After hearing the explanation, Konan just sat to the side without speaking. Or rather, that was just her personality. She was never the type to enjoy talking much.
Uzumaki Kasui's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, then she opened her mouth to break the silence, "Aoba, tell us about your mission this time. Did anything interesting happen?"
"Mm…", Aoba gave a rough account of this mission.
"So that Fujikaze Yukie was really a princess, huh," Temari was a little surprised. She had also seen the movies that woman acted in.
She had already thought her acting was excellent, but never expected she was truly a princess.
"No wonder a princess could act so well."
"Then that means… will we get to see you in the movie too?", Kasui asked curiously.
"Should be," He remembered that during the fight, the director had been filming from the side the whole time.
"Right, what about you all? Did you do anything these past days?", Aoba looked at Temari, Konan, and Kasui.
Temari's expression was a little embarrassed. These past days whenever she had free time, she was just busy playing around Konoha.
Konan was about the same.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll be working at the hospital," Kasui suddenly spoke.
"Working?", Aoba's face showed surprise, "Aunt Kasui, I remember you…"
Kasui smiled, "I just wanted to find something to do."
"From now on, Karin will probably often be going on missions outside the village. Being alone at home is boring, so I studied some medical ninjutsu. Tsunade-sama even said I have great talent."
"She even wants to take me as her disciple."
"To have her want you as a disciple, that means you really do have great talent, Aunt Kasui," Aoba praised, though he wasn't too surprised at her talent for medical ninjutsu.
After saying that, he didn't pursue the topic further. As for Konan and Temari, whatever they wanted to do, Aoba supported them.
"Temari, did your younger brothers already go back too?"
Temari nodded, "Mm, they left the same day as Mei-sama and the others."
"I see. If you want to see your brothers, you can always go back to Sunagakure. If needed, I can go with you," Aoba said again.
Temari paused, then revealed a heartfelt smile, "Mm. But from what Granny Chiyo said, she wants Gaara to take over as the next Kazekage."
"He only just became a chunin, right?"
Konan was a little surprised, "And isn't he a bit too young?"
Not just Konan. Even Kasui, Kin, and Yugito, who were sitting nearby, were all astonished.
Kazekage, that was a huge figure.
Temari sighed lightly, "There's no choice. Gaara might only be a chunin, but he's already one of the strongest shinobi in Sunagakure."
"It's not like Granny Chiyo could step out and be Kazekage. Even leaving aside whether she'd want to, in her current state she doesn't have the energy."
"This…", Konan hadn't thought Suna was in such a bad state. Back when she went to recruit Sasori into Akatsuki, she had thought his strength was impressive.
"But I feel the process won't be smooth."
Even when Gaara was appointed Kazekage in the original story, there were plenty of obstacles inside the village. Now, the resistance would only be greater.
Because although Rasa's death had been blamed on Orochimaru, Sunagakure's miserable state was largely Rasa's responsibility.
Temari was silent for a while before speaking, "Perhaps. But I believe Gaara can do it."
Her face carried a gratified smile, "After all, Gaara now is already not the same as in the past."
Aoba looked at Temari's smile and also laughed, "In that case, if there's anywhere you need help, just tell me. After all, I am his brother-in-law."
At his words, Temari's face flushed slightly, but she didn't reject it, "I'll tell Gaara."
Even if they were from different villages, letter exchange was no problem.
The group chatted a bit more about other things.
As time ticked by, Konan grew restless, "That's enough for today. Aoba just got back, he needs a proper rest tonight."
"True, then I won't disturb you further. Aoba, rest early," Kasui stood to leave.
Aoba: "Aunt Kasui, you too. Good luck tomorrow on your first day of work."
"Then I'll go as well, Master," After Kasui left, Yugito also got up to say goodbye.
Her calling him "Master" was sounding smoother and smoother.
With the two gone, only those left in the living room were people who knew what was going on.
Konan didn't bother pretending anymore, she stood up straight from the sofa.
"After you finish bathing, come to my room," She had been holding back for over ten days, and couldn't take it anymore.
Seeing this, Kin immediately and knowingly rushed to the washroom to prepare hot water.
In an instant, only Aoba and Temari were left alone in the living room.
"Then I'll go sleep too," As for her fiancé openly going to sleep with another woman, Temari had no way to deal with that. She just felt awkward, and was ready to slip away.
"Wait," Aoba suddenly stopped her.
"Wh… what else?", Temari suddenly felt a bit nervous.
Aoba stepped up to her, lightly tapped her forehead, and spoke softly, "Even though this is Konoha, whether it's Yugao-nee and the others, or me, we already consider you family. Don't carry too much pressure."
Though Temari always put on an unaffected face, once all her family and friends left and she was the only one alone in a foreign land, how could there not be pressure?
Temari's eyes trembled slightly as she lowered her head. Her face, earlier red from shyness, now turned sorrowful, with faint melancholy between her brows.
"Thank you, Aoba."
"We're family."
Aoba rubbed her brow gently, "Good night."
"Mm. Good night."
Before leaving, Temari boldly leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Aoba-sama, the hot water is ready," After Temari left, Kin came out from the washroom.
"Mm. You should rest early too," Aoba patted her head, then headed into the bathroom.
For Kin, a head pat was enough to satisfy her.
———
Aoba was always fast with bathing.
And afterward, his "battle" wasn't slow either.
In order to let the long-restrained Konan vent her frustration… he could only go all out.
The fierce "battle" lasted who knew how long.
Logically speaking, Konan shouldn't have been able to endure this long, but she had a habit of slacking.
Most of the time, she was lying completely limp, and only in a few moments would her body move instinctively, not listening to her brain.
To the point where Aoba had no choice but to use Sealing Space, otherwise he wouldn't have made it to Shizune's appointment.
Even after Aoba left, Konan was still in a dazed stupor, "So strange… logically, after being apart this long, it shouldn't be like this. Was it just my imagination…"
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