Having a Child Is Out of the Question

The little village was especially peaceful in the early morning, with the earthy scent of the countryside all around.

There was something about it that made people fall in love with its rustic charm.

But to Yang Xing, it meant nothing. He had no mood to admire his surroundings. He'd been cornered by Anko first thing in the morning, and now he stared at her straw-colored ponytail and the arrogant curve of her lips.

Yang Xing had a strange feeling that he was about to be defiled.

"I need to ask you for a favor. No, you have to do this for me." Anko braced one hand against the wall, her gaze resolute. "Teach me that last jutsu Orochimaru used."

"Yamete, I'm telling you, don't do anything crazy. I... What did you just say?"

"Teach me that powerful jutsu."

Once Anko had finished speaking, word by word, Yang Xing's expression changed. He snapped, "No. I wouldn't teach you even if you killed me."

Damn it, you made me get the wrong idea. As if I'd teach you.

That's right. I'd rather die than teach you.

"Then I'll trade you something else. I can exchange it for anything I'm capable of doing." Seeing how firm Yang Xing was, Anko didn't press him. She only smiled and said, "How about that? You shouldn't lose out, right? Just so we're clear, you can't ask me to do anything I'm incapable of."

"Really?" Seeing how serious she was—and hearing that she'd do anything she was capable of—Yang Xing couldn't help looking her up and down.

She wasn't even fifteen, but she was already well-developed, with curves in all the right places. "Bright and lively" was the perfect way to describe her.

Especially those two melons. Yang Xing couldn't take his eyes off them.

They were way too big for a fifteen-year-old!

"Why would I lie to you?" Anko nodded firmly.

Every ninja dreamed of learning powerful jutsu.

And Anko had seen Yang Xing's final Water Style technique. Its astonishing power had even defeated Orochimaru, so it was no wonder she was so eager.

Seeing how serious she was, Yang Xing scratched his head and looked her up and down as he muttered, "All right, then. Let me think. What can you do for me? Hmm, you could... Well, it seems like you can't do anything, and there's nothing I need, either."

"You jerk." Seeing Yang Xing spread his hands as if he truly didn't want anything, Anko got angry. She pointed at his nose and snapped, "You kissed me yesterday. Did you forget, brat? Don't tell me you're trying to deny it!"

Yang Xing: "..."

"On my honor, you kissed me." Yang Xing raised one hand and cried out in protest.

"Huh? Who saw it?" Anko pursed her lips and looked him over, a faint smile tugging at hers. "Fine, don't glare at me. How about this? Teach me the jutsu, and I don't mind if you just kiss me."

By the end, Anko's little face had turned adorably red.

Yang Xing's face, however, had gone dark.

Damn it, she was the one who'd kissed him. Why was she acting as if she'd been the one forced into it?

She was way too good at putting on an act.

If it weren't for the fact that it had been her first kiss, too, Yang Xing would have blown up at her.

"You're trading a jutsu for a kiss? You've got it way too good." Yang Xing's expression darkened. He didn't want to let her off that easily. It might be an ordinary jutsu, but he still had to put up a bit of a fight.

That girl had such a bad temper, after all.

"Then what do you want?" Yang Xing's words made Anko pause to think. For some reason, the moment she did, her face turned red, and she answered in an embarrassed voice, "Having a child is out of the question. We're still too young."

Yang Xing: "..."

"Ahem..." Yang Xing glared at her and cleared his throat. "I didn't say anything about having a child. I only meant, if you could let me... every day..."

He wore a wicked smile and made a grabbing motion.

Anko looked at him in confusion. "?"

"Are you messing with me?" Seeing how utterly puzzled she looked, Yang Xing thought she was playing dumb. He angrily turned away. "Forget it. I don't want to teach you anymore. I don't have time to stand around here with you. I still have to pack."

"Don't go, wait. I really don't know what you mean." Anko grabbed Yang Xing, still looking completely confused.

Looking at the innocent girl, Yang Xing could only sigh helplessly.

"All right, then. I'll demonstrate." Since she was so innocent, he should show her what he meant.

Yes, that was it—a demonstration. It was only an innocent demonstration.

So Yang Xing looked at Anko with a serious expression and raised his hands. They were about to touch her when a voice, neither loud nor soft, came from nearby.

"Yang Xing, there you are." Rin Nohara walked over, her expression calm. Looking at the two of them, she asked in confusion, "What are you doing here?"

Oh, no! My dream! My ambition! I... Damn it, I don't want to live anymore!

After a long moment, Yang Xing finally turned around with a wry smile. As Rin Nohara came running over, he could only rub his head and gaze at the sky. "Um, morning. The weather's nice today, huh?"

"Nice? There are so many clouds. The weather's awful." Rin Nohara looked up at the thick clouds, even more confused.

"Haha..." Yang Xing's smile stiffened. To cover his embarrassment, he awkwardly changed the subject. "Um, Rin, what did you need me for?"

"Mm, our jonin teacher told us to gather. We're leaving soon, and I noticed you weren't there." Rin Nohara spoke calmly, occasionally glancing at Anko.

Anko looked completely unconcerned, as if she hadn't just been caught.

She stood there lazily with her hands behind her head, clearly acting like none of this had anything to do with her.

Hearing that it was time to gather, Yang Xing didn't linger. Remembering that he hadn't packed, he hurried off. "We're gathering now? Wait, I haven't packed yet. I'll head back first."

He waved as he left the two girls behind and headed toward the inn where they were staying.

The atmosphere was quiet.

For some reason, neither girl left.

"Ahh!" Anko yawned, stepped forward, and spoke first. "Hey, Teacher Haru didn't tell us to gather, did he?"

Her gaze was sharp.

Rin Nohara's expression didn't change in the slightest. Her reply was equally crisp. "No."

"Oh, you admitted it so quickly." Anko furrowed her brows and pursed her lips. "So you've been watching from the start?"

Rin Nohara looked displeased, her little face utterly serious. "This has nothing to do with you."

Anko was annoyed, especially at being glared at by a girl her own age. Her little face darkened. "Hey, speaking of which, I called him over first."

"That's because you were trying to poach someone from another team."

"Little girl..." Anko gritted her teeth, looking ready to lose her temper.

Unfortunately, before she could finish, the other girl cut in.

"I'm only a little over a year younger than you. Don't call me that." Rin Nohara frowned, looking upset.

Anko was slightly taken aback. Looking at the girl before her, who seemed so different from before, she furrowed her brows but remained remarkably calm. "All right, then. Let's start over. I look forward to working with you."

She held out a hand, her gaze tinged with teasing.

"Hmph!" Rin Nohara gave a cold snort, turned, and walked away without the slightest intention of shaking her hand.

I hadn't noticed before. That girl seemed so well-behaved, but she had quite a personality.

Well, in this era, strong people were bound to be popular with a lot of girls.

But still, I'm not the sort to give up that easily.