"Shut up! Naruto!"
Sakura instinctively punched Naruto to the ground.
Then, seeing everyone looking at her, she immediately blushed and retreated behind Ino.
"Why are you hiding behind me?"
Ino found it absurd. "Do you think others don't know your personality?"
"I, I just couldn't help it. Hearing Naruto talk, my hand moved on its own."
Sakura felt a bit shy, mainly worried about appearing so violent in front of Takumi, fearing it would affect her image in his eyes.
Especially since she had just spent the morning shopping with Takumi.
This made her even more cautious, as she's afraid of leaving any bad impression on Takumi.
However, Ino found it even more absurd after hearing that.
"Couldn't help it? Your hand moved on its own when you heard Naruto talk?"
Ino looked utterly speechless. "You usually hit Naruto like this?"
"Well, pretty much..."
Sakura thought about it and realized it was true. "Who told Naruto to always say such boring nonsense."
"That's true too."
Ino nodded in agreement. "But you can't hit him every time, right? He's not a smart guy to begin with. Won't he become even dumber after being beaten by a violent girl like you?"
"I'm not his mother. Why should I care so much?"
Sakura said with a look of indifference, then asked nervously, "What about Takumi-kun? Is Takumi-kun still looking at me?"
"Oh~"
Ino suddenly understood, showing a suggestive smile. "You thought Takumi-kun was still watching you? Takumi-kun isn't as concerned about you as you imagine."
"What?"
Sakura was shocked and quickly looked up.
She saw that Takumi was indeed talking to Sasuke.
Her face immediately fell in defeat.
Meanwhile, Sasuke was saying with a displeased look, "Is it really that simple? Why can't I do it? How long did it take you to learn this move?"
"Hmm..."
Takumi looked up, pretending to think, then said, "About five minutes?"
"Five minutes?"
Sasuke almost spat out blood.
He had been straining for over ten minutes and couldn't even produce a fart.
Yet the other guy summoned a several-tens-of-meters-tall Susano'o in five minutes?
That's just too ridiculous!
"So this is Susano'o?"
Kakashi looked up at Takumi's Susano'o and couldn't help but sigh.
Although he had seen it during the battle between Takumi and Itachi, seeing it up close now still filled him with awe.
"It truly is, as Takumi said, the power belonging to the gods."
Kakashi sighed. "Faced with such power, ordinary Shinobi like us have no right to oppose it."
"Don't give up, Kakashi."
Guy also had a solemn expression, but he wouldn't say discouraging words. "Life is always full of challenges. Seeing that Takumi has such powerful strength actually makes my blood boil even more."
"Guy-sensei! Me too!"
Lee also looked excited.
"Lee!"
"Guy-sensei!"
Then, master and disciple embraced each other, shedding hot, passionate tears.
Everyone around them moved away from the two, looking at them with eyes that said 'concern for the mentally challenged.'
Sasuke almost broke down.
But it was only almost… he didn't completely break down.
After calming down a bit, he continued to work hard, trying to summon Susano'o.
Half an hour later, he finally made some progress.
Around his body, a ribcage that could defend against attacks appeared.
However, it was almost clinging to Sasuke's body, completely unlike Takumi's magnificent one.
And it was only bones, looking quite pitiful.
But at least it was a start.
Sasuke immediately continued practicing excitedly.
Seeing Sasuke engrossed in training, Takumi quietly left.
As for when Sasuke could create a Complete Susano'o?
With Sasuke's current Pupil Power, it was basically impossible.
It would take at least a few years.
"Takumi-kun, let's continue shopping."
Leaving the training ground, Sakura clung to Takumi like a sticky poison.
These words immediately made Takumi break out in a cold sweat.
Fortunately, this time Ino was also there, preventing Sakura from having her way alone.
"What shopping? You've already dragged Takumi-kun shopping all morning. You might not be tired, but Takumi-kun is. You really don't know how to be considerate, you wide-forehead violent girl."
Ino latched onto Takumi's other arm and launched a series of sarcastic remarks at Sakura.
"You!"
Sakura's face flushed red, but she secretly glanced at Takumi's expression from the corner of her eye.
She had gotten carried away and completely forgotten whether Takumi might be tired.
Although Ino's words sounded harsh to her ears, they were also very reasonable.
She couldn't even refute them.
"Hmph, in my opinion, it's better to find a place to rest first, then think about what to do next."
Ino said, "How about the café next to my house? After having coffee, we can go to the cinema next door. There are many good movies recently."
"Whatever you arrange is fine."
Takumi expressed that as long as it wasn't shopping, it was fine.
…
The Land of Rice Fields.
In a certain hidden secret base.
The news of Takumi fighting Itachi and winning also reached Orochimaru's ears.
"What? Cough, cough, cough..."
Orochimaru stood up in shock from his chair but quickly fell back down, coughing uncontrollably while covering his mouth.
When he moved his hand away, the shocking red stain on his palm was worrying.
Kabuto nearby frowned slightly and said softly, "Orochimaru-sama, we can't delay any longer. This body of yours has reached its limit."
"Cough, cough, cough, I know."
Orochimaru coughed lightly, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
He still coveted Takumi's body intensely.
But he hadn't gained any advantage in his two attempts.
Attacking Konoha, reanimating the Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage, only to completely make Takumi the hero of Konoha.
The second time, reanimating the three Mizukage, planning to use their widespread Hidden Mist Technique to quietly take Takumi away.
But Takumi easily escaped, and in the end, Orochimaru's own reputation was further elevated.
In all this, he, one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, seemed to have become a clown.
"Wait a little longer. See if there's an opportunity. Kabuto, keep an eye on Konoha's news at all times."
Orochimaru still refused to give up just like that. He still wanted to see if there was a chance.
Otherwise, after changing bodies again, he would have to wait another three years before he could change bodies once more.