Outside the door.
Yugito's face showed embarrassment, along with a deep worry.
Honestly,
She strongly agreed with Asuma. Killing her would undoubtedly cripple Kumogakure's strength, as she was one of their only two Jinchuriki, and one who could perfectly control her Tailed Beast at that.
If she had captured an enemy village's Jinchuriki, her first thought would definitely be to kill them, as that would most effectively deal a heavy blow to the enemy.
But the problem now was that she was the one to be killed, which put her in a very contradictory position.
After all, she didn't want to die.
If she were determined to die, even bound as she was, she would have plenty of ways to commit suicide.
But suicide would mean Kumogakure loses control of the Two-Tails.
After all, when a Tailed Beast dies, it resurrects at a random location sometime in the future.
At that time, the Two-Tails would have no owner, and whoever finds it gets it.
Kumogakure certainly couldn't accept that outcome.
Even without a shred of hope in sight, this was why Yugito didn't dare commit suicide.
"Hmph!"
Takumi snorted coldly, a glint of chill in his eyes.
Yugito stared blankly at him, her face full of surprise.
'His reaction...'
'Could it be that his thoughts differ from the Hokage's?'
'What exactly does he plan to do to me?'
Yugito fell into deep confusion.
Bang!
Takumi pushed the door open directly. The two inside immediately stopped talking and turned to look at the newcomer.
Hiruzen's brow relaxed slightly upon seeing Takumi, even though Takumi had rudely barged in without knocking like usual.
Asuma, however, frowned deeply. Takumi's rough entrance meant he must have heard their entire conversation.
But Asuma still believed he was right, and that Takumi's actions were extremely harmful to the village.
So, facing Takumi's gaze, he stared back without backing down an inch.
"Hokage-sama, I apologize for unintentionally overhearing your conversation just now."
Takumi stood at the door, hands clasped behind his back, chest out, and said loudly, "Forgive my bluntness, but I cannot agree with Asuma-senpai's view."
"You think your actions are right?"
Asuma came before him, looking down at him. "Do you have any idea how much danger your actions pose to the village? If Kumogakure uses this as a pretext to start a war, or pulls the same trick as last time, twisting things around and demanding compensation from us, who do you think we can sacrifice?"
"Takumi, I don't know what you're thinking, but the greater good of the village must come first. If it harms the village's interests, even if your idea is brilliant, I won't agree to it!"
"Maybe what Asuma-senpai says has some merit."
Takumi shook his head. "But our fundamental philosophies differ."
"When you mentioned 'last time', senpai, you were referring to the Hyuga affair, right?"
"Back then, the Hyuga Clan's Clan Head accidentally killed a Kumogakure Shinobi, which gave Kumogakure the leverage to turn the tables. But I haven't given them that opportunity."
"I didn't kill a single one of Kumogakure's Shinobi who attacked us. Apart from her, four of the others were captured and taken to the Torture and Interrogation Division, and I deliberately let one go to deliver a message."
"If Kumogakure dares to try that trick again, we can easily confront them with those captured Kumogakure's Shinobi. Then, the moral high ground would be theirs to lose, not ours."
"That's just to address your point about me not considering the village's greater good."
"As for my true intention, it's to respect the Will of Fire."
"The Will of Fire – everyone in the village can burn themselves to illuminate the village."
Takumi spoke with conviction, his determined gaze unwavering as he looked at Asuma. "I have the resolve to sacrifice myself, and I believe Asuma-senpai does too."
"But does being a Shinobi necessarily mean only fighting and killing?"
"I wonder if there are other ways to seek peace, instead of this precarious, tiptoeing existence we have now."
"What does what you're saying have to do with what you're doing?"
Asuma, as if seizing a flaw in Takumi's words, quickly interjected, "Dare you say your actions are for the sake of peace?"
"Of course!"
Takumi replied without avoiding. "Although, due to her identity, I have to restrict her movements to prevent her from harming anyone in the village."
"But I believe, throughout this walk, she must have gained a deeper impression of our village."
"Not the confidential information that Kumogakure's spies send back, but the cultural atmosphere of the village."
"We all know Konoha is a big, harmonious family, but do the other villages know that? They don't."
"They only think their own village is a wonderful home, while villages in other countries are hideous enemies. This is because we lack mutual understanding."
"With enough understanding, people can respect each other, and only then can we find the true path to peace."
Takumi delivered this speech without a single pause, the words flowing very smoothly, as if he had prepared them long ago.
Asuma was rendered speechless. He felt something was off, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't find a rebuttal.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen's eyes were already shining brightly.
Clearly, he strongly approved of Takumi's ideas.
"Moreover, she is a rare genius. For her to die so senselessly would be a great loss for the entire Shinobi World."
Takumi shifted his argument from the idealistic to the realistic. "I won't deny I have some selfishness. Except for those evil-doing Shinobi, I usually don't take lives."
"It's just that because everyone has different standings, we end up crossing swords. In reality, every life is innocent."
"It's only because of the current environment that we are forced to act this way."
"She had a Tailed Beast implanted in her as a child, and after immense effort, she finally tamed it, becoming a Jinchuriki capable of perfect control. How many such talents are there in the entire Shinobi World?"
"If such talent were to die just like that, I truly couldn't bear it."
As he spoke, he averted his gaze for the first time, as if somewhat ashamed of his thoughts.
"It must be mutual appreciation among geniuses."
Hiruzen chuckled. "It's not strange for you to have such thoughts. You might be looking for a rival who can match you. After all, you're already very strong now, and only these Jinchuriki might pose a challenge to you."
"I understand your thoughts now, Takumi-kun. I knew you weren't someone who would bring danger to the village."
"Of course!"
Hearing this, Takumi immediately puffed out his chest, his face full of pride. "The village is my home, and I am willing to give my life to protect her!"
"I apologize for saying some inappropriate things and disturbing you two."
He quickly lowered his posture, said softly, "I still have patrol duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
With that, Takumi turned and left, closing the office door behind him.
"You useless brat!"
After the door closed, the expression on Hiruzen's face instantly changed. "Look at Takumi-kun's ideological awareness, then look at yours!"
"Jealous of a comrade, coming to me to complain and trying to suppress him! How did I end up with such a useless son!"
Hiruzen gasped for air, his chest heaving violently, clearly enraged.
Asuma, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded.
He was still pondering Takumi's words when he was interrupted by his father's sudden outburst, leaving him completely bewildered.
He didn't even know what to say.
"I, I just..." He tried to say something, but opened his mouth and found himself unable to speak.
He had to admit in his heart that Takumi's speech, though confusing, was full of reasoning.
In fact, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shame inside.