"Let's go."
Having obtained the information he wanted, Masahiko couldn't very well refuse Anko's suggestion.
Moreover.
He also wanted to know... how much he had improved during his practical training with the Projection 'Kakashi'!
"That's why I like you! That Gekkō Hayate guy, his face turned pale when he heard about a fight. I was genuinely afraid he'd end up hospitalized!"
Anko Mitarashi excitedly slapped the table and finished her dango in a few bites.
Afterward, she stood up.
"Let's go, let's go!"
"Don't pull, it's not like I'm refusing to fight."
Masahiko resisted the tugging and casually asked, "What's the deal with those nobles from the Land of Fire?"
"It's hard to describe."
Anko Mitarashi hesitated slightly. "I can't tell you too much information. In short, these people will earn any kind of money; they have no bottom line."
Her words carried disgust, but she also knew the Ninja confidentiality rules and did not disclose specific employer information.
After hearing this, Masahiko roughly understood—
These people are likely the noble faction supporting the Daimyo.
If that's the case... the changes in the Land of Waves, Gato's rise, are these nobles involved?
That makes sense.
The Land of Waves is a small country. No matter how rich Gato is, he still has to heed the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.
Without the support of those two countries, how could Gato possibly rise?
This means trying to interfere in the Land of Waves now and making Gato work for me is still unrealistic... Masahiko pondered.
Anko Mitarashi looked at him strangely from the side:
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing much. Something happened at the academy, but I can't disclose the specifics, so I wanted to learn about the situation in The Capital."
Masahiko revealed part of the truth.
Anko thought for a moment but didn't press further. "I know what it is. Hmm... we're only Special Jonin. There's nothing we can do. Let's just fight!"
With that, she used a Body Flicker and instantly appeared on the rooftop.
"Come on, let's take a shortcut together!"
"Alright."
...Fighting is prohibited inside the Village.
As soon as they left the Village, reaching the riverbank outside Konoha Village, Anko Mitarashi immediately drew a Kunai and slashed toward Masahiko.
The last time she ambushed Masahiko, she was just playing around and testing him; she hadn't used her full strength.
But now—
Anko Mitarashi's speed was very fast; her original body vanished, leaving behind an afterimage.
Yet, at the same time.
Right before her eyes, Yagyu Masahiko moved, instantly transforming into three figures running in three directions.
Anko's eyes swept over them, and she instantly charged toward the location of the main body.
But.
Just as her Kunai was thrust out, she felt an approaching sense of danger.
Wrong!
Anko immediately pulled back her hand, and the Kunai sliced in an arc toward her back.
Clang!
Blade and Kunai collided.
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Anko Mitarashi's forehead.
She had been a Ninja for many years, and through rigorous training, her battle instincts were stronger than ordinary Ninja; otherwise, she would have likely lost just now.
She didn't have time to think.
After one strike, Anko turned her back and formed hand signs.
The next moment, a slight breeze blew from behind her.
Behind me?
She ducked to avoid the blade, her left hand braced against the ground, and a large snake shot out from her sleeve, instantly wrapping around Masahiko's ankle.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
Anko supported herself with one hand, spun around, and quickly kicked backward. In the instant Masahiko leaned back to dodge, her left hand left the ground—
Three or four snakes flew out from her sleeve, striking toward Masahiko's face.
But in that instant, the large snake below was instantly cut down by Masahiko's sword, and as the snake's head turned to bite, Masahiko had already vanished from his spot.
So fast!
Anko Mitarashi was incredulous.
She had only been away on a mission for a short time, and Masahiko's strength had reached this level?
Or was it... that Masahiko hadn't used his full strength last time either?
In just a moment, she had no time for further thought.
The instant Masahiko escaped, three figures appeared, charging at her from three directions.
Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon!
At the same time, Masahiko's Chakra fluctuations were perfectly concealed; she could barely sense his presence.
Three figures... which one is real?
She controlled the snakes in her sleeves, sending them toward the three clones.
In an instant, all the clones vanished.
They were all fakes!
She immediately used Body Flicker upward, leaping toward a large rock nearby.
Although Anko had a premonition, she was still a little too slow.
Just as she used the Body Flicker to move to a higher position, Masahiko had already launched his attack first.
At this very moment, the river surged, and torrents of water rushed out from the riverbed, charging toward them.
The moment the river water surged forward, three figures burst out from the water.
Anko dared not gamble. A large snake flew out from her right sleeve, transforming into a whip that she lashed forward. Another snake flew out from her other hand, aimed at the large rock.
But the three "Masahikos" were immediately submerged by the water.
The next second, four "Masahikos" shot out from the rushing river, slashing toward Anko, who was using the force of the jump to fly toward the large rock.
In mid-air, Anko kicked the blade away with an aerial kick, retracted her hands, and quickly formed hand signs.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
At this very moment—
Bang!
From the other three directions, kicks landed one after another. The force was significantly weaker, causing little substantial damage.
However, Anko was in the air and couldn't maintain stability. Even a slight force was enough to change the direction of her Ninjutsu.
The "Masahiko" in front formed hand signs with both hands, and the water flow that was about to recede beneath his feet surged violently again.
Water Release: Wave of Raging Water!
This time... the water flow transformed into a column, surging toward her feet.
Anko sensed danger in her heart and was about to change the direction of her Fire Release when she saw Masahiko burst out from the water flow, his sheathed blade striking past her shoulder.
Three clones dissolved into water, and one dissolved into smoke.
Masahiko, flying past in the air, smiled and said, "I win!"
The next second, the water receded.
He stood still in the mud far away.
Anko Mitarashi was stunned, then gave a wry smile. "Impressive!"
"You lacked information on me, and I know enough about you. Given our similar strength, it's normal for me to win."
Masahiko replied.
Anko shook her head and said:
"Your Body Flicker Technique and Clone Jutsu... even Shisui the Body Flicker might be only this good. Even if we fought again, I wouldn't be your opponent."
If I only invited you to fight because I wanted to win, wouldn't it be safer to fight a Chunin?
She could afford to lose and was able to let it go.
After pondering for a few seconds, Anko still couldn't figure out a solution. Instead, she felt an increasing headache. "This is unbreakable!"
"It's not that great. It can be broken as long as your reaction speed is fast enough."
Masahiko shook his head and didn't hide anything. "High-speed combat can be a sharp weapon, but it can also be used against you."
Anko thought for a moment and nodded gently:
"That's true, but to possess this kind of speed or reaction, you'd either need to be a Jonin skilled in speed and Taijutsu, or belong to the Uchiha or Hyuga..."
Apart from some Special Jonin from the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans, most others who meet the criteria are Jonin.
It's hard for anyone below the rank of Jonin to defeat Masahiko.
Anko Mitarashi's eyes were filled with envy.
Masahiko knew, however, that she hadn't used Summoning Jutsu.
If she summoned the Great Snakes, she could definitely hold her own against him for a short time with their help.
"Want another round? I won't use this level of Body Flicker Technique. We'll stick purely to Taijutsu combat."
"Yes!"
Anko was excited.
The two fought again.
Masahiko didn't use the Body Flicker Technique, and Anko didn't use Hidden Shadow Snake Hands. They fought fiercely, unable to determine a winner.
After this round of fighting, Masahiko had a grasp of his Taijutsu level.
Without using the Limit Break Body Flicker Technique, winning against Anko purely with Taijutsu would require a lot of effort.
But... Anko specializes in "Ninjutsu," she's not a Taijutsu Ninja. Defeating her in Taijutsu alone doesn't mean much.
"The road ahead is long and arduous!"
Masahiko sighed and summarized his thoughts.
Anko was completely depressed.
She could accept failure, but she couldn't accept losing so miserably—
The opponent could win even while giving her "a hand."
"Starting today, I'm going to work hard and become a Jonin soon!"
Her words carried a hint of sorrow and indignation.
However.
"Really?"
"You don't believe me?"
Anko's eyes were unfriendly.
Masahiko grinned, his expression gentle. "What I meant was, let's work hard together!"
"Definitely, let's work hard together! How about running ten laps right now?"
"One hundred laps!"