"Wait, Kumogakure?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
He was silent for a moment before asking in a low voice, "When did this happen?"
"It was the night before last."
"The night before last? Then the destruction of Kumogakure might not have anything to do with Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki…"
"Hmm?"
Gamamaru was also stunned. What did that mean?
Kumogakure wasn't destroyed by Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki?
How did Jiraiya know?
"Actually, Kumogakure's fall was done by Takemi."
Jiraiya saw Gamamaru's confusion.
He scratched his head and explained, "Takemi secretly ran out and attacked Kumogakure using Wood Release."
"Wood Release? Asura Hashirama's Wood Release?"
"Yes, and I heard Tsunade say he used the First Hokage's strongest move."
Jiraiya seemed not to notice Gamamaru's slip of the tongue. He continued with endless emotion, "That move is called 'True Several Thousand Hands.' It can summon a giant statue thousands of meters tall, and they themselves admitted that the two Tailed Beasts, including Kumogakure, were defeated and fell that way."
At this point, Jiraiya himself couldn't help but imagine that earth-shattering scene.
Under such immense power, no one could resist, could they?!
"True Several Thousand Hands… Takemi?"
But Gamamaru was different. Listening to Jiraiya's words, he himself fell into silence.
Ever since Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki appeared, he felt that his dreams had been affected, and he no longer fully trusted his prophecies.
Now, the appearance of Takemi seemed to be foreshadowing something, which made him think a little more.
"Could it be that this child is the true savior?"
Thinking of this, his thoughts also began to change.
Outside Konoha, Black Zetsu looked at the collapsed terrain and the village still standing tall in the distance.
"Konoha…"
Black Zetsu let out a sigh. Although it was absurd, Konoha remained perfectly intact after such a huge battle.
However, he knew that it was because Takemi had used the Flying Thunder God barrier. Otherwise, Konoha would have been gone long ago.
"What a genius! What exactly is going on with this guy?"
Black Zetsu couldn't figure it out. In fact, from the first time he ran to Konoha with Obito, he noticed that Takemi was not simple at all.
He had an indescribably familiar aura about him, an aura that once made him think of his mother.
Even now, he still couldn't help but think in that direction, after all, this kid was just too absurd.
"After all, he defeated Nagato…"
Black Zetsu murmured. Even if Nagato's power wasn't concentrated at that time, and Takemi relied on Sage Mode and the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"But how many people in the entire Ninja World can achieve this?"
Besides that, Takemi also developed Ice Release himself, and even learned Dust Release after seeing it a few times.
The most incredible thing was that he could even use Wood Release, and even brought out True Several Thousand Hands.
"Even the reincarnations of Indra and Asura weren't that terrifying. Who exactly is this kid?"
Black Zetsu sighed. but he couldn't find the answer now.
He had speculated that this kid was a descendant of Ōtsutsuki Hamura on the moon.
Although he didn't have the Byakugan, Takemi in Sage Mode was different.
"Perhaps his Byakugan manifests in Sage Mode…"
Black Zetsu couldn't understand it, but an idea popped into his mind.
"I can't just focus on Obito and Madara. I need some new blood and new power."
Ever since encountering Takemi, the pain of endless failure had always plagued them.
Coupled with the sudden appearance of 'Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki' from the sky, he had to change some strategies.
"Blacky, what are you thinking about?"
Just as he was thinking, White Zetsu asked in confusion.
"You've been standing here for a long time. Aren't we going in?"
"We are, but not now. Konoha is heavily guarded and very dangerous right now."
Black Zetsu's thoughts were interrupted by White Zetsu's words, but he didn't mind.
Instead, he shook his head gently and said, "No matter how dangerous, we must go in. Konoha has many ancient texts, which are very suitable for our research."
"Oh."
White Zetsu nodded, seemingly understanding, and Black Zetsu also understood by now.
"Let's hide first, then slowly find an opportunity."
"Oh."
"This time, although we are still in the shadows, we will take the initiative."
"?"
White Zetsu looked at Black Zetsu in confusion, wondering if he had lost his mind.
Unfortunately, Black Zetsu did not answer, but what he wanted to do was already obvious.
Hidden in the shadows, he would use other methods to guide Takemi to confront Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki.
And he wanted to regain control of the situation and welcome his mother's return.
While the entire Ninja World was in turmoil, inside the Yamanaka Flower Shop in Konoha, Ino looked at Takemi with surprise.
"Huh, Takemi, why are you here?"
However, this surprise quickly turned into joy, and she ran over with a smile.
"Welcome. Are you buying flowers again, Takemi-senpai?"
"Yes."
Takemi nodded, then pointed helplessly at Naruto and Karin behind him.
"These two overwatered and killed my potted plants, so I have to replace them."
"…"
Ino was a bit stunned when she heard this. She hadn't expected such a thing to happen.
Karin and Naruto both looked embarrassed. Fortunately, Inoichi walked out at this moment.
"Huh, Takemi? You're here to buy flowers?"
Inoichi's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Takemi.
"You haven't been here in a while."
"I can't help it. Recently, Kakashi-sensei and Jiraiya-sama haven't been hospitalized." Takemi was quite honest, stating seriously.
"Not only them, but even Hokage-sama hasn't either, so…"
"…"
The smile on Inoichi's face froze. Although what he said was true, was it really okay to say it so directly?
Sure enough, the Third Hokage had always been muttering about problems with Konoha's education system, and it wasn't without reason.
"Takemi, take your time choosing."
Shaking his head, Inoichi no longer dwelled on it. He smiled at Takemi and Ino, then turned to look at Naruto and Karin.
"Do you two want something to eat? Come with me."
As he spoke, he led the two kids away, leaving only Takemi and Ino.
"Uncle Inoichi is really enthusiastic, isn't he?"
Takemi watched everything happening beside him and raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Um, let's look at the flowers first."
Ino was also a bit embarrassed, but she quickly recovered.
"This time, Takemi-senpai, what kind of flowers do you want?"
"That depends on your recommendation. Actually, I don't have too many requirements."
Takemi stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then said, "As long as they're easy to care for, because sometimes I don't have that much time."