"I… I really am restored!"
Isaribi still drank that vial of medicine.
After she took off the bandages, the scales that once covered her body fell away piece by piece, finally turning into fair, soft skin.
Isaribi immediately began to wail and cry.
Anko sat beside her, gently patting her back, patiently comforting her.
When her curse mark had been removed back then, she had the same kind of feelings.
Only at that time, because Aoba was beside her, she vented in a different way.
Of course, given her personality, she wouldn't really cry like that.
She would be the kind to go off alone, or find a corner with Aoba and gorge on dango for days.
In the end, that usually turned her into Mitarashi Anko.
Aoba stood quietly to the side watching.
"Aoba-sama, may I leave now?"
Not far off, Tayuya carefully asked.
Aoba was clearly a bit stunned, then smiled and said, "If you want to stay and join Konoha with me, that's not impossible."
Tayuya was also a little dazed by Aoba's words.
'Is this a recruitment?'
She immediately shook her head, "Then I'll leave first."
As one of Orochimaru's five strongest subordinates, she deeply understood how terrifying Orochimaru was. She could not betray him.
Now that her mission was complete, she chose to leave at once.
"Let me check your body one more time."
After Tayuya left, and once Isaribi's emotions had mostly calmed, Aoba looked at her again.
Although he had confirmed the vial was fine, another physical check would make him completely reassured.
"O… okay."
Isaribi wiped the tears from her face and obediently nodded.
After a not-too-complex examination, there were no hidden illnesses on Isaribi's body, nor had Orochimaru left any obvious backdoors.
The only unusual thing was that her physical constitution far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Probably the result of the experiments. After all, in the story she could directly turn into a fish-man.
Yes, not a mermaid, but a fish-man.
"No problem. Your body has completely recovered."
Aoba withdrew the hand he had placed on Isaribi's lower abdomen.
"Th… thank you."
Isaribi, face flushed, pulled her clothes down to cover her smooth, fair belly.
Anko watched silently, then slyly pinched Aoba's waist.
Although she knew this was a normal check, seeing it felt a bit strange.
"All right, next we set off to find that bastard Amachi!"
Anko clenched her fist, her face full of impatience.
After all, it was Amachi who, together with Orochimaru, implanted the Heavenly Curse Mark in her.
She wanted to beat Amachi down, that would be some revenge.
"Okay."
Isaribi agreed without hesitation. Her greatest wish, to become human again, had been fulfilled.
Aoba found a small boat nearby that could carry the three of them.
"The place where Amachi conducts experiments is ahead. It's called Jiro Island."
———
Half an hour later, Isaribi pointed to a small island not far off.
"Great!", Anko tightened her fist.
They disembarked, and under Isaribi's guidance they arrived at the island's experimental base.
But as soon as they reached the gate, four guards stopped them.
"Isaribi, they… huh? You've returned to normal?"
The young leader's eyes widened when he saw Isaribi with all the bandages removed and none of the fish-like traits remaining.
Isaribi hadn't spoken yet.
Anko snorted coldly and formed hand seals with both hands.
"Hmph! Don't waste words with them! I'm not bothering to explain, they don't deserve it!"
"Shadow Serpent Hand!"
She swept her sleeve and several venomous snakes shot out, rushing at the youths with extreme speed.
"Ah!"
Screams rose. Three of the four immediately fell.
"Enemy attack!"
The lone remaining youth slapped his hands together and suddenly hair sprouted all over his body, transforming him into a half-man, half-beast form.
He leapt up, thick arms grabbing at Anko.
"Hah, truly neither man nor beast."
Anko spun and kicked the youth in the belly, sending him flying.
He fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
Even if Anko lacked innate genius, she was still a bona fide jonin.
At that moment, more footsteps sounded.
Another group rushed out.
"You are… Mitarashi Anko?", Amachi involuntarily paused, a mocking smile on his face, "I didn't expect you, the one Orochimaru abandoned back then, to come looking for us."
"Abandoned?", Anko scoffed, "I refused to leave with Orochimaru of my own accord. You're the one who was truly abandoned."
"…"
Amachi froze, "You remember?"
"How pathetic."
Anko shook her head, "In Orochimaru's eyes, you had no value long ago. You dream on if you think you can use these stupid experiments to get Orochimaru's attention."
"Dammit!"
Amachi's body swelled, skin turning dark green.
What had been a human face sprouted red pupils and scales and fins, he became a green-skinned monster.
"Die!"
Amachi opened his mouth and spat out a water sphere.
Anko moved to strike, but someone was faster.
Chains danced wildly from behind Aoba, instantly binding this arrogant evil scientist into a bundle, and with him, his men were all one-shot killed.
"Aoba, I haven't even warmed up yet!"
Anko complained, looking displeased.
Aoba wiped her forehead for her, "Why do I feel your body is a little weak right now?"
"Impossible!"
Anko touched her forehead and indeed found a thin sheen of sweat, stubbornly claiming, "That's just sea spray stuck from earlier!"
Then she charged at Amachi, planning to prove herself with fists and kicks.
'There is no way I am weak, impossible!'
Though after a lot of exercise one might have wobbly legs, no one ever said the plow was ruined by a tired ox, right?
———
"Isaribi, do you plan to keep living in this village?"
Standing in front of the somewhat dilapidated hut, Aoba asked Isaribi's thoughts.
Isaribi hung her head. She didn't know where she could go.
The villagers' dislike of her had nothing to do with her oddities, they thought she was an ill omen.
Even removing the bandages wouldn't change her situation.
"In that case, why not come with us to Konoha?", Anko suddenly said.
"Eh?", Isaribi stared blankly, "Wouldn't that bother you?"
Perhaps because of the shared purple hair, or similar experiences, Isaribi felt a natural affinity toward Anko.
Anko put an arm around her shoulder and loudly declared, "No problem. From now on you're my little sister. With me in Konoha watching over you, no one can bully you!"
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