Hiruzen didn't say anything, because this was a good opportunity to deepen Takumi's bonds in Konoha.
He was all too happy for Takumi to form more bonds in Konoha.
This way, Takumi would be even less likely to leave Konoha.
He was happy to see it happen.
As for his son Asuma also liking Kurenai?
That worthless guy didn't matter at all!
After some comforting from Kurenai, Yugito's mood improved a lot.
Her relationship with Kurenai also became a bit closer.
You could tell from the fact that their hands remained held together.
"It's too late today. How about tomorrow?"
Takumi looked at the gradually darkening sky outside and said with a smile, "Tomorrow, I'll go with you to buy the house."
"No need."
Kurenai smiled and refused. "If those little girls see you going with me, they'll probably go crazy."
"I don't want to deal with your crazy fans."
Takumi thought of the days when he was blocked by those girls at Sasori's hair salon and immediately shuddered.
"Forget it, then."
He decisively admitted defeat.
He was really afraid of being mobbed by those girls.
After a warm and delicious dinner,
Neither woman went home.
They both spent the night at his place.
Just as Takumi was enjoying the hero's lap of luxury,
In a certain secret base in the Land of Rice Fields,
An extremely weakened Orochimaru watched another masterpiece filmed by Takumi with his subordinates.
Because Orochimaru didn't speak, the others dared not say anything either.
The group watched the movie in complete silence.
The only sound was Orochimaru's occasional slight cough.
His body had reached its limit.
He knew,
He probably wouldn't have the chance to use Takumi's body to inherit his soul.
At least this time, his body wouldn't allow it.
If he didn't transfer to a new body soon, he might not be able to transfer at all.
The effect of the medicine was also gradually weakening.
"I really want it so badly..."
Watching the end of the movie, where Takumi flew out of the volcanic ruins holding Miroku, his eyes were filled with longing.
"Orochimaru-sama, I'll leave immediately."
Kimimaro immediately spoke.
"No need, Kimimaro, cough, cough. I appreciate your sentiments."
Orochimaru raised his hand to stop Kimimaro.
He was resigned to his fate at this point.
But he hadn't given up on the idea.
He would just find a temporary body this time.
At worst, he would try to seize Takumi's body in three years.
With three years of ample preparation time, he would have a better chance.
These past few times, he had been too impatient.
But every time, the strength Takumi displayed filled his heart with greed.
"Admittedly, Takumi-kun's strength is becoming more and more powerful."
Kabuto slightly lowered his head, hiding his gaze behind his highly reflective glasses.
"Kabuto, you are also very excellent."
Orochimaru said weakly. "But compared to Takumi, you are indeed much inferior."
Kabuto lowered his head and said nothing.
"Pfft."
Tayuya revealed a mocking smile. "You think you can compare to Takumi? Why don't you look in a mirror and see what you really look like."
"Exactly, exactly."
Kidomaru fanned the flames, enjoying the spectacle.
"Stop arguing."
Sakon said coldly. "This is in front of Orochimaru-sama. You are being too rude."
"It's fine, Sakon."
Despite his weakness, Orochimaru still had a faint smile on his face.
As if everything was still under his control.
After he spoke, the others shut their mouths.
"Kabuto, any recent news from the Akatsuki side?"
Orochimaru turned to look at Kabuto.
As his intelligence person in charge, Kabuto controlled almost all his sources of information.
"They've been collecting Tailed Beasts recently."
Kabuto quickly revealed the information Orochimaru wanted. "First, they made a big scene in Sunagakure and captured the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara."
"In the end, Gaara died because the Tailed Beast was extracted from him, but he was revived by Sunagakure's Chiyo using a forbidden technique."
Kabuto deliberately paused here.
He knew Orochimaru would definitely be very interested.
"Oh? That old hag Chiyo actually has such a forbidden technique?"
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, his eyes full of interest. "A technique that revives the dead. Since you mentioned it, it must be different from Edo Tensei, right?"
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Kabuto nodded, confirming Orochimaru's statement. "It's a life-for-life technique. Chiyo used the forbidden technique, sacrificing her own life to revive Gaara."
"Then it must be a forbidden technique related to life energy."
As a Ninjutsu Researcher, just from hearing Kabuto's description, he could roughly guess the effect of this forbidden technique.
But without seeing it with his own eyes, he was only guessing generally. He had no idea how to actually use it specifically.
"Continue."
Orochimaru paused, adjusted to a more comfortable sitting position, and let Kabuto continue.
"Although the One-Tail was taken away by the Akatsuki, Takumi arrived in time and captured one of the Akatsuki members, Sasori of the Red Sand."
Kabuto nodded and continued.
"Sasori, huh?"
A trace of fear appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.
Having once been in the same team as Sasori, Orochimaru deeply knew how strong Sasori was.
But in front of Takumi, no matter how strong Sasori was, he probably couldn't withstand Takumi's power.
"What was the result? Did Sasori die?"
As he spoke, Orochimaru actually felt a bit melancholic.
Sasori was a Shinobi from the same era as him.
But Sasori had defected early and never appeared during the wars.
So Orochimaru's contact with Sasori was mostly during their time in the Akatsuki.
Sasori, as a puppeteer, was also a researcher.
Orochimaru still had some goodwill towards Sasori.
The goodwill of one researcher towards another.
At this moment, in his heart, Sasori definitely couldn't win against Takumi.
Since he couldn't win, he must have lost.
Although he asked verbally, Orochimaru's tone seemed as if Sasori were already dead.
This made him couldn't help but sigh.
"Well... not exactly."
Kabuto paused, and seeing Orochimaru's surprised expression, his own face also became strange.
Because the intelligence collected was just too unimaginable.