"What are you laughing at?"
Anko burst into the tea room, throwing the door open without hesitation.
"It makes me happy to talk about it," I said with a grin.
"The child isn't qualified to know," I added, my expression turning serious.
"What? You're only one year older than me!" she shot back, crossing her arms in protest.
Ignoring me, Anko bounced over to Orochimaru, squatted down beside him, and tugged at his sleeve like an impatient kid. "Sensei, can you please tell me?"
"It's better if children don't know," Orochimaru replied, face unreadable.
I couldn't hold back a laugh.
Orochimaru didn't laugh out loud, he wouldn't risk denting the cold, untouchable image he had in Anko's eyes, but the hint of a smile flickered there all the same.
She was talented, no doubt, but generous to a fault, naïve in a way that made me think of bright paper-lanterns, beautiful, but easy to tear. There were things she didn't need to hear yet.
"What? Teacher, that's favoritism!"
Anko let go of his arm with a huff and plopped onto a cushion, sulking.
"Have you finished the training plan I gave you?" Orochimaru asked.
"Yes."
"And learned the jutsu I taught you?"
"All of them."
"Well done."
He reached out and ruffled her hair, and just like that, the pout vanished from her face. Her smile broke through like sunlight after rain.
Kindness really is a dangerous weapon, I thought.
Even the Uchiha, proud, and stubborn, remembered kindness when they saw it.
"By the way, senior brother," Anko said suddenly, "I ran into Kurenai on the way here. She told me to tell you — class reunion tonight, seven o'clock, BBQ, box number three."
"I understand," I said lightly.
"Sensei, want to test my progress?"
"No," Orochimaru said. "I trust you've followed my instructions."
"That's right! I think I'll be able to pass the Chūnin Exams soon."
She glanced at me then, her eyes narrowing with a spark of mischief. "But I still haven't seen how strong you really are, senior brother. How about you test me instead?"
I chuckled. So she's gotten stronger and now she's feeling bold?
"What do you think, Orochimaru-sensei?"
"Fine. But don't be too rough," he said, his tone so casual it immediately made Anko bristle.
"Don't underestimate me, Sensei! I know I'm not his match, he's a jōnin while I'm barely a chūnin, but I'm your disciple too. It won't be that easy for him!"
"Oh?" I said, and the look in my eyes only poured fuel on her temper.
"Just you wait! Let's go right now!" she barked.
Neither Orochimaru nor I moved. I simply formed the cross seal.
With a burst of smoke, my shadow clone appeared beside me.
"Let's go, junior sister," the clone said with a small smile.
"Really? Just a shadow clone?!" she snapped. "You think you can beat me with that?"
"Anko, you're a genius," the clone said, "but you're still young."
"Your smug tone is infuriating!" she growled. "If I beat your clone, you'll fight me yourself?"
"Yes."
"Good! Then watch me!"
They left for the nearest training ground — Orochimaru's home was deep in Konoha's core, and no one in their right mind used jutsu here.
I stayed with the real Orochimaru, the two of us drifting into an easy discussion about ninjutsu theory.
Fifteen minutes later, the door slid open.
My clone stepped in first, unruffled, spotless. Behind it, Anko dragged herself in, dusty, hair mussed, and a bruise blooming on her cheek.
With a puff of smoke, the clone vanished, its memories and chakra flooding back into me.
"Sensei!" Anko groaned, collapsing onto the cushions. "He's ridiculous! Taijutsu, genjutsu, ninjutsu... I didn't stand a chance!"
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Think about it, Anko. How could I call him your senior brother if he wasn't skilled? You're a genius. He's a genius among geniuses. Right now, his strength is first-rate even among elite jōnin. Against a chūnin? I'd be shocked if you won."
Her mood lifted immediately — it was the first time he'd ever comforted her like that.
"What are you doing?" she asked warily when I reached for her.
"Treating your injuries."
Green chakra bloomed in my palm as I began to heal her.
Her jaw dropped. "You… know medical ninjutsu too?"
"It's not that hard," I said, voice calm, eyes steady.
That seemed to crush her more than the spar. She slumped back, muttering something about never challenging me again.
Orochimaru didn't show it, but I could tell, he approved.
When I was done, I patted her shoulder. "Go wash up. I'll buy you your favorite dango and red bean soup later."
Her cheer returned instantly. "I'm going to eat you poor!" she shouted, darting off toward the bathroom.
Orochimaru and I exchanged a glance, sharing a small, knowing smile.
"Sensei, want to join us?" I asked.
He waved me off. "I'll pass. You young people enjoy food and shopping. When I relax, I prefer studying cells… chromosomes… RNA…"
The list of dense terminology rolled on until I frowned.
Can we not pretend?
He caught my look and let the list die with a smirk.
By the time Anko returned, hair tied back and eyes bright, she was bouncing on her heels. "Sensei, can you give me a new training plan this afternoon?"
"Only for a little while," he said. "I have work later."
She nodded eagerly, then turned to me. "Let's go, senior brother."
We bowed and left together.
Orochimaru watched us go, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
Two disciples like this… was hardly a bad thing.