Boom!
Swoosh!
Crash!
As the battle intensified, various loud noises reached the spectators' ears.
More and more curious Konoha's villagers arrived at the scene, watching from afar.
Although they couldn't see the actual fight inside, seeing the long-lost Wood Release reappear was very significant for Konoha's villagers.
The sky gradually darkened.
Night lights were lit on the scene, but the battle inside continued!
"Oh my god! Takumi is still fighting inside!"
Naruto, eating a large popsicle, looked utterly incredulous!
"Takumi, his stamina is just too good..."
Kiba also exclaimed in awe.
"This... fighting for so long and still fine, Takumi he..."
Sakura, Ino, and the others, however, were thinking in a different direction.
Especially Ino, who couldn't help but drool!
"This guy is simply not human..."
Gaara and Temari, who had regained consciousness, were also filled with admiration.
They even felt a bit of trepidation.
They actually made an enemy of such a freak!
…
As the night deepened, fatigue swept over the crowd.
But to not miss the thrilling moments, almost no one slept.
By the time the sun rose, the crowd approached the Wood Release barrier to look.
Good grief.
They're still fighting!
Not just the villagers.
The Konoha's Shinobi were numb.
Even the Iwagakure, Kirigakure, Amegakure, and other Shinobi who were present all went from shock to numbness!
This is way too tenacious!
That's facing the Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage!
To actually fight for this long.
An ordinary Shinobi encountering these two probably wouldn't even have a chance to resist!
But Takumi actually fought for a full day and night!
Inside the forest.
Orochimaru's face grew increasingly grim!
'This guy, is he even human!'
'He fought for a whole day and night!'
'Why? Why? Why?'
Orochimaru was starting to feel mentally hazy.
What had he witnessed this whole night?
This Takumi, first continuously outputting Ninjutsu, then using Taijutsu, fighting the two to a standstill.
And in the latter half, he stopped attacking altogether, dodging everything.
'Why can't we hit him even once?'
'How could anyone possibly do something like this?'
'This can't be real.'
'This must be a Genjutsu!'
Slap!
Orochimaru slapped himself hard across the face.
'It hurt.'
This made his expression even darker.
"What? Can't hold on anymore? Just say it if you can't, don't force yourself."
Seeing this, Takumi couldn't help but tease, "Never thought one of the legendary Sannin couldn't even last one night."
"You're not very resilient, are you?"
"And here I thought you were one of the legendary Sannin."
Takumi's words made Orochimaru's face flush red.
But he could do nothing to Takumi.
"Shut up! I will capture you today!"
Orochimaru's eyes were bloodshot, as if he had lost his sanity.
Under his control, Hashirama and Tobirama became like tireless machines, madly unleashing various powerful ninjutsu.
Takumi didn't care at all… in fact, after this round of attacks, he simply closed his eyes!
Takumi's move of dodging without looking completely confused Orochimaru.
'How could he dodge without even looking?'
'He doesn't have the Byakugan or the Sharingan, so why?!'
'I really don't understand!'
Orochimaru screamed internally.
Time once again flew by rapidly.
The sun rose from the east, reaching its zenith.
It was already noon!
Finally…
Orochimaru couldn't hold on any longer.
This continuous assault, with no resolution in sight, imposed immense psychological pressure on him!
More than physical, it was the mental strain!
If he continued fighting, he might start questioning his own existence!
"Summoning Technique!"
Orochimaru clapped his hands together, summoning Manda.
"Take me away from here!"
The giant serpent opened its mouth wide and swallowed Orochimaru.
Then it also swallowed Hashirama and Tobirama, who had stopped attacking, before burrowing underground and disappearing.
Seeing Orochimaru leave, Tsunade, who had been watching nearby, immediately jumped down.
"Takumi, are you alright!"
Takumi nodded. "I can't say I'm completely fine. Fighting continuously for so long is quite exhausting."
With that, Takumi immediately used his explosion ability to blow up the surrounding vine barrier.
Seeing Takumi standing unharmed and Orochimaru forced to retreat, the entire village of Konoha erupted.
"Holy crap! He won?"
"Oh my god! Takumi won!"
"The hero who saved Konoha!"
"Konoha's rising star!"
"Quickly send our hero to rest!"
"Hurry, hurry, make way for the hero!"
"Get the hero to rest immediately!"
…
The civilians were in an uproar.
The other spectators were also utterly shocked.
Hiruzen, immensely pleased, happily lit his pipe:
"Hmm, worthy of the person I value. Konoha's future is undoubtedly yours!"
…
"Hero! Hero! Hero!"
"Truly worthy of being my darling, so strong!"
Kurotsuchi's excited shouts made Kitsuchi's face fill with helplessness.
He really couldn't keep this daughter.
'At a time like this, she doesn't even think about the village.'
'Only chasing after men.'
He wondered if she could properly lead Iwagakure in the future.
'The future of Iwagakure was truly worrying.'
…
"Takumi... is just too strong. Perhaps he really could become the one to destroy the organization."
"What? You want to kill Takumi-senpai?!"
"I..."
Thud!
Before Deidara could finish, Konan punched him out, then spread her wings and left the scene.
…
'This intel must be submitted to Raikage-sama immediately."
'This is too ridiculous, absurdly strong!'
'He will definitely become our Kumogakure's most formidable enemy. Must eliminate him before he fully grows.'
The Kumogakure's Shinobi who had been hiding in the shadows, waiting to carry out the mission assigned by the Yondaime Raikage, A, after watching the entire ordeal, couldn't help but exchange glances.
During the second exam, they were looking for an opportunity to assassinate Takumi.
But they never expected to witness such an astonishing event!
Takumi could actually fight the two Hokage to a standstill.
Good thing they held back and didn't act earlier, otherwise, they wouldn't have enough lives to lose!
...
Under the meticulous, round-the-clock care of Tsunade, Kurenai, Rin, and a group of young Kunoichi, Takumi rested in bed for a full three days before getting up.
Of course, he wasn't actually injured… he just wanted to enjoy the life of having everything served to him, even for bodily needs.
But this kind of life couldn't go on forever.
Lying around too long makes a person lazy.
So better stop pretending.
Upon learning Takumi had finished recuperating,
Hiruzen immediately announced he would award Takumi a medal and give him various rewards.
Soon, Konoha's villagers were gathered in the square.
On the high platform in the square, Hiruzen, all smiles, wore his Hokage robe.
Standing beside him was Takumi, standing straight and tall, waiting patiently.
"Days ago, we suffered a despicable sneak attack. Our former comrade, now a Missing-nin and one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, actually plotted such a terrifying plan."
"He even deceived our ally, Sunagakure's Shinobi, intending to launch a plan to destroy Konoha!"
"He almost succeeded."
"But Konoha never lacks heroes!"
"At this critical moment, Takumi-kun, still a Genin, stepped forward!"
"He first lured away Sunagakure's Jinchuriki, preventing harm to the civilians!"
"Then he returned to the main battlefield and, single-handedly, fought Orochimaru!"
"We all witnessed this great battle."
"It was his arduous and tenacious struggle that forced Orochimaru to retreat empty-handed."
"To commend Takumi for all this, I, as Hokage, award him the Hero Medal, hoping he will continue to strive and shine for our Konoha!"
"Furthermore, I announce that Takumi-kun is specially promoted to Elite Jonin. His achievements and strength are sufficient to bear this title!"
After Hiruzen's impassioned speech, he solemnly pinned a brightly polished medal on Takumi's chest.
"Do your best. This position will undoubtedly be yours in the future."
Hiruzen whispered into Takumi's ear.
Takumi naturally played along with the act, facing the villagers, showing off the medal on his chest, and also giving a brief acceptance speech.
"I am honored to receive this distinction, but overcoming this crisis wasn't my effort alone, it was the result of our collective hard work."
"Konoha is such a united family..."
"I hope everyone can live happily and peacefully in the future!"
"Bravo!"
"Takumi-kun, you're amazing!"
"Do your best! We'll always support you!"
"Takumi-kun, when will you be Hokage?!"
"Takumi, make Konoha glorious again!"
"Make Konoha Great Again!"
...
"Takumi is so incredible! No, I need to double my efforts, I can't let him leave me too far behind!"
Naruto was full of fighting spirit. He hadn't played any role in this battle at all.
It truly left him feeling dissatisfied.
Sasuke was equally discontent.
But even someone as proud as Sasuke couldn't help but show an expression of admiration.
After all, Takumi's opponents in this battle were the legends of Konoha, the Shodaime Hokage and his brother, the Nidaime Hokage.
This level of strength, Sasuke had to admit!
"Ah, Takumi-kun is so handsome~~"
"When will he reach the legal marriage age~~"
Sakura held her flushed cheeks with both hands, gazing infatuatedly at Takumi on the high platform, lost in some fantasy.
Beside her, Ino was in the same state.
Even Hinata was blushing furiously, lowering her head shyly, occasionally stealing glances at Takumi before quickly looking down again.
"With Takumi-kun's current strength, I'm afraid even we can hardly reach him now, right?"
Kakashi spoke with astonishment and a sigh.
He had seen many geniuses.
He himself was a genius.
But he had never seen a genius like Takumi.
After all, at just twelve years old, he actually fought the Shodaime Hokage to a standstill.
What kind of strength is that?
Is that even human?
Among all the Shinobi Kakashi knew, none could achieve such a thing at this age.
"Truly the miracle youth! Either creating miracles or on the path to creating them!"
Guy, all smiles, gave Takumi on the high platform his trademark thumbs-up.
"My dar... ahem, Takumi is indeed not an ordinary person."
Kurenai also said with satisfaction.
Finally.
An hour later.
The lengthy award ceremony finally ended.
A group of people immediately crowded around.
"Today is a day worth celebrating. Let me treat you to a meal."
Kakashi said with a smile.
"If anyone's treating, it should be me. I was Takumi's Jonin Instructor."
Kurenai glanced at Kakashi, squeezing to the front.
"Former Jonin Instructor. Takumi is now an Elite Jonin, a higher rank than you, Kurenai."
Kakashi was still smiling, though a bit slyly this time.
Kurenai's face fell for a moment, but her eyes shone with pride.
What's her relationship with Takumi?
Even if she's not his Jonin Instructor, her relationship with Takumi is far from ordinary.
"Why don't I be the one treating this time? Hokage-sama also rewarded me with a lot of money, and I'm not sure how to spend it all."
Takumi said with a smile.
"Yay! I'm going to eat a ton!"
Naruto immediately cheered.
Choji, who loved food, also cheered.
"I want to eat barbecue!"
"I want to sit next to Takumi!"
"What? The one sitting next to Takumi will be me, Ino-pig!"
"You broad-forehead, want to fight? Perfect, we didn't settle it last time. Now I'll show you the power of the Yamanaka Clan!"
"You two, stop fighting..."
"Fight, fight, hahaha..."
"Such noisy girls."