Back home, he continued training in the Flying Raijin Jutsu.
There was no way around it. He had to practice. If he didn't, he'd never master it. But he could improve his training method.
"Sharingan, activate!"
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode, activate!"
Everything was ready. Shinmoku gritted his teeth and performed the jutsu.
The teleportation succeeded.
"Haah... hu... hu... hu..."
His shoulders heaved with each breath. He was still standing, eyes wide as he felt the pain.
If he couldn't learn from suffering, his progress would be painfully slow.
Once he'd finished reviewing what happened, he toppled onto the bed.
The next morning, he woke and stared blankly at the ceiling. Did I turn off the lights yesterday? No, wait, did I turn them off the day before? Or yesterday morning?
Whatever. It didn't matter.
His scarf-weaving practice was paying off, and Hinata didn't seem to mind it.
Today, he was going to learn a new knitting technique. The difficulty had suddenly shot up.
Just as he was concentrating, an unwelcome guest arrived.
"Wasn't I here first? How did you two make plans before me?"
It was Mitaraishi Anko, wearing a nasty smile that seemed to come with a murderous aura.
"Don't make a fuss. We're just training."
"Training?"
Anko watched for a while, then seemed to understand. Her eyes lit up with eagerness.
But as soon as she tried it herself, she realized how difficult this training was. She couldn't keep her balance at all.
"You should probably start with a yoga ball," Shinmoku said, glancing at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's a training method I used in Cloud Hidden. Stick chakra to the soles of your feet. Stand on both feet, then one. Run forward, then backward. Try a handstand, then balance on both hands, one hand, your palms, your fingers..."
Anko couldn't help shivering. "All right. I'll give it a try at home."
"Don't go yet." Shinmoku looked up. "Are you free this afternoon?"
"Oh? You mean today?" Anko gave him a sultry smile.
"Hm?" Shinmoku was momentarily confused. Then it clicked. "Oh! Right! Yes!"
"?"
After lunch, Hinata tactfully left.
"So, what are we doing?" Anko asked.
"Come with me."
They passed the shopping district, the movie theater, and a host of other entertainment venues. Shinmoku led her to a small grove behind the mountain.
Anko clenched her fists, silently swearing that if he tried anything inappropriate, she'd beat him until he couldn't take care of himself.
But the scene she'd imagined never came. They passed through the grove, and the view opened up. They had reached the riverbank.
"Come on." Shinmoku drew his blade.
"So this is training?"
"Yeah."
"You'd better think this through. I only agreed to one date. Are you sure you want to use your chance on this?" Anko asked with a sour look.
"Sure."
What could you even do on an ordinary date? Eat? Watch a movie?
Compared to that, a fight was much better value for money.
As a Special Jonin, Anko wasn't all that powerful, but she was more than good enough as a sparring partner. He wanted to find someone stronger, but everyone he knew was busy training their own students. Who had time for him?
...Actually, there was someone.
He'd better finish the training he was doing now first.
"Fine."
Anko pulled out a kunai, smiling sweetly.
The next instant, she became a blur and lunged at him, murderous intent in every move.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
The kunai and short blade rang out as they clashed. The two of them moved faster and faster. More than once, the tip of a blade or kunai skimmed past the other's throat or eyes.
Then came the clash of ninjutsu. Anko specialized in Fire Release and knew a little snake-related ninjutsu. Shinmoku countered with Water Release. He'd only learned it recently, so his proficiency still had a long way to go.
After two hours of intense combat,
Anko panted heavily. She could tell Shinmoku had only just learned the Water Release jutsu—or had just copied it with his Sharingan.
But he'd grown more familiar with it as they fought. His hand seals were faster, and he understood the jutsu better. He was already close to Shinna's level—in other words, a Jonin's level.
There was no way she could win. He still hadn't used Fire Release, Lightning Release, or his Sharingan.
Losing to a kid ten years younger than her was really frustrating!
"Don't you ever get tired?" Anko asked, unable to help herself. Ten meters away, Shinmoku watched her intently.
"This is nothing."
"Fair enough. You're the guy who was chased all night by the Raikage and a Jinchuriki." As she spoke, Anko slowly straightened from her crouched, guarded stance. "One last move."
"Okay."
"Fire Release!" Anko formed hand seals. "Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" Shinmoku answered with the same jutsu.
The flames swallowed the ten-meter distance in an instant, spreading from the center and reaching even the woods in the distance.
About two seconds later, the center began moving toward Anko. Shinmoku's flames slowly swallowed hers.
"Whoosh—"
Just before the flames reached Anko, Shinmoku stopped the jutsu. Anko stopped too, her eyes blank as she toppled backward.
"Are you okay?"
Shinmoku walked over and crouched down. Only then did he realize she wasn't wearing shorts, but a short skirt that looked like shorts. Her fishnet shirt was a bodysuit. Her breasts still stood firm, and beneath the fishnet there seemed to be nothing at all, only a faint shadow visible.
"What are you looking at?" Anko said irritably.
"Sorry. It's hard not to look."
"Hmph!" Anko held out her hand.
Shinmoku helped her up.
She'd probably given it her all, but she hadn't used every tactic. At the very least, she hadn't used the Summoning Technique.
Still, it was enough. He hadn't gotten to test his newly developed jutsu, but getting to practice Water Release was good too... Nothing beat real combat.
They strolled to the shopping district.
"Buy me dango."
"Maybe lay off the sweets, unless you want to turn from Anko into a sweet potato," Shinmoku teased.
But he was only joking. Nobody liked being lectured, and he certainly wasn't going to lecture other people.
"Here." He handed Anko the dango he'd bought.
"Will I really turn into a sweet potato?" She looked a little troubled.
"I don't know."
"Whatever. It won't happen today, anyway."
Anko quickly convinced herself. She parted her lips and popped a dango into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out.
"I'm going back to training. Bye~"
Shinmoku waved and walked off into the distance. There was still time before dark. What a waste it would be to just let it slip away.
"Bye, bye, bye!"
She bit through the skewer, venting her frustration.
She'd figured him out. He used people and then tossed them aside, without leaving an ounce of affection behind.
Hmph! Men!
Shinmoku went to find the Jonin who had some free time—Guy.
Tenten was training with Neji. He'd run into her before. As for Guy, he was probably burning with the flames of youth alongside Lee. Knowing his personality, he probably wouldn't refuse to have one more person join them.
Of course, there was no way he'd wear a skintight outfit. That was his bottom line.