"What are you two laughing about?"
"Tell me so I can have a laugh too."
Anko hurried into the house, yanked open the tea room door, and said bluntly.
"Children aren't qualified to know." Uchiha Gen said with a stern face.
"What? You're only a year older than me."
Anko grumbled unhappily, then ran over to Orochimaru, crouched beside him, and tugged at his arm. "Sensei, tell me, okay?"
"Children are better off not knowing." Orochimaru remained unmoved, his expression blank.
"Hahaha..."
Uchiha Gen laughed without the slightest shame. A smile also appeared on Orochimaru's face, though he did not laugh aloud. That would damage his image in Anko's eyes.
Though Anko possessed ninja talent, her nature was bold and innocent. Her impression of him only remained at the surface level. There were some things she was not suited to know, or they would only add to her troubles.
"What? Sensei is playing favorites!"
Anko released Orochimaru's arm in a huff and plopped down.
"Anko, have you completed the training plan I made for you?"
"Have you learned the ninjutsu I taught you?"
"I completed everything, and I learned the ninjutsu too."
"Good job."
With that, Orochimaru gave her a head pat.
Anko instantly threw her earlier unhappiness to the back of her mind, and her tense face blossomed into a smile.
Watching this, Uchiha Gen sighed inwardly. Gentleness really was a powerful weapon.
In truth, the Uchiha Clan was especially susceptible to gentleness. When others treated them gently, they might look disdainful on the surface, but they remembered it all in their hearts.
"Oh, right, Senior Brother. I ran into Kurenai on my way here."
"Kurenai asked me to tell you to go to private room three at Barbecue Q at seven tonight for the class reunion."
"I know,"