On Takumi's side.
To save time, he reluctantly refused Tsunade's company.
Because if she came, he wouldn't be able to use his extreme speed to quickly travel to the Land of Hot Water.
Along the way, he would surely not be able to resist Tsunade's teases.
That would definitely waste a lot of time.
Wasting time wouldn't matter too much.
After all, Gaara, who was captured by the Akatsuki, doesn't have that much time to wait for him to be rescued.
If he arrives too late, he might only be able to collect Gaara's corpse.
So, after briefly explaining the situation to Kurenai who had just woken up, he grabs some luggage and quickly walks to the village gate.
Just then, Asuma's team is also preparing to leave for their mission.
"Asuma-senpai, you're also going on a mission? I wonder if it's along my route?"
Takumi has a full smile on his face, but inside he wishes Asuma would disappear immediately.
Isn't this wasting his time?
But seeing them and not greeting them would also not fit his persona.
"Mm."
Asuma pretends to look at the mission scroll. "Unfortunately, we're not going the same way. Otherwise, we could have discussed things along the way."
'Discussed what?'
'What do I have to discuss with you?'
'Discuss the proper posture for being a simp?'
Takumi is full of contempt for Asuma inside, but his face still carries a smile as he says, "In that case, let's part ways here."
"I'm in a bit of a hurry."
After saying this, without waiting for Asuma's reply, he disappears directly from the spot.
"Really fast."
Shikamaru can't help but marvel. He didn't even see how Takumi left.
"Ah, what a pity..."
Ino's face is full of regret. She had thought they could walk together for a while.
"What's there to pity."
Asuma purses his lips. "Alright, let's go too."
Saying this, he leads the way forward.
After walking a couple of steps, Shikamaru and Ino react.
"This direction..."
Shikamaru frowns, not finishing his sentence.
But Ino, who has reacted, seems like she's about to explode.
"This path clearly goes the same way as Takumi-kun's direction!"
Ino grabs Asuma's collar and yells. "Why did you say it wasn't the same way! This was my hard-earned chance to be alone with Takumi-kun!"
'Hey, hey, hey.'
Shikamaru looks speechlessly at this crazy woman. "Are we not people anymore?"
"Hmm? What did you say?"
Ino turns her head, her face like a demon's, towards Shikamaru.
Shikamaru is so scared he waves his hands repeatedly. "I didn't say anything."
Seeing Ino go back to tormenting Asuma, he can't help but sigh in relief.
'As expected, women are the most troublesome.'
He secretly vows that when he finds a woman in the future, she must be gentle and virtuous.
Absolutely not one this violent.
Otherwise, his status in the family will definitely plummet.
Just like his father.
"Is the plan really starting?"
Two figures walk alone across the desert. The sun shines on them, but they seem completely unaffected by the high temperature.
The cloud-patterned robes they wear indicate their identity.
They are Deidara and Sasori, dispatched to Sunagakure to capture the One-Tail.
The one speaking is Deidara. "Capturing the One-Tail is a small matter, but after starting the plan, we'll definitely have to fight Takumi-senpai. And I don't want to fight Takumi-senpai."
There is not a shred of fighting spirit on Deidara's face.
All along the way, he has been constantly saying similar things.
Summarized in one sentence:
I don't want to fight Takumi-senpai.
Sasori now deeply regrets rashly accepting this mission.
He had anticipated Deidara would be uncooperative.
But he didn't expect to be subjected to this kind of torment the entire way.
He was careless; he didn't avoid it.
But since he personally nodded to take on this task, he has to bear any consequences.
"Sasori-danna, is there any way to avoid fighting Takumi-senpai?"
Deidara leans close to Sasori's ear and says, "You're so smart, you must be able to think of a way, right? Although you're far inferior to me in artistry, your mind is still trustworthy."
"Hmph! You explosion maniac aren't even worthy of discussing art."
Sasori snorts coldly. The voice of Sasori, controlling Hiruko, is low and hoarse. "True art is that which can be passed down forever."
"Things that vanish in a flash and cannot be preserved will eventually vanish in the river of time. Only eternal art is true art!"
Although Hiruko was broken by Takumi before,
Sasori repaired it again, and even enhanced it.
Not only making it more sturdy, but also adding many weapons.
Originally, Sasori had been thinking all the way about how to motivate Deidara.
But because Deidara belittled his artistic taste, Sasori, who considers himself an art master, how could he tolerate that?
"Tch, instantaneous art is the true art!"
When Deidara talks about art, the dejection on his face immediately disappears. He enthusiastically spreads his arms, looking at the sky with a fervent and crazy gaze.
"That power which destroys everything in an instant, the unrivaled power, is the true art!!"
"Just like Takumi-senpai! His art is the ultimate art! The peak I pursue!"
"Without needing clay, he can make everything explode. This ultimate art is just too wonderful!"
As he speaks, a look of rapture appears on his face.
He is immersed in his own world, unable to extricate himself.
Hiruko is a puppet, incapable of making expressions.
And Sasori's real body is just a lump of flesh, even less capable of expressions.
However, the puppet he made from his own body is very lifelike and can make various expressions.
At this moment,
Hidden inside Hiruko, Sasori's real puppet body purses its lips, revealing a disdainful expression.
Obviously, he scoffs at Deidara's claims.
But then he thinks, maybe he can use this to increase Deidara's motivation.
"Deidara, think carefully."
Sasori's low voice is slow, seemingly carrying a faint magic, drawing Deidara's attention to his words.
"Hmm?"
Deidara turns his head, looking at Sasori beside him.
"If you keep acting like this, can Takumi see your performance?"
Sasori's words startle Deidara.
"If you do nothing, how can you let him know you're his admirer?"
Sasori guides patiently. "Only by showing your strongest strength, and having it reach his ears, can he remember who you are."
"Being remembered by your own idol, how glorious is that!"
Like the whispers of a demon, echoing in Deidara's ears.
Deidara's eyes grow brighter and brighter.
"That's right!"
He shouts excitedly. "I must make Takumi-senpai remember me firmly! I must create art that will be remembered by him for a lifetime!"
"That's right, art is something that can be passed down forever."
Sasori secretly slips in his own view.
But at this moment, the excited Deidara doesn't hear what he's saying.
He looks up at the sky, excited as if he's lost his mind.
"This time, I'm definitely going to create a bomb that will shock the entire shinobi world!"
"Hmm, I'll use an C3 then."
At this moment, Deidara has none of the dejected appearance from before.
His face is full of excitement, even wishing he could rush to Sunagakure immediately, capture Gaara,
And instantly blow Sunagakure to pieces.
"Heeheehee..."
Thinking of the wonderful parts, a lecherous smile appears on Deidara's face.
Sasori sees his goal achieved and feels a bit relieved.
At least,
For the rest of the journey, he won't have to face Deidara's non-stop nagging.
At least this kind of nagging, devoid of nutrition and full of repetition.