Kabuto pushed his glasses up with his middle finger, maintaining his artificial smile, "Orochimaru-sama asked me to inform you…"
"The experiment on the other side has encountered some new developments. He will be arriving slightly later."
"As for security here, I will be responsible for it."
"Tch!"
Kidomaru clicked his tongue in clear dissatisfaction.
"You should have told us that earlier!"
"Am I not telling you now?"
Kabuto's smile never wavered.
"You bastard!"
Kidomaru's temper flared.
Swish!
A golden short spear shot toward Kabuto's face, stopping just centimeters from his eyes.
Kidomaru's hand was caught firmly by Kimimaro.
"What are you doing?"
Facing Kimimaro's cold question, Kidomaru withdrew his hand with visible disdain.
"I just can't stand that fake smile on his face."
"Seeing it irritates me."
"I agree with Kidomaru on that." Sakon raised his hand in support.
"We're all Orochimaru-sama's subordinates, tools to achieve his grand plan."
Kimimaro released Kidomaru's hand.
"So, if anyone dares to violate the rules set by Orochimaru-sama..."
"Whoever it is, I will eliminate them without mercy."
"Understood, understood."
Kidomaru raised his six hands in a placating gesture, indicating he wouldn't attack Kabuto further.
"Tools, is it?"
Kabuto murmured quietly, his glasses reflecting light that obscured his eyes, hiding his true thoughts.
…
While they argued and waited for Orochimaru, the Konoha's rescue team had begun their mission.
To Takumi's surprise, their team had been expanded.
Besides the original members, Kurenai and Rin had joined the mission.
Kurenai claimed she was providing Genjutsu support, but her real concern was Takumi's safety.
Asuma, unaware of her true motives, was pleased at the prospect of more time with Kurenai.
Rin simply wanted to earn some income.
As a capable Medical-nin, she couldn't always depend on Kakashi's support.
Having an experienced medic on a rescue mission was practical anyway.
"I didn't think I'd make it in time, but you're here too." Takumi said softly as he approached Rin.
"I was just looking to earn some money, but Hokage-sama assigned me to this mission." Rin replied, remembering the previous 'mana transfer' incident and blushing slightly.
Kurenai approached with visible concern, "I know you're strong, but S-Rank missions are full of unknown dangers. You should gain more experience first."
"Don't worry." Takumi smiled reassuringly, "I know my limits."
Asuma watched Kurenai staying close to Takumi, his expression conflicted.
He wanted to interact more with Kurenai, but this was a mission.
As a Shinobi, he knew mission completion came first.
Yet seeing Kurenai constantly near Takumi irritated him inexplicably.
Perhaps from their first encounters, after repeated embarrassments caused by Takumi, he'd developed some resentment.
But since he couldn't defeat Takumi, he could only endure silently.
…
After several days of travel, they reached the Land of Rice Fields' border.
Tsume and Hana scouted ahead, using their Ninken's superior sense of smell to detect potential traps.
Shibi remained in the center, as high-speed reconnaissance wasn't the Aburame Clan's specialty.
They excelled at using their insects for investigation after reaching destinations, since the insects couldn't keep pace during rapid movement.
Asuma and Guy protected the left and right flanks.
Rin, as Medical-nin, stayed behind Aburame Shibi in the team's center.
Kurenai positioned herself behind Rin.
Takumi brought up the rear, guarding their back while his Ninken, Hayate monitored their surroundings.
Their rapid progress soon brought them to the intelligence's indicated location.
Beyond this point, they had no maps.
"From here, we need to carefully search for where the missing people might be held." Guy stated.
"We should split up. Whichever group finds the target should signal immediately."
"Tsume-san, you'll lead one team. Shibi-san, you'll join us." Asuma directed.
"This way both teams have reconnaissance capability."
"Understood." Tsume nodded.
Shibi gave a silent nod of agreement.
"But which route should we take?"
Before them lay a wide main road and a narrow forest path.
The main road was clearly an official, well-maintained route.
Most immediately dismissed this option.
"The main road seems unlikely." Guy reasoned, "The enemy wouldn't be so brazen. I suggest we take the small path first and split at any forks."
"Hmm." Tsume nodded in agreement.
But Takumi voiced a different opinion, "I'll take the main road. I believe we might find enemies that way."
Takumi said this because he'd just activated an ability from his previous simulation:
[Good Luck, 1-hour version.]
This ability granted him 100% good luck for one hour.
His random choice had been the main road.
While it seemed illogical, the entire Land of Rice Fields was under Orochimaru's control, with numerous secret research bases established throughout.
Orochimaru had no need for secrecy here.
This was another reason Takumi considered the main road a strong possibility.
"Don't be reckless." Asuma said impatiently, "How could it be the main road?"
"I'm merely stating the main road is also possible, Asuma-senpai." Takumi replied seriously.
"In that case, we'll split here." Guy decided, seeing Takumi's determination.
They would have to separate eventually regardless.
"Myself, Asuma, and Shibi-san will form one group." The temporary leader declared.
"Tsume-san, they're in your care."
"Don't worry, I'll bring everyone back safely." Tsume assured them.
Takumi barely suppressed an eye-roll at the tempting of fate.
The teams separated.
The three Jonin took the dangerous small path.
Takumi's group of five followed the main road.
The main road offered lower attack risk since Shinobi typically avoided such exposed routes during missions.
The five advanced quickly.
"Why are you so insistent about the main road?" Hana asked quietly.
"Logically, where they're hiding people should be concealed, right?"
"If we can find it by following the main road, that doesn't seem very hidden."
Facing her question, Takumi couldn't reveal it was luck-based guidance.
No one would believe that.
With his Good Luck skill active, his luck was guaranteed.
Whatever path he chose, even through fields, would lead to enemies eventually.
That was luck's unreasonable nature!
After a moment's thought, Takumi said seriously, "It's intuition."
"Intuition?" Hana was baffled.
She'd expected substantial reasoning, not just intuition.
Wasn't that essentially luck?
"Don't underestimate intuition." Takumi said earnestly.
"Sometimes, intuition is the most reliable sense."
"That... does make some sense."
As part of the Inuzuka Clan who worked closely with Ninken, Hana respected intuition.
As Takumi said, after years with Ninken, her intuition often reacted faster than conscious thought.
Especially in combat, her body's experience and intuition frequently executed perfect responses before her mind processed the situation.
This had ended many battles with surprising speed.
"Is it really just intuition?"
Kurenai still believed in Takumi's fabricated Sage of Six Paths descendant identity.
She felt certain he had another method for locating the missing people.
Takumi smiled slightly, "It's intuition. Just trust me."
They continued and soon reached another fork.
Another decision point…
Tsume signaled the team to stop.
She indicated a narrow path, "Kuromaru detects numerous human scents on that trail."
"This time, we have no choice, right?"
She glanced down at Hayate beside Takumi, "Didn't you catch that scent?"
"Woof! Woof!" Hayate barked twice.
Understanding the Ninken, Tsume looked exasperated.
"What did he say?" Yuhi Kurenai asked.
"He said, 'I'll follow Takumi's decision'."
Kurenai: "..."
Rin: "..."
Hana: "..."
The atmosphere grew awkward.
"What do you mean 'follow Takumi'? You're a Ninken! You're supposed to lead!" Tsume complained.
"Woof! Woof!" Hayate barked again.
"You..." Tsume sighed in frustration.
Resigned, she asked Takumi directly, "What now? The Ninken detected human scent. Do you still insist on your route?"
Takumi maintained his smile, "For safety, I'll take the small path. You take the main road."
"Fine..." Tsume sighed again, then spoke seriously, "If you encounter real trouble, don't be reckless. Notify us immediately, understand?"
Takumi represented potential future leadership for the village.
Moreover, he held extraordinary popularity among the Ninken.
After he left with Hayate, the entire kennel had been despondent.
Thus, Tsume valued him highly.
Building rapport with a future pillar seemed wise.
"Understood. Everyone be careful."
After dividing routes, Tsume and her daughter took the small path.
Takumi led Kurenai and Rin along the main road.
"Are you truly certain?" Kurenai remained skeptical. She felt Takumi must have another method beyond mere intuition.
"Do you possess intelligence we lack?"
Seeing her genuine confusion, he relaxed, "I told you, it's intuition. My intuition has never failed me."
"Since you're so confident, is it safe for just us on the main road?" Kurenai frowned, "We don't know enemy numbers, and... your Ninken seems unreliable."
---
FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER