"Humph!"
Anko shot Evan a sideways glare. "Kushina-senpai wants to see you. She told me to bring you."
─━_─━?
As she spoke, Anko unconsciously straightened her back and lifted her chin—puffing up proudly like a tiny, smug hen.
Evan… couldn't help glancing once, twice, three times—
Mm.
Yes.
She certainly had the assets to be proud of.
But Kushina?
Evan's eyes brightened.
Had the little pregnant woman finally come around?
At this moment, the young widow defeated the little loli completely.
"I see. Then let's not waste time," Evan said.
He took two steps forward and grabbed Anko's wrist directly.
"Huh?" Anko blinked, stunned.
So urgent?
But Evan had already pulled her forward, striding rapidly.
"H-hey! Let go!"
Anko's face flushed instantly. She tried to wrench her hand free.
Evan's smile turned sly.
"What? You're too slow?" He looked at her fair cheeks. "Then hold on tight."
Before she could react—
Boom—
His feet flashed, body shooting off like a ghost.
"Ah—!"
Caught off guard, Anko's small figure was instantly yanked forward like a fluttering banner, whipping behind him as they shot through the forest.
The violent weightlessness forced her to grab onto anything she could—
Which, unintentionally, meant climbing onto his back bit by bit.
"Stop—! You're too fast!"
"What? Still too slow?"
Evan surged forward again, accelerating.
"You bastard!"
Now she finally understood—he was doing this on purpose.
[Hatred Value from Mitarashi Anko +1000]
Wind roared past her ears. Anko grit her teeth, furious.
His speed was terrifying…
So fast that even she, a trained kunoichi, didn't dare "jump off the ride."
All she could do was cling tightly to his back.
While her mind trembled at his speed, she accidentally glanced at the sharp, handsome profile beside her shoulder.
Something in her chest trembled—
Damn it, he was still so handsome.
And… this back…
It still felt as safe as it did back on the battlefield…
Everything between them began there—after Orochimaru took Evan in as a disciple.
Back then, Mitarashi Anko had arrogantly puffed up her still-not-quite-grown chest and declared, "Stick with me, kid! Big sis will protect you!"
But all she ever got in return was Evan's indifferent:
"Idiot."
Which made Anko explode in anger every single time.
Their grudges built just like that.
Until one day…
Her squad was ambushed deep in enemy territory. Nearly wiped out.
Surrounded by over twenty ninjas.
For the first time, snake-loving Anko tasted true fear of death.
Just when she had nearly accepted her fate—
A strange flying sword screamed from the sky, and in an instant—
Twenty-plus enemy ninjas were annihilated.
Including several jōnin—one strike, one instant.
It shocked Anko to her core.
She stood frozen, numb…
Then a large hand landed on her head, ruffling her hair into chaos.
She remembered it clearly:
The young boy had smiled and said,
"Little girl, call me big brother."
And like she was possessed, she had whispered,
"…Big brother."
Now—
"Evan!" Anko hissed, embarrassed and angry.
"Hm?"
Evan slowed slightly. "What, you grew up and don't call people anymore?"
He bounced her upward a little on his back.
Evan internally sighed—
Yeah. She'd definitely grown.
Anko felt his movement and blushed scarlet.
This man was impossible…
But it had been so long since she'd seen him.
And the warmth of his back—this safety—made her bite her lip and lean down again.
After Orochimaru's betrayal, this comfort had turned into something dangerously close to dependency.
"…B-Big brother," she whispered shyly.
"What was that? Didn't hear you."
"Evan—you're enough!"
"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you," he chuckled. "Little girl can't take a joke."
"Hmph!" she snorted, then suddenly remembered something. "Right, what did you do to make Kushina-senpai so mad?"
Kushina had asked for him, yes—
But Anko had clearly seen the fury in her eyes.
Evan snorted inwardly.
I showed her my true face, that's all.
"She probably likes me," he said casually, thinking of the peach-sweet scent of Kushina's chakra.
"Peh! As if!"
Anko scoffed instantly.
She paused, then muttered:
"Anyway… Kushina-senpai also told me something about you."
"Oh? What'd she say?" Evan asked.
"She said you're the future of the Leaf but…"
"But?"
"…she doesn't like you. And she told me to stay away from you."
"Hahahahaha…"
Evan couldn't help laughing.
Of course Kushina didn't like him—he'd deliberately let her see his true nature.
"If she told you to avoid me, why are you still clinging to my back so obediently?" he raised a brow.
Anko's cheeks reddened again.
"We're… we're fellow disciples. And your good points… only I know. It's just…"
"Just what?"
"…Be more serious," she muttered shamefully.
It had been a while, and somehow he'd gotten even less "serious"…
[Hatred Value from Mitarashi Anko +100]
"Anko."
"What?"
"Come to my house tonight."
Anko instantly tensed. "Why?!"
"Don't you love snake-style ninjutsu?" Evan's eyes gleamed. "I have something at home you'll definitely like."
"Huh? I thought you hated her snake techniques?"
"Come and you'll see."
"…Fine."
She agreed, already imagining what mysterious snake technique he had found.
"Anko, do you know what tongues are used for?"
"Huh? Talking?"
"And besides that?"
"…What else?"
"Idiot. Obviously—they're used for teasing."
"Ah—!"
By the time they reached Kushina's home, Anko's face was crimson. She slid off Evan's back reluctantly, as if parting from a warm bed on a winter morning.
She smoothed her clothes, then knocked.
Kushina—belly full and round—opened the door.
The moment she saw Evan, her expression turned cold and stormy.
"Come in."
Her voice was flat.
Even Anko flinched.
What did this guy do to make Kushina-senpai look like she wants to strangle him…?
The house was cozy. Minato was nowhere in sight—probably still being a faithful little office dog in the Hokage's room.
"Anko, thank you." Kushina turned to her. "Wait in the living room. I need to speak with Evan."
"O-okay…" Anko nodded.
Kushina then faced Evan again.
He lifted a brow at her, expression full of mischief.
"You—"
Kushina's fists clenched. Her phoenix-eyes were complicated, furious, conflicted.
"…Come with me."
Without waiting, she turned and walked into the bedroom.
Evan shrugged at Anko, then followed.
Click.
The door shut.
The instant it closed—
Evan wrapped his arms around Kushina's slightly swollen waist.
"Missed you, big sister."
….
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