“How could it not be a compliment?” Bai shrugged, putting on a serious face.
“That’s Lord Third’s evaluation of Itachi Uchiha, isn’t it?”
Anko pursed her lips and stared at Bai, scanning him up and down.
Failing to spot anything unusual after a long moment, she hummed: “In short, you’d better stay away from the Uchiha clan!”
“Got it, got it!” Bai waved his hand perfunctorily.
These warnings hadn’t come only from Anko and Shikamaru; Kurenai Yuhi had mentioned it to him multiple times as well.
Aside from the Uchiha clan’s current awkward position within Konoha, the method of Sharingan evolution was another major reason Kurenai wanted Bai to stay away—becoming friends with an Uchiha meant high odds of being sacrificed for their power…
Knowing Bai had his own mind, Anko stopped nagging and shifted topics: “Your Sister Kurenai went on a mission, so I’ll be taking care of you for the next few days!”
Saying so, she dragged Bai along with her.
Bai dragged his feet reluctantly: “I don’t dislike sweets, but I don’t want to eat them as actual meals!”
“Tch!” Seeing Bai’s reluctant attitude, Anko clicked her tongue in annoyance: “Don’t worry, I don’t even have enough sweets for myself.
We’re buying groceries now, and I’ll cook!”
“You actually know how to cook?” Bai was somewhat surprised.
After all, Anko looked nothing like a gentle homemaker type, and every time Bai saw her around mealtime, she was usually eating dango or sweets…
Hearing this, veins popped on Anko’s forehead as she snapped viciously: “Hey, don’t look down on single female shinobi!”
By the time they arrived at Anko’s house, it was already dusk.
This was Bai’s first time visiting Anko’s residence, and he had to admit it was huge—a sprawling traditional compound nearly three times the size of Kurenai’s house.
However, many rooms were abandoned, overgrown with weeds, leaving only three or four frequently used rooms that looked inhabited.
Bai looked at Anko blankly, but Anko said carelessly: “What’s the big deal?
I live alone!”
Though spoken casually, a flash of loneliness flickered deep in Anko’s eyes.
As the former disciple of one of Konoha’s Sannin, Anko’s home had once been lively, but those days were in the past.
Bai let out a quiet sigh in his heart and spoke up: “I’m hungry!”
Hearing his words, Anko stopped dwelling on the past and dashed toward the kitchen.
Truth be told, Anko’s cooking was quite good, roughly on par with Kurenai’s, which surprised Bai.
However, her habit of dipping every single food item in sugar was something Bai didn’t even have the energy to criticize.
No wonder she turned into Auntie Sweet Potato in the future!
After finishing his meal, Bai intended to leave, but Anko held him back.
“What is it?” Bai asked in confusion.
Anko grinned mischievously, asking with certainty: “You want to be the top student, right?”
Bai didn’t hide his intentions, nodding directly: “I do have that idea!”
Upon receiving a firm answer, Anko didn’t waste time, turning around to lead Bai toward a room that looked completely abandoned.
As they walked, Anko rambled continuously: “Your class isn’t simple at all—it has the direct descendants of almost every major clan in the village, plus the Uchiha’s second master and the Hyuga’s main family heiress.
Even though you beat Sasuke Uchiha today, you must realize that clan resources are beyond your reach.
If you want to remain top student, you have to work much harder…”
Anko babbled on without end, yet Bai showed no impatience, his gaze looking at her back growing noticeably softer.
Anko brought Bai before an abandoned bookshelf, examining it closely before muttering with satisfaction: “Great!
It’s all still here!”
Compared to Anko’s carefree attitude, Bai was far more astonished!
On this single abandoned bookshelf lined over a hundred scrolls—ranging from D-rank to A-rank, spanning taijutsu, Genjutsu, Fuinjutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu across all five elemental natures.
Bai even spotted a summoning contract scroll among them!
Noticing Bai’s expression, Anko chuckled self-deprecatingly: “Surprised I have so many jutsu scrolls?
Truth is, Orochimaru gave them all to me.
Whether I actually learned them or not, as long as I asked, he never refused.
From A-rank down to D-rank, no matter how obscure or useless, he would hand them over.
He even promised that once I made full Jonin, he’d give me an S-rank jutsu, but…”
Reaching this point, Anko couldn’t continue.
She pressed her lower lip tightly together, her face filled with complex emotions—hatred, filial affection, nostalgia, and sorrow.
Anko’s hatred for Orochimaru was real, but Orochimaru had also once been the master she relied upon most…
Bai wasn’t actually surprised that Anko possessed so many jutsu scrolls; he was surprised the village hadn’t confiscated them, and even more astonished that Anko piled these valuable scrolls randomly inside a long-abandoned room.
But seeing Anko’s state right now, it clearly wasn’t the right time to mention that.
Bai breathed out a helpless sigh and stepped quietly to Anko’s side.
Anko glanced at Bai and pulled him into a tight embrace without hesitation, resting her head gently on his shoulder.
This wasn’t the first time Bai and Anko had close contact, but perhaps due to the emotional atmosphere, her body felt exceptionally soft, and Bai caught a whiff of a uniquely sweet fragrance…
Anko held him tighter and tighter, as if unwilling to let go.
After a full fifteen minutes, Anko still showed no sign of releasing him.
Bai rolled his eyes and said: “If you hug me any longer, I’m charging a fee!”
Only then did Anko snap out of her daze, slowly letting go of Bai.
Where Bai couldn’t see, a blush flitted across her fair cheeks before quickly returning to normal.
“Ahem!” Anko cleared her throat twice, laughing lightly: “Just now counts as one C-rank jutsu scroll.
From now on, call me ‘Sister’ once for a D-rank scroll.
Ten D-rank scrolls trade for a C-rank, ten C-ranks trade for a B-rank, ten B-ranks trade for an A-rank!
And if you make me happy, maybe that summoning contract…”
“Sister Anko, Sister Anko, Sister Anko…”
Before Anko could even finish her sentence, Bai went into repeat mode without a trace of hesitation!
Now it was Anko’s turn to freeze.
She had assumed Bai would at least act bashful before calling her ‘Sister’, but this kid lacked any typical six-year-old bashfulness, giving her zero sense of accomplishment!
“I regret it!” Anko quickly halted Bai: “Unless you promise never to call me Auntie Sweet Potato again, don’t expect to get a single jutsu scroll from me!”
Bai raised an eyebrow, dusted off his sleeves, and put on a grandiose posture: “If small promises are not kept, how can great trust be established?”
“I don’t care!” Anko played the villain, shielding the bookshelf like a mother hen, adopting a ‘what are you gonna do about it’ expression.