Straw Horse Tail

Anko turned her head to glare at Yang Xing, but without saying a word, she leaped away again. However, the muttering at the corner of her mouth did not escape Yang Xing's ears: "Impossible, it couldn't possibly be that guy."

"Is she stupid?" Suspecting that Anko had been rained into a state of idiocy, Yang Xing followed closely behind and arrived in the village.

The rain was too heavy to continue traveling, so the group checked into an inn.

The room was comfortable and spacious; although the three of them were sharing it, it was quite decent. Besides, after being soaked by the rain, their bodies felt uncomfortable, and they needed to change clothes quickly—a hot shower would be best.

"Hey, aren't you two going?" Picking up his change of clothes, Yang Xing had intended to head to the inn's public bath, but out of curiosity, he called out to the two busybodies.

Kakashi was busy recording something with a pen and didn't even lift his head: "Hmm, I need to organize the route for the journey ahead, the one our jonin teacher taught me."

"Ah, ah, my clothes, I remember putting them inside. Where are my underpants?" The idiot Obito was rummaging through his luggage, as if he had dropped something.

Yang Xing sighed and headed downstairs alone.

Just as he reached the corner of the stairs before entering the lobby, he saw a familiar figure at the entrance. That vibrant ponytail was truly too eye-catching.

Anko Mitarashi wore a cold expression and didn't notice him behind her. She pulled open the door and stepped out without a second thought. It was nearly night, and the rain was still pouring down heavily.

It was obvious this girl was up to something.

"Where is she going? Well, I'm bored anyway, might as well go take a look." Setting his clothes aside for safekeeping, Yang Xing didn't think twice and followed her out.

Little did he know that the moment he stepped out, Rin Nohara, who had just walked out of the bathroom, saw Yang Xing's retreating back. She froze for a moment, bit her lip, and followed him without hesitation.

The rain drizzled down, making one feel incredibly irritable.

The raindrops hitting his body carried a stinging sensation; in any case, this feeling was unpleasant.

If he hadn't truly wanted to see what Anko was up to, Yang Xing wouldn't have bothered following.

The two moved one after the other. Yang Xing's speed was still a bit too slow; compared to her natural aptitude, Anko was a cut above him. At her current level, she was likely on par with Kakashi. With his speed, he could only barely manage not to be shaken off.

At least this way, he wouldn't be discovered, which was fine.

This girl is moving a bit fast. Well, I don't really want to catch up anyway, I'll just watch from behind. Could she be meeting an old acquaintance or a boyfriend? Yang Xing thought as he ran. Suddenly, a slight noise behind him made him turn around in immediate alert.

Thump!

"Who? Rin?"

Perhaps the road was too slippery, or perhaps she was too nervous, but Rin Nohara accidentally exposed her tracks and took a tumble, landing in the mud.

He hadn't expected this girl to follow him, and she clearly looked like she had just finished bathing.

Yang Xing felt a headache coming on. But as he looked at the girl lifting her dirty, tear-streaked face, the miserable expression on her features suddenly made him want to laugh.

"Hey, are you okay?" Yang Xing almost laughed out loud. Seeing her trying to climb up while wearing a helpless, bitter smile, he walked over and extended a hand.

Grabbing Yang Xing's hand, Rin scrambled up, her little face flushed red: "I-I'm fine."

Looking at the girl's blushing face, Yang Xing didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Tell me, why did you follow me?"

"The teacher is still in the room, where exactly do you think you're going?" Looking at Yang Xing, Rin straightened her expression, speaking as if it were only natural, and even sounding a bit angry.

"It's not about where I want to go, it's just... shh..." Yang Xing wanted to explain, but he heard a sound. Frowning, he grabbed Rin's small hand without a second thought: "Come over here first. And don't just run out like this right after changing clothes without being prepared."

Leading Rin away, and truly unable to bear seeing the young girl soaked by such heavy rain, Yang Xing draped his outer coat over her.

"Hmm?" Feeling Yang Xing's gesture, Rin's face turned even redder, and her heart couldn't help but race.

At this moment, Yang Xing didn't notice the ambiguity of the action at all. He only sensed something wrong ahead and immediately pulled Rin toward a nearby bush.

The two lowered their bodies and peered through the grass.

"Um, Yang Xing!" Rin fidgeted, her cheeks growing even more flushed. Although Yang Xing wasn't paying attention, the rain had soaked them, and the feeling of their skin pressing together as they huddled like this pushed the young girl's shyness to its limit.

She almost wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground.

Yang Xing, who was staring motionlessly ahead, had no idea there was a shy, adorable girl with soaked clothes beside him.

The person ahead was simply too captivating, leaving him with neither the time nor the mood to care about anything else.

"Shh!"

At this moment, not far ahead, a person stood on a tree branch.

Facing that person, Anko looked nervous, her face pale.

"Anko?" The person turned his head. The eyes hidden beneath the hood were cold and bloodless, like those of a snake, with a fixed, chilling focus: "It's been a long time. Three years... no, has it been over four years?"

The voice was extremely hoarse, sounding almost inhuman.

"You are... no, that's impossible. Who are you?" Looking at the person's face, Anko was stunned, her expression clearly unsettled: "Hey, your face... you bastard, what have you done?"

"Oh? What are you talking about? Am I not that teacher you respect most, Orochimaru?" Touching that smooth, fair-skinned face, Orochimaru smiled brilliantly.

Seeing this smile, Anko finally snapped: "You bastard, you really are doing those things! This body you have now isn't even yours!"

"As expected of my favorite disciple. It's such a pity you rejected me back then."

"Don't joke around." Waving her hand, Anko nearly ground her teeth to dust: "What are you doing here? This is near Konoha. Don't you know Konoha has a bounty on you? Don't blame me for not warning you—not only is the Third Hokage here, but the Fourth Hokage is as well."

"Oh? That legendary Fourth Hokage?" Orochimaru wasn't afraid; instead, he laughed. As the smile grew, he appeared to be in deep thought: "I really would like to meet him."

"You bastard, are you not afraid of death?" Looking at Orochimaru, Anko's voice trembled: "What exactly are you plotting?"

"Motives? Not at all. I have no intention of seeking revenge on a place like Konoha; I am simply here for a visit, nothing more."

"Who would ever believe a word out of your mouth, you bastard!" Hearing that he was merely visiting, Anko's expression grew uneven, unable to suppress the fury burning within her. She raised a hand toward Orochimaru, unleashing all the agony she had endured over these past few years: "Just go to hell and die!"

Her Shadow Snake Hand was executed with fluid grace, the snakes lunging forward with incredible speed.

Regrettably, Orochimaru stood upon the high ground, remaining completely motionless as he watched the snakes strike, a sneer of contempt playing on his lips.

"Anko, you have no idea who you are using these ninjutsu against. Have you forgotten? These techniques were all taught to you by me." His body moved with blinding speed, vanishing in an instant, leaving the snakes to bite at nothing but empty air.