Kakashi watched Anko stuffing her face across the table, his heart bleeding at the bill. "Anko-san, are you full yet?"
She looked up, cheeks puffed, and mumbled.
"You can swallow first before answering…" Kakashi sighed.
She gulped everything down in one go, patted her chest proudly. "Sorry, Kakashi. I couldn't control myself. But seeing you looking so pained—seems you've got something to say?"
Kakashi eyed her—fiery figure, alluring presence—but he hadn't expected such an appetite.
She noticed his gaze, cheeks warming. "What are you looking at… You didn't call me out here with bad intentions, did you?"
Kakashi stopped at once. "Don't flatter yourself. I wanted to ask about Sasuke's cursed seal."
At that, her expression shifted. "The cursed seal?"
"You know about the mark on his neck."
Anko nodded. She'd noticed it during the Chūnin Exam's Forest of Death, when she had run into Orochimaru herself.
"What do you want to know? If I know, I'll tell you."
Kakashi didn't pry into her past, but her own cursed seal meant she'd had contact with Orochimaru. "Let me see yours."
She nodded. "Mine's on the neck too."
Turning her back, she tugged her collar down, revealing pale skin. Kakashi leaned in and froze. Identical to Sasuke's. He lifted his headband, Sharingan focusing.
Anko squirmed, face flushed. No man had ever been this close to her, touching her neck in such a way. "Kakashi… hurry up."
"Oh. Done." He stepped back, lowering his forehead protector.
She adjusted her clothes, face still red, sneaking glances at him.
Kakashi's mind strayed. Orochimaru had planted hers with a bite too… what had she felt then?
Her voice cut in. "Kakashi, what are you thinking about? Keep that up and I'm leaving."
He coughed. "Nothing. Let's get back to the point."
"We were."
"Yes. Orochimaru gave you the seal by biting?"
She nodded. "Yes. But before that, he injected me with something."
Kakashi blinked. "What?"
"I don't know."
"Any particular sensation?"
Her brows furrowed. "Right after the injection I felt my body overflow with power, rage boiling up, like I'd explode. Then he bit my neck."
"What did you feel then?"
Her look went odd; Kakashi quickly clarified, "Not like that. You know what I mean."
She steadied. "My emotions calmed. The power drained away."
"And after?"
"Orochimaru said I was a failure. He never paid attention to me again."
"Failure…" Kakashi understood. Orochimaru must have tried to inject his own chakra and will into the seal's natural energy. But natural energy wasn't so easily controlled. Too much, and the effect was canceled—Anko's seal had become an empty shell.
"Where did he give you the seal?"
"In one of his labs."
"You know where?"
She nodded. "Past the Fire Country border—not far. Where the Hidden Sound Village lies."
"Sound…?"
"Yes. Orochimaru's secret village."
"How do you know?"
Her eyes flickered. "During the Exams, we found dead genin nearby, Orochimaru's presence on them. I went in—and he found me. He told me things: about Sasuke, about Sound. Then I blacked out."
Kakashi nodded. "So that's it. Orochimaru built a village so close, chasing the power of the seal."
Anko studied him. "You're planning something."
"I'm going to Sound."
"You—"
"Yes. If careful, it's possible."
"…Should I come?"
"Of course. With you leading, there'll be fewer problems."
She wavered, then clenched her teeth and agreed.
"Prepare. Meet at the gate in three days."
…
Three mornings later, Kakashi arrived with Sasuke. Anko waited with a pack.
"Kakashi, you're late. An hour late."
Kakashi rubbed his head. "Sorry. Had to fetch Sasuke."
Sasuke shot him a glare. *I fetched you.*
"Really?" Anko narrowed her eyes. She looked at Sasuke. "You're bringing him?"
"He's stronger than you think," Kakashi said. "Stronger than even you."
Sasuke stayed cool, though proud.
Anko pouted. "If I'm so weak, you and your student go alone."
Kakashi quickly held her back. "That's not what I meant. I wanted to encourage him. He's still just a boy."
"Oh? Then fine." She smirked at Sasuke. *As if I'd lose to a kid.*
Sasuke glanced at Kakashi with disdain, but stayed quiet.
"Anko, you said Orochimaru found you so easily in the Forest. That's because of the seal."
"Impossible. Mine doesn't work anymore."
"It's inert, but his chakra and will linger inside you."
Her eyes widened. "No way…"
"Come here. I'll extract it."
"You can?"
"Relax. I've done it before."
"…Fine." She turned, lowering her collar.
Kakashi placed his hand. Purple smoke seeped from her neck.
"That's it."
The mark faded away. Anko felt lighter, like her body finally belonged to her.
"Let's go."
…
//Check out my Patreon for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[[email protected]/Razeil0810](http://[email protected]/Razeil0810)