Chapter 163: A Beautiful Sight at Akiyama Makoto's House
Akiyama Makoto looked at Kakashi in surprise, not expecting him to make such a request.
"Does a powerful Jōnin like you really need to use such a technique?"
Although the one-handed seal technique was very practical, in many situations, it wasn't that useful. For example, Kakashi's most common finishing move was the Chidori. The method of releasing it was to form the seals from a distance and then charge with one hand. With the commotion it made, everyone within a few dozen meters could see and hear it. The stealthy effect of a one-handed seal was completely useless.
Compared to the Chidori, Kakashi's other ninjutsu, and even his titles as the "Copy Ninja" and the man who had mastered a thousand jutsu, were all just smokescreens to confuse the enemy. So, for him to be so interested in this technique was something he hadn't expected.
"Ah, what I want to learn isn't that, but your and Sakura's method of using two minds at once to continuously cast ninjutsu."
Only then did he realize that what Kakashi was after was the essence hidden beneath the one-handed seals: the method of continuously condensing ninjutsu supported by the Mind-Mirror Image. But that was not something so easily learned.
He thought for a moment and decided to make Kakashi back down. "I can teach it, but this technique is extremely difficult to learn. Sakura and I just happen to have the talent for it."
As he spoke, he held out both hands. He displayed the twelve most common hand seals in both forward and reverse order, which left Kakashi dumbfounded.
"You have to be able to reach this level before you can even have a chance of learning this jutsu."
"And my price isn't cheap either. You should think it over carefully before you come back."
Kakashi nodded, but he had a feeling he hadn't given up. He would probably go back and start practicing one-handed seals. What on earth has gotten into him? he wondered. Does he feel that his body has gone rusty because he couldn't even suppress three fresh graduates?
Makoto was half right. Kakashi had indeed been provoked, but it was because the repeated Hell Viewing Technique had reminded him of the painful details of his past, causing his Sharingan to ache. He felt it was a warning from his comrades, which gave him the idea of improving his strength again.
The other half was that he wanted to test his depth. He had gotten too close to Naruto and Sasuke. In the past, he could have turned a blind eye, but now that he was their Jōnin instructor, he naturally had to take responsibility. What's more, this was a responsibility he should have shouldered long ago. Naruto's childhood could have been much more colorful.
The two then chatted for a bit before returning to the bonfire.
Sasuke's and Naruto's eyes were shining as they looked at him. It was clear they hadn't been sitting idly by, but had seen the strength he had just displayed. Naruto might have just been impressed, but Sasuke was filled with a longing for the one-handed seal technique. If he learned that, he could use one hand for Fire Style and the other for his clan's throwing techniques. His combat power would surely increase by a large margin.
Unfortunately for them, they were the losers of the bet.
He crooked a finger at them. Their faces flushed red, and they finally forced themselves to call him "Big Brother."
He then left with satisfaction. In the afternoon, Kakashi would be taking Sakura and the others on their first D-rank mission. He had no interest in watching them catch cats and find dogs. He would rather go home and train himself.
As he walked, he also thought about whether it was appropriate for him to have shown his strength just now.
He hadn't exposed his power on a whim. It was to lay the groundwork for his own rise during the Chūnin Exams, and to quickly gain Tsunade's trust after she returned.
It was fine with Tenten and the others. Girls in love would easily believe his words. But with a smart person like Tsunade, it wasn't so easy to get by with just verbal persuasion. If possible, he didn't want to enter a state of mutual suspicion with her. After all, she wasn't getting any younger. It was better for her to have his child sooner rather than later; it would be good for her body. Otherwise, he would just have to show up at her door with wine every day, wait for her to make a mistake when she was drunk, and then, at the risk of being punched into the sky afterward, give her a heart-shaped True Spirit Seal.
Of course, the above were just jokes. As for how to win over Tsunade, he actually already had a few ideas. He would just have to wait a while, before the Chūnin Exams, and use a simulation to test them out. Then, he would completely conquer this most buxom woman in the ninja world.
Soon, he arrived home. To his surprise, Anko was sitting at the dining table, a plate of cold dango in front of her, looking listless.
He said strangely, "What on earth happened? To make our Lady Akiyama Anko unable to even eat her dango? Don't tell me I accidentally caused a fatality?"
Anko, who had been in a bad mood after waiting for him all night and all morning, was instantly amused. She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm not that careless—and you said yourself, we have to wait a few years before we talk about that kind of thing."
She switched to the offensive, a sly smile on her face. "Now it's my turn to ask you. Where was our great author last night? Why weren't you here all night?"
"Confess! Where did you stay? Tenten's place or Sakura's? It couldn't have been Ino's or the Hyūga's, could it?"
Anko's face was full of surprise. He said proudly, "It was Big Sister Kurenai's place."
"Really?!"
Her eyes lit up. He rolled his eyes. "Fake!"
"Aw, I thought you had really won her over."
Her disappointed expression made him curious. "Are you that supportive of me and Big Sister Kurenai getting together?"
"Kurenai has been through so much because of the two of us. I have to repay her, don't I?"
"You're going to repay your best friend in that way?"
"Yeah!"
She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Since I'm repaying her, I naturally have to give her the best."
"And you are the best!"
She said this without a blush or a single quickened breath. This frank and open attitude was the Anko he was familiar with. It was just that this frankness had become another kind of fatal attraction, making him step closer and closer to her.
"Wait, what are you doing!"
The frankness on her face disappeared, replaced by shyness. She had already guessed what was about to happen.
"Weren't you just curious about where I stayed last night?"
She nodded subconsciously.
He picked her up and walked towards the bathroom. "I was training with Sakura yesterday. Actually, nothing happened."
"What? Just training!" She looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.
"That's right. Nothing happened yesterday. But today is different."
"Today, I'm staying in your bed. Are you ready, Big Sister Anko?"
"...M-Mm."
She responded in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, a complete contrast to the dashing and unrestrained woman from just moments ago.
But it wasn't long before her boisterous voice echoed throughout the Akiyama residence. Even Yūgao, who was spying from next door, blushed.
It's only been a few months. How has he changed so much? And with a ninja like Anko... She couldn't understand it. But the same thought kept running through her mind.
If I had responded to him back then, would I be the one by his side now?
For the next month, he lived a peaceful life.
When Tenten and the others came, he would listen to their interesting stories from missions, or their complaints about their teachers not letting them take on higher-level missions, and occasionally train with them. But most of the time, they no longer had the mind for training and just lazed around by his side, drawing enthusiasm and motivation from him to get back on their feet.
They had never used the guest rooms he had arranged for them. But under Anko's lead, the girls had slowly developed the habit of bathing at his house. And so, his home was now filled with the sight of girls walking around in bathrobes and bare feet. He even felt that they were deliberately flaunting themselves in front of him.
Sometimes, he even wondered what on earth Anko had instilled in them. And why had she so naturally integrated into their group, so that they didn't find her "Big Sister Anko" status strange at all?
Finally, today, the girls had all gathered at his house, a rare occasion.
While they were in the bath, he took the opportunity to ask Anko, who was still stuffing her face, his question.
She looked at him strangely. "Didn't I tell you?"
"It's actually very simple!"
"I told them that Kurenai and I are both your big sisters. In the future, whoever wants to be your wife will have to get past us first!"
"Well? Wasn't that smart?"
Smart my ass!
He had just been about to say, "You'll have a headache later!" when the sound of pounding footsteps came from outside, followed by Sakura's scream.
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