ponder. "If we can't restrict his ability to fly, dealing with him will be troublesome."
"I'm leaving."
Konan said flatly, not even leaving a paper clone, transforming into paper and disappearing before Pain.
Pain felt it was a bit strange, but his focus was on how to eliminate Takumi, so he quickly dismissed the thought.
Thus, he didn't hear Konan's faint sigh.
Taking advantage of the wind, Konan sped towards the Land of Fire at great speed.
She certainly didn't expect things to become so lively.
"Found him."
Entering the Land of Fire, she used her aerial advantage to quickly spot Takumi, who hadn't hidden himself at all.
"What is he doing? Waiting for someone?"
Hiding on a nearby tree branch, Konan watched Takumi standing with his arms crossed, as if waiting for a duel. She was curious.
She wondered who would be so foolish as to challenge Takumi?
'Tired of living?'
Then she saw Takumi glance her way.
She immediately knew she had been exposed.
But since Takumi didn't call her out, she simply sat on the branch and watched.
With Takumi as a decoy on the ground, and her not emitting any Chakra, few would notice her even sitting on a branch.
Even if discovered, with her abilities, it would be hard for anyone to catch her if she fled.