The three of them advanced swiftly while conversing.
"Woof!"
"Wait."
Takumi suddenly raised his hand.
Hayate's sudden bark indicated they were very close to their destination.
"Be careful, we're not far from the target location."
"What? It's really here!?"
Although she claimed to trust Takumi's judgment, Kurenai was still surprised.
However, she quickly drew upon her Jonin's experience, guiding the other two to hide in nearby trees, advancing under the cover of branches.
"Should we notify the others first?"
Rin was still somewhat uneasy.
"Shh."
Takumi placed a finger on Rin's lips, signaling for silence.
They had spotted a suspicious cave entrance.
Five figures were emerging from it.
A bald fat man, a tall skinny one, and a man with an exposed chest and distinctive markings...
Takumi recognized them instantly: the Sound Five, Orochimaru's subordinates.
"These people aren't ordinary."
Kurenai also sensed their dangerous aura, her expression turning grave.
"We should notify the others first. These five won't be easy to deal with."
Her eyes fixed on the white-haired youth at the front.
"Especially that white-haired boy. He gives me a very dangerous feeling."
She was referring to Kimimaro of the Kaguya Clan, possessor of a unique Kekkei Genkai, his entire body radiating ominous Chakra.
'Shikotsumyaku...'
'Indeed troublesome.'
Takumi thought to himself.
However…
Although Kimimaro's power was problematic, the remaining four were nothing special to him.
If he could remove Kimimaro first, he could handle the rest however he pleased.
Kurenai was still speaking, but the next second…
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept past.
She turned to find Takumi gone from beside her.
"Ah!"
Rin let out a short gasp.
Kurenai's heart tightened as she looked up.
She saw Takumi had somehow appeared before the enemies.
In the next instant…
Whoosh!
Both Takumi and the threatening white-haired youth vanished.
Then, after roughly three seconds.
Takumi flashed back into view.
Sakon: ???
Kidomaru: ???
Jirobo: ???
Tayuya: ???
The remaining four were utterly bewildered!
Kimimaro's sudden disappearance was, of course, Takumi's doing.
Using his hypersonic speed, he had rushed out and thrown the most troublesome Kimimaro several kilometers away!
Without that difficult opponent in the way, he could deal with the rest as he pleased.
"You! Who are you?!"
"Where's Kimimaro?!"
Sakon shouted.
The other three scanned their surroundings, then found Kimimaro had vanished from their midst!
They were all completely dumbfounded!
This included Kurenai and Rin in the trees, and Kabuto, who had just returned, sensed something amiss, and hidden himself nearby.
They all stared in shock as Kimimaro disappeared, replaced by Takumi.
As Konoha's recent rising star, Kabuto, the triple agent, certainly knew of Takumi.
But he couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
'Making someone vanish instantly... Is it a Genjutsu?'
He instinctively guessed, but performing a Genjutsu release yielded no result.
That proved it wasn't Genjutsu, or the caster's skill was beyond his perception.
But that seemed unlikely.
"Damn it... What did you do?!"
"Where did you send Kimimaro?!"
Kidomaru yelled.
"Forget Kimimaro for now! We can't let this guy leave! He's clearly here to cause trouble."
"Look at that forehead protector. You're a Konoha's Shinobi, right? You're here because of the captured people." Tayuya said.
"These are Orochimaru-sama's precious test subjects. We absolutely cannot let this guy disrupt things."
Sakon agreed.
"Let me handle him! I'll smash him to pieces!"
Jirobo stepped forward first.
Thump! Thump!
His heavy steps cracked the ground.
"Kid, you're unlucky to run into me."
Jirobo grinned.
"I'll try to leave you in one piece."
"Oh no!"
Kurenai knew Takumi was strong, but these four also seemed formidable.
Even though the most dangerous white-haired youth was gone, she wanted to help Takumi.
But as she moved to intervene, she felt something tugging at her from behind.
"Hayate? What are you doing?"
She turned to find Hayate gripping her clothes, preventing her from charging out.
"Kurenai, staying hidden is advantageous." Rin analyzed seriously.
"If Takumi-kun truly encounters trouble, we can assist from the shadows. Charging out now would make it 3 against 4, no, I'm not combat-ready, so 2 against 4, which might restrict Takumi's movements."
"You're right."
Kurenai realized this was true.
"I acted rashly."
When it came to Takumi, Kurenai lost her Jonin caution.
"Comparing strength?"
Takumi raised an eyebrow and quietly clenched his fist.
'That idiot Kidomaru!'
'He's picked a fight with the wrong person.'
Kabuto, hidden in the shadows, cursed silently.
He knew about Takumi's achievements.
Underestimating Takumi because of his youthful appearance would lead to disaster!
'I compiled all that intelligence, and these fools didn't even read it carefully?!'
'This is someone you don't provoke!'
Kabuto fumed inwardly.
If Jirobo had read the files on Takumi, he wouldn't have charged forward so arrogantly without even activating his Cursed Seal.
After all, Takumi was someone who repelled the Akatsuki's Deidara!
"Earth Crusher!"
Jirobo struck out with a palm from a distance.
An invisible force shot toward Takumi.
But the next second, Takumi raised his fist high, his wild Chakra erupting.
Boom!!!
A single Fist Emperor's punch sent Jirobo flying effortlessly.
"That's it?"
Takumi frowned in surprise.
'No feeling of impact at all!'
Jirobo was shocked.
Takumi charged forward, his fist sinking deep into Jirobo's stomach.
The tremendous force nearly made Jirobo's eyes pop out of their sockets.
Whoosh!
Crash!
Jirobo shot out like a cannonball, embedding deeply into the mountain wall behind him, instantly unconscious.
Sakon: ???
Kidomaru: ???
Tayuya: ???
The remaining three were dumbfounded!
Five seconds.
Takumi had defeated Jirobo in just five seconds!
'Fool!'
Kabuto, hidden in the shadows, scowled darkly.
But he was also secretly shocked by Takumi's power.
'If that punch had landed on me instead of the tough-skinned Jirobo...'
He didn't dare imagine.
"Damn! I'll take care of you!"
The moment Takumi turned, a golden spider web enveloped him.
"Hehe, you might be strong, but you can't break my spider web with brute force."
Seeing Takumi trapped, Kidomaru laughed triumphantly.
Takumi looked down at the web restraining him… it was indeed sturdy.
But...
"That's it?"
Takumi spread Chakra throughout his body and activated his detonation ability.
All the spider webs exploded, and he precisely controlled the blast force, not even damaging his clothes.
The explosions traveled along the webs straight toward Kidomaru!
"How is he so fast?!"
"Oh no!"
Seeing Takumi's figure instantly magnify before his eyes, Kidomaru immediately secreted 'Spider Sticky Gold' from his skin's sweat glands, forming a metallic armor covering his entire body!
But Takumi's hand merely touched him lightly.
Instantly, massive Chakra surged from his palm, enveloping Kidomaru entirely!
Takumi grinned mischievously, mimicking Killer Queen, and snapped his fingers.
Boom!
A huge explosion sounded!
Even with metal armor, Kidomaru was easily blasted!
And it wasn't a single explosion, but continuous blasts!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
After seven or eight seconds of explosions, all the metal armor was shattered and destroyed!
Kidomaru, triumphant moments before, was now covered in blood and collapsed on the ground.
"Don't hold back! Attack together!"
Sakon shouted, his Cursed Seal activating, instantly altering his skin and turning his eye whites black.
Then, Ukon emerged from his body.
The two shared one half of a body each, the other half composed of scale-like armor, appearing utterly sinister!
Sakon and Ukon charged at Takumi from both sides.
But the moment they got close, suddenly, a giant wolf-like hand materialized in front of Takumi's right hand, grabbing them like toys!
On Takumi's body, blue Chakra flickered, forming rib-like structures protecting him, with two massive hands extending from the ribs' sides.
Initial Stage Susano'o!
It gripped Sakon and Ukon, one in each hand.
A slight squeeze, and both fell unconscious.
"You're the only one left."
Takumi's gaze fell on the last one, Tayuya.
Tayuya involuntarily stepped back, but gritting her teeth, she quickly raised her flute and began to play!
"Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains!"
This was Tayuya's B-Rank Genjutsu, using flute sounds to trap opponents in a virtual illusion, their bodies bound and slowly corroded.
Toot toot~~
Doot doot~~
Hoo hoo hoo~~~
Tayuya frantically pressed the holes, producing exquisitely eerie flute notes.
Kurenai and Rin nearby were instantly affected, unable to move.
Takumi also stood still, not resisting.
Seeing him seemingly controlled, Tayuya felt a sliver of relief.
"You must be regretting not stopping me. Now… die under my superb Genjutsu!"
One minute later.
Tayuya finished playing.
She caught her breath, preparing to rescue Sakon and Ukon.
But as she approached, she saw Takumi on the other side... yawning.
"What was that? Sounded awful. Can you play a different tune?"
Seeing Takumi completely unaffected, Tayuya was dumbfounded!
"Th-this! How is this possible?!"
"How can you be fine?!"
Tayuya tried to raise her flute again.
But the next second…
Whoosh!
Takumi rushed forward, grabbed her flute, and with a crack, crushed it in his hand!
"The flute's tone isn't pleasant. Try a clarinet instead."
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FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER