"But what if we run into Aoba? In that case, we wouldn't have the slightest chance of winning," Tenten couldn't help but say.
"Then you'll have to pray for yourselves," Uzuki Yugao delivered the sentence "cold and heartless."
The expressions on Tenten, Sakura, and Karin's faces all turned bitter.
Their eyes welled up, nearly crying.
They looked at Aoba with pleading eyes.
Noticing Uzuki Yugao's warning gaze, Aoba could only helplessly shrug.
This wasn't a bad thing for the three girls.
Increasing the intensity of training would, after all, be beneficial to improving their strength.
And when Uzuki Yugao saw that Aoba didn't speak up for the three of them, she nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, after surviving the Forest of Death for a day and a night, go rest up a bit first."
"Okay~"
Kurenai looked at Yakumo and the others, smiling as she said, "You girls should go rest up too. I'll come find you later."
"Okay~"
The three responded together.
"Aoba, come with me for a bit."
Just as Aoba was about to go check out his own resting room, he was called by Uzuki Yugao.
"Hmm? Alright," Aoba just paused slightly and then agreed directly.
Following behind Uzuki Yugao, he walked into her resting room.
Always watching from the side, Terumi Mei's eyes lit up at the sight and she quickly followed with cheerful steps.
"?"
The girls who were about to leave all stopped instinctively.
Yugao calling Aoba into the room, was normal.
'But what is Terumi Mei going in for?'
———
"Sister Yugao… mmph!", Just as Aoba entered the room and hadn't even finished his sentence, his mouth was bitten shut by her.
Terumi Mei, who came in right after, immediately closed the door.
"Sister Yugao, this is an exam site…"
"It's fine. This place is very private. Normally no one comes to disturb, and I already set up a barrier in advance…"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"...", Uzuki Yugao's expression instantly stiffened. She had just said no one would come disturb, yet the very next moment, someone knocked.
Terumi Mei, to the side, also had a resentful expression.
Because it was almost her turn.
After Yugao and Aoba tidied up their clothes, she reluctantly opened the door.
Wanting to see who had ruined their fun.
"What's with all the… why are you here?"
Shizune, seeing that it was Terumi Mei opening the door,
Her previously confused expression turned into shock.
When her gaze landed on Aoba, her expression subtly changed.
She quickly stepped inside and raised her arm to shield Aoba behind her.
She glared angrily at Uzuki Yugao and Terumi Mei.
"What were you two planning to do to Aoba?", Shizune's expression was full of rage, 'These two actually planned to team up on Aoba?'
Could she endure that?
These two actually had the nerve to do something so vile.
As for saying they were just discussing the Chunin Exams, was that possible?
His lips were already swollen. If she'd arrived a moment later, who knows what part would've been swollen next.
"...", Uzuki Yugao and Terumi Mei were speechless. The top wife shouldn't blame the second wife.
Did this kind of thing really need to be said?
Uzuki Yugao signaled Terumi Mei to close the door, then looked at Shizune.
The aura of the main palace wife immediately came forth.
"Want to do it together?"
Shizune's little round face instantly turned red. Not just her, even Terumi Mei looked flustered.
Two people already felt plenty shameful, adding one more?
But even with just the two of them, they weren't really Aoba's match anyway.
"You… you two… this is the exam site for the Chunin Exams, don't go too far," Shizune protested Yugao's actions with indignation.
Uzuki Yugao merely rolled her eyes at her, "If you don't want to join, then don't disturb us."
"I…", Shizune was speechless, momentarily caught in an awkward dilemma.
In the end, Aoba tugged her sleeve and softly reminded, "Shizune-nee, did you come find us for something?"
Only then did Shizune snap back to her senses. She grabbed Aoba's wrist in return.
"Lady Tsunade has something she wants to discuss with you. We're going to meet her now," Saying this, she pulled Aoba toward the exit.
This was indeed a legitimate reason.
Uzuki Yugao and Terumi Mei couldn't stop them.
———
Shizune held Aoba's hand and walked toward the upper level of the central tower.
There was a temporary Hokage office upstairs.
Shizune led Aoba step by step up the stairs.
At the last corner, Shizune suddenly pinned Aoba to the wall.
"Shizune-nee?", Aoba looked confused.
"There usually aren't many people passing through here," Shizune's cheeks were slightly red. Then she leaned in.
.
.
.
A long while later.
"Aoba, your lips were a little swollen earlier, I'll help reduce the swelling."
Shizune cupped Aoba's face, then gently rubbed his lips with her thumb. Her hand was wrapped in a faint green chakra glow.
Wiping away the traces from earlier.
"Shizune-nee, your lips are also a bit…", Aoba said with a smile.
"Then help treat me too."
"Mm."
———
The two arrived at the Hokage's office.
"Aoba, go on in. I'll wait outside."
Aoba nodded and entered.
"Sensei?"
Aoba looked at Tsunade, whose expression was blank, feeling that her mood seemed not too good, so he acted extra obedient.
"When you fought with Orochimaru, were you bitten by him?", Tsunade asked directly.
"Don't worry, sensei," Aoba smiled and shook his head., "A mere Orochimaru is no match for me."
"So what you mean is, I worried for nothing?", Tsunade glared at him, "Orochimaru, once he sees a promising genius, will try to plant a curse mark on them."
"The curse mark is extremely dangerous, could even be life-threatening, and once planted, you might fall under Orochimaru's control."
Tsunade then gave an example, "You've seen the curse mark on Anko, haven't you?"
Aoba put on a look of realization, then nodded seriously, "Sensei, I already checked. There's no trace of any curse mark on me."
"What about Sasuke?"
"Sasuke doesn't have one either."
"That's good."
Tsunade nodded in relief.
But in the blink of an eye, her expression turned dark.
Instant mood change.
"Sensei… is there anything else?"
Aoba carefully tried to recall if he'd done anything lately that might have angered Tsunade.
Like kissing her in secret, or secretly touching her foot… that kind of thing.
He came up with nothing.
"Hah! So now you're playing dumb?"
Tsunade sneered, "Think carefully, what exactly did you do to that kunoichi from the Sound Village?"
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