Chapter 114: An Old Grudge with Anko

Two squads, eight people in total, marched back to Konoha from Training Ground 10 in a lively procession.

"Hey, isn't that Gai?" Anko, holding a skewer of dango in her hand, greeted them as she walked by.

"Oh, Anko!" Gai called out cheerfully before his gaze shifted toward Kamizuki Hikari, who was pretending to be a random passerby.

"And isn't this the Holy Light-sensei? Didn't expect—" Before Anko could finish her sentence, her vision blurred. In the next instant, Hikari appeared right in front of her and swiftly dragged her into a nearby alley before she could react.

Team Gai: ???

Ino-Shika-Chō: ???

The six young shinobi exchanged confused glances. Realizing none of them had a clue what was going on, they all turned their expectant eyes toward Maito Gai.

As Hikari's friend, Gai surely knew more than they did, right?

"Don't look at me, I don't know anything!" Gai hastily denied, though his face clearly screamed, I know, but I can't say. This only fueled the kids' curiosity further.

"Gai-sensei, just tell us! Hikari-senpai and that Anko-senpai seem really close!" Tenten said, her tone slightly sour.

In terms of looks, she wasn't afraid of comparing herself to Anko, but the mountainous peaks on Anko's chest were something most girls could only dream of achieving in their lifetime.

From what she knew, many men were fascinated by such… excess. And that fact annoyed Tenten to no end.

If she could, she'd want that too.

But right now, she was barely budding, just a smidge ahead of Ino.

"Uh…" Under the intense, curious stares of his students and the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, Gai felt this was more torturous than fighting Kakashi for three hundred rounds.

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"Anko, we agreed not to bring that up in Konoha!"

After pulling Anko into the alley, Hikari lowered his voice in complaint.

If this were any normal woman, being stared at so intently by Hikari would've made her heart race, maybe even blush and lower her head shyly.

But the woman in front of him was Mitarashi Anko—a woman more manly than most men.

"I did bring it up. What're you gonna do about it?" Instead of backing down, Anko met his intensity head-on, even boldly pushing her ample chest forward, forcing Hikari to retreat slightly.

When the enemy advances, we retreat.

Hikari took a step back, raising his hands in surrender.

"Nothing, I just wanted to remind you about…"

"About how someone once used me as the model for the female lead in a certain kind of book? That what you mean?" Anko grinned, but her eyes were as cold as a snake's.

"I did pay you hush money, and I changed the illustrations later!" Hikari defended himself.

Back in his younger, more reckless days, after getting familiar with Anko—who was always so bold and unrestrained—he had once considered taking their relationship further.

So when he was drawing illustrations for a book, he subconsciously used Anko's face and figure as reference.

And honestly, back then, sixteen-year-old Anko's looks and proportions were truly unrivaled in Konoha. Even Kurenai was flat-chested compared to her—there was just no contest.

But then…

Anko found out. Hikari had to cough up a hefty sum for her silence.

Most importantly, he was afraid she'd realize he'd been lusting after her, so he made up some excuse.

After that, their relationship remained decent, but Hikari completely abandoned any thoughts of pursuing her.

Honestly, Anko was too wild—always wearing fishnet undergarments, effortlessly stirring a man's desires.

As a responsible man, Kamizuki Hikari believed Anko was the type suited for a fling, not marriage. Her best friend, Kurenai, was the opposite—perfect wife material.

"Fine, fine, I was wrong. Can we please never bring this up again?" Hikari raised his hands in defeat.

"Sure, but you owe me a favor!" Anko smirked, wagging a finger in front of his face.

Hikari's expression shifted through several emotions before he finally nodded with great reluctance.

"Alright. You stopped me because you're lusting after my irresistibly handsome body, right? Fine, I'll come find you tonight. I'll make sure you're satisfied. Deal?"

"Deal your ass!" Anko's face flushed slightly at his shameless words.

"I'm asking for your help, not your body!"

"Oh…" Hikari relaxed, though a faint trace of regret flickered deep in his eyes.

"So you haven't been single for so long that you couldn't take it anymore?"

"You're the one who couldn't take it!" Anko looked him up and down like he was some exotic animal before nodding approvingly. "You're not bad-looking, and your body's decent. If you ever can't hold back, you can beg me, you know?"

"Pfft." Hikari scoffed. If not for the teasing glint in Anko's eyes, he might've actually believed her.

"Just tell me what you want. Don't tell me you're asking me to hunt down Orochimaru?"

"Don't mention him!" At the name Orochimaru, Anko's expression instantly turned cold, her killing intent making Hikari sigh.

"Fine, fine, I won't bring him up." Hikari reached out and ruffled Anko's hair like she was a kid.

"Tch, don't treat me like a child. I'm all grown up now!" Anko swatted his hand away, muttering under her breath.

Hikari's gaze inadvertently dipped to the creamy expanse of Anko's cleavage.

Yeah… definitely grown up.

The only one in Konoha who could outmatch Anko in that department was Tsunade.

Anko didn't notice his wandering eyes. Glancing at the row of heads peeking into the alley, she decided to cut to the chase.

"This isn't about me. It's about Kurenai…"

"Oh? Is she feeling lonely? If so, I'd be happy to oblige!"

"Get lost—wait!!" Anko glared at him before suddenly pausing, her expression turning dissatisfied. "Why are you so eager when it's her but so reluctant when it's me? Am I that much worse?"

"No, no! It's just that you're too much. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to satisfy you!"

"It's not about Kurenai being lonely. It's her former student, Kurama Yakumo. She's sick, and Kurenai wants Tsunade-sama to check on her. That's why I came to you."

"Wait, if you need Tsunade-sama, just go to the Hokage Building. I'm not her—"

"Don't play dumb. Everyone in the village knows you're Tsunade-sama's favorite. Sometimes you're more effective than going to her directly. Get it?"

"I don't get it!" Hikari couldn't believe this was how people saw him. Was his reputation in Konoha really this ruined?

And the worst part? It was all slander—not reality!

"I am a man of integrity! How could I possibly do such things?!" Hikari vowed to salvage his dignity.

Anko rolled her eyes so hard they might've gotten stuck. "Oh please, I know you way too well. Let me tell you—I absolutely believe this rumor. Because it's exactly the kind of thing you'd do!"

"You… that's bullying!"

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TL Note: Looks like a harem to me. Council of men! Should I add a tag? Decide!

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