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**Dessert Shop**
Uchiha Izumi lowered her head, taking small, careful bites of her dessert. Every so often, she would steal a glance at Senju Takuya, her eyes betraying a mix of curiosity and admiration.
"There's no need to be so reserved," Takuya said with a light smile. "And stop trying to sneak glances at me. With my perception, do you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Izumi stuck out her tongue playfully, caught in her act. "You're right, Takuya-sama. Since I've been found out, I might as well be bold." She took another bite of the delicate dessert, her gaze openly settling on Takuya.
"Takuya-sama, is this dessert shop also one of your properties? I heard that many of the desserts here were your creations," Izumi asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, it is," Takuya replied, taking a bite of his own dessert. His expression softened as he savored the taste. "The sweets in the past were quite unrefined, far too sugary for my liking. I had to take matters into my own hands to create something more... palatable."
"That's amazing! I had no idea you were skilled in areas beyond combat," Izumi said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Her fondness for Takuya grew with each passing moment.
"You'll find I have many talents, Izumi," Takuya said with a chuckle.
Izumi nodded, missing the underlying implication of his words. "Takuya-sama, does this mean you've decided to allow me to join the Anbu?"
Takuya raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You still want to join the Anbu? I thought your request was just an excuse to get closer to me. Why insist now that your true intentions are known?"
"Takuya-sama, believe it or not, I've always wanted to become an excellent Anbu ninja," Izumi replied earnestly. Her desire to join Anbu had been a genuine ambition long before Uchiha Shisui had tasked her with getting close to Takuya.
"If that's the case, you can start tomorrow," Takuya said with a smile. "It just so happens that the Anbu recently gained two new members around your age. The three of you will form a new Anbu team."
"Thank you so much, Takuya-sama!" Izumi said, her gratitude sincere.
"You're welcome. Just remember your mission," Takuya said calmly.
"Mission? What mission?" Izumi asked, puzzled.
"To get close to me and win my favor. Just because I'm aware of it doesn't mean you can't continue. The future of the Uchiha clan might depend on it," Takuya said with a knowing smile.
Izumi's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Takuya-sama's words hinted that he might have some interest in her. If she played her cards right, the chances of her mission succeeding might increase. But the fact that her intentions had been exposed made her feel awkward.
"Izumi," Takuya continued, his tone serious, "I'm a very determined shinobi. Without a firm will, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today. So don't think this task will be easy. Use all your skills to win me over."
"Um... okay, Takuya-sama," Izumi replied, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and determination. Was there another way to interpret this?
"Takuya-sama, since you've already treated me to dessert, how about I treat you to some barbecue tonight?" Izumi suggested tentatively.
"Sure," Takuya agreed immediately.
Izumi mentally sighed. So much for being a determined ninja! Didn't he say he was hard to win over? Yet he accepted her invitation so easily. She had almost believed him just now!
After they finished their dessert, the sky began to darken.
"Takuya-sama, it's getting late. Shall we head to the barbecue place?" Izumi asked.
"Okay. But be prepared—I have a big appetite," Takuya teased.
"Got it," Izumi sighed. Who would have thought that the aloof and seemingly unattainable Takuya-sama would act like this in private? If those who worshipped him as a god knew, they'd be shocked.
"By the way, Izumi, do you see that couple up ahead?" Takuya suddenly asked.
"Ah? Oh, yes, I see them. What about them?" Izumi asked, focusing on the two children in front of them, both wearing the Academy's uniform and holding hands innocently.
"When I was their age, I was just like them," Takuya said, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
"You mean you had a girlfriend back in the Academy? As expected of Takuya-sama, always so charming," Izumi said with a laugh. She felt a warm happiness at that moment, glad that Takuya-sama was sharing something personal with her.
"No, Izumi, you've misunderstood," Takuya clarified, his tone amused. "What I meant was that I, too, would walk down the street, looking at couples holding hands in front of me."
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Uchiha Izumi could hardly suppress her frustration.
Why? Why is Takuya-sama's thought process so strange?
Despite her youth, she felt she couldn't keep up with Takuya-sama's way of thinking.
"Hahaha... Izumi, let's pick up the pace. If we're late, we won't get a seat," Takuya laughed, amused by Izumi's innocent expression.
For some reason, whenever he saw Izumi's innocent look, he couldn't resist teasing her. But just as he was about to quicken his pace, he suddenly felt a pair of warm hands clasp his right hand tightly.
"Taku... Takuya-sama, you don't have to be like you were before today. I... I just want to spend time with you," Izumi said softly, her head lowered.
The subtle fragrance emanating from her left Takuya momentarily stunned.
Is she serious? What man could resist this?
Even Takuya, who prided himself on his emotional control, felt his heart skip a beat. He held Izumi's hand back, offering her an encouraging smile.
"Izumi, you're doing great. Keep pushing yourself; show me your limits. Don't worry—I'm determined, so there's no need to hold back. Face everything head-on!" Takuya said, his voice firm.
Hearing Takuya's words, Izumi nearly stumbled in shock. How could someone say such things with such shameless confidence?
After dinner, Takuya took Izumi to the Hokage Rock to watch the stars. The night in the ninja world was breathtaking, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
"Takuya-sama, I didn't expect you to bring me here to stargaze," Izumi said, lying on the ground and looking at Takuya with curiosity.
"What's so surprising about that?" Takuya asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well... it's not strange, but thinking about a powerful man like you lying on the ground and watching the stars seems a bit... out of character," Izumi replied, sticking out her tongue playfully.
Senju Takuya, the strongest shinobi in the world, was expected to be cold, mature, and composed. Yet, here he was, taking her to watch the stars, revealing a side of him that was gentle, unconventional, and even romantic.
"What are you thinking about?" Takuya asked, noticing Izumi's distraction.
"I was just wondering, why do you like looking at the stars?" Izumi asked, genuinely curious.
"Izumi, do you know what those stars really are?" Takuya suddenly asked.
"I don't," Uchiha Izumi admitted. To her, a star was just a star.
"Each of those stars is a planet, similar to ours. Some of them are countless times larger than our ninja world," Takuya explained calmly. Under his influence, the ninja world had made significant technological advancements, but space exploration was still beyond their reach. Most shinobi had no idea what lay beyond their world.
"Really? So, are there people like us living on those planets?" Izumi asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Not exactly. Most planets are barren, silent. Only a few can support life. Such conditions are rare in the universe," Takuya smiled.
"This is the first time I've heard of this. Takuya-sama, how do you know all these things?" Izumi looked at him in awe. She had always admired him, but now, that admiration was deepening.
With his unmatched strength, culinary skills, and knowledge of the stars, Takuya seemed like a man of many talents. If she hadn't witnessed it herself, it would be hard to believe that all these diverse abilities belonged to one person.
"Haha, Izumi, don't flatter me too much. The universe above us is vast. There are more planets than grains of sand in the desert, and countless forms of life. But the universe is so vast that these different life forms rarely meet," Takuya explained.
"So, the world we live in is just a small part of a much larger universe. My aspirations extend beyond our ninja world. My goal now is to explore the universe, to become the master of the stars," Takuya said calmly.
With his current strength, the ninja world offered little challenge. If he desired, he could destroy it. But his true goal was to defeat the Ōtsutsuki and become the ruler of the universe. Perhaps, in the future, he could even break through the dimensional wall, achieving something even greater. These were his aspirations now.
Although Uchiha Izumi only partially understood, she was deeply impressed. The idea that the world above was so vast, and that the ninja world was just a speck in the grand scheme of things, left her in awe. Takuya-sama's vision was beyond anything she could have imagined.
Compared to him, all the legendary shinobi seemed small. Even legends like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, who sought to unite the ninja world, appeared insignificant. Uchiha Izumi was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by the enormity of Takuya-sama's vision.
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