For these children, a simple word from the Hokage was enough to excite them.
Naturally, there was no need to mention other rewards.
"For this operation, I will count it as an S-Rank Mission for each of you, considering the enemy you faced was a powerful Jinchuriki."
Hiruzen said generously, but was interrupted by Naruto raising his hand. "Hokage grandpa, what exactly is a Jinchuriki?"
"Hmm?"
Hiruzen now found himself in the same awkward situation as Kakashi earlier. Of course, he couldn't say outright that Naruto himself was a Jinchuriki.
"Jinchuriki matters are classified. You don't need to know for now."
Compared to Kakashi, Hiruzen was more skilled at handling this kind of situation. "When you need to know, you'll naturally find out."
His method was one word: delay.
This was also his go-to solution for most problems.
"Alright, you've all been through a big battle. Go back and rest well."
Hiruzen, afraid Naruto would keep asking, quickly shooed them away. "Takumi, you rest well too, and absolutely don't let your guard down."
"I know. Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama."
Takumi smiled, leaving with his trophy, Yugito.
Although Naruto wanted to ask further, with Hiruzen saying that, he couldn't press on and could only leave dejectedly with the group.
"What exactly is a Jinchuriki? Why won't anyone say?"
Naruto sighed helplessly.
"I think I've heard Jinchuriki are confidential information in each village."
Shikamaru held his hands behind his head. Having used a lot of mental energy, he was now letting his mind wander. "Looking at how she transformed into that monster earlier, it's understandable why it's confidential."
"A monster..."
Naruto couldn't help but think of the fox sealed inside him. 'I probably... am not a Jinchuriki, right?'
He couldn't help but doubt, but felt he probably wasn't.
Otherwise, neither Kakashi nor Hiruzen would have reason to hide it from him.
Takumi, walking ahead, heard their conversation and couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth.
He suddenly felt some anticipation.
If Naruto learned the truth now, would he choose to forgive the village's actions? Or would he go berserk and turn completely dark?
But anticipation aside, he didn't want to be present for either scenario.
He'd rather watch the drama from the sidelines.
On this matter, he simply couldn't understand Hiruzen's approach.
Wasn't Minato a hero of Konoha?
And also the Yondaime Hokage.
He sacrificed himself to seal the Kyubi inside Naruto so the village would take good care of him.
And this is how the village takes care of him?
If Minato knew about this, it would be hard to believe he wouldn't single-handedly slaughter his way through Konoha.
Konoha's actions were simply too infuriating.
A hero's child treated like this, and Naruto hadn't done anything wrong at all.
It was entirely Hiruzen's inaction and Danzo's behind-the-scenes meddling.
Speaking of Danzo, after Takumi and the others left, he quietly appeared in the Hokage's office again.
"Hiruzen, you are so foolish! The Nibi's jinchuriki should be handed over to Root! Only then can her value be maximized!"
Danzo pointed directly at Hiruzen's nose and scolded. "Do you know how many things Root could achieve using that Jinchuriki?"
"Silence, Danzo!"
Hiruzen's face was livid. "This is my office! I am the Hokage!"
"You will regret this!"
Danzo instinctively shouted, then froze.
'Why did I react so quickly?'
But he immediately dismissed this bewildering thought. "Let's put aside the Nibi's Jinchuriki for now. How do we deal with that Uchiha orphan?"
"Sasuke? What about him?"
Hiruzen didn't expect the topic to shift suddenly to Sasuke Uchiha.
"According to my intelligence, it wasn't Takumi who suppressed the Jinchuriki, but that Uchiha brat. He used a technique similar to Takumi's and Itachi's, though only a half-body version."
"But even so, he easily suppressed the Biju. And don't forget his eyes."
"The thing that appeared in the Kyubi's eyes twelve years ago during the Kyubi Rampage… don't tell me you've forgotten."
Danzo pressed step by step, finally baring his fangs. "Now you have only one choice: hand Sasuke over to Root. Only then can we ensure his loyalty."
"You've crossed a line, Danzo."
Hiruzen said coldly. "This matter is not within your purview. I believe that child Sasuke has the Will of Fire in his heart. I will not hand this child over to you."
"And this is not what we agreed upon with Itachi."
"Hmph!"
Danzo snorted coldly. "What does the agreement with Itachi matter? Protecting the village is what we should do. For that, some necessary sacrifices are essential."
"Since you remain stubborn, I'll wait for the day you regret it. Then you'll be crying on your knees before me, weeping bitterly. I look forward to seeing that scene."
"Danzo, you are becoming more and more excessive."
A glint of killing intent appeared in Hiruzen's eyes.
Danzo was undaunted, narrowing his eyes to meet Hiruzen's gaze. "It is you who has become weak! You are the weakest Hokage I have ever seen!"
"This position should be mine!"
"Get out!"
Hiruzen said with a dark face, pointing toward the door.
Danzo flicked his sleeve and left with an indifferent expression.
"This Danzo, he's getting worse."
Hiruzen watched Danzo leave, a trace of sorrow on his face. "You weren't like this before, Danzo..."
…
Takumi, under everyone's gaze, brought Yugito back to his home.
Yugito, who had been very quiet, suddenly struggled violently.
It turned out she felt the Chakra sealing her points was gradually disappearing.
She regained control over her internal Chakra.
'If I can escape from him and unleash Matatabi's power, even if I can't escape, I can at least die here.'
'Even if I die, I cannot cause trouble for the village!'
Yugito's resolve was indeed high.
But how could Takumi just let her do that?
Swish!
Yugito suddenly felt herself being lifted.
She opened her eyes wide and saw it was a giant hand, similar to what that Sasuke had used to beat her.
Only the color was slightly different.
And the hand emerged from thin air… the one controlling it was undoubtedly Takumi, standing opposite her with his hands in his pockets, expressionless.
"Don't struggle pointlessly. If you don't want all your limbs broken, stay put quietly."
"What do you want to do to me?!"
Yugito was tightly gripped, unable to struggle, and could only speak with hatred. "Bringing me alone to your home… what exactly are you planning?"
"You heard my plan."
Takumi said calmly. "As long as you don't move recklessly, I won't do anything strange to you."
"Otherwise..."
"Pervert! Shameless villain! Lecher!"
Yugito cursed angrily.
But she had no choice, she could only stay put obediently.
Takumi set her down and went to prepare lunch.
The battle ended quickly, and they returned home just in time for lunch.
During this, Yugito tried to escape several times.
But every time she struggled, Takumi would control her instantly.
Yugito couldn't understand it.
Even with his back turned, Takumi seemed able to foresee her actions each time, using that giant hand to grab her the moment she struggled, not giving her the slightest chance.
Takumi, of course, didn't have the power of foresight, but he had Observation Haki, which could be considered a form of foresight.
After struggling four or five times, Yugito temporarily gave up on escaping.
She planned to try again at night.
'Thankfully, Kurenai is out on a mission.'
Takumi thought thankfully while cooking. 'Otherwise, I'd have to waste time explaining.'
Without Yugito's disturbances, Takumi quickly prepared a sumptuous lunch.
"Come eat."
Takumi sat Yugito firmly on a chair. "I don't have the habit of mistreating prisoners."
"How can I eat like this?"
Yugito Nii said disdainfully. "Do you dare to untie my hands?"
"I dare, but it's unnecessary."
Takumi said. "I'll just feed you."
Saying this, he picked up a spoonful of delicious seafood soup, personally blew on it to cool it, and fed it to Yugito's lips.
Unfortunately, Takumi's gentle gesture didn't make Yugito feel honored.
She only felt humiliation.
She, the Nibi's Jinchuriki, after being captured, had to be fed by the enemy personally?!
If this got back to Kumogakure, she wouldn't need to return.
She might as well die right here!
So, she gritted her teeth, kept her lips tightly shut, and let Takumi hold the spoon to her mouth, refusing to eat.
However, the delicious aroma of the seafood soup drifted into her brain through her nose.
"Gulp."
Her slender throat couldn't help but move, and then she felt as if she had betrayed her own will, her face instantly turning red.
"You really won't eat? It's very delicious."
Takumi showed a mischievous smile, waving the spoon under her nose, tempting her with the aroma.
Finally, after several rounds of temptation, Yugito could no longer resist her rebellious stomach. She opened her mouth, bit the spoon, and slurped the soup down.
She drank so hastily that some even splashed onto her chest.
"Look how eager you are."
Takumi pretended to be helpless, taking a tissue and gently wiping her chest.
Yugito immediately widened her eyes, looking at Takumi in disbelief.
Those expressive eyes seemed to ask:
'Where are you putting your hand on me, you bastard?!'