Early the next morning,
Kurenai looked surprised at the table full of breakfast dishes that were complete with color, aroma, and taste.
"You made all this?"
She pointed at the breakfast still steaming with heat.
"Of course."
Takumi said with a smile. "Eat it while it's hot. It won't taste as good when it cools."
"Mhm, okay."
A flash of tenderness passed through Kurenai's eyes. The two ate breakfast slowly and leisurely.
"By the way, Shino told me yesterday he had something to tell you. Did he say anything?" Kurenai seemed to suddenly remember something, looking up at Takumi.
"No, he didn't. Did he say what it was about?" Takumi asked curiously.
"Hmm, it seems it was about bugs. Since he didn't say, it's better to wait for him to tell you himself." Kurenai shook her head. "It's his thoughtful intention after all."
"Huh?"
Takumi tilted his head, full of confusion.
'Bugs?'
'Could it be that Shino wants to give me a few bugs as a gift?!'
'I definitely doesn't want that!'
...
Land of Rain, Amegakure.
The Akatsuki's secret base.
"No, no, no! With our strength, we simply can't win against Takumi-senpai. You should just give up."
Deidara waved his hand, speaking discouraging words but with a look of disdain on his face.
It looked really irritating.
"That's right. Even Kisame-san fought to that extent and still couldn't kill him. That guy must be unkillable." Hidan was also fanning the flames on the side.
Mainly, he enjoyed watching the drama.
"Hmph, no one is invincible. As long as you find the right method, even the Shodaime Hokage can be killed," Kakuzu snorted coldly, his voice low.
He couldn't stand his own people lowering morale.
Moreover, Deidara had completely become Takumi's little fanboy, almost forgetting his own position.
Hidan, this guy, was even more mentally chaotic. After all, how could someone who worships a god of evil be normal?
"Judging from the performance, Kisame indeed drove Takumi into a desperate situation, but it was still lacking a bit," Sasori said. "However, wanting to defeat him with our current selves is indeed somewhat unrealistic. So everyone might need to improve a bit..."
"You mean we should improve our strength?" Pain frowned. "But how can strength be easily improved? Don't forget, everyone here is a long-established expert, but how many years has it been since you've seen any improvement?"
"Perhaps you and I can't improve in the short term, but among us, there is indeed one more convenient candidate. He can improve quickly."
As Sasori spoke, he looked at Kakuzu.
The others followed his gaze. Some showed understanding, others were full of confusion.
"Why look at Kakuzu-san?" Hidan was full of confusion.
"Idiot, of course because Kakuzu's strength is the easiest to improve," Konan said with exasperation.
"Kakuzu's ability, to put it bluntly, is hearts."
"If he had one more, or several more hearts, his strength would definitely go up."
"Understand now?"
Only then did Hidan have a sudden realization.
Oh right!
For others to get stronger, they might need to train.
But Kakuzu doesn't!
He just needs to stuff in a few more hearts!
"I have some pretty good intelligence. Maybe you can get some good hearts with it," Black Zetsu said in his hoarse voice.
"I have no objection."
Although it would delay his money-making, being able to improve his own strength was something Kakuzu naturally wouldn't object to.
Moreover, he too found the previous situation very hard to bear.
He hadn't failed exactly, but he also couldn't win.
Because from start to finish, he hadn't managed to hit Takumi even once.
Hadn't even touched him.
Besides, until Takumi was eliminated, their organization's work couldn't proceed.
Which meant he couldn't make money!
"Then it's settled. We'll leave it to you, Kakuzu," Pain said.
"Don't worry. This time, I won't let him leave so easily. He'll have to pay some price at the very least."
Kakuzu's eyes were full of killing intent.
...
"I heard you were looking for me?"
Since Takumi couldn't figure out the reason Shino was looking for him, he simply went to find the person directly.
"I wanted to say it yesterday, but there were too many people, so I didn't explain," Shino said in his calm voice. "Do you know about the Bikochu?"
"Bikochu?"
Takumi frowned slightly. The name sounded familiar.
Thinking carefully, he suddenly remembered. "Are those the bugs that, after reaching adulthood, have a sense of smell thousands of times better than Ninja Dog?"
"Since you know, that's great."
Shino said, "Although the Bikochu are on the verge of extinction, there are still some surviving. If we can find them, I believe it would be helpful for finding Orochimaru, right?"
"Indeed, if smooth."
Takumi nodded. "Then let's apply for the mission with Hokage-sama."
Thus, Takumi took Shino, Hinata, and Kiba to the Hokage Tower.
"You want to go look for the Bikochu?"
Hiruzen certainly knew about these bugs. "That is indeed a good method. Go ahead, and be careful on the road."
Hiruzen didn't block them.
After all, it was just looking for a few bugs. What danger could there be?
And what danger could possibly stop his invincible Takumi?
He now had complete confidence in Takumi.
"We'll return as soon as possible."
The four of them bid farewell to Hiruzen.
This trip would take several days, so everyone went home to do some preparations.
Things like tents, or some snacks for the road.
This mission wasn't particularly dangerous, nor did it require secrecy.
It was less like a mission and more like an outing.
"Everyone ready?"
Takumi looked around.
"Ready whenever," Kiba gave a thumbs up, as if infected by Guy, even revealing a set of snow-white teeth.
"R-ready."
Hinata seemed a bit shy and hesitant.
Shino just nodded slightly, saying nothing.
"Then let's set off."
Takumi walked at the front, keeping a leisurely pace.
Nothing like when executing other missions, running and leaping between tree branches.
The others were the same.
They traveled along without incident.
Seeing the gradually setting sun, Takumi raised his hand. "Alright, let's prepare to rest."
Kiba and Shino immediately started moving, setting up the tents for sleeping.
Takumi started preparing dinner, with Hinata assisting on the side.
After dinner, the four went into their tents.
Soon, Kiba and Shino fell asleep.
Takumi closed his eyes, but his ears were attentive to the surroundings.
Soon, accompanied by a series of extremely faint sounds, he heard Hinata, who was sleeping at the outermost, leave the tent.
Opening his eyes, Takumi slowly got up and left the tent without a sound.
When Shino mentioned the Bikochu, he had already anticipated this scene.
Hinata, who liked training at night, sometimes showed a side vastly different from her usual self… a bold side.
Quietly arriving at a pond, he saw clothes neatly folded on a rock by the shore.
They were Hinata's clothes.
And Hinata herself was currently standing in the pond, dancing gracefully under the moonlight.