"This…", Baki gritted his teeth and hesitantly said, "Can I return to the village and discuss this with the elders, or perhaps with Lord Kazekage?"
This responsibility was simply too heavy, his small shoulders couldn't carry it.
If he dared agree to these terms today, by tomorrow he might have a kunai stuck in his back as "suicide."
Tsunade, hearing this, pondered briefly, "You may send a letter back, informing Chiyo and those old geezers about the situation here. But I'll only give you three days to respond."
From Sunagakure to Konoha takes three days after all; Sunagakure should have some method of quickly transmitting information, right?
"I understand!", Baki agreed quickly. As long as he didn't have to carry the blame, that was enough.
"Mm," Tsunade nodded, then looked at Temari, "The third round of the Chunin Exams will resume later. Do you still want to participate?"
"Eh?", Temari blinked blankly, raised her hand and pointed at herself, staring at Tsunade and said, "I… I can still participate in the Chunin Exams?"
"Of course you can. It all depends on whether you want to," Tsunade replied casually, and her gaze unintentionally glanced toward Aoba, 'Judging from these two's attitudes, this little girl will be in the net sooner or later.'
And from the beginning, Temari, who had been watching Tsunade, naturally caught that unintentional glance at Aoba.
She seemed to realize something in her heart.
Although he had shown them a cold expression before, he was actually cold on the outside, warm on the inside.
'Aoba really is a very good person.'
It's just… after what happened, even if the two weren't enemies anymore, it would be difficult to be normal friends.
Temari bit her lip, "I want to participate!"
"Mm," Tsunade nodded. "In that case, your match arrangement won't change."
"You may leave now, but during this period, you can only move within the designated areas. If you act on your own, bear the consequences."
"Understood!"×4
The four responded crisply.
Then Shizune led them away.
———
"Brat, do you think Sunagakure will agree to our terms, or choose to fight us to the end?", Tsunade asked again.
"Most likely they'll agree. After all, Sunagakure no longer has the capital for a desperate battle."
The Kazekage was still in critical care at Konoha Hospital, and Shukaku couldn't leave Konoha anytime soon either.
If Sunagakure really went head-to-head with Konoha, they might as well prepare to declare dissolution tomorrow.
"Mm…", Tsunade nodded as well, "But we can't just pressure them. If Sunagakure agrees to our terms, we also need to show our sincerity."
Aoba: "So, Sensei, are you planning to send them supplies?"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade gave him a meaningful smile, "Of course not. I have a better method."
"What better method?", Aoba suddenly had the feeling he was being targeted.
"You'll find out when the time comes. Next up are the three female ninja from Kumogakure," Tsunade cleverly changed the topic, "Brat, what do you think?"
"Um… Sensei, you're the Hokage now. You can't ask me about everything," Aoba showed a helpless expression.
"Disciples are supposed to share their master's burdens. Besides, I'm giving you an opportunity," Tsunade teased, "That Samui is quite something, you know." [T/N: Agreed. She has hell of a figure.]
Aoba glanced at Tsunade's chest, "You're still more impressive, Sensei."
Thud!
Tsunade knocked Aoba on the head, "I'm talking business here!"
'Is this business?'
Aoba internally ridiculed, then said with a straight face, "Then just lock them up for now?"
"Lock them up? You really have no thoughts about them?", Tsunade looked extremely surprised.
"..."
'Who's the one being improper here?'
Aoba couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Now that the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki has been captured by us, Kumogakure will definitely try to get the Eight-Tails back. They're different from Sunagakure, if negotiations fail, they might directly declare war on Konoha."
"So how to deal with those three, let's decide later."
From war tools to Hokage secretary, only one thought is needed.
"Fine, I'll listen to you," Tsunade had no objections and went along with Aoba's suggestion.
"Oh right!", Aoba suddenly shouted in surprise.
"What now? Don't startle me like that," Tsunade looked at Aoba, puzzled.
Aoba stood up and walked over to Tsunade, "Sensei, I helped the village deal with two Tailed Beasts this time. Shouldn't the reward be more generous?"
"What?", Realizing what he wanted to do, Tsunade quickly leaned back to dodge.
But Aoba was faster and leaned right in.
"Mmph!"
"?"
What puzzled Aoba was, Tsunade didn't seem as resistant as before.
After savoring it for a while, he tried to take it one step further.
"Bastard!", Tsunade's eyes suddenly widened. In anger, she grabbed him by the collar and threw him out the window.
"You disobedient brat! Getting more and more outrageous!", Tsunade angrily rubbed her slightly sore chest.
———
With ample experience, Aoba spun in mid-air and landed smoothly with ease.
Then he met eyes with Tenten and the others.
"Uh… your relationship with Hokage-sama is pretty good, huh," Shikamaru was the first to speak and break the awkwardness.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
"Why are you all here?", Aoba used the motion of adjusting his clothes to discreetly wipe his mouth.
'Hmm, there is still a milky fragrance on my hand.'
"Weren't we waiting to celebrate with our big hero?", Tenten happily stepped forward, "Aoba, you were just too cool today!"
"Thanks to Aoba today," Ino shifted closer to Aoba's other side and said, "If you hadn't handled the One-Tail, we would've been in big trouble."
"Aoba, that wooden giant of yours was seriously too awesome," Naruto also jumped in front of Aoba and gave a big thumbs-up.
Even the arrogant fox inside him was unusually well-behaved today.
Sasuke looked resentful, his voice low as he said, "I won't give up!"
The other girls also chattered as they crowded around, pushing Naruto and Sasuke to the edges.
Finally, it was Choji, unable to bear it any longer, who stepped up, "It's time to eat barbecue!"
———
"I'm back," After finishing the barbecue, Aoba didn't go to Tsunade's house this time but returned to his own home.
Terumi Mei and Uzuki Yugao were already home.
"Welcome back."
"Have you eaten dinner?"
The two asked with warm smiles.
"Uh… I've eaten."
Aoba felt like there was a green glint in their eyes, "Yugao-nee, have you two eaten?"
"We ate… but we're a little hungry again…"
Aoba hadn't expected that even after beating two Tailed Beasts during the day, the real exhaustion didn't come until nighttime.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y