Afternoon.
Fire Source City Mansion.
After school, Shishou parted ways with Ino and Hinata and returned home. After reverting to his normal size, he immediately came here.
Perhaps because he had absorbed and integrated some of Hashirama's cells and many of Yamato's clones, Shishou's use of the Mangekyou Sharingan caused much less damage to his eyesight now. Using it a few times a month was not a problem.
Just as he stepped out of his room, Shishou saw Anko Mitarashi tied to a large tree in the courtyard.
At this moment, Anko, possibly because she had been out in the sun for too long, was hanging her head, looking weak and listless.
"Uh..."
Looking at the tightly bound Anko, Shishou was puzzled.
"What happened here?"
Shishou walked up to Anko and asked.
However, Anko did not respond.
Shishou grabbed her chin and lifted her head.
He discovered that Anko had fallen asleep...
She had fallen asleep...
This girl is too carefree!
"Shishou."
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto passed by and saw Shishou, walking over and gently calling out.
"Why did you tie up Anko?"
Pinching Anko's somewhat squishy cheeks, Shishou asked Mikoto.
Mikoto, seeing Shishou's actions, was a bit speechless and slapped his hand away from Anko's face.
Then, Mikoto smiled and said, "When Anko woke up, she saw those Root ninjas who were also imprisoned and wanted to fight and kill them."
"Pakura is in charge of guarding those people now, so she wouldn't let Anko succeed."
"Afterwards, the two started fighting."
So, Anko was tied up here by Pakura as a punishment...
Shishou looked at Anko with a bit of pity. Pakura was a renowned elite Jonin from the Sand Village and even had the potential to compete for the position of Kazekage.
Among the people around Shishou, besides Shishou himself, Pakura was the strongest.
Even Uchiha Mikoto, who possessed the Three Tomoe Sharingan, wasn't a match for Pakura.
Although Anko would become a special Jonin in a few years, she was currently only at the Chunin level.
In Pakura's hands, she wouldn't last a few rounds.
Failure was almost inevitable.
"Let's go, let's check out the dungeon."
Together with Mikoto, Shishou went to the dungeon and saw the Root ninjas.
Pakura had thoroughly restrained these Root members, making sure they couldn't move or escape.
These people were all awake, and seeing Shishou and Mikoto elicited no reaction.
They had been trained by Danzo to be tools in the truest sense, so Shishou had no intention of saying anything to them now.
He planned to think of a way to deal with them later.
He certainly didn't believe that a mere show of dominance would make them obedient.
Looking around, Shishou didn't see Pakura.
"Pakura has gone to train," Mikoto said, noticing Shishou's actions.
Shishou nodded, understanding Pakura's dedication to training.
After leaving the dungeon, Mikoto went off to prepare dinner.
Shishou wandered around for a while and found that Anko had woken up and was now idly watching the sunset.
"In your current situation, you still have the mind to enjoy the scenery."
Standing in front of Anko, Shishou smiled and spoke.
"Precisely because of my current situation, I have to seize the time to enjoy the scenery."
Anko glanced at Shishou as if looking at an idiot.
Of course, Anko felt so at ease mainly because she knew Shishou wouldn't harm her.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have rescued her.
Ignoring Anko's gaze, Shishou joined her in watching the sunset.
"You and the Root members have been abandoned. What are your plans now?"
"Who would believe your words?"
"Heh, Danzo has returned to Konoha and has even abandoned those Root members. How long do you think you'll survive in Konoha?"
"The Third Hokage will protect me."
"The problem is, you might be killed by Danzo's Root members before you even see the Third Hokage."
"That's just your speculation."
"Heh, if you go back, you'll definitely die."
The more Anko listened, the more wrong it felt. She looked at Shishou and asked, "Are you trying to recruit me?"
Hearing this, Shishou was taken aback, then smiled.
"Is my intention that obvious?"
You might as well have it written on your face.
Anko thought to herself, looking at Shishou with firm resolve.
"I will never betray Konoha."
Shishou raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected Anko to be so loyal to Konoha.
Considering she was a disciple of the rogue ninja Orochimaru, she must have faced a lot of ostracism in Konoha.
Indeed, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Shishou chuckled.
"Looks like I underestimated you before."
Anko looked at Shishou with some pride, saying, "Of course."
The next second, Shishou squatted in front of Anko, removing one of her shoes and socks.
He picked up a leaf from the ground and rubbed it.
"What are you doing?" Anko wiggled her bare toes, looking puzzled.
Shishou grabbed Anko's foot and started tickling her with the leaf.
"Hahaha..."
"Stop it..."
"Hahaha...it tickles..."
Anko laughed uncontrollably, struggling to get away.
However, she was tied to the tree and couldn't move, only able to watch as Shishou continued tickling her.
"Will you join me?"
"Hahaha...no way...hahaha."
"Will you join me?"
"Hahaha..."
But Anko was too busy laughing to answer Shishou's question.
"Not speaking? Looks like it's not ticklish enough."
Shishou said and removed the other shoe and sock, starting to tickle both feet at the same time.
"Hahaha...stop...hahaha..."
Anko's toes curled, and her soles arched, unable to do anything but laugh.
A few minutes later.
Shishou stopped tickling.
Anko stopped laughing, panting heavily, covered in sweat, and completely exhausted.
"Please, stop."
"I'm out of strength."
While catching her breath, Anko weakly said.
Shishou brushed her sweaty hair off her face and smiled.
"So, will you join me?"
"If you go back, you will really die."
Hearing Shishou's words, Anko shook her head again.
She would never betray Konoha.
"Heh, then don't blame me."
Shishou squatted down, ready to continue.
"Hahaha..."
Anko's laughter echoed again.
"Tsk tsk, what a pervert!"
Pakura, who had come to untie Anko, saw the scene and clicked her tongue, turning to look for Mikoto.
She couldn't beat Shishou, so she couldn't help Anko either.
Shishou stopped again and looked at the exhausted Anko, smiling.
"I can tease you all day long."
"Note: You can read up to chapter 240 and beyond at patreon.com/Betek."