My Techniques are a bit off

"Protest! We protest!"

"A machine can't compare to our Tailed Beast wisdom!"

"If something goes wrong, can a machine take responsibility?!"

At the entrance queue to the Web Net station, Anko Mitarashi watched a group of Tailed Beasts protesting nearby, along with a cluster of sweating Uchiha reincarnates trying to placate them. Shaking her head, she sighed.

The new Web Net station had been in operation for half a month.

In short? Everything was going great—far better accepted by the general public than when the Tailed Beasts themselves were running the portals…well, except for a small segment of "Tailed Beast enthusiasts" who weren't pleased.

"Hmm… time to head to the Future World and meet up with Kurenai and the others," Anko said, stretching. Without thinking, she reached into her handbag for a box of dango from "Friend's House."

Just then, a machine lit up nearby, reminding her she wasn't allowed to eat in this area. Somewhat annoyed, she stuffed the sweets back into her bag and placed it in the security check channel.

In these stations, other than the waiting hall, you weren't allowed to eat, drink water, or consume any beverages or alcohol.

They wouldn't say why, but Anko happened to know.

Because she was an insider.

There was a women's shinobi group within the Alliance called the Kunoichi Mutual Aid Association—founded by Koharu Utatane, an advisor in the Main World's Konoha. Tsunade, Shizune, Kurenai, and many others had joined, including several female Anbu operatives. Anko was part of it, especially due to her close friendship with Kurenai. Kurenai, in turn, had decent connections to Shizune because of her father's ties to Dan Katō… on and on it went.

The inside scoop was that the "bio-computer" at the station was made using branches from the Divine Tree.

That might sound intimidating—"Divine Tree"—but in the Third World, there were plenty of them. Turns out the Main and Second Worlds had them underground too. They were exceptionally good at conducting and storing chakra, making them ideal biomaterial for technology.

The only issue: Melding a bio-computer with Divine Tree bark combined plant and animal instincts. When powered up, it instinctively tried to absorb water…and also craved food.

And that bio-computer was installed under the new station. If too much water or food residue built up in certain zones, it could disrupt the machine's operation. Not a huge threat, but there'd been at least one victim teleported underground in the Third World due to a glitch.

Hence the rules about no eating or drinking in designated areas.

"Anyway, listen to me!" said the leading Uchiha reincarnate, raising his voice again and drawing stares from passersby.

Wait, isn't that Shisui, right?

Anko recognized him by his somewhat stubby nose—a rare, peace-loving Uchiha praised by the Third Hokage. He'd apparently led a group of Uchiha tired of Fugaku's leadership to join the Alliance. Rumor had it he was loaded with cash.

After all, the Sharingan was incredibly useful. Each reincarnated Uchiha apparently had a pair, and every sector was desperate to hire them.

But why was he personally mediating between the Tailed Beasts? He had a Mangekyō Sharingan, a pretty high status, no?

She was momentarily perplexed but didn't dwell on it. Her meeting time was coming up—she had no desire to stand around watching the show.

She was off to a women's social dinner for the Mutual Aid Association. Because plenty of kunoichi from the Future World had joined, they could travel there at a discount.

After all, the Future World's infrastructure, entertainment, and environment were leagues beyond anything in the Main, Second, or Third Worlds. Everyone agreed that for vacation or sightseeing, that was the place to go.

The Main World was still divided, and though there'd been talk of forming an Alliance branch there, negotiations were a mess; supposedly a delegation would come next month, but who could say?

The Second World was still busy rebuilding after the war, and small countries were crawling with wandering samurai, bandits, mafioso—it was complicated.

The Third World… best not to mention.

Still, to stop everyone from crowding into the Future World at once, they'd passed an Inter-World Management Act. You had to buy a pass to go, and you couldn't simply convert your Alliance contribution to that world's currency at a 1:1 rate. You had to go through expensive, official channels. So every trip was a bit of a luxury.

(I'll buy some extra sweets to bring back…)

Anko pulled out her pass, cleared the security check, and reclaimed her bag. She headed into the waiting hall, planning to sit down somewhere and finally eat her dango. Then she noticed Tsunade (the Main World version) sitting all alone, facing the wall, looking desolate.

Feeling mildly concerned, Anko approached.

"Tsunade-sama?"

"?"

Tsunade #1 raised her head. She still looked gloomy. "Oh, Anko. What is it?"

"Uh…" Anko carefully took a seat one spot away. "A-are you okay?"

"I'm great," Tsunade #1 said, voice laced with resentment. "Never been better."

(I shouldn't have asked…)

Anko wished she could slap herself. She ended up sitting there, forced to hear the former Fifth Hokage rant about the boyfriend who'd "used her and tossed her aside."

Dan Katō—Shizune's uncle. They'd met a few times. He was a decent guy: easygoing, well-spoken, emotionally intelligent, quite skilled, and good at his job. The problem was, he was too gentle.

Especially with other women. His terrifying kindness made him very popular. And since Tsunade was always busy in the hospital and labs, it wasn't surprising that arguments flared over his proximity to other females.

She sure seems to prefer someone like Link—cool on the outside, soft-hearted within.

But anyway, Anko's own preferences aside, Link had rescued her from the cursed seal's torment, then took her out for dessert after defeating Orochimaru. And they both happened to love sweets.

Too bad…he's just a kid.

Well, physically. In some ways, he was pretty "big," but age- and height-wise, still a child, so no marriage possible.

"Mm, right, sure," Anko replied absently, her mind drifting while Tsunade vented.

Link's tendency to daydream might be contagious…

"Here's what we'll do: You're coming with me to Land of Hot Water," Tsunade #1 suddenly declared, throwing an arm around Anko. Wearing the look of someone who'd found her soulmate, she added, "Since that jerk isn't coming along, I booked a suite and a two-person travel package. My treat."

"Eh?"

Anko let out a startled squeak, then forced a weak laugh. "I'm supposed to meet up with the others for the mutual aid dinner, so—"

"Tch, it's just Konoha #2. What's so exciting about that? After we get there, tell them you're leaving with me," Tsunade #1 said, cutting her off without hesitation. "Hot springs, gourmet feasts…"

At first, Anko wanted to protest, but at the mention of such temptations, she could no longer refuse.

(Sorry, Kurenai…)

~~~

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