He withdrew his gaze from Anko.
The events that had just unfolded flickered through his mind.
Motomu hadn't expected that his presence would cause trouble to find its way to Anko.
She had almost been seriously hurt.
Fortunately, he had overheard that fat girl's arrogant shouting about her father being the Vice Chief of the Police Force.
This allowed him, driven by curiosity to see what the commotion was about, to arrive just in time and save little Anko.
Motomu was well aware of how to deal with bullying.
That fat girl was bound to come knocking again, and the trouble she would bring would surely be relentless.
He didn't know when Anko would become Uncle Snake's disciple.
He couldn't be by Anko's side forever.
If it were anyone else, a lecture with a firm attitude and some forceful punches would do.
Making someone submit was a simple matter.
But if that brat's father really was the Vice Chief, the usual methods clearly wouldn't work.
Motomu intended to take the most permanent, once-and-for-all approach.
That was also why he hadn't taught her a lesson earlier.
After all, Motomu had nothing to say to a dead person.
Without the enemy's knowledge, invisible and undetectable Psychokinesis was the ultimate tool for assassination.
He would release the Big Eyeball first. Once he reached a crowded area, the Big Eyeball would locate the target and carry out the assassination.
This was the solution Motomu had come up with on the way back.
"What happened to your eye?"
Anko, looking refreshed after her shower, looked at Motomu's bandaged right eye with concern.
"It's nothing, just a bit of eye strain."
Motomu waved his hand to show she needn't worry, then his gaze fell on Anko's loose purple hair.
"Wait, I think I have a hair tie somewhere here."
Motomu crouched down and pulled a wooden box from under the bed.
Moving aside two green vests, he found the small iron box containing his parents' belongings.
"Here, take this."
Taking the blue hair tie, little Anko asked curiously as she tied her hair.
"Motomu, you have short hair, though. Why do you have this?"
"My mom left it behind."
Little Anko's hands paused for a moment before she quickly finished the knot.
She then removed something from her own neck and handed it to Motomu.
"Your mother's things must be very precious to you."
"This is a protection charm left by my mom. In exchange, please take it, Motomu-kun!"
Seeing little Anko, who hadn't even cried when being bullied, suddenly getting watery eyes, Motomu felt a bit awkward.
He hadn't thought that far ahead. Since he had few memories of his parents, he had simply remembered he had a hair tie available.
Anko hung the pendant around Motomu's neck, her face blossoming into a smile once more.
"Hehe, Motomu, are we officially best friends now?"
"Are we still eating BBQ?"
"It's late; we might not get a table if we wait."
"Ah, right!"
"Then we really need to hurry!"
"By the way, aren't you going to call your brother along?"
Motomu's lips twitched as he replied helplessly.
"Him? He's been busy with some very important business lately."
Night fell.
The high-end street in the Hidden Leaf Village operated by the Akimichi clan was bustling with villagers and ninjas returning from missions.
Glancing at the sign for Yakiniku Q, Motomu led Anko inside.
There weren't many seats. A large table was occupied by some Uchiha, while the remaining small tables were scattered.
"Two portions, Boss,", Motomu said to the Akimichi man running the shop.
He then found a seat by the window with a folding screen and sat down.
Opposite him, little Anko's face turned bright red under the glow of the charcoal fire, while Motomu looked distracted.
His perspective was already focused on the Big Eyeball back at the clan compound.
After confirming no one was around, Motomu controlled the Big Eyeball to take flight and begin searching for the target's location.
But before he could find her in the compound, he stumbled upon a trace of her right here.
"Congratulations, Little Haru, on successfully entering the Ninja Academy."
"Haru is a true genius!"
"Father will definitely be proud of you..."
Motomu's focus returned to the present as he looked toward the source of the voices.
To his surprise, the person he had been looking for all over the clan compound was, by some stroke of luck, right here!
Looking at the fat girl with the bandage on her neck and the group of well-off clan children around her, Motomu mused on her luck.
At the same time, he was eighty percent sure she was indeed the Vice Chief's daughter.
"Looks like there won't be a chance today."
"What kind of chance are you waiting for, Motomu-kun?"
A mature, raspy voice entered his ears.
A figure in a green vest blocked Motomu's view. With his appearance, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Everything around them went silent for a moment.
"Orochimaru."
"It's Lord Orochimaru!"
The ninjas in the shop who had been on the battlefield immediately called out his name.
But Uncle Snake didn't respond to their shouts at all.
He calmly sat down next to Anko.
Meeting Orochimaru's golden, slitted pupils, Motomu's mind raced with countless thoughts!
Anko's master had finally appeared!
But he seemed to be looking for me as well, not just Anko!
Who was Orochimaru? He was the ultimate scientist of the ninja world, a man whose pursuit of immortality was as relentless as a certain someone named Fang Yuan.
Why did he call my name the moment he arrived? Could he have discovered my use of Psychokinesis?
Motomu's current mood was exactly like Light Yagami's when L came knocking on his door.
He felt completely and utterly exposed.
Seeing Motomu's lack of response, a smirk curled on the corner of Orochimaru's somber face.
"Motomu-kun, little Anko is the orphan of a comrade of mine. May I take her from you?"
Motomu glanced at Anko, who didn't seem to realize what was happening. His expression remained steady.
"Lord Orochimaru, what are your intentions?"
"I will adopt her and train her to be a proper ninja."
When Orochimaru said this, his eyes didn't linger on Anko for even a second. His gaze was fixed on Uchiha Motomu as if anticipating a reaction.
'This guy is definitely here for me!'
Seeing his ulterior motives, Motomu didn't need to guess any further.
Thoughts flashed like lightning, but Motomu spoke calmly.
"Oh. Sure, you can have her."
Orochimaru's tongue flicked out, excitedly licking the corner of his mouth.
"It seems Motomu-kun also has thoughts about becoming a proper ninja."
Damn it!
To hell with this! Which eye of yours saw me having such thoughts?!
Damn it, this terrifying predator is really here for me!
Motomu quickly looked at Orochimaru's wide, expectant eyes before immediately lowering his head.
'A high-level battle of wits?'
'Interesting.'
If he piqued this guy's interest, it was certain that he and the Big Eyeball had been spotted.
But just how much had he seen?
Motomu's mind quickly scrolled through his memories of the past two days.
The clan compound and the training grounds?
Unlikely.
If the sight of the Big Eyeball taking off had been witnessed, I would have been snatched up by an ecstatic Orochimaru and refined on the spot.