Dust filled the air, and occasional coughs came from inside the room.
"Cough cough, Otonashi, how long has it been since this room was cleaned?" Shisui moved clutter, his shadow clone acting like a conveyor belt, throwing unwanted things out the door.
He didn't hear an answer and couldn't help asking again. Only then did a sentence come from afar from the kitchen.
"About two years, oh, I clean the bedroom often."
So you only clean the areas you use frequently...
Shisui was somewhat speechless. He had already seen this old friend's lazy nature in daily life.
No, it couldn't be called lazy. It should be putting all effort into things he cared about and not even bothering to lift an eyelid for things he didn't care about. But after thinking for a moment, he felt it wasn't wrong either.
A person's energy is limited. If energy is concentrated on the most crucial matters, efficiency would definitely increase significantly.
"I finally know why you grow so fast, but life still needs to be managed." Having nothing more to say, Shisui could only complain.
"I enjoy life very much." Otonashi came out carrying two bowls, blinked, and asked puzzled, "Becoming stronger brings me supreme pleasure. Besides, do I have few hobbies?"
He wasn't someone who just blindly leveled up. After resting for half a month, seeing his bulging wallet already made his hands itchy.
"You've almost broken all three ninja prohibitions." Shisui took the bowl ill-humoredly, finding it somewhat amusing.
Damn, it really is noodles.
"Nonsense, women, money, alcohol—which one did I break?"
Except for alcohol, which one haven't you broken? Don't think I don't know what you usually draw.
Shisui thought this in his heart but didn't say it out loud, just focusing on sitting down to eat the noodles. Just as he picked up his chopsticks, he paused again.
"Is there a problem? I'm still very confident about my noodles (Lit: below/lower body)."
"I'm worried if I'll get diarrhea after eating."
"Get lost! Eat it or don't!"
After settling his old friend, Otonashi called Anko over again. Besides the noodles, he also included a few skewers of packaged dango.
The girl, of course, was smiling happily. After taking a bite, her eyes lit up.
"Senpai, it tastes really good!"
"See? This young master was complaining about this and that." Otonashi shrugged.
How is this noodle delicious?
Shisui took another bite, feeling it was just passable. But looking at the expression on Anko's face, he shook his head speechlessly.
As they say, when the mood is right, even crap tastes delicious. He couldn't be bothered with nonsense and just ate his noodles silently.
Being battlefield ninjas after all, their eating speed was quite fast. After a few minutes, two empty bowls were placed on the table. Otonashi went to pour two cups of tea and placed them on the table, feeling much better looking at the tidy room.
The cleaning work that would have originally wasted a whole day was done in two hours. Indeed, ordering others around was most efficient.
Taking a sip of tea, Shisui, seeing Otonashi's expression, felt his mouth twitch. He took a deep breath and said, "You were staying at Lord Hizashi's house before?"
"Yes, maybe soon we'll have a new junior martial brother (little shidi)."
"Miss Haruko is pregnant? That's good news too." Shisui nodded heavily, seemingly referring to more than just the joy of pregnancy.
Being influenced by the Uchiha family environment after all, the boy, not yet ten, was extremely sensitive to politics.
With the Hyuga family vouching for him, he wouldn't worry about certain Uchiha members causing trouble.
"So what are your plans next?"
"Wait for deployment orders. If there's nothing, I'll summarize well, then become stronger." Otonashi stretched, his gaze firm.
Shisui frowned slightly and asked tentatively, "Were you spurred on by Obito's matter?"
"Not really. There's something you might not have figured out." Otonashi looked at Shisui, then glanced at the bewildered Anko, and said lightly, "Becoming stronger doesn't need a reason!"
A man should strive constantly for self-improvement! Some things he wanted to do, not because he was forced to.
The living room, devoid of any electrical appliances, seemed somewhat silent. Shisui became stronger for the village, while Anko became stronger for her teacher. They were easily influenced by the things they loved.
After a silence of over ten seconds, Otonashi took the initiative to break it: "So what are the plans for you two?"
"I'll just wait for orders. Anyway, the situation on the eastern front won't rest for long." Shisui finished his tea, poured himself another cup, and said slowly:
"Lord Third killed two of those Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The remaining ones have become much more cautious. Ordinary Jonin would likely die if they encountered them. We need to find a way to deal with them."
So he joined the hunting squad.
Otonashi instantly understood. It was the same old saying: when attack is strong and defense is weak, as long as cooperation is effective, the weak can also kill the strong.
"What about you, Anko?"
"Teacher seems to be going on a mission recently. I plan to go with him." Anko directly revealed a secret.
The girl's unintentional words made Otonashi's heart jump. Orochimaru, this hibernating snake, was finally going to move, and it didn't look like participating in the war.
"Are you going to the front lines?" he asked tentatively.
"Don't know. Probably not. Teacher has been researching something recently. I don't know the specifics either."
Research?
Otonashi's vigilance immediately heightened. His lips moved, but he finally spoke out: "If possible, apply to transfer to Team 17. Don't go on that mission."
He couldn't bear to watch Anko jump into the fire pit, but what could he do? He couldn't just go kill the snake tonight.
"Ah, why??"
"Don't ask, just do it."
"Oh, I'll try." Anko, stared at fixedly by Otonashi, subconsciously replied, then suddenly realized something and blushed furiously.
Shisui saw she had clearly misunderstood but couldn't clarify it. Just as he was about to speak, his hand holding the teacup suddenly trembled.
"Do you have other guests?"
Otonashi clearly sensed something too. Looking down at his cup, he sighed: "No, what's coming now is only trouble."
Swish—
At the next moment, the door of the entrance hall was gently pushed open, but afterward, no footsteps sounded. After several seconds, the paper door of the living room was suddenly pulled open.
The visitor wore pitch-black tight clothing, a brown vest, and a mask on his face, causing the three in the room to immediately stand up.
ANBU!
How could the three, who were having afternoon tea, not recognize the visitor? Their expressions couldn't help but change. Otonashi's fingers trembled as if gripping a sword in the air.
'Is that Danzo crazy? Determined to mess with me?'
He couldn't figure it out. Forget the fame after killing Lightning Blade Dai, was the Hyuga family's favor fake? Did Hyuga Hiashi, who invited him, have so little face?
The ANBU member scanned the room, his gaze indeed landing on the white-haired teenager's face.
"Hanyu Otonashi, please come with me."
The indifferent voice didn't carry much emotion, instead making one flustered. But he turned around, glancing back to see the teenager hadn't moved, and couldn't help but become serious.
"Didn't you hear the order?"
"I want to know who is summoning me, and you forgot the honorific." Otonashi asked directly, his gaze unwavering.
He had already become a Jonin, a Jonin who had killed nearly ten masters of the same rank. How could he be ordered around like when he was a Chunin?
Even if Danzo wanted to kill him, he could shout "I have rendered meritorious service for Konoha, I want to see the Hokage."
The ANBU member turned back, paused slightly, and strengthened his tone:
"Lord Hanyu, it is the Third Hokage who wishes to see you!"