Sasuke left the hospital but didn't head home immediately.
Instead, he wandered aimlessly on the streets.
He looked at the people around him but didn't encounter the scene from his nightly nightmares.
People simply didn't care who he was because they didn't know him.
Although the fan emblem on the back of his clothes showed he was a member of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke was just a teenager, and not many people would pay attention to a teenager on the street.
He wasn't a troublemaker like Naruto.
Nor was he a beloved genius hero like Takumi.
At this moment, Sasuke seemed to have become an extra.
Unnoticed and uncared for.
At this moment, although Sasuke was relieved he hadn't become a laughingstock, the sense of loss in his heart caught him somewhat off guard.
There was a time when he was a well-known genius at the Academy.
He was sure to have a bright future.
But after that battle with Takumi that day, his genius halo disappeared.
Replaced by Takumi.
But he didn't hate Takumi.
Not to mention all the help Takumi had given him, he wasn't the type to resent others without reason.
He would only ever be dissatisfied with himself.
"What exactly should I do to surpass him?"
"Why did he leave his eyes for me? What was that giant he summoned? Can I summon it?"
"Why does the gap between him and me feel like it's getting bigger and bigger?"
For a moment, an aura of defeat lingered in Sasuke's heart.
He simply couldn't figure out how he was supposed to defeat Itachi.
That power to summon a giant, that power to destroy heaven and earth… how was he supposed to confront it?
"Hmm?"
At that moment, he saw Takumi and Sakura walking towards him.
But his eyes only saw Takumi.
Then, a look of wild joy appeared on his face.
"That's right! Since Takumi can defeat him, if I ask him to teach me, I can definitely defeat him too!"
Sasuke directly blocked Takumi's path and said straightforwardly, "Takumi, please teach me how to defeat Itachi!"
"Hmm?"
Takumi was taken aback, then suddenly revealed a hint of wild joy.
However, this flash of joy was quickly concealed, unseen by anyone.
"Cough."
He cleared his throat lightly, then said, "Since your attitude is so sincere, I'll reluctantly agree."
Takumi currently wished he could get away from Sakura immediately.
Sakura's combat power while shopping was truly too strong.
She had to go into every single shop, and after looking, she wouldn't buy anything.
Even when Takumi offered to buy things for her, she would refuse with difficulty, saying she couldn't be wasteful.
Although Sakura really wanted things bought for her by Takumi, she preferred it if Takumi bought them for her on his own, giving her a surprise.
Not while they were shopping.
That felt like she was forcing Takumi.
And so.
In one morning, the two of them visited fifty shops.
At that moment, Takumi felt that the one with infinite stamina wasn't him, but the still-excited Sakura.
Sasuke's appearance right now was undoubtedly a lifeline for Takumi.
"Ah..."
Sakura sighed regretfully, but she knew that Sasuke being so serious meant it must be important.
So she was sensible and didn't make a fuss.
'Thank you, Second Pillar!'
Takumi was internally overjoyed.
Then, the three of them went to a training ground.
'Sigh...'
'If it weren't for Mikoto's sake, I wouldn't care about your life or death.'
Looking at Sasuke's serious face across from him, Takumi thought of his mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
This was the person who had shared a special relationship with him in the simulations and had also acted as his nursemaid several times.
Even though he had never met this woman in reality, she had given Takumi many memories.
If it weren't for Mikoto's sake, he would definitely brush off Sasuke's request casually.
After all, why waste that time when he could be enjoying himself?
Who would bother meddling with Sasuke, this annoying brat?
But...
'Aren't there a few too many people around?'
Takumi glanced at the Genin gathered around from the corner of his eye, his mouth twitching involuntarily.
On the way here, they happened to run into the Ino-Shika-Cho trio returning from a mission.
Then, under Ino's forceful insistence, Shikamaru and Choji were dragged along by her to watch.
On the way, they encountered Naruto heading out for ramen.
When passing by Kiba's house on the way to the training ground...
In short, this and that.
The audience kept growing.
Not only were the Twelve Genin present, but even Kakashi, Guy, Asuma, and others had all arrived.
"I wonder what Takumi plans to teach?"
Kakashi said curiously, stroking his chin.
He had taught Sasuke the Lightning Release Raikiri and knew Sasuke was a talented kid willing to work hard.
But in his impression, Takumi didn't seem to have used Lightning Release much.
He wasn't sure what Takumi would teach.
"It must be Taijutsu!"
Guy gave a thumbs-up. "Takumi-kun's Taijutsu is very strong. I just don't know how he trained it."
"That's right, that's right!"
Lee chimed in beside him. "I saw him shatter a several-meter-tall boulder with one punch, effortlessly."
"Tch. In the end, he's still just a kid."
Asuma muttered sourly beside him.
Kakashi looked at him helplessly and sighed slightly, not knowing how to console this guy.
It was obvious.
This guy had been rejected by Kurenai again.
And this time, the reason for the rejection was even more blunt.
"I have something to discuss with Takumi-kun. If you have something, could we talk about it another time?"
Kurenai's straightforward departure broke Asuma's heart into pieces.
And made him increasingly annoyed with Takumi.
But he prided himself on being an adult and didn't bother to argue with Takumi, who was still a child.
Little did he know, the Yuhi Kurenai he longed for and Takumi had already gone far beyond the kind of sibling relationship he imagined.
"Hey! When is this starting? If it doesn't start soon, the sun will set!"
Naruto shouted from the side, only to be punched on the head by Sakura, immediately raising a large lump.
"Shut up, you idiot!"
Sakura roared. "Whether they teach or not is their business. What does it have to do with you? If you don't want to watch, then get lost!"
"Sakura..."
Naruto looked at Sakura pitifully but didn't dare say anything more.