[Ding! Group membership quota +1, randomly selecting new members. Please wait...]
Itsuki had just left the town where Karin and her mother were settled when a system prompt rang in his mind.
A new member?
It didn't seem like there were strict rules about adding people into the chat group—maybe it was all up to the system's mood.
Still, Itsuki hoped it wouldn't be another little flower bud.
What he wanted was a mature, curvy, and S-shaped beauty.
[Ding! Selection complete. New member is Mitarashi Anko. Adding to the group...]
[Ding! Mitarashi Anko has joined the chat group!]
"Anko?" Itsuki's eyes lit up immediately.
Perfect!
The system had really delivered this time—absolutely amazing.
At the same time, Mitarashi Anko, who was patrolling outside Konoha, suddenly felt dazed. A strange voice rang in her mind.
[Ding! Mitarashi Anko has successfully joined the "Itsuki Harem Group Chat." Congratulations on becoming a member. Please consciously abide by the following rules:]
[1. Itsuki is the group leader. His interests are above all else. Group members are not allowed to do anything that harms the group leader.]
[2. …]
…
"Itsuki? Harem group? What the hell is this?" Anko muttered, baffled.
Along with the system voice, a strange interface appeared before her eyes.
Several names were listed, and messages were rapidly flashing by.
"Tch, genjutsu? Trying such childish tricks on me?"
Anko smirked, not in any rush to break the supposed illusion. Instead, she discreetly released a few small snakes, keeping alert for any enemies.
"There!"
She suddenly roared, hurling a kunai with an attached paper bomb into a bush.
Boom!
The explosion shredded the patch of grass into pieces.
But when Anko swaggered over to check, all she found was a little white rabbit—blown sky-high and now smelling faintly roasted.
Her mouth twitched, embarrassed.
If there had been enemies, they'd be laughing at her already.
She quickly weaved signs to disrupt her chakra flow.
"Genjutsu Release!"
Her chakra surged—but nothing changed.
The strange screen with names was still there, text still flowing.
And when she focused, she realized… some of those names belonged to Konoha ninjas.
And they seemed to be talking to her.
[Tenten: @Uzumaki Karin, I finally shook them off. I'll be there soon.]
[Uzumaki Karin: But… how am I supposed to introduce you to my mom? We've never met in real life yet.]
[Yamanaka Ino: Ahh, I want to join too.]
[Hyuga Hinata: Me too.]
[Tenten: Don't worry. Karin's already settled down here. We'll meet in the future.]
[Tenten: @Uzumaki Karin, just say we met while shopping, hit it off, and I came to visit. Simple enough.]
[Yamanaka Ino: That's so crude… but it might actually work?]
[Uzumaki Karin: Uh… probably. Mom's not the type to dig into details.]
Karin and her mother's natural sensory abilities also reassured them of Tenten's kindness. As long as that was clear, Chanel wouldn't press further.
Just then, the notification for a new member appeared.
[Yamanaka Ino: Huh? Another newcomer?]
[Hyuga Hinata: This name… isn't it from Konoha?]
[Tenten: Yeah, I think so. Pretty sure she's a Konoha kunoichi.]
[Yamanaka Ino: Let's just ask directly. @Mitarashi Anko, welcome! Please introduce yourself.]
[Hyuga Hinata: Um… welcome!]
[Tenten: @Mitarashi Anko, this isn't genjutsu. Except for Karin, everyone here is from Konoha. You can chat here mentally, no matter where you are.]
[Tenten: Right now, the group only has messaging and live video playback. Sometimes you'll see glimpses of the future. Also, if you get along well with Itsuki, you'll gain special benefits.]
She deliberately laid it all out to make things easier.
Anyone the system added was essentially trustworthy. And if anyone tried anything shady, the system would punish them immediately.
Like that one lurker—they'd already been punished so many times they didn't even dare show their face anymore.
[Mitarashi Anko: A chat group, huh? Interesting! You say you're all Konoha ninjas?]
[Tenten: I'm Tenten. I'm part of Team Guy, just graduated last year.]
[Yamanaka Ino: Hinata and I just graduated this year. Our family names should prove it.]
[Hyuga Hinata: Please take care of us!]
[Uzumaki Karin: I… I'm from the Uzumaki clan, currently living in Kusagakure.]
[Mitarashi Anko: Seems legit. Fine, I'll believe you for now. I'm Mitarashi Anko, Special Jonin of Konoha.]
[Tenten: Special Jonin?!]
[Yamanaka Ino: (⊙o⊙)]
[Uzumaki Karin: Special Jonin… does that mean she's really strong?]
[Mitarashi Anko: Strong enough to beat a hundred of you kids, no problem.]
[Hyuga Hinata: Wow! Even stronger than Teacher Kurenai?]
[Mitarashi Anko: Kurenai? You mean Yuhi Kurenai? Ohh, so you must be her Hyuga disciple—the clan's heiress. That's you, right?]
[Hyuga Hinata: Y-yes. Do you know my teacher?]
[Mitarashi Anko: Know her? Heh, we're best friends! Hey, looks like you're all real people. Isn't there one more member? Who is it?]
[Yamanaka Ino: Uh… don't worry about that part for now.]
[Mitarashi Anko: Fine. Then tell me—who's Itsuki? And what do you mean by "future videos"?]
[Haruno Sakura: !!!]
Itsuki couldn't help chuckling to himself. With Anko joining, the group was bound to get even livelier.
She was basically the female version of Naruto—loud, carefree, and not overly concerned with details.
She'd get along with the others no problem. In fact, Itsuki worried she might actually corrupt them.
Still, it would definitely be entertaining to watch.
Meanwhile, the Wood Release clone he'd left behind in Kusagakure finished its mission and transferred its memories before dispersing.
When Longshe attacked Team Guy, the Kusagakure leader had only reprimanded her and thrown her in solitary confinement.
But privately, he had realized Konoha was worth clinging to—especially with the upcoming Chunin Exams.
So he decided to send all Kusagakure Genin to compete, with every senior ninja acting as team leaders, and all Chunin tagging along for experience.
The leader himself would lead the entire delegation.
In other words, Kusagakure had practically emptied itself—leaving only Anbu and a few special units behind—while the rest marched to Konoha.
Once neighboring nations caught wind of this, none of them would dare risk attacking Kusagakure. After all, no one wanted to disrupt Konoha's Chunin Exams.
When Itsuki heard this news, his face could only be summed up in one word—
Embarrassed.