**Chapter 22: Another Encounter with Anko, Naruto's Counterattack**
"Naruto, Sakura, I've got the Scroll of Heaven."
Sasuke called out as he entered the cave where Naruto and Sakura were staying. He immediately noticed the fragrant aroma filling the air.
"Oh, Sasuke's here?" Naruto mumbled around a mouthful of fish.
*Gulp...*
Sasuke swallowed hard, his stomach growling in protest.
"Hungry? Come join us," Naruto said with a grin.
"I'm not hungry!" Sasuke huffed, secretly annoyed. *What's with that look? I won't let him mock me like this...*
"Really not hungry?" Naruto smirked. "Then I'll just eat the last one myself."
*Heh, serves you right for acting so high and mighty...* Naruto thought smugly.
"What? The last one?" Sasuke roared, snatching the fish from Naruto's hand with astonishing speed.
"Uh..."
Naruto stared dumbly at Sasuke, who was sitting on the ground, Sharingan activated, devouring the fish. "Just for a fish? You really had to use your Sharingan...?"
"Alright, I'm stuffed! Let's get going!" Naruto patted his full belly, burped contentedly, and stood up, ready to leave.
"Damn it, I'm still hungry!" Sasuke glared at Naruto, his face twisted with displeasure.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sasuke abruptly formed a hand seal and unleashed a Fire Release technique into a nearby stream, maintaining it for several minutes.
"Uh... what are you doing?" Naruto stared at Sasuke, utterly bewildered.
*Swish! Splash!*
Sasuke grabbed several fragrant fish from the now-boiling water, their aroma filling the air. He buried his face in one, took a bite, and mumbled through a mouthful, "Let's go..."
"Uh..."
Naruto was stunned by Sasuke's actions. "Even though you cooked it perfectly... you didn't even scale it or gut it..."
A shiver ran down Naruto's spine as he gave Sasuke a disgusted look. "Sasuke, you're seriously gross."
"We're in the wilderness now. We need to learn how to survive!"
Sasuke, his face utterly serious, held the Water-Boiled Fish aloft, Chakra swirling around his hand.
"Uh..."
Naruto was speechless, his face a picture of defeat.
"Hey, Sakura, do you think we're the first ones to reach the tower?" Naruto turned to Sakura beside him.
Sakura kicked off the tree trunk, propelling herself forward. She glanced sideways at Naruto, snapping irritably, "How would I know? Seriously, stop asking such childish questions!"
"Sakura, you're so mean! You hurt me again..." Naruto whined, his face a mask of "wounded" innocence.
"Stupid Naruto, take that creepy look off your face!" Sakura shuddered violently, quickly distancing herself from him.
"Is it really that bad? It was just a little joke..." Naruto stared after her, speechless.
"Little brat? What a coincidence! We meet again!"
A shrill voice startled Naruto so badly he nearly fell out of the tree.
"How... it's you?" Naruto stammered, facing Anko, who had suddenly appeared before him.
"Why wouldn't it be me?"
Anko glared at Naruto. "You brat, it seems you still need some discipline..."
"Proctor, what are you...?" Sakura, who had rushed to Naruto's side, looked at Anko with confusion.
"Did you obtain the Scroll of Heaven and Earth?" Anko asked Sakura.
"Yes, we already have them," Sakura nodded.
"Good. Naruto and I have some business to discuss. You two go ahead. I'll take Naruto to the tower later." Anko said to Sakura and Sasuke, who was standing nearby.
"Oh, okay then. Naruto, give me the Scroll of Earth." Sakura held out her hand to Naruto.
"Naruto, hurry and give the Scroll of Earth to your teammate..." Anko said softly, nudging Naruto.
"Oh."
With a gloomy expression, Naruto handed the Scroll of Earth to Sakura, but he hesitated to let go.
"Naruto, let go!" Sakura looked at him, puzzled by his tight grip on the scroll.
"Oh, right..."
Reluctantly releasing the scroll, Naruto watched Sakura and Sasuke dash away into the distance, his face filled with reluctance.
"Little brat, now it's just the two of us again," Anko said, her smile widening as she emphasized the word "again."
"W-what do you want?" Naruto stammered, backing away until his back pressed against something hard—a tree trunk. He realized he had nowhere left to retreat.
"What do you think I want?" Anko purred, closing the distance between them. "What could I possibly want...?"
*Swish!*
A flash of cold steel revealed another kunai in Anko's hand.
"D-don't do anything rash..." Naruto pleaded, his voice trembling as he stared at her face, now inches away.
"Alright, let's get down to business. Answer me truthfully!" Anko said, casually pressing the kunai against Naruto's neck. Her soft lips parted slightly. "Do you know what happened there?"
"There?" Naruto feigned ignorance.
"Little brat, you're not being a good boy..." *Swish!*
Though her voice remained gentle, the icy kunai sliced across Naruto's cheek in an instant.
"Ugh... Look... more blood..."
Anko leaned in, licking away the blood beads from Naruto's cheek. She whispered close to his ear, "I just received a message from Lord Hokage. It turns out you were the one who caused all that destruction. Oh my, I can hardly believe it. You little brat is actually this strong? So, I came to confirm it myself."
"Alright, I admit it. I did it," Naruto nodded weakly in acknowledgment.
"Good boy. Now, where did that bastard Orochimaru go?" Anko's voice remained soft, but the kunai in her hand continued to dance across Naruto's face.
"He went..." Naruto paused. "Why should I tell you? *Swish! Crack, crack, crack!*"
The moment Naruto finished speaking, countless branches rained down from the tree where they stood, ensnaring Anko in a tight embrace.
"Wood Release ninjutsu?" Anko's heart leaped in alarm. "Isn't this a technique only the First Hokage, with his Bloodline Limit, could use? How could this brat possibly know it?"
"Heh heh, surprised?" Naruto snatched the kunai from Anko's hand, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Either explode in silence, or perish in silence!"
This was the truest reflection of Naruto's nature.
"W-what do you want?" Anko asked, her voice tinged with panic as she watched Naruto's kunai-wielding hand move restlessly.
"Heh heh, what goes around comes around..." Naruto chuckled, stroking Anko's smooth, supple cheek. "Now it's my turn to do something to you..."
..........
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(End of Chapter)