Kurenai called herself Big Sis because she was a little older.
Yugao called herself Big Sis because she had the longest hair and was the first one Cangwu had called "Sis."
Anko called herself Big Sis for the simple reason that she was the oldest.
To keep Anko from turning into Red Soybean, Cangwu had come up with a compromise.
Of course, once he got stronger in the future, he'd pluck out Snake Aunt's cursed seal, along with the chakra she'd left inside it.
Snake Aunt... For the sake of immortality... Well, you could also say she was afraid of dying.
She really had cut herself into piece after piece.
What was astonishing was that the consciousness of all these divided beings remained synchronized.
The only difference was that when one surviving body was active in the world, the others were asleep.
That explained why Anko loved sweets and other high-calorie foods.
The sun sank in the west.
Naruto and Sasuke lay on the bank, feeding the mosquitoes.
"I won, didn't I?"
"Idiot... You've said that so many times already."
"No matter how many times you say it, the result won't change."
"..."
As they argued, the two were about to get up and compete again.
But as soon as they stood, their legs went weak and their vision went black. They were about to topple into the lake together.
Suddenly, they felt themselves grow weightless.
"Let's settle the score tomorrow. You did well today. I'll turn in the mission tomorrow."
"Now... let's eat."
The two looked up and saw Cangwu's handsome face, wearing that familiar smile.
"Teacher Cangwu~!" Naruto's nose stung.
Sasuke turned his head away and spoke so softly he could barely be heard. "P-put me down..."
"You really are like the tsundere heroine in a romance novel." Cangwu had heard him perfectly well.
At that, Naruto's eyes lit up.
He opened his mouth, looking at Sasuke as if eager to try it out.
Sasuke glared fiercely at him.
"Sasuke~!"
"Naruto~!"
Sakura's voice came from a distance.
A moment later, the rustle of footsteps approached.
"What are you doing?"
"If we don't hurry, we won't make it to Teacher Cangwu's house..."
"Teacher Cangwu, you're here too?"
The moment Sakura noticed Cangwu, she froze in place.
"Won't make it for what?"
Cangwu smiled and walked over.
Sakura's face flushed bright red. She didn't know how to answer, so she just shook her head repeatedly.
She couldn't exactly say that Tenten had told her she'd already prepared a gift but hadn't found an excuse to give it to him.
Or that she was a regular at Cangwu's house and had often found excuses to drop by for a meal when she was little.
Sakura had only been there twice at most. How could she compare with me?
So after training, all she could do was glare as Tenten smiled and headed toward Cangwu's house...
This time, she'd decided to take the plunge.
She'd go with Sasuke and Naruto. That way, it wouldn't be awkward.
"Sakura-chan, don't be shy. Let me tell you..."
"So that's what it is!" Sakura's eyes immediately lit up when she heard Naruto out.
But soon, she started to hesitate again.
"But... you're the ones who completed the mission... I..."
"Team 7 is one unit!" Naruto reassured her.
Sasuke naturally couldn't be bothered to respond.
Not long after.
Sakura and Tenten exchanged a glance, then looked away at the same time.
Hinata?
Ino?!
You two come over that often?!
Tenten's gaze settled on Yūhi Kurenai.
Oh no... It's her... There've been too many missions lately, so I haven't had time to come back... Could she have stolen my home away from me?!
Yūhi Kurenai had long since gotten used to this. She confidently brushed a strand of hair back from her temple.
Suddenly, she realized something.
How come she hadn't seen Anko, that greedy girl, all day?
For some reason, her gaze drifted to the door of Cangwu's bedroom.
Locked?
Well, there it was. Anko had come over to sleep in again.
Meanwhile.
Cangwu took Naruto and Sasuke to the market.
Though exhausted, the two didn't dare slack off on Cangwu's task.
They each carried a basket of vegetables, watching Cangwu's back and the way his hand kept moving from one ingredient to another.
They silently prayed that he'd add this one and get more of that one.
Damn hands!
Don't go numb... This much weight isn't nearly enough!
"Cangwu?"
A deep voice suddenly called out.
"Asuma." Cangwu glanced to the side. It was Asuma.
He replied casually, then intended to walk past him and take the two kids home.
"I didn't expect you to make it out of the Ninja Academy and become a Jonin Instructor. We'll be colleagues from now on."
Asuma smiled and lit a cigarette.
Then he looked at the two kids.
"I heard you took on a whole week's worth of missions today. Can these little guys handle it?"
That single remark made Naruto and Sasuke even more annoyed with him.
They were already irritated at being held up before dinner, and now he was questioning Team 7's strength?
As luck would have it, a series of rather urgent coughs rang out just then.
"Cough, cough, cough... Cangwu... Asuma."
Cangwu was a little exasperated. First one, then another.
"Big Sis Kurenai, Big Sis Yugao, what are you doing here?"
Cangwu suddenly called out toward the distance.
Asuma and Gekko Hayate immediately turned to look.
"Kurenai?!"
"Yugao?!"
Their beloved women were nowhere to be seen.
When they turned back, Cangwu had already left with Naruto and Sasuke.
The two opened their mouths.
Then they heard Naruto laughing.
And Sasuke gave a scornful snort.
For a moment, they were left standing there, awkwardly frozen.
The smile on Asuma's face stiffened.
In the end, he scratched his head and could only leave, helpless and embarrassed.
He'd always considered Cangwu a rival in love.
But Yūhi Kurenai hadn't given him the slightest chance.
She was always looking out for Cangwu, never giving Asuma room to make a move.
Even when she did, Yūhi Kurenai barely spared him a glance.
Gekko Hayate was in much the same boat.
Lately, he hadn't even seen the face behind Yugao's mask.
Sword Technique?
After Cangwu had taken Kakashi to task that day, he'd gone out that very night to stop the rising star in his tracks and obtain White Fang's sword technique.
White Fang's sword technique was among the very best.
Even though Kakashi had been interrupted just as he was taking off, he still gave Cangwu his father's sword technique.
That left Hayate without even an excuse.
Before, he'd said he'd had some new insights, which might have given him a chance to see Yugao.
Now, he hadn't even reached the door before Yugao's sign turned him away.
"Cough, cough, cough... Sigh..."
Gekko Hayate sighed and could only leave dejectedly.
Naruto glanced back, then grinned mischievously.
"Teacher Cangwu, are they your rivals in love?"
"Look at that. They don't stand a chance against you at all, Teacher Cangwu~"
"Hahaha, just like Sasuke and me. Sasuke doesn't stand a chance against me either."
"Idiot." Sasuke couldn't even be bothered to roll his eyes at him.
Surprisingly, Naruto didn't fire back. Instead, he raised his eyebrows.
"Teacher Cangwu... Um... Who are Big Sis Kurenai and Big Sis Yugao?"
When Sasuke heard that, he silently moved a little farther away from Naruto.
Cangwu didn't answer.
Naruto kept chattering away.
"Let me guess. Big Sis Kurenai... She's the Jonin Instructor for the Eighth Squad, right?"
"Then who's Big Sis Yugao?"
"Let me guess. She must be the one from this morning..."
"Big Sis Yugao is right here~"
Before Naruto could finish, he suddenly felt something cold against his neck.
He looked down and saw a ninja blade pressed against his throat.
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