Anko: This Guy... Is Dangerous!

As the most recognized safest place in the Ninja World, Konoha's nights are mostly peaceful and tranquil.

For Kou, however, this night was truly exceptionally difficult.

First, they searched Sasuke thoroughly but couldn't find any trace of Indra's Chakra. Then, they confirmed with Naruto that Asura Chakra was also missing. They also unexpectedly learned that Minato and Kushina were still alive.

Finally, he happened to run into the girl he knew least how to face.

Under the dim streetlights, recalling these completely unexpected "accidents," I couldn't help but feel a wave of weariness.

"Sigh, tonight... everything's just not going right."

He sighed silently in his heart, then looked at the girl in his arms who was burying her face in his chest and whose body was still trembling slightly. A complicated thought flashed in his eyes.

How should I face Anko next?

Will he continue wearing that mask of saying one thing to one person and another to another, smiling and fooling her, or...?

"What, what on earth is going on?!"

Just as Koko was lost in his own thoughts, Naruto had been left out for a while, finally couldn't help but voice his doubts.

Just as he was about to ask Anko, who was still buried in Kou's chest, something, Anko, who had been keeping her face firmly buried in Kou's chest, suddenly called out in a deep voice:

"Naruto! Let's go, get out of here as soon as possible!"

"Kakashi and Kurenai should be nearby. Go find them and bring them here—quick!!"

She abruptly raised her head, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at the handsome face so close to hers, and growled in a hoarse voice:

"This guy... I'll handle him!"

The moment she finished speaking, several thick pythons suddenly sprang out from Anko's sleeves without warning!

The snakes were dark brown all over, their dense scales gleaming coldly under the streetlights.

Almost instantly upon appearing, they firmly bound Kou to the spot!

The snake's head rose high beside Kou's body, several pairs of cold, vertical pupils fixed on his neck.

Kou looked down at the large snakes that had suddenly coiled around him, then looked down at the girl who was staring intently at him, her eyes red-rimmed but her teeth clenched, without the slightest surprise in his eyes.

The moment Anko ran into his arms without saying a word, he had already seen through her entire plan.

after all--

"Under normal circumstances, this girl should have punched me without saying a word..."

Kou, quite self-aware, mentally complained, then calmly looked at Anko, who was staring intently at him, and said with feigned helplessness:

Orochimaru's signature Ninjutsu, Snake Gaze Binding Spell?

"Your way of welcoming me after such a long separation is quite unique, Anko."

Anko bit her lower lip tightly, reluctantly loosening her grip on Kou's back little by little.

She took a half step back, rubbed her reddened eyes vigorously, and gave a cold snort of annoyance:

"Hmph! You're just a missing-nin, yet you have so many demands! Do you expect me to hug you and wail my eyes out?"

She cried as she asked, "Why did you defect from Konoha without a word? Why didn't we hear from you for five whole years?!"

Anko was complaining angrily, but her voice choked up uncontrollably:

"What, what are you talking about? I'm not that pathetic!"

Who, who would cry for you, you damned bastard!

"... You're already crying."

"No! I didn't cry, I just got sand in my eye!!"

"Still being stubborn."

"You think you can be so stubborn?! Have you even tasted it before you say it's tough? All you do is whine and complain!"

Kou's lips twitched violently, and he couldn't help but complain:

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm telling you, you're a nineteen-year-old virgin, not some little kid. You can't just say things like that to someone of the opposite sex."

"It's so annoying! After all these years, you're still the same old lecturing person. Are you even my dad?!"

Anko's fair face instantly flushed red. She glared fiercely at Kou, and as if she had nothing to lose, she shouted almost in despair:

"And what's more! I've only ever said that to you!!"

Hearing Anko's almost self-destructive statement, Kou felt a bit awkward and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Although during the time he and Anko pretended to be a couple, he vaguely sensed that Anko's "brotherly feelings" for him seemed to have subtly changed without him realizing it.

But he never imagined it would develop to this extent!

Kou looked at the Anko with a strange expression, and sighed heavily in his heart:

"I originally thought that after so many years, those youthful and innocent feelings should have faded away with time, but now it seems... I was wrong."

This is really a big problem!

He, Uchiha Kuro, after reaching the level of Super Kage, finally faced the most severe crisis of his life!!

While Lao Kou, who had been single for twenty-two years, was still quickly pondering how to properly respond to this heavy affection from Anko, Naruto was eating melon seeds until he was almost bursting, could no longer suppress the burning curiosity in his heart.

"Wow, Sister Anko is so bold! This should already count as a confession!"

Naruto stared at Anko with shining eyes, and, never one to shy away from a good show, shouted:

"Hey, Sister Anko, you really do know Brother Kou, right?"

How did you two meet? Who exactly is he? How did you fall for him...?

"Who, who would like this guy?!"

Before Naruto could finish speaking, Anko turned around angrily and shouted at the blond brat who was still jumping into her sensitive areas:

"This guy is just a little bit handsome, a little bit considerate, and a little bit nice-talking, isn't he?"

He's usually carefree and irresponsible, but he's incredibly reliable when it matters most, always appearing by my side when I need him most.

Did she bring me my favorite dumplings just because I was in a bad mood?

This guy only has this one tiny, insignificant redeeming quality, who would like someone like that?!

"Uh... you've already told me everything, Sister Anko."

As Naruto heard the barely suppressed laughter coming from Minato and Kushina in his mind, the smile on his face could no longer be maintained.

"Hahaha, hahaha!!"

He clutched his stomach and laughed so hard he rolled around on the ground.

Anko blushed instantly as she looked at Naruto, who was laughing heartily in front of her.

"Don't laugh, you brat! That's an order!!"

"I'm sorry, sir! This is far too difficult; I can't do it!"

Anko's face darkened as she looked at the little Demon Pill who completely disregarded her.

"If you don't shut up, I'll go and talk to all the dango shops in Konoha and make sure they never allow you or your brats to use my VIP membership card again!"

Hearing Anko's threatening words, Naruto's eyes instantly cleared.

He covered his mouth tightly and nodded frantically at Anko.

Looking at Anko, Naruto had finally calmed down, Anko sighed wearily.

She immediately turned her head back to Kou, and the expression on her face, which still had a slight blush, had become serious again.

Naruto, listen to me!

Now is not the time for pranks, let's go find Kakashi and the others as soon as possible!

Looking at Kou's still calm and hateful face, Anko continued in a complicated tone:

"Although I do know this guy and we're quite close, he's now missing-nin and a member of the Akatsuki!"

He's now... a dangerous person!

"This is a sensitive time for the Mist Village delegation's visit to Konoha. This guy's infiltration of Konoha at this critical juncture can't possibly be just a simple visit to see us old friends."

With a hint of reluctance, Anko shifted her gaze from Koko's face to Naruto's still somewhat bewildered little face, and said in a deep voice:

"You looked like you were asleep just now; this guy probably cast Genjutsu on you."

Don't let your guard down, Naruto! This guy... is dangerous!