The streets of Konohagakure were bustling as Anko walked behind Mirai. Despite her best efforts to stay silent, she couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Hey! Where are you taking me?"
Without turning around, Mirai replied, "First, my name is not 'hey.'"
"Second, I already told you—we're going to find some allies for you."
Anko frowned. "Why do I need allies? I don't need any of those fake bonds."
Hearing this, Mirai stopped abruptly, his voice calm but firm.
"Because I don't have the time to babysit a little brat like you."
He paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Besides, these people have decent personalities. You should at least try to get along with them."
Anko bristled. "Can you stop calling me a brat? You're not that much older than me!" she muttered, then hesitated before asking, "Did Orochimaru really ask you to look after me?"
Mirai's tone was indifferent. "Do you think you have any other reason to meet someone like me?"
Anko froze in place, realizing the truth in his words. Mirai was a hero of the Third Shinobi World War and now the leader of the Konoha Police Force. She, on the other hand, was just a fresh genin—her only claim to fame being that her teacher was Orochimaru, one of Konoha's most infamous rogue shinobi.
If not for Orochimaru's personal request, there was no way someone of Mirai's stature would even acknowledge her.
"But… if you and Orochimaru had a good relationship, why didn't the ANBU arrest you for questioning?" Anko asked. After Orochimaru defected, anyone associated with him had been thoroughly investigated. Many were imprisoned—or worse.
Mirai smirked and raised his fist. "Simple."
"Because I'm strong enough."
Anko blinked, stunned by the bluntness of his answer. It sounded ridiculous, yet oddly believable.
She clenched her fists and muttered under her breath, "If I were strong enough, would Orochimaru still have abandoned me?"
Smack!
Mirai's palm landed heavily on the back of her head.
"For the last time, Orochimaru didn't abandon you. He entrusted you to me," Mirai said sharply. "So from now on, you're my responsibility. Stop acting like a sulking brat in front of me."
Rubbing her sore head, Anko glared at him. But despite the pain, her mood improved slightly.
He's right… Orochimaru wouldn't have handed her over to someone like Mirai if he didn't care. Mirai's help was clearly something rare and valuable.
They walked in silence for a while until Anko suddenly perked up.
"Wait a second!"
"What now?"
"I want to buy some dango!"
Mirai glanced at her and nodded. "Fine. I'll have some too."
Anko grinned. "No problem! My treat!"
At the sweets shop, Anko cheerfully called out, "Two sticks of dango, please!"
But before she could finish, Mirai interjected, "Make that ten sticks."
The smile froze on Anko's face. "Ten? Don't you think that's a bit much, Future-senpai?"
"Not at all," Mirai replied nonchalantly. "I have a big appetite."
Before she could argue further, the shopkeeper had already packed ten sticks of dango.
"That'll be 50 ryō."
Anko's shoulders slumped as she reluctantly opened her wallet. Handing over the coins, she muttered under her breath about her rapidly draining funds.
Carrying the bag of dango, Mirai walked off casually, leaving Anko to trail behind.
"Well, at least I get to eat dango…" she consoled herself, nibbling on one of her sticks.
Mirai, meanwhile, seemed entirely satisfied as he polished off his share. "Mmm… still as good as ever."
It wasn't long before Anko finished her single stick. "Future-senpai, can I have another?"
"Nope."
"Why not?!"
"I'm eating the other nine."
"That's so unfair!" Anko shouted. "Why'd you even make me pay if you're going to hog them all?"
"You were planning to buy just one stick for yourself, weren't you? Think of this as a life lesson—be more generous next time you treat someone." Mirai added with a smirk, "Besides, eating too many sweets isn't good for a girl. You'll get fat."
Anko stood frozen, fists trembling in outrage as Mirai walked ahead without a care.
He's insufferable! First, he makes me pay, then he doesn't even share, and now he's calling me fat?
"Future-senpai's personality is absolutely the worst!" she fumed, stomping after him. "How is he a hero of the Shinobi World War? He doesn't act like one at all!"
Meanwhile, Mirai's lips curled into a faint smile. Teasing her was surprisingly entertaining.
Their walk came to an abrupt halt when they encountered a crowd gathered outside a restaurant.
"What's going on?" Anko asked.
The villagers were murmuring among themselves.
"Another group of drunken shinobi causing trouble…"
"They smashed up the restaurant just because they didn't have enough money to pay!"
"It's awful. The owner tried to reason with them, and they went berserk."
"The Police Force is inside, but they don't seem to be able to do anything. Those shinobi must have some serious backing."
Hearing this, Anko clenched her fists. "Those jerks… why don't they go vent their anger on the battlefield instead of bullying civilians?"
Despite her anger, Anko hesitated to get involved. Orochimaru's first lesson to her had been simple:
Don't meddle in unnecessary matters.
"Future-senpai, let's just leave—"
Before she could finish, Mirai was already walking toward the crowd.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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