A journey that would normally take one day, with their stop-and-go pace, actually took three days.
After procrastinating for so long, even though Takumi and Shion were reluctant, they knew the moment of separation was approaching.
"Taruho, arrange a banquet. I want to properly honor Takumi-kun, the hero who saved the world."
Shion spoke with an authoritative voice, but her eyes looked at Takumi with a smile, not moving an inch.
She knew that after today, Takumi would leave.
She wanted to properly imprint Takumi's image in her mind.
"Leave it to me, Shion-sama."
Taruho had already very clearly understood the relationship between Shion and Takumi during this journey.
He also felt very relieved.
Having watched Shion grow up since she was little, although he addressed her as "sama", he had always regarded her as his own younger sister.
Now, his little sister had found someone she loved.
He felt both sad and relieved.
The sadness was something an older brother inevitably experienced.
And the relief came from feeling that someone as excellent as Takumi was a perfect match to be Shion's husband.
But Shion was still young now; it would take some time before they could marry.
And Takumi was a Konoha's Shinobi, which meant he couldn't stay long.
Taruho knew.
The key point of this banquet wasn't how lavish it was; it was merely a reason to keep Takumi for one more night.
"Since Shion-san invites me, I'll gladly accept."
Takumi smiled, his gaze also not leaving Shion.
How the evening banquet went, neither Takumi nor Shion cared.
Even though Taruho had prepared it very thoughtfully.
But their minds were no longer on the dining table.
After finishing hastily, Takumi, who should have gone to the guest room, was led by a maid to Shion's room.
He wasn't surprised.
Staying was precisely for this.
"After this parting, I don't know how long it will be before we meet again."
Shion, draped in sheer fabric, lay gently in Takumi's arms, looking up at his handsome face, gazing intently.
"I told you, if you miss me, come find me in Konoha."
Takumi smiled, his fingers tracing her delicate, flawless cheek.
"Mm, I will."
Shion said softly, "A moment on spring night..."
"Is worth a thousand gold."
Takumi finished her sentence.
The scene slowly pans away.
As the door closes, it left all fantasies behind closed doors.
…
After a peaceful and harmonious night.
Before the sun had risen, Takumi opened his eyes.
Looking up, he saw the girl's peaceful sleeping face right before him.
A satisfied smile still lingered on her face.
Takumi smiled softly, gently kissed her forehead, and watched her slowly open her eyes.
Seeing Takumi's face, Shion couldn't help but smile, extending her fair arms to embrace his body.
She didn't mind at all that her unclothed body was completely exposed to Takumi's view.
Anyway, everything that should have been seen had been seen yesterday.
After hugging for a while, the smile on Shion's face faded, gradually becoming downcast.
"Are you leaving?"
She asked softly, her voice hard to conceal her disappointment.
"Mm."
Takumi replied, gently pulling her slender body closer. "If you miss me, you can come to Konoha anytime."
"When I have time, I will also come to see you."
He didn't use sweet words to placate the girl, because he knew it would be useless and would only make her more sad afterwards.
What he could do was try to give some promises.
Before his enemies were eliminated, before he had enough power to protect those around him, he couldn't afford to relax in the slightest.
"Go."
Shion suddenly released Takumi, turned back and burrowed under the covers, her back facing him, revealing only her flawless back.
For a moment, Takumi wanted to stay and accompany Shion, even if just for a few more days.
But he quickly suppressed this thought.
He didn't dare linger here long.
He was afraid of drawing the Akatsuki's attention to Shion.
Although Shion now had powerful Miko powers to protect herself,
Facing those monsters in the Akatsuki, she couldn't protect herself at all.
If the Akatsuki noticed Shion's special feelings for him, he was very worried that Obito might use some underhanded tactics.
This was very possible.
After all, to achieve his goals, Obito had not hesitated to kill his own teacher and his teacher's wife.
Obito was also the chief culprit directly responsible for Naruto becoming an orphan.
"Now is not the time yet."
Takumi said softly, gently kissing her shoulder. "When the time is right, we can be together forever."
"When will that be?"
Shion couldn't help but turn back, only to find Takumi's figure had already disappeared.
After a moment of disappointment, she recalled his words, and her heart filled with renewed expectation.
Both she and Takumi were still very young, with plenty of time ahead.
Just waiting a little while, she could afford to wait.
And Takumi had already promised to help her perpetuate the Miko's power.
Thinking about this, Shion fell back asleep with a sweet smile.
Takumi hadn't been able to resist saying those words.
But they were also his true feelings.
When he had enough strength to deal with the trouble of Obito and Black Zetsu, the entire Shinobi World would return to peace.
As for the Otsutsuki Clan that would appear later, that was still a very, very long time away.
He believed that by then, with the boost of the system, he would only be even stronger.
A mere Otsutsuki Clan would be nothing to worry about.
The most difficult obstacle right now was undoubtedly the Akatsuki led by Obito, and Black Zetsu scheming in the shadows.
Once these two were dealt with, the Shinobi World would undoubtedly be much more peaceful.
But with his current strength, he had no absolute certainty of eliminating Obito.
Kamui was simply too buggy.
Whenever things got tough, just hide into the Kamui Dimension – it was a truly cheap move.
Once caught by Obito's Kamui, he would be like a lamb for the slaughter.
"The Akatsuki... I wonder what they're doing now."
Takumi sighed, feeling a bit of a headache.
Because of his appearance, the Akatsuki's members had all become stronger.
At least much stronger than he remembered them.
Especially Kakuzu, who had even obtained a heart with a Kekkei Genkai, his strength advancing by leaps and bounds.
If he hadn't predicted it in advance when they last met, he probably wouldn't have had an easy victory.
Even Sasori, whom he had never paid much attention to, had the ability to kill him if he wasn't careful.
Fortunately, he had managed to persuade Sasori to defect, so he didn't have to worry about Sasori stabbing him in the back.
After all, Sasori's reason for joining the Akatsuki wasn't to help Obito complete his plan.
He was simply acting on his researcher's spirit, wanting to study those few people in the Akatsuki with bizarre bodies.
'Speaking of which, I wonder how many people in the Akatsuki actually agree with Obito's plan?'
Takumi rubbed his chin, feeling there might be an opportunity here.
'Maybe I can persuade a few more to defect, like Sasori.'
The more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed.