"As for this girl's matter, we'll follow what Takumi wrote in the mission report and leave her in your care for now, Neji."
Hiruzen looked at Ranmaru, who was being held by the hand by Neji, and said with a smile.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Neji, who had already mentally prepared himself, nodded, but his grip on Ranmaru's hand tightened involuntarily.
He didn't know if bringing Ranmaru to that household was appropriate.
In his view, the Hyuga Clan hadn't given him many fond memories.
Ever since his father, Hyuga Hizashi, died in place of Hiashi, the memories the Hyuga Clan gave him were only gloom.
Although a heart-to-heart talk with Hiashi during the Chunin Exams had changed his view of Hiashi considerably,
But towards some of the clan elders, he still felt very resistant inside.
So, he was also hesitant about bringing an innocent child like Ranmaru to the Hyuga Clan.
"Don't worry, I'm here."
Takumi noticed his inner hesitation and whispered in his ear.
The mission report ended, and everyone went home.
Takumi also arrived at his doorstep, relaxed in body and mind.
However, the moment he opened the door, his Observation Haki warned him.
'What's going on?'
He frowned almost imperceptibly, then immediately returned to calm.
It was very fast, no one could notice.
In the image his Observation Haki gave him, there were two people in his room.
Konan, hiding on the ceiling, and Kurotsuchi, hiding under the bed.
'What are they doing at my house?'
Takumi was puzzled.
But he was quite at ease with them.
First, because their strength made it hard to threaten Takumi.
Second, because he had instilled memories from simulations into both of them, creating a subtle connection between them and him.
In this situation, Takumi highly doubted they could actually attack him.
So, as if he hadn't noticed, he closed the door and stretched.
Looking tired, he took off his clothes, leaving only his underwear on.
'This is way too relaxed!'
Konan felt shy inside. She didn't expect Takumi to suddenly strip naked. Her gaze darted away, unsure whether to look or not.
But soon, she focused her observation again.
Because Takumi walked to the bed completely defenseless.
'An assassin!'
She almost shouted out loud.
If not for her reason stopping her just in time.
But she still watched this scene very nervously.
'Notice it quickly!'
But Takumi, seemingly unaware, came to the bedside and reached out to lift the bedsheet.
"Don't move!"
A kunai pressed against his throat. Takumi was stunned, as if he hadn't expected to be assassinated.
Konan, hiding on the ceiling, felt her heart jump to her throat, watching unblinkingly.
Kurotsuchi rolled out from under the bed, a smug smile on her face.
'The hero of Konoha? I subdued him easily!'
But smug as she was, she hadn't forgotten her real purpose for being here.
So she just stared straight at Takumi, making no further move.
Takumi was a bit baffled.
'What exactly do you want? Say something!'
'What's with this stalemate?'
Seeing Kurotsuchi made no other move and didn't seem inclined to speak.
Not knowing what she wanted, Takumi decided to subdue her first.
He swiftly took the kunai from Kurotsuchi's hand.
But before he could make his next move.
Having lost the kunai, Kurotsuchi directly raised her hands. "I surrender!"
"?"
Takumi was completely stunned, staring blankly at Kurotsuchi, then at the kunai in his hand.
'Sister, I haven't even made a move yet, why are you surrendering?'
'Even if you're acting, please put some effort into it, okay?'
Kurotsuchi seemed to realize she had spoken too quickly.
But she was just too excited because everything was going according to her plan.
She quickly tried to remedy the situation, directly throwing herself into Takumi's arms, then grabbing his hand to put the kunai against her own neck.
Takumi looked bewildered at this series of actions, completely unable to figure out what she was trying to do.
'Aren't you here to assassinate me?'
'How did it suddenly become me holding you hostage?'
'What's your scheme?'
"Your strength is too great, I'm no match, but don't get cocky!"
Kurotsuchi said with a face full of righteousness. "Even if you subdue my body, you cannot make my heart yield, unless you take me hostage!"
"Or force me!"
Takumi and Konan were completely dumbfounded.
'You can do that too?'
'This is way too shameless, right?'
Konan stared wide-eyed at Kurotsuchi's amazing performance.
Thinking to herself, 'Young people really know how to play.'
"Take you hostage? Force you?"
Takumi was confused. "If this is a joke, it's not funny."
As he spoke, Takumi started to let go.
But Kurotsuchi panicked, grabbing Takumi's hand and not letting go. "Didn't you detain someone before?"
As she spoke, she even winked.
Takumi finally understood.
Then he said seriously, "I didn't take her hostage, I was detaining her because she posed a huge threat to Konoha village."
"Then you can detain me too!"
Kurotsuchi said excitedly. "I am also a huge threat to Konoha!"
"No, you're not."
Takumi shook his head. "You're not a Jinchuriki, you can't cause too much damage."
"But I just tried to assassinate you, and you're the hero of Konoha. Doesn't that count as a huge threat?"
Kurotsuchi's eyes darted, quickly changing her argument.
"No."
Takumi shook his head again. "Nii Yugito genuinely tried to assassinate me. Your assassination attempt was just child's play, hardly counts as an assassination."
"I really was assassinating you!"
Kurotsuchi was truly anxious. She regretted surrendering so early.
'If I had put up a bit of a fight, pretended to exchange a few moves, could I have naturally been taken into custody by Takumi?'
"No, you haven't even emitted any killing intent. How can that be considered an assassination?"
Takumi said. "If there's nothing else, please leave. I want to rest."
With that, ignoring Kurotsuchi's grip on his hand, he pushed her away from his embrace and prepared to lie down on the bed himself.
"Wait!"
Kurotsuchi quickly shouted. "What do I need to do for you to believe I really came to assassinate you?"
Takumi rolled his eyes, turned his back to her, and didn't answer.
Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth helplessly, her eyes full of grievance.
But no matter what she said next,
Takumi remained unmoved.
Helpless, Kurotsuchi could only leave dejectedly.
But there was still a way.
As long as she could make Takumi admit she really came to assassinate him, then she could smoothly be taken into custody.
But what to do?
Leaving Takumi's house, Kurotsuchi looked thoughtful.
Merging into the ground without attracting attention, she soon arrived at a remote, uninhabited place to start planning.
Assassination was not unfamiliar to her.
A Shinobi's life was always full of fighting and killing.
Assassination was commonplace for Shinobi.
But with Takumi as the target, Kurotsuchi had a big problem to solve.
She couldn't bear it.
She couldn't even bear to hurt Takumi, so how could she possibly direct killing intent at him.
She loved Takumi too much.