That evening, after finishing the arrangements for his departure, Ruichi called Kaede over alone.
"While I'm gone, the shop and the house are in your hands."
"Yes~ Don't worry, darling. I'll take very good care of your 'harem'."
Ruichi ignored her deliberately provocative remark and continued laying out the details.
"If it comes to the worst, seek help from the Hyuga Clan. Or—even if you have to—help them leave Konoha."
Kaede raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"Hmph~ Is that really a good idea? Aren't you afraid I'll use that as an excuse to bring them back to the clan?"
As if that isn't exactly how you'd use an escape route anyway.
What, should I trust the Third Elder instead of you?
Ruichi kept his thoughts to himself and replied calmly,
"You won't. And even if you decide it's necessary—you can."
"Really…"
Kaede was visibly taken aback by the trust. She smiled softly.
"You're going to get tricked by bad women one day, you know…"
She leaned in and quickly pecked him on the cheek.
"Be careful. Come back soon."
…
The next morning.
Fully equipped, Ruichi stood at Konoha's gate, yawning as he waited for his "bodyguard and guide."
Before long, Anko Mitarashi appeared at the end of the street.
She wore her usual outfit, but her backpack was stuffed to the brim, with a bag of snacks hanging off the side. A map was clutched in her hand, and she was humming cheerfully.
Ruichi's eye twitched.
Looking at her excitement, she seemed less like someone on a mission and more like she was heading out for a picnic—there wasn't the slightest hint of tension.
"Been waiting long?" Anko winked. "Ready, kid?"
"…Yeah. So, where do we start?"
"…."
Anko's silence answered his question.
???
"Anko-sensei… you wouldn't be—"
"Well, that's why it's called a mission—we don't have any clues!"
She nodded confidently, though she carefully avoided his gaze.
"Anyway, let's get out of the village first."
The two left Konoha and wandered along the main road. Ruichi eventually took the map from Anko's hand.
After walking a while, he suddenly stopped.
"I already researched Jiraiya's possible locations and planned a search route."
Anko leaned over to look—and her eyebrows shot straight up.
The map was densely covered with markings. On closer inspection, it was filled with hot springs, bathhouses, bars, and entertainment districts, stretching all the way from Konoha to the Land of Hot Springs.
"Hey! Are you that desperate?!"
Ruichi folded the map solemnly.
"Jiraiya's hobbies are well known. Instead of searching blindly, we should cater to his preferences."
Anko opened her mouth, then shut it again.
She knew Jiraiya's habits too. The method was unconventional—but disturbingly logical.
"…Fine. But!" She jabbed a finger at him.
"If you try anything weird under this excuse, I'll hang you from a tree!"
"Relax. I'm not interested in those places."
Ruichi waved dismissively.
"I just want to finish the mission quickly and go back to sleep."
They continued traveling until evening, then set up camp in a small forest.
Ruichi skillfully built a simple shelter with Earth Release, lit a fire using Fire Release, and even pulled out tea leaves from his pack.
"…Still just as convenient," Anko muttered, staring into the flames.
"Reminds me of the missions we ran together back then."
"Oh." Ruichi replied flatly.
If you hadn't barely passed me back then, I could've stayed at the Academy longer and slacked off…
I wouldn't have ended up on the front lines, met Shisui, or gotten dragged into the Uchiha mess.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt Anko was a walking source of trouble—though he knew, rationally, that he was just venting.
As if sensing his mood, Anko suddenly stood and stretched.
"Hey, Ruichi. Since we've got time, how about a spar?"
"A friendly spar? That's unnecessary."
"As a teacher, it's my job to check your progress. Besides, I've never seen your true strength."
"…What a pain."
Ruichi sighed and set down his teacup.
"Fine. Just a few moves. That's it."
"I'm coming!"
Anko grinned and charged straight at him, throwing a punch at his face.
Ruichi tilted his body slightly, dodging with ease, and reached out casually.
Snap!
An invisible gust of wind smacked Anko on the forehead. It didn't hurt, but the sudden impact forced her back several steps.
"What kind of jutsu is that?!"
"Wind Release: Fly Swatter. I invented it out of boredom."
"You—!"
Anko's face flushed.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Several venomous snakes shot from her sleeves toward Ruichi.
"Wind Release: Kitchen Knife."
Slash—slash—
Invisible wind blades danced through the air, slicing the snakes apart before they vanished into smoke.
Anko stared in disbelief.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade?!"
"No, no." Ruichi waved dismissively.
"Wind-blade kitchen knife. For chopping vegetables."
"Are you kidding me?!"
Anko was fully fired up now, abandoning restraint and switching to serious taijutsu, each strike aimed at vital points.
"Earth Release: Rock-and-Soil Furniture!"
Ruichi calmly retreated, shaping obstacles from the ground as he moved.
Anko shattered one with a stomp.
"This level of power—?!"
As she lifted her leg again, she froze.
Her foot was stuck.
"Water Release: Starch Syrup Capture Field."
"A trap? But—"
She'd seen this jutsu before. Normally, releasing chakra from her feet would break her free.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
But the very chakra she used lifted her off the ground—making it easier for the gale to blow her away.
With a single breath, Ruichi sent Anko flying over ten meters.
He clapped his hands lightly.
"Anko-sensei, that should be enough."
Grinding her teeth, Anko stood back up, fire blazing in her eyes.
"Don't underestimate me! I'm a Special Jonin!"
She formed hand seals, chakra surging violently.
Ruichi frowned.
What's with her? It's just a spar—why is she going all out?
After a full day of travel, on top of being dragged into late-night training, his patience was wearing thin.
"…If you insist, Anko-sensei," he said quietly,
"then I'll take this seriously too."
Despite forming seals later, Ruichi activated his jutsu faster.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Dozens of flaming projectiles arced through the air, sealing off Anko's escape routes.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A roaring fire dragon swallowed the phoenix flames and surged straight toward Ruichi.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A massive earthen wall rose from the ground.
BOOM—!
The fire dragon smashed into it, sending smoke and debris everywhere.
Anko's heart skipped a beat. Only now did she realize how far Ruichi's strength exceeded her expectations—and that she had already gone too far.
"Ruichi!"
She rushed forward—
—and hands burst from the ground, grabbing her ankles.
"Earth Release: Head Hunter Jutsu!"
The soil collapsed, dragging Anko downward until only half her body remained above ground.
Only halfway… because I'm stuck? No—!
In an instant, she unleashed Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, spreading them into the ground for leverage to stop herself from being fully pulled under.
Just as she tried to climb out—
"Water Release: Water Ripples."
The ground turned slick and muddy, slowing her movements and soaking her clothes.
Ruichi looked down at her calmly.
"Anko-sensei… if you don't surrender,"
"I'm switching to Lightning Release."
------
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