"No... No way!"
Anko stared at Yakumo in shock, completely speechless.
That was one of the Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru! Yet he was just taken down by a single glance from Yakumo. Could it be that Yakumo's surname wasn't 'Kurama' after all? Was her real name 'Uchiha Yakumo' instead?
"You're doubting whether I'm really Kurama Yakumo, aren't you?"
Seeing Anko's dumbfounded expression, Yakumo shook her head helplessly.
"Live well, alright?"
"In this shinobi world, simpletons as amusing as you are far too rare. It's a pity I'm not a man, otherwise I'd definitely have my way with you!"
Instinctively, Anko crossed her arms and looked at Yakumo warily.
A genjutsu-user... terrifying.
"Relax, I'm just kidding."
Since she had already revealed her true ability in front of Anko, Yakumo didn't plan to erase her memory.
"Don't go blabbing about what you saw today. If word gets out, I'll be swamped with trouble."
"If you do, I'll plant a genjutsu on you and make you serve as Hikari-senpai's maid!"
"I won't! I won't... Wait!"
Anko suddenly felt she had missed something.
She looked at Yakumo's calm expression and then thought of Kamizuki Hikari. Her heart itched like a cat was clawing at it.
It was unbearable.
"If you've got something to say, say it. If not, get lost. The way you're looking at me, anyone would think I did something to you," Yakumo sighed, seeing Anko's conflicted expression.
Now she somewhat understood why Hikari, despite his strength, always kept such a low profile—never acting unless it was truly necessary.
Yakumo didn't know many people. Among women, her best friend was Kurenai, and Anko ranked second—just below her.
But after learning about Yakumo's true power, even the carefree Anko couldn't help but change a little.
"I-I'm just scared, alright?!"
Seeing that Yakumo had no intention of casting genjutsu on her, Anko cautiously took two steps closer.
"Hey, Yakumo... Can I call you that?"
Yakumo lazily lifted her eyelids. "Call me 'Your Majesty'."
"Alright, Yakumo."
"I said, call—me—'Your Majesty'!" Yakumo drawled with exaggerated emphasis.
Anko's easygoing personality had already adapted to Yakumo's overbearing confidence. She simply sat down beside her—pushing Yakumo over a little to make room.
"Yakumo, what's your relationship with Hikari?" Anko asked, full of curiosity and a hint of envy.
If she had power like Yakumo's, she'd slap Orochimaru across the face the moment he appeared.
Unfortunately, at her current level, she'd probably be the one getting slapped instead.
"Our relationship? Hmm, pretty close!"
Yakumo brushed it off casually.
"I heard from Kurenai-sensei that you and Hikari-senpai got along well when you were kids. Why didn't you two end up together?"
Although Anko was brash and straightforward—unlike the gentle Kurenai—she had her own charms too.
Her 'assets', for example, were something Kurenai could never compete with.
"That guy's obviously a player! And he writes smutty novels! How could I ever like him?" Anko scoffed, recalling her impression of Hikari. "Besides, my goal has always been to surpass Orochimaru. Until I do that, marriage isn't even on the table."
"You don't have to get married to... do other things," Yakumo teased with a grin. "Anko-neesan, you're not getting any younger. Aren't you afraid you'll die all alone someday?"
"And if that happens, I'm not gonna take care of you in your old age!"
"Cut it out! Can't you say something nice for once?" Anko shoved Yakumo indignantly. "I'm a woman with goals, not someone like Kurenai who'll marry the first guy who shows up!"
"Are you sure you're not just saying that because no one wants you?" Yakumo shot back mercilessly.
Anko froze, staring at Yakumo's smirking face. Rage surged up inside her.
"You little brat! Get your butt over here—I'm gonna teach you a lesson! I'm Kurenai's best friend, and you dare talk to me like that? I'll make you pay!"
Yakumo didn't resist. Before long, Anko flipped her over and brought her palm down hard—
*Smack!*
"Ow! Kurenai-sensei! Anko-neesan's bullying me!"
Anko felt an almost childish excitement rise in her chest.
The thought of being able to spank the all-powerful Yakumo—it was exhilarating!
"Haha! Even if the Sage of Six Paths himself shows up, no one's saving you now!"
"Really?"
A dark, icy voice sounded right behind her.
Anko's raised hand froze midair.
Slowly, she turned her head to find Kurenai standing there, eyes blazing.
'Crap... this little brat set me up!'
"I don't know about the Sage of Six Paths, but I do know this—Anko, I was gone for only a few minutes, and you're already hitting Yakumo? If I stayed out longer, who knows what you'd do to her? Have I been too nice to you?"
Ignoring frozen Orochimaru nearby, Kurenai calmly grabbed Anko and pinned her to the sofa.
*Smack! Smack! Smack!*
Three heavy slaps landed in quick succession.
"Do you still dare?"
"No! No, I don't!"
Overwhelmed by Kurenai's authority, Anko could only grit her teeth.
She glanced at Yakumo, who was pretending to wipe away tears, and a fresh wave of frustration burned in her chest.
There was no way she was letting this slide! She, Mitarashi Anko, a famous figure in Konoha, had been outplayed by this brat!
But then she caught sight of a dazed Orochimaru—still standing helplessly to the side—and her anger instantly fizzled out.
If even he wasn't a match for Yakumo, what chance did she have?
"You can go home now," Kurenai finally said.
"And make sure to bring Yakumo some treats later as an apology."
Anko nodded frantically and, once released, bolted from the Yūhi residence clutching her rear. Anyone who saw her would've thought her pants were on fire.
"Hehe, thanks, Kurenai-sensei!" Yakumo said cheerfully, watching Anko's retreating back.
To her, disciplining Anko herself wasn't impressive—getting Kurenai to do it for her was the true victory.
After all, as a 'fragile' young girl, she could hardly be expected to fight back, could she?
"You really should be nicer to her," Kurenai said affectionately, poking Yakumo's forehead. "Anko is not exactly the brightest to begin with. If you keep messing with her, she might actually start questioning her own intelligence."
"Hehe."
Yakumo giggled and said innocently, "Alright, I won't tease her anymore."
"And don't ever pull something like this again. You're lucky I came back in time—otherwise, she might've really given you a beating!"
"Mm! I know, I know!" Yakumo said sweetly, pretending to be obedient.
But in her heart, she thought: 'If Anko really dared to hit me, I'd just use genjutsu to show her what a woman's "tenderness" truly means.'
Remembering how Anko had been too scared to visit Kurenai for days after their last genjutsu incident, Yakumo couldn't help feeling smug.
Mitarashi Anko? Hardly worth mentioning.
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