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Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: The Change in Sasuke’s Attitude

Aoba's eyes flickered.

The sealing space silently covered everything around them.

Orochimaru's thoughts froze for a moment, and when she regained her senses again, she could clearly feel that the surroundings had gone still.

She immediately began examining Kimimaro's body.

It was truly mysterious, whether it was heartbeat or blood flow, all had stopped, just like a puppet.

Originally, his body, collapsing endlessly under the bloodline disease, had also stopped breaking down.

"Can you let him move freely too?", Orochimaru once again voiced her request.

"No problem," Aoba wasn't worried about information leaking or anything like that. Although this ability was something he mostly used during lewd times, if used for real combat, knowing about it didn't matter either.

In this space, everything followed his word, and the coverage, theoretically, was infinite.

The next moment, Kimimaro's chest rose and fell, his heart started beating again, and blood began flowing.

The damage of the bloodline disease once more appeared on his body.

Orochimaru's expression inevitably revealed a trace of disappointment.

'It seems this space isn't omnipotent either. It only freezes someone's state at a certain moment in time.'

'Once restored, the body's damage will reappear again.'

'If that is the case, then eternal life can't be achieved.'

After all, if one could only exist like a puppet, then immortality was meaningless.

"Looks like the result didn't satisfy you," Aoba naturally noticed Orochimaru's emotional shift.

Orochimaru spoke with slight regret, "This truly is an extremely terrifying ability. No wonder it can be called the strongest space-time ninjutsu. But it cannot achieve immortality."

Aoba suddenly felt a strange illusion, 'Why does this conversation feel a bit like Goku and Patriarch Subhuti?'

Every other word was "Can one attain eternal life?"

At this moment, Orochimaru also pulled out a scroll and tossed it to Aoba.

"This is the method to release the cursed seal."

Aoba opened the scroll and looked it over, "After releasing the seal, nothing weird will sprout out, right?"

"Like, say, another Orochimaru."

"Didn't expect you to even know about that," A look of surprise showed on Orochimaru's face.

"Rest assured, the situation you imagine won't happen. After all, I'm still alive."

"Alright," Aoba put the scroll away, "Then I'll be leaving first. If I need something else later, I'll come find you again."

Orochimaru watched Aoba disappear, yet her usual smile remained fixed in place.

Only after a long while did the smile slowly fade away.

She hadn't expected that he even knew about the cursed seal's secrets. Though he had seemed normal just now, in her heart a deep shadow had already taken root.

Relying on the cursed seal for resurrection was one of her greatest trump cards.

Not even her most trusted subordinates knew about it.

Standing before Aoba, she suddenly felt as though her clothes had been stripped off. [T/N: Remind me to attach Orochimaru's feminine image here.]

———

Aoba returned to Konoha.

This trip back hadn't even taken much time.

There was still some while left before dinner.

Glancing at the scroll in his hand, he guessed Anko was probably still with Kurenai now, so he'd wait until tomorrow to help her lift the curse.

Aoba stored the scroll away and, for the first time in a while, strolled idly alone in the village.

After that, he headed straight for the Hokage building.

"Aoba, were you waiting for me?", Seeing him waiting downstairs, Uchiha Mikoto's face showed pleasant surprise.

"Mm, let's go back together," Aoba smiled, then took the lead with his steps.

He had timed it just right. If he delayed any longer and Tsunade and Shizune came down, then he'd be in for real trouble.

At dusk, the streets were still overflowing with people, shoulder to shoulder, a bustling tide.

The two of them walked side by side for the first time in a long while.

Mikoto felt an inexplicable warmth.

Looking at the people brushing past around them, most were couples or husbands and wives out to eat, occasionally parents with children too.

They were all holding hands.

Mikoto thought for a bit, then took the initiative to hold Aoba's hand.

"Aunt Mikoto?"

"To keep you from getting lost, Auntie has to hold your hand," Mikoto blinked playfully.

Aoba squeezed her hand tighter, "Then you'd better hold on well."

Mikoto felt her mood brighten considerably.

For a single mother, long past the age of chasing romance, this family-like sense of security brought her even greater joy.

———

They arrived home.

The house was completely dark.

Mikoto opened the door, stood at the entrance, turned on the living room light first, then bent down to take off her high heels.

Her hips curved high, her black-stockinged legs taut, carrying an indescribable allure.

This made Aoba unable to resist looking a couple more times.

Mikoto didn't seem to notice, crouching down to take out a pair of slippers for Aoba from the shoe cabinet.

"Aoba, sit for a bit first."

Aoba had barely sat down for long when Mikoto carried over hot tea and snacks.

Just now, he thought he heard the sound of a fire jutsu.

'Could it be she used Fire Release to boil the tea?'

Aoba lifted the teacup, took a sip, and asked, "Did Sasuke also leave the village on a mission?"

Mikoto shook her head with a smile, "Team 7 is short on members for now, so he's been training with Kakashi. He'll come home later."

"Short on members? Why are they short?", Aoba was a little surprised. Could it be Sai had defected?

Mikoto looked a little surprised herself, "Naruto went traveling with Jiraiya-sama. Aoba, you didn't know?"

"This…", Aoba hadn't expected that Naruto had indeed gone off with Jiraiya.

Most likely, it was time for him to begin mastering the Nine-Tails' chakra.

The two chatted for a while longer, then Mikoto entered the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Aoba didn't stay idle and went into the kitchen as well.

By the time he got there, Mikoto had already laid out the ingredients and was at the stove in her apron.

She had taken off her blazer, and the sleeves of her white blouse were rolled up to her elbows, revealing fair, delicate arms.

With her slender hands clasped behind her back, her already graceful curves appeared even more enticing in that pose.

Aoba: "Let me help you."

"No need, I can handle it," Mikoto instinctively refused, but Aoba had already taken the ribbon from her hand.

Her pretty face flushed red. After Aoba tied her apron properly, she said, "Then help me wash the vegetables."

"Alright."

———

"I'm back."

"Welcome back."

Sasuke pushed open the door, and the first thing he saw was Aoba in an apron.

Sasuke was silent for a moment.

After staring blankly at him for a bit, he just nodded stiffly, then rushed off to his own bedroom.

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