"Hmm..."
Koharu pondered for a moment, then said, "I approve of Takumi's idea. If Sasori can truly do this without harming ordinary people, then it's not impossible."
Her main consideration was the points Takumi had raised.
Improving efficiency, reducing manpower consumption – didn't that mean reducing the village's expenditure on this matter?
After all, Sasori was a prisoner. He wouldn't need to be paid for cutting hair; it would simply be his assigned task.
Then, everyone could get haircuts for free without spending money.
Konoha would save tremendously in that regard.
Moreover, the performance of puppets in terms of manpower was exceptionally strong.
Especially considering the damage caused after Orochimaru's attack.
Although all the damaged areas had now been repaired,
If they had had Sasori's puppets back then, not only would they have had many free laborers, but in dangerous tasks, these puppets could also have been used as substitutes.
Thus, if danger was detected, the puppets wouldn't be permanently lost; at worst, they'd lose one or two less important puppets.
Of course, Koharu had noticed these things.
But Homura, also an advisor, had not.
He was staring wide-eyed at Koharu, seemingly incredulous that she would agree with Takumi's idea.
'Didn't you just think Sasori was too dangerous?'
'Why suddenly agree with Takumi's idea?'
Homura couldn't understand.
The others were simply stunned, staring at Takumi.
Then they imagined Sasori cutting their hair and couldn't help but shudder.
They involuntarily imagined the scissors moving lower, landing on their necks.
Because of the strength Sasori had previously demonstrated, they couldn't help but think this way.
It was too dangerous.
If they really let Sasori cut their hair, they might lose a dozen heads in one go.
So they all looked at Takumi with concern.
They felt Takumi's idea was completely fanciful.
There was no possibility of implementation.
But it wasn't appropriate for them to chime in casually.
They could only hope Takumi himself would realize the threat Sasori posed.
"Don't worry, I can guarantee that Sasori won't harm any villager."
Takumi patted his chest reassuringly. "As long as his barbershop is close enough to me, I can get there the moment he tries anything."
"Trust me, I didn't assign him this task casually."
His expression was very sincere.
'Me, the genius puppeteer, Sasori of the Red Sand, reduced to making a living cutting people's hair?'
Sasori smiled wryly to himself.
As for using this to harm ordinary people, that thought never crossed his mind.
"In that case, let's test it out first."
Hiruzen felt that talking so much was less useful than seeing the actual situation on the ground.
"I'll leave this matter to you, Takumi-kun."
He entrusted the task to Takumi, who had proposed the idea. "Do you have a suitable location in mind?"
"Just build a new place close to my house."
Takumi walked to the map on the wall and pointed. "Right here. It's away from the main village, but not far from me. Within this distance, if he has any improper intentions, I can intervene immediately."
He pointed to the edge of the village, not far from his home, within the range of his Observation Haki.
Then, if Sasori had any unwarranted thoughts, Takumi would immediately sense it and quickly rush over to stop him.
Of course, Takumi felt the probability of this happening was quite low.
"Alright, you two go ahead then."
Hiruzen nodded and said with a smile, "By the way, I'll arrange for someone to help you. Kakashi, you and your team stay for a moment."
"Okay, I'll be off then."
Takumi didn't linger and took Sasori directly to the chosen location.
Kakashi, puzzled, stayed behind with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
Takumi didn't overhear what Hiruzen wanted to say to Kakashi.
But as for who Hiruzen said was good at building houses, Takumi immediately knew who it was.
If it was the person Takumi thought it was, he understood why Hiruzen had kept Kakashi's team and his members behind separately.
It must be that person who mastered Wood Release and, under Danzo's instructions, had once attempted to assassinate Hiruzen.
But now this person, going by the alias Yamato, was under Hiruzen's command.
They hurried vigorously to the designated spot.
"What style do you like?"
Takumi tilted his head and asked Sasori beside him. "This will be your shop from now on, so think it over carefully. I doubt you'll have time for a second remodel."
"It doesn't matter."
Sasori said flatly. "I'm more interested in knowing what you're thinking."
Sasori turned and looked seriously at Takumi. "Do you realize that if I control sharp objects like scissors, it would be very easy for me to kill those ordinary people sitting helplessly in the chairs?"
"Of course I know."
Takumi said nonchalantly. "But I don't think you'll do that."
"Besides, I'll be watching you constantly."
Sasori was dismissive of Takumi's words.
Could Takumi possibly watch him twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?
This showed Sasori's lack of understanding of Takumi.
First, Takumi's residence was not far from here.
At his speed, getting here was a matter of an instant.
Second, this location was within the range of Takumi's Observation Haki.
As long as he kept his Observation Haki active, he could constantly grasp Sasori's actions.
Even if he was asleep, he could sense it and instantly wake up to stop Sasori from doing anything.
So, Takumi was confident that he could stop Sasori at any moment.
Sasori didn't know this.
He was determined to test it out later.
He didn't believe that someone as busy as Takumi would constantly watch him.
Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
He didn't think Takumi was the kind of idiot who would invite trouble.
Since Takumi wasn't an idiot, and he didn't think Takumi could watch him constantly,
That meant Takumi probably believed he wouldn't cause trouble.
Or maybe he would just watch for a while as a warning.
"What style do you want?"
Seeing Sasori wasn't speaking, Takumi guessed his likely thoughts and chuckled inwardly, then interrupted Sasori's train of thought.
"What style?"
Sasori was immersed in his own thoughts and didn't notice Takumi's question.
By now, more and more familiar faces were gathering.
Thanks to Naruto and Lee, those two big mouths, soon all the young Genin heard that Takumi had captured an Akatsuki's member.
And he intended to make that person the barber.
This situation immediately attracted the attention of all the young Genin.
Even the lazy Shikamaru was quite interested and came over.
However, when they arrived, they found only an empty lot.
Takumi was there, though.
Beside Takumi was a red-haired youth bound in chains.
They didn't yet know about Sasori's puppet nature.
"I didn't expect that Akatsuki's member to be so young."
Shikamaru was a bit surprised. Sasori's appearance only seemed two or three years older than them.
And yet he was already such a strong Shinobi.
"There's always someone stronger."
Choji munched away, uttering a phrase unlike him.
"Quite handsome too."
Ino evaluated based on her preferences, but quickly shifted her gaze back to Takumi. "But far from Takumi-kun."