Chapter 100: A Live Stream for Orochimaru?
In the training field, Haruko boredly poked Anko, who was fast asleep on a lounge chair.
No reaction.
"It's been almost an hour; why hasn't she woken up yet?"
Haruko sighed, resignedly used Earth Release to create a Chakra-powered Tricycle, stuffed Anko onto it, and drove all the way to Konoha Hospital.
"It's just Chakra exhaustion plus Spiritual fatigue; she'll be fine after some rest," the Medical Ninja said after finishing the examination, giving a standard answer.
Haruko nodded and turned to leave.
Since she was fine, it was time for him to fleece the Third Elder for some benefits.
...
"There's a hidden trump card left by Orochimaru in the Cursed Seal?"
Inside the Hokage Office, the Third listened to Haruko's report, his expression remaining as calm as a still well, showing no hint of surprise.
Haruko's heart skipped a beat.
'This Third Elder... he definitely knew all along!"
Like a proposal worked on for ages in his past life only for the boss to reply with "Noted," Haruko felt like a clown.
'Damn! If I don't squeeze something out of you today, I'll write my name backward!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Haruko continued his performance. "That Chakra is filled with an evil will; I suspect it's a Soul Fragment of Orochimaru. If today's training activated it, Anko-sensei might have her body taken over."
He described the situation in the most severe terms, not believing the old man wouldn't get anxious.
The Third took a deep drag from his pipe, thought for a moment, and then pulled out a scroll.
"This is the Soul-Body Separation Technique. It might help in dealing with the things inside the Cursed Seal. The difficulty of practicing this technique is very high, but with your talent, it shouldn't be a problem."
'Tsk, stingy. Master is still better; he really teaches the good stuff."
And it felt like this was also within the Third Elder's calculations, but... at least he got something. It wasn't for nothing.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Haruko put away the scroll. Having achieved his goal, he didn't want to waste another word. "I'll go back and study this technique now. Farewell."
Watching the youth's decisive departure, the calm on the Third's face slowly faded, replaced by a trace of solemnity.
"This kid... although he's not an ungrateful wolf, he's not easy to win over either..."
From the outcome, Haruko helped a Special Jonin of Konoha train, increasing the Village's strength.
But for Haruko, this action was a pure exchange of interests; he still had zero sense of belonging to Konoha—perhaps even Orochimaru's feelings for the Village were deeper than his.
Such a Ninja, if used well, is a stabilizing force; if used poorly, he'd be a second Orochimaru.
"No, at least he has more principles than Orochimaru. As for a sense of belonging... we'll see how far things can develop with Anko this time," the old man muttered to himself.
...
In the afternoon, while Haruko was leisurely slacking off at the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Anko rushed in frantically.
"Haruko!"
"Yo, you're awake?"
"Much better, thank you." Anko sat down at the counter. "Um... are you free tonight? I want to treat you to dinner. Just to thank you for this morning."
Haruko looked at her face; although she looked more energetic, she seemed to have something on her mind.
'Feels like it's going to be a hassle."
"Uh, I have to help out at the shop tonight..."
Haruko wanted to refuse—
"Go ahead, Haruko. Don't worry about the shop."
But Teuchi cut off his path of retreat.
Without needing words, Haruko understood; Teuchi wanted him to help her all the way.
'Old man is just that kind of person..."
"Fine then, I'll look forward to what we're eating tonight."
...
In the evening, the two arrived at a... Izakaya in Konoha.
As soon as Anko sat down, she started ordering alcohol.
"You're treating me to this? You know I can't drink yet, right?"
The dinner party, exactly like those in his past life, left Haruko somewhat speechless, and he even had the urge to turn around and leave.
"Aren't there some side dishes to go with the drinks!" Anko downed half a glass of Sake in one go. "Today, I'll drink my fill with you!"
"No... like I said, I can't drink yet..."
Seeing that Anko wasn't listening at all, Haruko sighed and started eating the side dishes on his own.
With the effect of the alcohol, Anko's chatterbox opened up.
"I... I remember. When I passed out, I had a dream... I dreamed of Orochimaru."
She recounted intermittently.
How she was branded with the Cursed Seal by that man, and how she was thrown into a warehouse like trash, lying on the cold floor waiting to die.
"Why... why did he do that to me?" Anko gripped her glass, her knuckles turning white from the force. "I admired him so much, I trusted him so much..."
"I hate him! I hate him for betraying the Village! I should deal with him myself! But... I can't... I simply don't have that power..."
As she spoke, tears began to fall, mixing with the alcohol, looking incredibly pathetic.
Haruko looked at her like this, his heart completely unmoved, just listening quietly.
He didn't hand her a tissue, nor did he say useless things like "Don't be sad" or "I understand you."
Only after Anko had finished crying and vented her emotions did he slowly speak:
"Done crying?"
Anko looked up in shock.
"If you're done, then listen to me," Haruko put down his chopsticks and looked directly into her eyes.
"First, Orochimaru erasing your memory wasn't to torture you, but to protect you. He knew how painful the truth is, so he gave you a chance to forget."
"Second, you two just had different paths. He has his ambition, you have your principles. You couldn't keep up with him, and he couldn't change his pursuit for a single disciple. Separation was inevitable."
"So, instead of weeping here, why not think about how to use what he left you?" Haruko pointed to the back of her neck.
"The Cursed Seal is a danger, but it's also power. Use this power well and live more brilliantly than him; that is the greatest revenge against your former master."
Anko was completely stunned by this set of twisted logic, even forgetting to cry.
The bustle of the Izakaya seemed to fade away at that moment, leaving only the night outside flowing silently.
She was silent for a long time, her knuckles slowly loosening their grip on the glass, and she poured herself another drink.
...
Anko's tolerance wasn't too bad, but with glass after glass and the emotional fluctuations, she soon became quite drunk.
"Let's go, I'll take you home."
"Not going back..." Anko hung her entire body on him, her warm breath puffing against his neck, carrying a strong scent of alcohol.
"Hey~ Haruko~ there's... no one at my house."
The woman's gaze was blurred and bold, filled with a certain unspoken implication.
Immediately after, a soft, warm lip pressed against his.
A light touch, yet it carried a prairie fire.
Haruko's body stiffened.
As a normal man, with a hot beauty throwing herself into his arms, it would be a lie to say he had no thoughts.
But his brain completed a risk assessment in 0.01 seconds.
First, this woman isn't sober right now; her feelings for him are more about wavering and dependence than love.
Second, her loyalty to Konoha is much higher than his. Sleeping with her would be purely physical, not emotional.
Third, and most importantly—
Inside that Cursed Seal on the back of her neck, there's still a Soul Fragment of Orochimaru living there!
A live stream for Orochimaru? Are you kidding me?!
"Anko-sensei, you're drunk."
He expressionlessly pried Anko's hands away, ignored her whimpering, and carried her on his shoulder, walking with large strides toward her house.
Finding the key to open the door, tossing her onto the bed, turning off the light, and locking the door—all in one smooth motion.
Back home, Haruko didn't even spare a second glance at the Soul-Body Separation Technique scroll on the bookshelf.
Now, he wasn't in the mood to study it.
He walked straight toward Kaguya Kaede's room.
Some fires still had to be extinguished by one's own people.
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