The journey continued.
They soon arrived at the first location for filming.
Koyuki was completely different when filming compared to usual.
At least her eyes gained some life, instead of being lifeless.
It made one wonder, was it acting?
Or was this the real her?
Soon, the day's filming was done.
The actors began to rest.
The crew scouted locations for the next day.
"Doesn't feel like a very professional crew."
Kakashi couldn't help but commented.
"What's unprofessional about it?"
Sandayu came over and asked.
"Shouldn't location scouting be prepared in advance?"
"Who prepares it on the spot?"
Kakashi said bluntly.
"But that's not my concern. I'm just a Shinobi, only responsible for my own duties."
Probably afraid the director would scold him, Kakashi immediately backtracked, distancing himself.
On the other side, although Sakura and Ino usually loved clinging to Takumi, they were on a mission now.
They still knew priorities.
So they weren't clinging to Takumi now but were instead keeping watch in the surroundings.
Guarding against potential enemies at any moment.
Not long after, this filming session was also completed.
During the break, Koyuki proactively approached Takumi.
Koyuki in her costume, still with her makeup on, was very refined and beautiful.
"I heard you're Konoha's hero?"
Koyuki looked up, asking Takumi who stood in the tree.
Takumi jumped down from the tree, calmly saying, "It's just the villagers' kindness. I'm just an ordinary Shinobi."
"Is that so?"
Koyuki neither agreed nor disagreed.
She had personally seen Takumi's popularity on the streets.
And to her surprise, it was far greater than hers as a celebrity.
But she wasn't the type to get jealous over that.
She was just a bit curious about Takumi.
"Any thoughts? About being treated as a hero."
Koyuki continued asking.
"Thoughts are too exaggerated."
"Actually, I just did what I should."
"By the way, Fujikaze-san, you look sharp and spirited when acting, quite different from usual."
"Different?"
Koyuki was stunned, her eyes slightly complicated.
"Yes, you usually seem very dull and never talk to us."
Takumi described Koyuki's behavior along the way. "But when acting, your eyes sparkle. How to put it... quite beautiful."
"Is that so? Do you like me like that?"
Koyuki asked as if possessed.
But the moment she asked, she felt it was inappropriate.
'Wait!'
'Why did I ask him that?'
'I'm really strange today.'
'Talking to him.'
'And that question.'
'It's nothing like my usual self.'
"Not bad."
Takumi said candidly.
'Not bad?'
'He said he likes?'
'Does he really like it?'
Koyuki's face showed some nervousness.
For some reason, she felt her heartbeat gradually speeding up when talking to Takumi.
This reaction caught her off guard.
'This...'
After thinking for a few seconds, Koyuki felt it was hard to answer.
She simply turned and left.
It looked like she was fleeing in panic.
"Takumi, what did you say to her?"
Sakura jumped down from the tree, curiously watching the fleeing Koyuki. "But her acting is really good, no wonder she's so popular."
"I don't know either."
Takumi also looked bewildered.
Koyuki's sudden turn surprised him.
'I didn't say anything much.'
'Why such a big reaction?'
'Did I say something wrong?'
'Impossible.'
'It really doesn't make sense.'
Takumi was utterly puzzled.
By nightfall, the crew rested.
Takumi silently sat in the carriage.
'The place we're going this time doesn't seem very friendly.'
'In that case, let's take this chance to run a simulation.'
'See if I can get some good stuff.'
'System, start simulation.'
Squatting on the sofa, Takumi commanded the system in his mind.
[Ding! Drawing talents for you!]
The system's roulette wheel spun.
Three seconds later.
The pointer stopped.
[Ding! Drawing successful!]
[You have drawn talents: You Have a Dad (Black), Time Machine (Black Gold), Pyromaniac (Black)]
'Double Black!'
'Quite rare.'
Takumi's brow relaxed.
Though he hadn't calculated precisely, it seemed Double Black hadn't appeared for a long time.
And a Black-level Dad, he wondered whose son he'd become in this simulation.
Could it be Uchiha Madara's son?
After all, there's a Black-level Pyromaniac.
Although it's not clear what this talent entails, anything related to fire, the Uchiha are famously known for.
The Uchiha are practically all proficient in Fire Release.
[Pyromaniac: You love high temperatures and intense heat. Fire is your toy. You will not hesitate when encountering anything related to flames. Black indicates extremely high talent. At the peak, the temperature you release can even rival the sun.]
'Rival the sun?'
Takumi's eyes widened.
'This...'
'If I could really control temperatures akin to the sun, wouldn't that be on the level of someone like Yamamoto Genryusai?'
'Who would be my match then?'
'Probably couldn't even get close before being vaporized, right?'
Takumi couldn't help but feel excited.
[Simulation start!]
[Equipped talents: You Have a Dad, Time Machine, Pyromaniac]
[The sun scorches, blazing brightly.]
[The earth cracks from the heat, steam rises from the rivers.]
[On the hottest day of the year, you are born.]
'Wow, quite the dramatic entrance. Really fits the Pyromaniac talent.'
Takumi silently commented.
'Black-level Dad.'
'Who could it be?'
[A face with distinct, resolute features appears before you.]
[You are stunned, recognizing his identity.]
[He is the current head of the Senju Clan, Senju Butsuma.]
[Beside him, there are also two dorky-looking boys.]
[You immediately recognize the boy with the bowl cut hairstyle as the Number One Dope of the Shinobi World, Hashirama!]
['I became a Senju? And a brother to Hashirama and Tobirama?' You are extremely excited, thrilled to be born into such a powerful clan.]
[But you also immediately realize this is still the Warring States Period. Shinobi Villages don't exist yet. Even Hashirama and the others are just children.]
'Holy crap, it's Senju Butsuma?'
'This is a bit awesome now!'
Takumi was also surprised.
He could understand why this was a Black-level Dad.
The important part isn't Senju Butsuma.
It's Hashirama and Tobirama.
They are the main reason this talent is Black.
[You quickly understand you are the youngest brother of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.]
[As the youngest brother, you receive much affection from your two older brothers.]
[But you are mischievous from a young age.]
[Either peeing on their faces or giving them a big surprise during diaper changes.]
[But the biggest trouble is the strong desire in your heart.]
[When you see fire, a strong urge arises in your heart, compelling you to reach out and touch it.]
["You can't touch that." Hashirama blocks your outstretched hand, gently admonishing.]
[Hashirama merely thinks you are curious about the flickering flames and doesn't pay much attention.]
'Haha, here we go again, right.'
Takumi chuckled lightly.
Seeing the young Hashirama and Tobirama being tormented so much, he couldn't help but feel happy.
Especially remembering he just fought these two recently.
His heart was full of a sense of revenge.
[Though always vigilant, mistakes are inevitable.]
[Hashirama and Tobirama got into an argument over a few fruits.]
[You, on the side, ignored them, your gaze fixed on a cup emitting faint steam nearby.]
[You slowly crawled over, then couldn't resist reaching out.]
["Careful!" Hashirama glimpsed your movement from the corner of his eye, his expression changing drastically. He quickly scooped you back, looking at your hand.]
[However, your hand showed no signs of burns, which relieved Hashirama.]
["Don't be so naughty in the future!" Hashirama scolded you gently, but you paid no mind, instead thoughtfully looking at your small hand.]
[You touched the scalding hot water, but your hand felt no sensation of being burned, as if the temperature didn't exist for you.]
[At this moment, you realize you possess a unique talent different from ordinary people.]
'Who knew Pyromaniac had this effect?'
Takumi looked surprised.
When reading the talent description, he thought it was something like an arsonist-type talent.
He never expected it to be a fire affinity-like ability.
But this way, compared to arsonist-type talents, the ceiling is much higher.
Moreover, this also explains why the talent description says it can control sun-like temperatures at the peak.
An arsonist couldn't master that level of temperature.
They would probably vaporize just by getting close.
[Hashirama didn't notice, but Tobirama saw it. However, he thought his eyes were playing tricks and also didn't pay attention.]
[Days passed, and you still caused trouble for your two brothers every day.]
[Having them accompany your bowel movements, their bodies fully soaked in your scent.]
[By the time you were two years old, you could walk on your own and even run slowly.]
[Now you could cause even more mischief. And, driven by instinct, you particularly loved running towards fires.]
[Hashirama had to tie you with a rope to prevent you from really getting into the fire and getting hurt when he wasn't looking.]
[But accidents always come unexpectedly.]
[While Hashirama was talking to someone, you secretly took out a hidden sharp stone blade and cut the rope.]
[Hashirama saw this and was horrified.]
[He hurriedly tried to stop you, but at that moment you had already cut the rope. His outstretched hand missed you and instead accidentally pushed you away.]
["No!"]
[In Hashirama's horrified gaze, you fell onto the fire.]