Village Life - Part 3

Sen’s POV

“Do you believe in karma, Shishou?” I asked. We were sitting in my apartment. Mikito was babysitting Naruto while the two of us worked on some seals. It was Shishou’s design, but I was acting as the tester—trying to find ways to break it so she could get feedback and refine it.

“I do believe that if you act in bad faith, you attract negative energy. Why do you ask?” she replied, glancing up at me.

“There was a saying from my old world about karma,” I continued. “The word came from another language, from a distant nation with a great culture. They believed that what goes around comes around. I wasn’t a religious person before, but I do believe now. There’s magic in this world… gods are real too.” I shuffled through my grandfather’s notes as I spoke.

“Well… Danzo got his karma then. It might be true,” she said simply.

I had been thinking a lot about my previous world lately, and the things I missed. Not because I was depressed—just because I finally had the freedom to. These days, a lot of people did.

“You’re more mature than most of us, Sen,” Shishou said with a smile. “That’s why I like listening to your thoughts.”

“Well, thanks to my special situation,” I smiled back.

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Later that afternoon, Shishou was occupied playing the role of ambassador to Suna. Word spread quickly that Konoha and Suna were working on fresh treaties—import and export arrangements that promised benefits for both nations. There was even talk of Konoha offering fuinjutsu aid for Suna’s jinchūriki, Gaara. The boy was still struggling, and Minato was far too aware of what might unfold if these wounds were left untended. Peace was fragile.

The tea shop, on the other hand, was anything but fragile. It was overflowing with life, packed from corner to corner. Employees were running themselves ragged, balancing trays of steaming pots and sweets, but the atmosphere was buzzing. The shop hadn’t seen profits like this in weeks, and even the newest tea blends had earned attention. For once, everything felt… steady.

I was free that evening. Shizune suggested we get some air, so we wandered down to the Naka River, settling beneath a sakura tree. Its petals danced whenever the breeze whispered through the branches. Together, we sat in silence, watching the ripples stretch across the river’s surface, letting the golden evening sink into us.

It was quiet enough that I noticed the familiar flickers of chakra before I saw them.“Genma and Tenzo are coming this way,” I murmured.

Shizune’s lips curved knowingly. “They might be looking for you. Did you already have plans tonight?”

I shook my head, tugging at the hem of my sleeve. “No, no plans.”

The two men approached steadily, both still in their jōnin uniforms. Their posture screamed discipline, though the looseness in their steps gave away fatigue. They looked… exactly like shinobi should—tired, worn, but unshaken.

“Hello, Sen,” Genma greeted smoothly, his senbon tucked casually in the corner of his mouth. His eyes flicked briefly to Shizune. “Hey, Shizune.” Tenzo echoed the greeting with a polite nod.

We returned it warmly.

“What happened, Genma?” I asked curiously, tilting my head.

He gave me a faint smile, boyish beneath his usual smirk. “Well, we’re kind of having a small drinking evening at my place. I’m here to invite you.” His eyes glinted teasingly, then softened. “You too, Shizune.”

Tenzo stood a little behind him, posture straight and respectful as always. He didn’t need to speak much—his presence alone was steadying. There was something about the way he lingered a step back, quietly watching, that felt different from Genma’s forward, easy confidence.

“Hmm, ok… I’m free, I’ll come.” I looked at Shizune. “Can you come too?”

She nodded lightly. Shizune wasn’t close to the group the way the rest of them were. She worked with them, yes, but her ties felt more professional than personal. I rarely saw her mingling during their late-night outings or gatherings—except with Itama and Kawarama, who were like her brothers. After her parents died, Dan had adopted her, and she had grown up in the Senju compound, closer to Tsunade and Dan’s home. That life had made her more family-bound, more reserved. To her, they weren’t just comrades but kin. Still, outside of that, she always seemed a little apart. Maybe that was why I thought it would be good for her to come too.

“Good then, I was worrying you would be cross with us after that day,” Genma said, his usual grin faltering into something sheepish as he scratched the back of his neck.

“Wait a minute… will Anko be there?” I asked suddenly, narrowing my eyes.

“I think she’s not free, so I didn’t invite her. So she won’t be there to harass you,” he said with an awkward laugh.

I sighed, shoulders loosening a fraction. “Good. I’ll actually be comfortable if she isn’t there.”

“Well, we’ll be going then… we have to tell the others too.” Genma winked, and with a casual wave, they disappeared in a blur of shunshin.

The silence that followed was almost weightless.

“Well… it’s a good thing she’s busy,” Shizune murmured, her voice softer now that we were alone. “She would’ve just soured the mood anyway.”

“I don’t know what beef she has with me,” I said, exhaling as I leaned back. “I don’t even care or think about her.She just straight harrase me whenever she sees me . ”

Shizune let the quiet stretch for a moment, her gaze drifting upward toward the expanse of sky. “We still have a couple of hours to kill. Sen, I like days like this… where there’s nothing to do but sit still and admire the village we’re fighting for. This serenity…”

I followed her gaze. I understood exactly what she meant. The Hokage Mountain loomed in the distance, bathed in a soft, golden-orange glow as the sun began its slow descent. The carved faces caught the fading light at different angles, their features softened by shadows, as if even stone could find peace at dusk.

Around us, the village felt unusually calm. A handful of shinobi lounged in the grass, their weapons and responsibilities set aside for a brief moment of reprieve. Children played with wooden kunai near the riverbank, their laughter rising like small bursts of music against the stillness. Some villagers sat on their porches or rooftops, enjoying the warmth of tea or the company of friends as the day cooled.

The breeze was light, carrying with it the faint scent of grilled dango and freshly cut wood from the marketplace that was closing down for the evening. Birds darted low across the rooftops, their wings flashing silver as they cut through the last streaks of sunlight.

I let the calm settle inside me. “This is what we fight for,” I said softly, the words more like a breath than a declaration.

And for a while, neither of us spoke again, content to simply exist in that quiet moment the village gifted us.

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The village was alive in a way that felt unusual. Lanterns glowed faintly in the evening air, laughter spilled from the streets below, and the faint aroma of grilled food carried into my window. Festivals did that—made everything feel lighter. Even the hospital had emptied out, with fewer missions and fewer injuries. Shizune had told me most of the med-nin were granted leave, and she too had the day free.

We spent the afternoon in my apartment, cross-legged on the floor with bowls of snacks between us, saving the sake for later. It felt strange to be so still when the entire village was buzzing.

“Do they get together so often?” Shizune asked, popping a dried persimmon into her mouth.

I nodded, chewing slowly. “They do. They’re a close-knit group. They’ve fought side by side, been in missions together for years… they’ve known each other since the academy.”

Her eyes softened, almost admiring. “It’s not common to see a group of friends stay that big, that long.”

I let out a short breath, almost a laugh, but it wasn’t humor I felt. Friends. The word lodged somewhere between my chest and throat. Kakashi and Junpei were… different. Reliable, present. But the rest? Sometimes Genma got too comfortable with me, talked as though we were lifelong companions. As though the years hadn’t happened. Maybe guilt weighed on him—maybe that’s why he went out of his way to invite me tonight.

But to me, it always felt like standing just outside a warm circle of firelight, watching everyone laugh within it. My own constellations had always been Yuki and Mei. We carved out time once a month no matter what, even if it was barely a few hours. They were my constants. With Kakashi, with Junpei, there was something deeper, but this “group”… I’d never truly felt part of it.

You can’t force friendships. And I never tried.

I must’ve gone too still, too quiet, because Shizune tilted her head at me. “You’re thinking too fast again, Sen.”

I startled, then smiled to brush it away. “Maybe.”

She didn’t push, and I was grateful.

By the time we’d eaten enough and let the sake loosen in our veins, it was nearing time. We dressed, checked ourselves in the mirror, and walked the short way upstairs. Just one floor up. My chest tightened with something I couldn’t name as we stood before the door.

When it slid open, Raido greeted us with his usual warmth. “Sen, Shizune—glad you made it.”

We exchanged smiles, polite words, but as I stepped inside, I felt it again—that shift in the air, as though I were about to walk into a room where I didn’t quite belong.

Genma was already rummaging noisily in the kitchen when we arrived. The faint clinking of glass and metal utensils carried into the living room. Without even turning around, he called out cheerfully,

“Make yourselves at home! The sofas aren’t just for decoration.”

Raido led us in with his usual calm air. Kakashi and Obito were already there, lounging like they owned the place, while Tenzo sat close to Kakashi, posture as stiff as ever.

“Yo.” Kakashi lifted his hand lazily in greeting, a playful salute that made his single visible eye curve in amusement.

We both smiled and waved back. “Hello.”

Tenzo gave us a small but genuine smile of his own, shifting just enough to make room on the sofa.

“Shizune, Sen—we’re glad you could make it.” Obito’s voice was bright, almost too enthusiastic, but his grin was infectious.

“Genma made sure to invite us personally…” I said lightly, giving him a look.

At that exact moment, Genma emerged, balancing two sake bottles and several glasses with the ease of someone who had done this too many times. He set them on the low table.

Raido followed right after with a tray full of snacks—chips, dried squid, and a bowl of nuts—placing it down as if arranging an offering before a feast.

“Ladies,” Genma said with a theatrical bow, winking at us, “pick anything you like. Hospitality is our specialty.”

“Thanks, Genma,” Shizune replied politely, though she was already eyeing the chips.

The room soon filled with chatter. Genma and Obito naturally steered the conversation, their voices overlapping as the rest of us laughed and chimed in here and there.

At one point, Obito turned toward me, curiosity lighting his expression.

“Sen, you’ve been shadowing Kushina nee-san lately, right? Planning to become a diplomat in the future?”

I almost choked on my drink. “Huh? Please don’t say that in front of Shishou,” I said quickly, waving my hands. “I’m just her assistant for now—she’s got her hands full.” I added with a sheepish smile.

Obito leaned back, grinning. “Still… that’s pretty impressive.”

Before I could respond, Raido raised his glass. “To Suna, everyone.”

We all clinked glasses with a cheer, voices overlapping in the toast.

A sudden knock interrupted the moment. Raido got up without complaint and opened the door. Junpei and Shisui stepped in, brushing off the cool night air.

“Look who decided to join us,” Raido announced as he ushered them in.

They greeted everyone warmly, and I felt Junpei’s eyes flicker toward me. Kakashi gave him a casual nod, pretending everything was normal. We had already decided there would be no hints about our relationship tonight, and both of them were sticking to the plan—at least on the surface.

The drinking picked up again, laughter growing louder as the snacks slowly disappeared.

Genma leaned forward suddenly, squinting at Shizune and me. “Wait a second. You med-nin… you don’t look drunk at all. How are you two holding out this well?”

I couldn’t help snickering at everyone’s curious stares. Their faces were flushed, voices louder, while Shizune and I were just lightly buzzed.

“Simple,” I said with a teasing smile. “Medical-nin are trained to process alcohol quickly. In emergencies, we need to sober up first. It’s mandatory—it’s basically our default setting now.”

The group’s reaction was priceless.

“hah .. Rin does that too !!! ,” Obito leaned in, wide-eyed.

“That’s way too convenient,” Shisui added, shaking his head with mock envy.

Genma groaned. “And here I thought we’d get you two tipsy enough to spill some secrets.”

Shizune smirked but said nothing, nibbling on a chip.

Meanwhile, Junpei was quiet. His gaze lingered on me, unreadable in the shifting light of the room, and I felt the weight of it even as laughter echoed around us.

The room was warm with the faint glow of lantern light spilling through the window, the faint hum of festival drums in the distance making the silence between laughter feel even cozier. Cups clinked against the low table, and the air was filled with the lazy comfort of friends unwinding together.

“So, let me get this straight,” Raido leaned back dramatically, cup in hand, “it’s festival season in the village and here we are—singles—drinking ourselves silly. What kind of sad picture is this?”

Genma, lounging with a senbon between his teeth, didn’t even bother looking up. “You’re the one to talk. Didn’t you just get dumped by that Nara girl?”

“Hey, hey,” Raido shot up, waving his hands defensively. “Don’t twist things! We weren’t even in a relationship. I’ve always been single.”

That earned a snort from Obito, who was sprawled lazily across the sofa, head tilted back in pure ease. “I like being single.”

Genma’s smirk sharpened. “Sure you do. Or is that because Rin rejected you again?”

Obito’s head snapped forward, eyes narrowing. “Heeey! I haven’t even asked her out in ages, okay? And to be clear, I’m over her.” He jabbed a thumb toward Kakashi. “Ask him.”

Kakashi, sitting cross-legged with a bored air, didn’t even glance up from his drink. “He’s right. He hasn’t kissed Rin’s picture in secret for ages.”

The room broke into roaring laughter at Obito’s expense. Even I couldn’t hold back.

“Bakashi!” Obito groaned, lunging sideways to punch Kakashi in the ribs. Kakashi barely shifted, though his eye curved with quiet amusement.

Once the laughter died down, Raido leaned forward with a mischievous grin, eyes flicking toward us. “What about you ladies? Anyone free for dating? Don’t let us poor men suffer alone.”

I arched a brow, the corner of my lips tugging upward. “Raido, I didn’t know you were that confident.”

Genma made a show of tilting his head, senbon still dancing in his mouth. “Oh, he’s not asking for himself. He’s asking for Tenzo.”

“Senpai!!” Tenzo almost choked on his drink, his ears going red as he sat bolt upright.

The whole room cracked up again. Raido clapped him on the back, grinning like a wolf.

“Well, if you’re not into someone older, then Sen’s a perfect match for you,” Genma added smoothly, eyes glinting with trouble. He knew exactly what he was doing—testing the waters, riling up both Junpei and Kakashi at once.

Tenzo shook his head furiously, cheeks blazing. “I–I have no interest in dating anyone, Senpai!”

Genma chuckled low, leaning back with an infuriatingly satisfied smirk.

Kakashi’s eye narrowed, his gaze sliding toward Genma like he was cataloguing ways to end him silently.

Junpei sat calm, deceptively so, but the faintest tension in his jaw hinted he was thinking the same.

The warmth of the room, the easy laughter, the teasing—it all layered together like festival music in the distance, a reminder that here, at least for tonight, no one had to carry their burdens alone.

The night outside had grown darker, the village festival sounds faint now—drums muffled in the distance, laughter carried only as a faint echo on the wind. Inside, the apartment was warm, filled with the low buzz of voices and half-slurred jokes. We were all loose, comfortable, tipsy enough to laugh too easily but still sober enough to enjoy it.

That was when the door swung open with a bang.

Anko barged into Genma’s apartment, Ebisu and Aoba trailing behind her. The air shifted immediately—gone was the ease, replaced with a heavy tension that settled on the room like a storm cloud.

“Well, well, well,” Anko drawled, swaggering into the drawing room, “Genma… why wasn’t I invited?”

Genma froze mid-pour, his jaw tightening. He didn’t answer her directly, but the irritation was written all over his face.

Ebisu quickly raised his hands, almost apologetic. “Sorry, Genma. I was late and bumped into Anko, so… we came here together.”

Aoba said nothing, simply slumping down near Raido, trying to disappear into the sofa.

“You were supposed to be on duty, Anko,” Genma said sharply.

“Huh, there is no work today. Ibiki let us go. And then I got bumped to Ebis—” She stopped mid-rant. Her eyes fell on me, narrowing instantly.

“So that’s the reason I wasn’t invited?” She jabbed her finger toward me, her voice dripping with venom.

“You were on active duty, Anko. Don’t turn it into something it’s not,” Obito cut in, his tone firm, shoulders stiff.

Junpei was silent, but the tension in his frame was clear, his posture straight and alert. Kakashi, by contrast, seemed outwardly calm—but I knew that kind of quiet. He was watching closely, calculating.

“Well then,” Anko smirked, “I’ll take my seat here with the Uchiha hottie.” She grabbed a glass without asking and dropped down next to Junpei, who visibly tensed at her closeness. His discomfort was obvious, but Anko basked in it like fuel.

My stomach twisted. The cozy night we’d had until now was crumbling fast.

“So,” she turned to me suddenly, a predator’s gleam in her eyes, “how’s your life going as a clan shinobi now, Senju?”

I knew that tone. T&I training made her dangerous with words—always probing, always looking for the cracks. She was trying to dig under my skin in front of everyone.

“It’s good,” I said evenly, taking a sip of sake. My breathing was steady, my face calm. I wasn’t giving her the satisfaction of a reaction.

Obito tried to steer the mood away. “So, what’s everyone’s plan for the last day of the festival?” he asked lightly.

“Just like this,” Genma muttered, leaning back, obviously annoyed.

“I want to spar,” Kakashi said suddenly, breaking the tension. “It’s been days since I went on a mission. Whoever’s free?”

“I’m in,” Tenzo and Shisui said at the same time.

“Count me in too,” Genma added.

Then Anko’s voice cut through the room like a knife. “What about you, Senju? Do you spar? Or do you just sit in your office making seals all day ?”

My hand stilled on my cup. Slowly, I set it down, my voice calm but edged. “I do more than create seals, Mitarashi. Not that it’s any of your business.”

She let out a sharp snicker. “You’ve got an ego like you’re one of the Sannin.”

Something inside me snapped. I was done letting her bait me, done being her target. I leaned forward, my tone cold, sharp, cutting.

“You’re embarrassing yourself, Mitarashi. Let me be straight with you. Your life is so dull and pathetic that you decided to go all out on me? Someone who doesn’t even care about your existence? Didn’t they teach you in the orphanage to at least be a decent civilian? or to have some self respect when someone doesn't give a shit about you ?”

The room went silent. Not a single breath, not a single word. The line I’d crossed hung heavy in the air. Everyone knew it hit her where it hurt.

“Fuck,” Obito muttered under his breath.

Anko shot up, rage burning in her eyes. Junpei rose instantly, Genma too. I didn’t move. I sat still, my cup steady in my hand. Shizune looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

“You have the nerve to talk to me like that when you’ve been living off nepotism?” Anko spat, shaking with anger.

And then it clicked. The jealousy. The bitterness.

I exhaled slowly, a sharp laugh escaping me. “Oh… so that’s the reason.” I tilted my head, meeting her glare. “You’re jealous that I’m a Senju now? That the girl you bullied in the academy is living her best life while you’re still stuck suffering?”

Her hands trembled, her expression twisted with fury. For a second, I thought she might actually explode.

“You’re all talk, no action, Senju. And you crossed a line tonight.”

“And you didn’t cross a line harassing me in the street?” My voice was ice. “Aren’t you the hypocrite here? The only reason you even have a name is because Orochimaru took pity on you. If he hadn’t, you’d still be stuck in the genin corps—delivering parcels.”

That did it. Her expression turned murderous. She lunged at me, faster than anyone expected.

But I was ready. I flicked the substitution, leaving a pillow in my place. Her fist slammed into it, feathers exploding into the air.

The room gasped in shock.

“Maybe you’re not that good at other jutsu after all,” I taunted, voice low, “given you spend your days locked in T&I.”

“Fuck, Sen, stop! You’re not helping,” Genma barked, frustration in his tone.

“She’s defending herself,” Obito shot back at Genma. His Sharingan eye was sharp, his voice protective.

Junpei was between us now, a wall of calm fury. Kakashi had Anko by the arm, holding her back with ease.

“That’s enough. Anko, leave,” Raido said firmly.

“The fuck? She insults me like that and you want me to leave?” Anko snarled, fighting against Kakashi’s grip.

Junpei’s voice cut through the room like steel. “And what did you expect? Did you think she’d hug you after you harassed her? What would you have done if you were the one being bullied? Get a clue and stop being pathetic, Anko.”

I’d never seen him like that—anger laced in every word, his usual calm stripped away.

“You’re all defending this bitch over me?” Anko shouted, her voice breaking with fury. “She has nothing but seals up her sleeves! And you all have a soft spot for her? Or is it because she’s sleeping with you, Obito?”

The room erupted.

“What the fuck are you saying, you crazy woman?!” Obito exploded, his voice shaking the walls.

I am watching all this with calm that even i was surprised at how i was handling.

“Obito, stop.” I put my hand on his shoulder, steady, pulling him back. Then I moved past Junpei, stepping forward, my voice eerily calm.

“You and me,” I said flatly to Anko. “You want to beat me? I’ll give you that chance. Let’s go.”

“Sen, don’t!!!” Genma’s voice cracked with panic. “Anko won’t—”

I asked Genma with calm with serious voice "Anko won't what ? go easy on me ? did you forget our spar ?"

Genma didn't say anything .

“I want to close this chapter and shut her mouth. After today, she won’t even want to be in the same room as me.”

Anko sneered, her eyes wild. “Thats rich coming from someone who hasn't gone on a single S rank mission ..Let’s go. I’ll show you what I can do.”

She might be right that i wasn't given an S rank mission yet . what i went through with Root when i was being persued by them wasn't planned S rank mission buf it got promoted as S rank .

The silence that followed was suffocating. Everyone was in shock at how fast this night had spiraled. The sake, the laughter, the comfort—it was all gone, replaced by the sharp, bitter edge of something that couldn’t be undone.

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Junpei’s POV

The night turned from the best to the worst in just minutes—ever since Anko stormed into Genma’s apartment. It should have been a night of laughter and drinks, but instead it became the night Sen finally lost her patience. She’d been dragging it, swallowing it, burying it for too long. Tonight it boiled over.

Sen challenged Anko to a spar. And Anko… Anko was going all out.

One thing I knew about Sen—she never walked into a fight without something hidden up her sleeve. But Anko was underestimating her, blinded by anger and jealousy. That alone made it dangerous.

Neither had ever sparred against the other before. No one had the advantage. But if I knew Sen, she already had some idea of Anko’s fighting style. Her memory was sharp, sharper than any blade.

“Meet me at Training Ground 62,” Anko spat, her voice like broken glass. She didn’t even wait for a response. She slammed the door behind her and stormed out into the night.

Aoba ran after her. “Anko, wait! This isn’t worth it!” His voice faded quickly.

Sen didn’t look at any of us. Not even once. She just walked out, silent, her expression unreadable. Shizune’s eyes flickered with worry before she followed her out.

Raido exhaled, almost amused. “Well, today’s the day, huh? I’ll grab Kawarama or Itama. They should see her fight, given that they are her trainers.” He winked—too casually for the weight in the room—and vanished before anyone could reply.

One by one, the rest of us followed. Training Ground 62 lay at the edge of the village, close enough to the ANBU’s second compound to give me chills.

Kakashi roof-hopped silently beside me. He hadn’t said a single word since this started. And honestly, what could he say? This wasn’t just another spar. This was Sen—our Sen—who wasn’t just a jōnin anymore. She was ANBU now. And none of the guys except Shisui even knew. Even Kakashi and I had never seen her mask. That mystery clung to her like a shadow.

By the time I reached the ground, Anko and Sen were already in the middle, facing each other, tension rolling off them like heat waves.

“Who’s going to proctor this?” Tenzo asked, frowning.

“I will.”

The voice came from behind us. Ibiki appeared out of the darkness like he’d been waiting all along. “Anko sent me a summon.”

Obito narrowed his eyes. “And you’ll be neutral?”

Ibiki’s gaze cut toward him, flat and unreadable. He didn’t say . He wouldn't cheat in front of all these experienced shinobis .. not that i doubt him. He is on the way to become T&I head in the future . He has a reputation to hold .

“Junpei! What the hell happened?” Kawarama appeared with a crack of shunshin, his younger brother Itama right behind him.

“Long story short,” I said, my eyes locked on Sen and Anko, “Anko pushed too far. Sen snapped. And now… now we’ll see who breaks whom.”

Ibiki was already laying out the rules, his gravelly voice echoing across the clearing. But neither woman was listening. Their eyes were locked, unblinking, as if the fight had already begun.

When Ebiki gave the go, I activated my Sharingan. Shisui and Obito did the same. Anko disappeared instantly. Her chakra was completely gone—as if she had never been there. Years of fieldwork and T&I experience were written all over that move.

Even my Sharingan couldn’t trace her flow. She could’ve been a squirrel or a rat hiding somewhere for all I knew.

But Sen didn’t move. She stood rooted, calm—too calm for someone in the middle of a spar. That’s what I admired about her. Her composure, her maturity… it was always there, like an unshakable core.

Her chakra didn’t waver, not even a flicker. No stress, no panic. Just… stillness.

And then—Anko reappeared in a blur, descending from above, fist cutting through the air toward Sen’s face. Except… she hit a shadow clone. Sen’s clone dissolved, and the real one appeared a short distance away, visible only when she chose to. Even my Sharingan hadn’t caught the moment she switched. Smooth, clean, almost too perfect.

I saw Anko’s irritation spike immediately. Her strikes turned direct, fast-paced taijutsu—no more tricks. Still, she was Orochimaru’s student. At any moment she could use the same numbing techniques Sen had employed earlier.

The exchange was balanced, hit for hit, counter for counter. Then—out of nowhere—an explosion went off right beside Anko. The blast threw her into a tree, bark cracking under the impact.

Sen didn’t chase her. She just stood there, waiting. Calm. Hand gesturing for Anko to come at her again.

That silent taunt lit a fire in Anko’s eyes. She looked more furious than ever.

But I got it. Sen’s strategy wasn’t to overpower Anko—it was to make her angry, angry enough that she wouldn’t think straight. Clever. Ruthless. Exactly what the fight demanded.

That’s when I felt them. Several Anbu operatives had appeared, watching quietly from the tree line. They must’ve picked up the noise from the spar. Their chakra signatures loomed like shadows at the edge of the clearing.Some of them were S rank shinobis . I could sense some Anbu captains too.

“So far, it’s good—good, but tilted slightly towards Sen,” Kawarama commented.

He was right. That explosion had broken Anko’s rhythm.

In a split second, Anko summoned a snake and sent it slithering toward Sen. It was then that Sen did something extraordinary. She activated her chakra seal—not just for sealing away enemies, but as a storage for things she needed. In front of everyone’s eyes, she absorbed the snake straight into the seal.

Anko was flabbergasted. Not just her—everyone was.

“What the hell? What kind of jutsu is that? How is that even possible?” an Anbu muttered in honest surprise.

Even Kakashi looked stunned. We had always taken fūinjutsu lightly, but Sen had mastered it to a terrifying extent.

“What the fuck did you do to him?” Anko sneered.

“What would you have done if I sent a snake toward you,? He might have passed out from lack of oxygen by now. My condolences,” Sen said softly, almost sad.

If I didn’t know her, I might’ve assumed she killed the snake. But Sen would never hurt an animal just for a spar.

Anko’s anger was rising by the minute. She slammed her palms into the ground, unleashing an earth jutsu that made spikes jut upward like needles. Sen leapt into the air to avoid them, but as she began to fall, there was no safe ground to land on.

And then… she simply stopped. Suspended in the air. She wasn’t falling, but neither was she standing on those spikes.

“That’s impossible,” someone whispered. “Only the Tsuchikage can levitate like that.”

Kakashi’s eyes flicked toward me. It was clear—we knew nothing about the true depth of Sen’s abilities. With every move, she wasn’t just fighting Anko—she was humiliating her. Almost as if she were playing.

Anko was sweating, her chakra draining from all the heavy jutsu.She has straightly used jutsus that require high amount of chakra . A summoning jutsu require constant chakra as long as the summon is out .  Sen casually dropped a few explosive tags, and the blast flattened the spikes. Not all of them, but enough to clear her landing.

Something I noticed—Sen was completely on the defensive. She wasn’t attacking at all, just fending off Anko’s nonstop barrage. Snakes, taijutsu, earth style—Anko kept switching her attacks one after another.

And now… an S-rank torture genjutsu.

“Fuck… she used an S-rank torture genjutsu on her comrade?!” one Anbu exclaimed.

“She crossed the line. Shouldn’t she be stopped? That’s enough—the Senju girl’s just a chunin,” another muttered.

We were all watching. Shit… it really did look like Sen was caught in the genjutsu.

“Fuck!!! Is she caught?!” Genma asked, glancing at Kakashi, who had his Sharingan active.

“It seems so…” Obito replied flatly.

In the next instant, Anko laughed, then shunshined forward, faster than before. Her kick slammed straight into Sen’s ribs—I swear I heard something crack.

Kakashi looked visibly upset.

The kick snapped Sen out of the genjutsu, but she was already hurt. She fired an explosive tag in Anko’s direction to keep her busy, then pressed glowing hands to her side. Right there on the field, she screamed through gritted teeth and healed her ribs in seconds.

But Anko wasn’t letting up. She appeared behind Sen again, and once more threw her into that same S-rank torture genjutsu—the one meant for enemy shinobi, not allies. I couldn’t even imagine what kind of visions she was forcing Sen to see.

“Well… Anko just destroyed the Senju,” one of the Anbu said, glancing toward Kawarama. “Looks like being from a clan doesn’t always help."

Everyone knows Kawarama and Itama taught her the Senju way.

Sen stood frozen. I couldn’t interfere—that would ruin the spar. I could only watch and wonder what nightmare she was trapped in. Anko was a sadist; she enjoyed this. She’d drag Sen’s suffering out rather than end the fight quickly.

And she looked downright pleased with herself now.

Slowly, she walked toward Sen, chakra gathering in her palm. A medical jutsu. She was planning to strike with it as a finishing move.

“That’s not looking good,” Shikaku muttered. I hadn’t even noticed him arrive. Everyone’s focus was glued to the fight. Sakumo-san stood beside him, and Jiraiya-sama… he just looked stunned, not saying a word.

“The Senju girl’s gonna retire from the shinobi corps and run her little tea shop from now on,” the same Anbu scoffed—the one who’d been bad-mouthing her earlier.

“This is the day you’ll always remember—for being humiliated in front of all your friends and other shinobi…” Anko laughed, drawing her hand back before slamming a punch into Sen’s ribs. This one was stronger, sharp with medical chakra behind it.

The strike shattered Sen’s genjutsu. Blood spilled from her lips as she staggered. She couldn’t move—exhausted and weak.

“Well, well, well… look at you. You dared to challenge me?” Anko sneered. “You’re barely at a genin level when it comes to other jutsu. All you’ve got are some flashy seals that might save you for a moment.”

She grabbed Sen by the hair, yanking her closer. Sen looked like she was about to faint.

“You’ll never be at my level. I was right to bully you. I’m doing you—and this village—a favor. Sweet dreams, Senju. Best of luck with your waitress career.” Anko chuckled darkly.

“That’s enough!!! Why isn’t Ibiki stopping her? She’s humiliating Sen!” Obito roared.

“Didn’t Sen humiliate Anko first?” Aoba replied flatly. “This is just payback.”

Anko still had Sen by the hair, laughing as if nothing else mattered.

“Maybe Sen just isn’t on Anko’s level,” Raido sighed.

And then—something happened. Something none of us could explain. Not me, not the shinobi watching the spar.

Sen appeared behind Anko. She looked unhurt. Calm. Just like before.

“What?! If she’s Sen, then who’s Anko holding?” Genma dropped his senbon in shock. I’ve never seen him drop it before, never during mission fights or even spars .

Anko hadn’t sensed her. I hadn’t. No one had.

Sen grabbed Anko by the hair and slammed a punch into her. Anko’s eyes widened, unable to process what had just happened. The bloodied, broken Sen was still standing in front of her—yet another Sen was attacking her from behind.

Even my Sharingan caught nothing. No tricks. No illusions.

Sen placed her hand on Anko’s forehead. And just like that, Anko collapsed to the ground.

“Holy shit… that was hot,” one of the nearby Anbu muttered—the first time I’d ever heard him speak.

“That’s insane! Senpai, did Sen-san use genjutsu?” Tenzo asked Kakashi, wide-eyed.

Kakashi was stunned into silence.

“I didn’t detect any genjutsu,” Obito said, almost in disbelief.

Anko was out cold.

Sen stood silently, her chest rising and falling as sweat glistened across her brow. Across from her, Ibiki’s sharp gaze lingered for a long moment before he finally gave a curt nod.

“The match is over. Sen wins,” he announced.

The words rang across the training field like a bell. Sen’s lips tugged into a small, controlled smile. Almost immediately, Shizune dashed forward, her hands already glowing with green healing chakra.

At first, I thought Sen was injured—she looked down at her arm with a faint grimace. But when Shizune reached her, she leaned closer, whispered something, and the other “Sen” lying battered on the ground suddenly shifted.

Her body rippled—then broke apart into a writhing swarm of ants.

Millions of them.

They scuttled over one another before scattering into nothingness, fading into the dust of the training field. A collective gasp erupted from the crowd.

That’s when it hit me. She hadn’t just used a clone. She had created an ant clone.It doesn't matter how much Anko might have hit , the summons when appear in a clone they always use nature chakra . So they never die . She might have hit Sen's ants and they might have regenerated again and again .

I didn’t know the full mechanics of her summoning contract, but one thing was clear—her ants weren’t just simple creatures. For all we knew, Anko had been fighting an illusion wrapped in reality, struggling against enemies that weren’t even there.

It was… brilliant. Terrifyingly brilliant.

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant chirping of cicadas. Everyone had the same stunned look plastered on their face.

It was then Sen desealed her arm and the snake came out . The creature looked puzzled when i looked at sen and then anko . Sen looked straight at the summon . The snake didn't say anything he just poofed away . He mught have gone back to his realm.

Jiraiya was the first to move. With his usual swagger subdued into something more serious, he walked towards Sen, his eyes narrowed with curiosity. Shikaku followed at his side, his hands tucked in his pockets, expression thoughtful. Sakumo-san, calm as ever, stood closer to us, silently watching Sen.

The three of them exchanged a few words with her before Shikaku finally turned to address everyone.

“Well, if there’s one lesson here,” he said, his voice carrying through the courtyard, “it’s that fighting with anger will only get you crushed. Let today’s match be a reminder.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the gathered shinobi.

Jiraiya let out a booming laugh, breaking the tension. “Gaki’s a top-notch fūinjutsu mistress of the village, no doubt about it!”

Sen only gave a modest smile, shaking her head slightly, though her pride was clear.

Meanwhile, Shizune remained crouched beside Anko, working carefully. Ibiki and Aoba hovered protectively nearby, eyes narrowed in case there was any unexpected backlash. Eventually, Aoba lifted Anko, and went towards the hospital.

Only when the crowd began to disperse did Sen let out a long sigh, brushing sweat from her brow. “I’m hungry now,” she admitted, her voice almost childlike.

“Of course you are,” Shizune chuckled.

Before Sen could say more, Itama appeared at her side, grinning ear to ear. “Let’s head back to the compound and talk about that wonderful spar, shall we?” Without giving her a chance to argue, he clapped a hand on her shoulder and whisked her away with a swift shunshin.

Kawarama glanced at Shizune and shrugged. “Well, looks like it’s family time now.” With a smile, he escorted her after them.

That left the rest of us watching the space Sen had just vacated.

“She really is her grandfather’s blood,” Genma muttered under his breath, still awed.

Obito smirked proudly. “She has the seals in her veins—it’s undeniable.”

Kakashi’s eye narrowed, but there was no malice in his tone, only quiet admiration. “I just want to know… how the hell did she fool all of us?”

No one had an answer. We all just knew one thing—Sen had gone from being “promising” to dangerously unpredictable.

We were back at Genma’s place.

Everyone sat around, but Genma looked like he was in a trance.

“She pulled something impossible and fooled us all,” he said, taking a sip of sake.

“At one point I thought she was a goner,” Raido added.

Kakashi wasn’t speaking. He didn’t look stressed anymore, but his expression said he still needed some answers.

“One thing I came to learn today—fuinjutsu requires patience and a sharper mind. I always kind of thought she wasn’t at our level yet. But she made Anko lick the floor. And Anko wasn’t going easy on her.” Genma said.

“And don’t forget about her flying through the air while Anko pulled out those spikes,” Tenzo reminded.

“You think she’d give me some fuinjutsu lessons?” Shisui asked me.

Genma chuckled. “Get in line, Shisui. Isn’t your cousin already want to be Sen’s apprentice?”

He was right. Satsuki admired Sen. After Sen saved her, she’d been in awe of her—wanting to be just like her, a fuinjutsu mistress too.

Sen had earned some fans today. People were going to talk about her prowess after defeating Anko. And everyone knew people from T&I were brutal.

“Don’t forget, Anko admitted she bullied Sen for a reason,” Kakashi finally said.

“Yeah… she said it in front of everyone. She might even get reprimanded for bullying a comrade. Shikaku heard it too,” I added.

“Fuck… that was her endgame,” I muttered.

Everyone looked at me—then the realization hit them.

“She wanted all of us to hear how Anko really felt about her, didn’t she?, That's why she was on defence mode .” Tenzo said.

“That was a well-thought plan. One thing we know that she only used defensive jutsu. we didn't see any offensive fuin techniques here .” Kakashi admitted.

“You guys already know the people from T&I are all sadists. If it wasn’t her clone, Anko really would’ve put Sen under an S-rank genjutsu. She didn’t even think twice,” Shisui said.

“So, how are we going to move forward from here?” Raido asked.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“It isn’t just jealousy. It’s pure hatred from Anko toward Sen,” Kakashi added.

I understood his feelings. If Sen hadn’t used that ant clone, she could’ve been trapped under an S-rank torture genjutsu… something that shatters people’s minds.

“Anko is out of the group . This is not how you treat your own people . She has some deep hatred towards Sen which is not healthy . I'll let the commander know to never put Anko in Sen's team." I said, taking a sip.

“Anko needs a psychiatrist,” Obito fumed.

We went on talking about how future get-togethers should go and what rules we’d follow. Looked like we’d be seeing Sen tonight. Kakashi glanced at me, and I understood.

Sen’s POV

After I destroyed Anko’s ego, I didn’t get much time to talk to the guys. My anger had already passed. Itama shunshined us straight back to the compound.

Kawarama and Shizune followed close behind.

We went straight to the main house, where Tsunade, Dan, and Nawaki were playing cards with Orochimaru.

“Sen kicked Anko’s ass!” Itama announced proudly.

“What the hell?” Tsunade asked in surprise.

Orochimaru looked a little stunned, then smirked.“Anko had it coming, trust me. The girl is too emotional sometimes.”

“She used so many cool jutsus tonight, To-san!” Itama added, practically bouncing with excitement.

They all set down their cards and made space for us newcomers.

“Of course she did. She knows fuinjutsu,” Tsunade said, smiling warmly at me. “With sealing arts you can create almost anything… and she’s also studying Tobi-ojisan’s journals and notes.”

And just like that, we spent the evening talking about fuinjutsu and its merits. Most might find it boring since seals demand endless study, patience, and constant testing. But I had that kind of patience and mindset—I was a programmer in my last life, after all.

I already had countless ideas for new seals I could create for different purposes.

I was glad to have family members I could actually share this kind of talk with.

Thanks to the Suna delegation, I ended up having a very happy week.

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What do you think of this chapter guys ? it is one of the longer one i have written.

Today's fic recomendation is :》》"Take me or leave me" by asternightingale

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