After the ANBU left, Aoba apologetically rubbed Hanabi's hair, "Hanabi, looks like I can't keep spending the afternoon with you today."
Although Hanabi looked sad, she didn't cling to him any longer.
She wasn't very old, but she was already very sensible.
"Then Aoba-nii, are you coming to my house for dinner tonight?"
"Yeah."
This time Aoba didn't hesitate and agreed straight away.
Then he picked her up and smiled, "I'll take you home first."
———
Aoba entered the Hokage office; only Tsunade was there, sitting in her seat with furrowed brows, a trace of worry lingering between her eyebrows.
But this probably wasn't the real reason she called him here.
Because in recent days Tsunade had been showing this expression from time to time.
It left Aoba a bit puzzled.
"Sensei, did you call for me about something?"
Tsunade came back to herself and then said in a low voice, "The Konoha deployment operation into Sunagakure is not going smoothly."
"Hm? What happened?"
Aoba was a little surprised, Temari and the Fourth Kazekage were still with Konoha.
If Sunagakure still dared to act up, they really weren't afraid of Konoha coming to make trouble for them.
Tsunade couldn't help but sigh, "Although the Sunagakure leadership hasn't said anything publicly, someone is secretly agitating innocent Sunagakure villagers to cause trouble, obstructing Konoha merchants from operating in Sunagakure."
"Those villagers aren't afraid of Konoha's ninja?", Aoba widened his eyes.
Tsunade shook her head helplessly, "After all, they're just ordinary villagers. If we use force on them, it could cause panic among other villagers, and perhaps…"
"Sensei, if those villagers aren't even afraid of Konoha ninja, then they're not ordinary villagers," Aoba said indignantly, urging, "We can't hesitate any longer! Sensei, you must strike hard!"
"As long as Konoha ninja mobilize, that village's actions will settle down!"
Hearing that, the corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched, "You brat, act serious. I called you here for this reason."
"Do you want me to go?"
Tsunade nodded, "This mission will be assigned to your class. Bring Temari along as well."
"I understand."
Aoba nodded and replied. Speaking of Sunagakure reminded him of an interesting place.
"By the way, sensei, do you know the Roran City?"
"The Roran City?", Tsunade paused, "That country is almost isolated. You want to go there for fun?"
Now Aoba was the one surprised, 'Roran still exists?'
"Can I go?"
"Your legs are on your own body, if you want to go, go," Tsunade gave him a look, "But be careful. There's some kind of dragon vein under Roran that's not weaker than a tailed beast."
"I know."
"Mm. Tell Kurenai yourself."
Tsunade lowered her head and returned to the paperwork.
A while passed.
She raised her head again, puzzled, and asked, "Do you have anything else?"
Aoba said, "Sensei, have you been in a bad mood again lately?"
Tsunade pursed her lips, "No!"
Aoba stared straight at her face, "Then why do you keep looking so troubled?"
"I'm tired because of too much work," Tsunade reflexively avoided his gaze.
"Shizune, Aunt Mikoto, Samui, Mabui, and Uncle Rokku, now Konan-neesan has come to help too. Sensei, will you still be tired?"
Aoba's tone was teasing, which made Tsunade grind her teeth, "Brat, do you want to get hit again?"
Aoba walked up to Tsunade and suddenly changed the subject, "Sensei, I want my reward in advance."
"Mm… uh!"
Before Tsunade could react, his mouth had already covered hers, and she responded out of habit.
Just as she was slowly sinking into the moment, a knock sounded on the door.
It snapped Tsunade awake, 'This is the Hokage office.'
She instinctively tried to push Aoba away, but he was strong holding her, and the pressed-together position made it hard for her to use force.
The knocking grew louder, and then Shizune's voice sounded.
"Tsunade-sama?"
Tsunade's eyes widened, breathing quickened, and her hands pounded at Aoba's chest with force.
Aoba gave her a chance to breathe.
"Sensei, if you don't want Shizune to find out we're doing this in the office, then act like we're talking properly."
"You brat!", Tsunade had intended to punch Aoba and send him flying, but seeing his serious expression, she lowered her raised fist and sighed again.
"Shizune, wait a moment. I have something to discuss with Aoba."
The knocking stopped immediately.
Standing at the door, Shizune froze for a moment, a terrible idea popping into her head.
'Could it be they are actually… in the office…?'
In the office, Tsunade finally spoke about the worries she'd had lately.
"So Hidan's immortality is a special case, and it can't be replicated?"
Tsunade nodded, "The power that granted him immortality comes from natural energy, a fusion of natural energy and chakra."
"I asked the Slug Sage. The specific reason seems related to that so-called evil god. Unless you, like Hidan, become an obsessive follower of that evil god, there might be a chance to gain such power."
Aoba watched Tsunade purse her lips, then the two squeezed onto a single chair; her full, fleshy thighs were pressed and a little deformed like cotton candy.
Aoba hugged her, "Sensei, are you worried about the age gap between us?"
Tsunade gave him a sidelong glance and said bitterly, "If someone could have that power, after hundreds of years, we'd only be a few dozen years apart."
Toward the end she blushed a little, that line was still embarrassing for her.
Seeing that, Aoba hugged her a bit tighter and joked, "It's the first time I've heard the sensei express her feelings so directly, I'm really happy."
A smile Twitched at Tsunade's mouth that she couldn't quite hide, yet she still rapped his head, "Alright, let go. Shizune's coming in."
"Wait a bit."
Aoba kissed Tsunade a little longer before releasing her, "Sensei, leave this matter to me. I'll handle it."
"Hm?"
Tsunade looked puzzled. Aoba then shouted to the outside, "Shizune-neesan, you can come in now."
When Shizune entered, she immediately looked around, sniffing occasionally.
Tsunade's murderous desire flared at the sight.
Shizune noticed Tsunade's look and quickly restrained herself, though she kept glancing at Aoba's lower half, trying to find clues.
The corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched, and she told Aoba, "In that case, you two depart tomorrow."
"Okay."
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