"You should talk to the Hokage-sama about this."
Kakashi said without looking up. "I'm just a normal Shinobi, not good at these matters."
"Well, I have other things to do now, so I won't disturb you two."
With that, Kakashi closed his book and looked towards the approaching person.
"Yo! Kakashi!"
Guy's unique cheerful voice came from behind Takumi. "And Takumi-kun! Good afternoon!"
Then, his gaze fell on Kurotsuchi and the kunai in her hand. "Who's this? Haven't seen her before?"
"The princess of Iwagakure in the Land of Earth."
Kakashi reluctantly introduced. "Didn't you see her during the Chunin Exams?"
"Is that so?"
Guy laughed cheerfully, indicating he had forgotten.
Then he looked at Takumi and Kurotsuchi, showing a thoughtful expression. "I didn't expect young people nowadays to be this adventurous. We're falling behind the times, Kakashi."
"That's right."
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "We should get going, leave the space and time to these two."
"Okay!"
Guy said excitedly. "Time to start our battle! I'm definitely winning today!"
"Don't be so sure."
Kakashi said with rare seriousness. "So far, I've won more times, you know."
"I'll win them back eventually!"
Guy said, then rushed ahead. "Warm-up! First one to reach the Hokage Rock wins!"
"Sigh..."
Kakashi helplessly shook his head and immediately followed.
Leaving only Takumi and Kurotsuchi standing there.
"Hey, you should put that away."
Takumi pointed to the kunai at his neck. "I'm going to eat."
"Wait!"
Seeing Takumi about to leave, Kurotsuchi panicked and grabbed him. "I just tried to assassinate you in front of everyone, why won't you arrest me?"
"Assassination?"
Takumi raised an eyebrow. "Look around, does anyone think you were trying to assassinate me?"
Following his finger, Kurotsuchi saw that somehow, many people had gathered around.
But regardless of who, their eyes only showed curiosity, not the fear or tension one would expect during an assassination.
"Having no killing intent before the assassination is forgivable."
Takumi helplessly removed the kunai from his neck. "But having no killing intent during the actual assassination either, how can that be called an assassination?"
"I think you should give up. The assassination business isn't for you."
With that, leaving the petrified Kurotsuchi, he walked towards Ichiraku Ramen.
Kurotsuchi stood there, the murmurs of the people around her reaching her ears.
"Who is she?"
"I think she's from Iwagakure, I saw her during the Chunin Exams."
"Why is someone from Iwagakure here? And holding a kunai?"
"Maybe she's trying to assassinate Takumi? No way, hahaha..."
"Maybe she's infatuated with Takumi-kun, got rejected, and came up with this forceful method, but in the end, couldn't bring herself to do it."
"What a pure and innocent young girl. Go for it, I support you!"
"Pfft! She's from another village, what are you thinking?"
Kurotsuchi couldn't bear it any longer and quickly fled.
She walked the streets dejectedly, not bothering to hide her identity anymore.
She was already exposed to the public anyway.
'The Anbu would probably come for me soon, right?'
'If that happens, wouldn't I have even less chance to see Takumi?'
'No!'
Kurotsuchi immediately perked up. "I absolutely cannot be caught by the Anbu. I must succeed in this assassination and make Takumi arrest me!"
Then, she dashed off immediately.
"What is she talking about?"
Snap!
Tsunade snapped the chopsticks in her hand. Shizune beside her looked panicked, glancing at Tsunade, then at Kurotsuchi who had just rushed past them.
"..."
Shizune really didn't know how to handle this situation.
"Hmph, daring to attempt an assassination in Konoha, and so openly at that!"
Veins bulged on Tsunade's forehead. "Looks like Konoha is being underestimated."
"Shizune, let's go!"
She abandoned the noodles she was eating,
Then stood up and immediately gave chase.
Takumi had just sat down at Ichiraku Ramen.
Ayame placed the ramen she had lovingly prepared in front of him and stood shyly to the side, waiting to see her beloved eat her offering.
Takumi picked up his chopsticks, ready to enjoy Ayame's ever-improving skill.
Just then, his Observation Haki warned him again.
He helplessly put down his chopsticks and sighed.
"Can I just eat a meal in peace?"
He turned around helplessly and saw a sharp kunai.
But he wasn't afraid at all.
Because he still felt no killing intent.
Kurotsuchi still couldn't bring herself to kill him.
But soon, Takumi felt a chill run down his spine.
He felt an intense killing intent.
But it wasn't coming from Kurotsuchi, but from another person not far away.
"So the person you want to assassinate is Takumi?!"
Tsunade was furious.
Already dissatisfied with the other party's arrogant attitude, seeing that the assassination target was Takumi pushed her anger almost past the point of reason.
"Wait!"
Takumi shouted, then knocked the kunai out of Kurotsuchi's hand, tied her hands behind her back, and shouted at Tsunade, "I've subdued her!"
Whoosh!
With force behind it, Tsunade's fist grazed Kurotsuchi's cheek.
The power of that punch made Kurotsuchi's forehead sweat.
Luckily,
Takumi had pulled her back just in time, and Tsunade had slightly turned her fist at the last moment.
Otherwise, Kurotsuchi's head would have been like a watermelon pierced by a bullet.
Completely smashed.
"She was trying to assassinate you, what's the meaning of this?"
Tsunade's expression towards Takumi was unpredictable.
She naturally wouldn't suspect Takumi of harboring this assassin, or conspiring with a spy from another village.
If even Takumi were a spy, then there would be no one left in Konoha worth trusting. She was just displeased that Takumi had stopped her.
"Since she wants to assassinate me, let me handle her."
Takumi said seriously. "I'll make sure she pays the price."
"Hmph!"
Tsunade snorted softly and withdrew her fist. "For your sake, I'll let her off this time."
"Don't worry, not just her, but Iwagakure behind her will also pay."
Takumi spoke with his eyes wide open, talking nonsense.
Make Iwagakure pay?
No way.
Just Kurotsuchi alone was already giving him a headache.
Going to provoke Onoki, whose destructive power was off the charts?
He was certain Kurotsuchi had no killing intent towards him.
But Onoki definitely wished he could bury him in Dust Release, leaving not even dust behind.
That was his current threat level to other villages.
Probably much higher than Hiruzen's.
"Keep a close eye on her. I'll come check tomorrow."
Tsunade was still somewhat angry, but suppressed it for Takumi's sake.
If she came tomorrow and saw Kurotsuchi wasn't properly tied up, she would definitely explode.
And then even Takumi might not be able to stop her.
"..."
Takumi sighed, then, under Ayame's questioning gaze, produced a set of chains.
The very chains that had once bound Yugito.
He securely bound Kurotsuchi with the chains and sighed, "Why did it have to come to this? You didn't need to do this."
"Hehe!"
Kurotsuchi looked at the chains wrapped around her and couldn't help but reveal a smug smile.
Although the process had been a bit thrilling, and she had nearly died under Tsunade's monstrous strength,
The result was beautiful.