The World of Kunoichi Chapter 2 (Patreon)

Morning light seeped through the thin gaps between the wooden planks, cutting pale lines across the dusty floor. The entire structure creaked softly whenever the wind brushed against it, as if the building itself was considering collapsing out of pure spite.

In the middle of the room sat two people on the wooden floor across from each other, silently.

The atmosphere was painfully awkward as the teenage boy, Leo, sat cross-legged, his fingers restlessly picking at a loose thread on his oversized, coarse robes. He stole another glance at the woman opposite him. Up close, the reality of her was jarring. The mesh armor that revealed her naked body, the tan trench coat abandoned to the side, and the violet hair that looked like a bird’s nest of silk. It was the Anko he knew from the screen, a woman who ate dango with a blood-splattered face and laughed at danger.

Meanwhile opposite of him, the violet-haired kunoichi, Anko, was currently having a silent breakdown as she carefully wrapped a strip of bandages around the wound along her ribs. Every movement she made was controlled and practiced as she finished tying off the makeshift bandage. Yet internally her mind was a complete disaster.

‘OH MY GOD I'M IN A ROOM WITH A MAN.’ Her heart was pounding harder than it had during last night’s battle. ‘GET A GRIP, MITARASHI! Stay calm… stay calm… act normal…’ Her hands trembled slightly as she tightened the knot. ‘It’s just a man. A real, breathing, black-haired, adorable man. In a hut. Alone. With you. I'M SITTING ALONE WITH A MAN.’ Internally she was practically squealing. ‘This is happening. This is actually happening.’

Her face heated up to a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato. She risked a peek and saw that Leo was also looking at her, his expression a mix of concern and deep, soul-shattering confusion. She quickly looked away so fast she heard her neck crack. ‘Don't stare at him… don't stare at him…’  

He looked so… normal with his messy black hair, slightly tanned skin from the sun, oversized robes that clearly didn't belong to him and those nervous expressions he kept making. ‘He’s not running away,’ she realized, her heart doing a frantic drum-roll against her ribs. ‘Why isn't he terrified? I’m a high-ranking kunoichi covered in blood and grime, and he’s just… sitting there.’

Her heart quickly skipped. ‘He's so cute.’ She quickly shook her head. ‘Focus Anko. Focus.’ Then another thought crept in, a confusing one. ‘Why is a man here?’

She thought of the men in the Capital, beings draped in silk, shielded by walls of stone and steel, who fanned themselves and looked at shinobi as if they were necessary but unsightly monsters. Then there was Leo. He lived in a house that was essentially a pile of splinters waiting to happen. He had no guards. No servants. Just a rusty hoe and a field of dirt.

A protective instinct, fiercer than any mission objective, flared in her chest. ‘Who left him here? How could anyone let a treasure like this just… sit abandoned in the middle of nowhere? The thought briefly concerned her. But another thought quickly replaced it. ‘Actually…’ A slow grin almost appeared on her lips. ‘This is amazing.’

A rare opportunity like this didn't appear twice. She could already imagine the conversation she would have later with the Hokage.

Yes, she had failed to recover the stolen scroll. Yes, two enemies escaped. But she had discovered something far more important, a lone man, unprotected, living in the wilderness. Her eyes sparkled slightly. ‘The Hokage will definitely want to hear about this.’ Honestly, she didn't even care about the failed mission anymore. Not when she was currently sitting across from a man who didn’t seem terrified of her.

That alone was shocking. From everything she had heard from other kunoichi, men were extremely nervous around them. Some were so intimidated by female shinobi that they refused to live anywhere near ninja villages. Many preferred to stay in safer places like the capital.

And Konohagakure was no exception as it was full of dangerous deadly kunoichi. Most men avoided that kind of environment entirely.

But Leo… He had spoken to her. Touched her shoulder. Even offered help. Her chest warmed slightly. ‘He wasn't scared of me…’

Across the room, Leo was deep in his own thoughts.

‘Okay… think… think…’ He leaned back slightly against the wooden wall. ‘I'm in Naruto.’ The realization still felt surreal but as he stole another glance at the woman across from him. 

That was definitely Anko Mitarashi, snake-like eyes, wild purple hair, a long tan coat. Everything matched. But something felt… off.

‘She's… different.’ From what he remembered in the manga and anime, Anko was supposed to be loud, confident, and slightly unhinged. Dangerous and aggressive. A woman who enjoyed fighting.

But the one sitting across from him right now looked more like someone trying very hard not to panic as she kept fidgeting, looking away and blushing randomly.

‘That's not how I remember her…’

Then there was something else. Something she had said earlier. “You can touch me whenever you want.”

His brain paused. ‘What the hell was that about?’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Maybe the story exaggerated her personality?’

But he quickly pushed the thought away as that wasn't important right now. What mattered was the opportunity. ‘This is my ticket out of this forest. If she was a ninja from the Hidden Leaf… Then she definitely knew where civilization was and from what I remembered, the Naruto world actually had decent technology with television, electricity, trains and cities.’

But then a darker thought followed.

‘Wait… Hidden Leaf… That place was basically a magnet for world-ending disasters from the Akatsuki, invasions, Madara and not to mention the Aliens.’ His brain groaned. ‘Do I really want to live there?’

Besides, he had no powers. No chakra. No training. He was just a normal guy. But then again…He looked around the hut at the cracked walls, the empty room, the smell of damp wood. ‘…anything is better than this. I can just stay out of the plot.’

Let Naruto Uzumaki deal with saving the world. He would happily stay far away from all of that and live a peaceful life.

But there was still one problem.

‘Will she even bring me with her? Maybe she would just leave. Maybe she would go back to her village alone.’ The thought made his stomach twist with anxiety. Maybe he could ask her to take him to the nearest town at least, anywhere with people. He was honestly reaching the end of his sanity living alone out here.

Before he could organize his thoughts further.

Anko suddenly spoke. Her voice was slightly hesitant. “Um… Leo?”

He looked up, meeting those snake-like eyes that were currently wide with a soft, hovering uncertainty. “Yes?”

“Are you…” She hesitated, her fingers twisting a stray bit of bandage. “Are you waiting for your family? Or a guardian? Maybe your clan must be searching for you.”

Leo blinked then shook his head. “No. I don't have any family here. It’s just me living here alone for a while.”

That answer immediately caught her attention.

‘He really is unclaimed?’ Her eyes widened slightly. The word echoed in her head like a jackpot. If he had no clan, he had no protection. In the Hidden Leaf, a man without a lineage was a miracle, a chance for a new beginning. She felt a selfish, giddy surge of hope. If she brought him back, she wouldn't just be a hero for "rescuing" him; she would be the one who found him.

‘Then maybe she could bring him back to the village. Introduce him properly and ensure he was protected.’

Her heart sped up slightly and selfishly… It would mean she could see and be with him again. She was about to open her mouth. “Would you like to—”

RRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH.

The sound echoed through the hut.

Leo froze as his face turned bright red instantly. “…Sorry.” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “I… haven’t eaten much lately.” Three days of near-starvation would do that.

The pity hit Anko like a physical blow. A man, her man (her brain was moving very fast now) was starving. She immediately stood up. “Don't worry!” Her voice was suddenly energetic. “I'll bring food!”

Leo blinked. “Wait— that's really not necessary—”

But she was already moving as in a blur of motion the kunoichi vanished out the doorway. The leaves outside rustled briefly.

Then silence returned.

Leo stared at the empty entrance. “…that was fast.” He leaned back against the wall again. His mind turned the situation over once more.

‘Why is she being so nice?’ This wasn't how he remembered her at all. But this version of Anko Mitarashi seemed strangely… eager to help him. Leo exhaled slowly. “Man… this world is already confusing.”

—------------------------------------------------------

Two hours later

Leo had spent most of that time pacing the small clearing outside, occasionally glancing toward the treeline and wondering if the purple-haired ninja had simply disappeared forever.

‘Maybe she just left...’ The thought sat in his stomach like a cold stone. ‘No, she’s a Hidden Leaf ninja. They have a code, right? Besides, she seemed... weirdly intense about bringing food.’

He leaned against the crooked doorframe of his hut, watching a squirrel scurry across a branch. Then, the forest changed. The air grew heavy, and a sudden, violent shudder ripped through the canopy. Birds erupted from the leaves in a frantic, screaming cloud of feathers, blotting out the sun for a split second.

Leo straightened, his hand instinctively gripping the doorframe. “What the—”

CRASH.

A blur of tan and violet dropped from the sky, hitting the center of the clearing with the localized force of a meteor. Dust and dried leaves spiraled into the air, obscuring the figure for a moment.

As the haze cleared, Anko Mitarashi stood there, looking entirely unbothered. Slung over her shoulder, looking like little more than a heavy backpack, was a wild boar the size of a small sofa.

Leo’s jaw didn't just drop; it practically hit the porch. “...How?”

Anko casually stepped forward and let the massive beast slide off her shoulder. It hit the ground with a thud that Leo felt in his teeth. She dusted off her palms, a small, triumphant smirk playing on her lips. “There! Took a bit longer than I thought. The big ones are faster than they look.”

Leo walked a slow, stunned circle around the carcass. The tusks were like ivory daggers. “You... you caught this? By yourself?”

“Of course,” she said, tilting her head as if he’d asked if she knew how to breathe.

“With your bare hands?”

“I used a kunai for the finishing blow, but yeah. Why? Is there a problem?”

Leo stared at her—really looked at her. She wasn't even winded. ‘Right. Shonen logic. High-tier ninja. Stop applying physics, Leo, or your brain will melt.’

Before he could process the scale of the kill, Anko was a whirlwind of efficiency. With a flick of her wrist, a kunai appeared in her hand. She knelt by the boar, her movements a blur of practiced lethality as she began to dress the meat. With her free hand, she summoned a pile of dry wood together and spat a tiny, concentrated spark, not a full Fire Style jutsu, just a flicker of chakra, that ignited the kindling instantly.

“Wait, hold on—” Leo started.

Anko didn't look up from her work. “No need to worry, just go back inside and sit down, Leo,” she said, her voice shifting into a strangely protective, matter-of-fact tone. “I’ll handle the heavy lifting. Just relax.”

Leo frowned slightly. “What? No, You’ve already done the hunting. Let me help with the rest.”

Anko’s hand paused. She looked up, her expression genuinely baffled. “It’s fine! Really.”

“But you’re injured, Anko. I can at least handle the fire or the prep.”

“You’re the man,” she stated. She said it with the same absolute certainty one might use to say the sky is blue.

Leo blinked. “...And?”

She stopped completely now, sitting back on her heels, her violet eyes searching his face for a sign that he was joking. “...And you shouldn’t have to do this kind of work. It’s not... right.”

Leo felt a flicker of annoyance. “I’ve been living in a shack and digging in the dirt for days, Anko. I think I can handle a campfire. Let me help.”

“It’s unnecessary.”

“I’m helping.”

“Leo, please, just—”

“Anko.” He stepped into her personal space, his voice dropping an octave. “Let. Me. Help.”

The silence that followed was thick. Anko froze, her internal monologue hitting a catastrophic error 404. ‘He’s being... assertive. He wants to do manual labor? For me?’ In her world, a man willing to get his hands dirty was a myth, something from ancient, dusty scrolls. Seeing him stand his ground, looking rugged and determined despite his oversized robes, sent a jolt of something electric through her.

“...Alright,” she whispered, her cheeks turning a soft, dusty pink.

Leo smiled proudly. “Great!”

—-------------------------------------

Ten minutes later.

The "electric" feeling had been replaced by a very different kind of tension.

Leo stood over the fire, holding a sharpened stick like it was a live grenade. “Uh...” He poked a choice cut of meat uncertainly. “Should I... flip it now?”

“Not yet.”

“Oh.” He moved the stick toward the left side.

“Definitely not there, the heat is uneven.”

“...Right.”

The next few minutes were a comedy of errors. Leo managed to knock over the support stones, nearly dropped the main roast into the ash twice, and accidentally kicked a cloud of dirt toward the flames while trying to adjust his seating.

He finally sat back with a heavy, defeated sigh, his face smudged with soot. “...I’m making this worse, aren’t I?” He looked at his hands, feeling a wave of genuine embarrassment. “I’m useless at this.”

Across the flickering orange light, Anko wasn't laughing. She was watching him with a look of pure, unadulterated warmth. To her, it didn't matter that he was failing; it mattered that he had insisted on trying to take care of her.

“I don’t mind, so don’t let it bother you.” She said softly, her voice uncharacteristically tender. She reached out, her fingers deftly rescuing the meat and repositioning the stones in a few fluid motions. The scent of roasting fat and wild herbs began to fill the clearing, making Leo’s stomach let out a treacherous, echoing growl.

Suddenly, Anko winced. Her hand flew to her side, clutching the bandages over her ribs. “Ah—”

Leo was across the fire before he even realized he was moving. “Hey! Easy!” He knelt beside her, his hands coming up to steady her shoulders.

Anko’s breath hitched. ‘He touched me again with no hesitation or fear.’ 

“Are you okay?” Leo didn't notice her internal panic. He was focused on the bandage, his brow furrowed in concern. “Did the wound open? You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“I’m—I’m a kunoichi, Leo. I’ve had worse,” She said while managing to stammer, though she made absolutely no effort to pull away from his touch. In fact, she leaned into it just a fraction.

“You’re still human,” Leo countered, his voice stern but kind. “Be careful.”

The protectiveness in his tone made Anko’s heart do a backflip. ‘He’s worried about me. A man... is protecting me.’ She felt a strange, dizzying sense of peace. “I’ll be fine. Just a twinge of pain.”

Eventually, Leo sat back, though he stayed close. The meat was sizzling now, dripping juices into the coals. After a long moment of watching the flames, Leo looked at her. “Can I ask you something? Why are you being so... intense about this? The food, the ‘protecting’ me thing?”

Anko poked the fire with a stick, her expression turning thoughtful. “Because it’s normal, Leo.”

“Normal?” He said confused. 

“I mean for you,” she said, glancing at him. “Men shouldn’t have to deal with this. The dirt, the blood, the... the survival. It’s not your place.”

Leo stared at her, genuinely lost. “Men can cook, Anko. They can work. They can fight, that’s just... life.”

Anko’s eyes widened, looking at him as if he’d just claimed he could fly. “Leo... how sheltered were you growing up?”

“I wasn’t sheltered! I was—” He stopped, realizing how insane he must sound to her.

Anko studied him. The way he held himself, his lack of knowledge about basic social hierarchies. A realization began to dawn on her. ‘He really doesn’t know. He’s been lost for a long time.’ A protective instinct, sharper than any kunai, flared in her chest. ‘If he doesn't understand the world, he’s going to get hurt. Or worse... some other woman will find him and take advantage of him.’

Her expression hardened, turning serious. “Leo. Look at me.”

He quickly did.

“There’s something you need to understand. Something very basic.” She poked the fire one last time, the embers glowing in her eyes. “Men are extremely rare. And because they are rare, they are the most valuable thing in the world.”

Leo tilted his head, his "otaku" brain trying to find a reference point. “...How rare are we talking?”

Anko’s voice was dead calm. “The gender ratio is roughly one man for every hundred women.”

The silence that followed was absolute. A leaf drifted down from a tree, landing softly on the boar’s flank.

Leo just sat there, his brain performing a hard reboot. “...What?”

“One to one hundred,” she repeated.

“That’s... that’s biologically impossible. The genetics wouldn’t—”

“It is reality,” She interrupted, her voice softening. “And because of that reality, it is our duty, the duty of every kunoichi and every village to ensure men like you are never in danger. You are meant to be cherished, Leo. Not living in a shack in the woods.”

Leo sat frozen and his mind was screaming. ‘ONE TO ONE HUNDRED? THAT WAS NOT IN THE MANGA! KISHIMOTO NEVER MENTIONED THIS!’ 

Before he could spiral further into an existential crisis, Anko smiled, a bright, genuine expression that reached her eyes. “The food’s ready.” She handed him a steaming, perfectly roasted piece of meat. 

Leo stared at the boar, then at the blushing, deadly ninja woman in front of him, and then back at the meat.

‘One man to a hundred women.’

And suddenly, the way Anko had been looking at him, like he was a winning lottery ticket made of diamonds, finally started to make a terrifying amount of sense.

—----------------------------------------

The forest had grown quiet, the scent of roasted boar hung thick in the air.

Leo leaned back against the rough exterior of his hut, sitting cross-legged as he rubbed his stomach with a sigh of pure satisfaction. The warmth of the fire soaked into his skin, a sharp contrast to the cool, shadowy fingers of the forest creeping in from behind. For the first time since he had woken up in this world, the gnawing, hollow ache in his gut was gone.

“Man…” Leo let out a slow, shaky breath. “I forgot how good food feels. I think I can finally feel alive again.”

Across the fire, Anko was crouched on a log, tearing into a final strip of meat with a satisfied hum. Grease glistened on her lips in the firelight, and her dark eyes seemed to dance with the reflection of the flames. She looked dangerous, but also entirely content.

Leo watched the embers pop for a moment, the orange light flickering across his face. Curiosity finally outweighed his fear of the answer. “…Hey, Anko?”

She glanced up instantly, her focus snapping to him with predatory speed. “Yes?”

Leo scratched the back of his head, his fingers tangling in his messy black hair. “Well… after that bombshell you dropped earlier. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around a few things. About this world.”

Anko’s interest sharpened, her posture straightening. “Ask anything. I’m an elite kunoichi; I know the Elemental Nations better than anyone.”

Leo nodded slowly, picking his words carefully. “Okay… first question. Why exactly are men protected so much? You talk about it like it’s a law of nature.”

Anko tilted her head, looking genuinely confused that he even had to ask. “Like I said, Leo. It’s because men are rare. Beyond rare.” She lifted a single finger, her expression turning uncharacteristically solemn. “Because of the low numbers, the leaders of every nation fear that one day our species will simply… blink out. If the men vanish, humanity follows. You aren't just people, Leo. You’re the future. You have to be treasured.”

Leo nearly choked on his own breath, coughing into his hand. “Is it really that serious?! The whole species?!” His voice echoed through the dark canopy, startling a distant owl. He quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, looking around nervously.

Anko let out a soft, musical giggle, thinking that the teen in front of her was truly adorable, as a sound that felt strangely out of place coming from a woman who had just butchered a boar.

Leo stared at her, his brain reeling.‘That’s… that’s insane and can be considered an extinction-level event.’ He leaned forward, the firelight casting long shadows behind him. “Okay… next question. Are all kunoichi women? I mean, every single ninja?”

“Yes,” Anko answered without a second of hesitation.

Leo waited for the "but." It never came. “All of them? No exceptions?”

She nodded, her violet hair swaying. “Every single one.”

Leo’s eye twitched. “…Why? Is it a cultural thing? Some kind of ancient tradition?”

“It’s because men don’t possess chakra,” Anko said, her tone as casual as if she were describing the weather.

Leo froze. The crackle of the fire felt deafeningly loud in the sudden silence of his mind. ‘Wait. Wait.’ His  thoughts began to scream in capital letters. ‘IF NO MEN HAVE CHAKRA, THEN NARUTO DOESN'T HAVE CHAKRA. DOES HE EVEN EXIST? IS THE ENTIRE HEROIC JOURNEY OF THE MANGA JUST... GONE?’ He stared blankly into the dancing flames, his world-view crumbling. “…Wow.”

Anko nodded calmly, taking another bite of meat. “Men are born without functional chakra coils. Their bodies just don’t produce it. Without chakra, you can’t mold jutsu, walk on water, or withstand the strain of shinobi combat. You're... too delicate.”

Leo leaned back again, staring up at the stars peeking through the jagged roof of the forest. ‘Delicate. I’m in a world of super-powered women. That could be a disaster if I piss them off.’ He took a breath. “Okay. Next question. If they aren't fighting, what do men... actually do?”

Anko swallowed before answering. “Most live in the major villages or the capitals under heavy protection. They usually handle the refined things in life like arts and crafts, administration, art, or cultural roles. Things that don't require risking your life.”

Leo nodded. “Okay, that makes sense. Like scholars or artisans.”

“And,” Anko added, her tone becoming a bit more business-like, “they also provide the necessary... contributions to the nations to ensure the next generation. Many are married to multiple women, usually the strongest or most influential, to keep the bloodlines going.”

Leo’s brain didn't just short-circuit; it experienced a total power failure. The meat in his hand felt very heavy. ‘CONTRIBUTIONS? MARRY MULTIPLE WOMEN?’ He stared at the fire in mounting horror. His imagination, fueled by years of anime, immediately conjured a terrifying image: him being led into Konoha in a gilded cage while a line of battle-hardened kunoichi waited with clipboards. ‘Oh my god. Am I going to be a national breeding stock? Am I just a walking insurance policy for the Uchiha or the Hyuga?’ He imagined a Konoha official saying: “Congratulations, Leo. Your duty to the nation begins tomorrow at 8:00 AM. Bring a change of clothes.” He shuddered violently.

Across the fire, Anko noticed his wide eyes and the way his face had gone pale. “Leo? Is something wrong?”

Leo forced a tight, pained smile. “Nope. Fine. Totally fine.”

‘Everything is terrifying.’ He then cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation toward something, anything, else. “S-so… what’s it like? Life in the Hidden Leaf?”

The name worked like a charm as Anko’s entire face lit up, her posture straightening with infectious pride. “Konoha? It’s the greatest ninja village in the Land of Fire! Maybe the world!” She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “It’s shielded by massive walls, and the Hokage Monument looks over us all. It’s beautiful.”

“Stone faces, huh?” Leo chuckled weakly. “Sounds like quite the view.”

Anko beamed, her hands moving excitedly as she described the bustling markets of the village, the training fields where the air hummed with effort, the grand clan compounds, and the smell of the bathhouses and ramen shops. The more she spoke, the more animated she became, her wild violet hair practically vibrating with energy.

Leo couldn’t help but smile. Despite the terrifying implications of her world, her genuine love for her home was clear. 

After several minutes of storytelling, Anko suddenly went quiet. The fire had burned down to a deep, glowing red. She looked at him carefully, her gaze flickering with a sudden, uncharacteristic vulnerability. “…Would you like to come with me?” She asked softly.

Leo blinked.

She quickly added, her voice gaining a frantic, neutral edge as she avoided his eyes. “To Konoha, I mean. Or… if you’re scared of a ninja village, I could take you somewhere else. The Capital is safe. Living here... in a broken hut... it's no place for someone like you. You deserve better than this.”

The fire crackled softly between them.

Leo looked down at the rough, dirt-stained floor of the clearing. He thought about the last three days, the crushing loneliness, the fear of every shadow, the way his stomach had felt like it was eating itself. He looked at Anko. She was dangerous, and the world she was offering was confusing and potentially "breeding-stock" levels of weird, but she had helped and fed him.

“…Honestly?” Leo looked up, offering a faint, lopsided smile. “I wouldn’t mind going with you, Anko. It’s been… really lonely out here.”

Anko froze. For a heartbeat, she didn't breathe. Then, her entire face lit up like a sunrise. Her shoulders squared, and her eyes sparkled with a triumphant light. ‘HE SAID YES.’ She quickly turned her head, pretending to inspect a tree, but she couldn't hide the massive, ridiculous grin spreading across her face. “…I see. Well, that’s good.” Her voice had gained an unmistakable, giddy bounce. “Then it’s settled! We’ll head out as soon as I’m fit to travel.”

Inside her head, fireworks were going off. ‘He’s coming home with me. I found him, and he’s coming with ME.’

Across the fire, Leo stared at the embers, his smile fading into a look of deep, contemplative dread.

‘Well…’ he sighed internally. ‘I guess I’m going to the Hidden Leaf. Let’s just hope my "contributions" aren't mandatory on the first day.’

Done. Tell me what you think and what should happen next.