"Roran still exists?"
Walking out of the Hokage building, Aoba couldn't help but fall into thought.
Because he remembered, in the movie version, even though the crisis with Anrokuzan was solved, later it still ended up destroyed into ruins during the wars.
The surviving citizens formed a caravan, wandering and living in the desert.
Looking at it now, it was probably because of his interference that the timeline had shifted a little.
Which meant, he must have gone to Roran at some point, either soon, or in the coming years, and changed certain things.
Aoba really wanted to know, if he didn't go to Roran, would some sort of time paradox occur?
Like Roran suddenly vanishing or something.
But after thinking for a while, he gave up on that idea. After all, he was still quite interested in Roran.
The dragon vein's special nature was even more mysterious than tailed beasts.
Aoba glanced at the time. There was still a while before dinner.
He sensed where Kurenai was, and his expression showed a trace of surprise.
Then his hands formed seals, and he immediately appeared at a Konoha training ground.
Besides Kurenai, there were quite a few people here.
Anko, Isaribi, and Yakumo were all here.
Yakumo was Kurenai's disciple, and Kurenai was Anko's close best friend.
So even though only a few days had passed, the group had already become quite familiar with each other.
"Very good, Isaribi, you've extracted chakra this quickly, you really do have talent as a ninja!"
In the training ground, Anko was excitedly patting Isaribi's shoulder.
"You guys are teaching Isaribi ninjutsu?", Aoba asked curiously as he looked at them.
"Aoba!"
The four girls looked at Aoba, all showing happy expressions.
Yakumo even ran straight at him, leaping into his arms and clinging to him happily.
"Aoba, did you come to see me?"
Seeing this, Anko couldn't help but purse her lips. If it weren't for Yakumo being here, she would've been the one running into his arms.
After resting for a while, her body had long since recovered, and she was itching to have an exciting battle with him.
Isaribi, on the other hand, looked at Yakumo, then at Anko and Kurenai.
'Isn't this exactly what the books described as a "love polygon"?'
[T/N: Also called 'Shura Field' traditionally in our chinese fanfic/novel culture, but I will be using 'Love Polygon' instead. Hope it doesn't bother you all.]
Aoba hugged Yakumo, smiling as he said, "Strictly speaking, I came to see both you and Kurenai-neesan."
"Eh?"
Yakumo froze, while Kurenai immediately understood, "Is there a mission again?"
Aoba nodded, "It's a mission to Sunagakure. We leave tomorrow."
"Sunagakure? What for? I heard from Temari that it's all sand there, not fun at all,".Yakumo pouted. So he hadn't come to play with her. She was not happy.
"The village's activities in Sunagakure are being obstructed, so it's basically just to intimidate them a bit."
Aoba leaned over and pecked at her pouted lips.
Yakumo instantly burst into a grin, "Intimidating a hidden village?"
Kurenai's expression grew a bit more serious, but once she realized Aoba was involved, she relaxed again, "What about Hinata?"
"I'm going to the Hyuga clan tonight. I'll let her know then."
"Okay."
Kurenai nodded, with no more objections.
Aoba set Yakumo down from his arms, then looked at Isaribi, "From what Anko just said, you've already extracted chakra?"
Isaribi blushed and nodded. That time she'd been caught self-generating electricity in the living room… she still hadn't fully recovered from that embarrassment.
"What nature is it?", Aoba asked.
"It hasn't been tested yet," Anko answered for her, while handing Isaribi a piece of chakra paper.
"Isaribi, try refining chakra again."
"Okay."
Following Anko's instructions, Isaribi refined her chakra again, and soon the chakra paper became damp.
"Water nature, huh."
Anko pulled a troubled face, "I don't know any water-style ninjutsu."
She only knew fire-style, plus the jutsu Orochimaru had taught her.
Kurenai also looked helpless, she basically only knew genjutsu.
"Then once Isaribi learns the basic ninjutsu, I'll teach her water-style," Aoba spoke up.
He was quite skilled in water-style. After all, Tsunade had passed down much of the basic water-style left behind by Tobirama Senju to him.
Also, he noticed Isaribi's chakra reserves were pretty large, probably due to Orochimaru's experiments.
"Really? Then Isaribi's ninjutsu training will be up to you!", Anko's face lit up with joy, and she agreed for Isaribi right away.
At the same time, she nudged the dazed Isaribi and whispered in her ear, "Isaribi, this is a perfect opportunity."
Snapping out of it, Isaribi blushed even deeper, her heart filled with shame.
She remembered how Anko had once been knocked out. Obviously Anko herself couldn't handle it and now wanted someone else to share the load.
But still, she bowed and thanked Aoba, "Thank you, Aoba."
Aoba waved his hand, "No need, we're all family."
"Mm~"
Isaribi's face was already Kurenai enough to drip blood, 'Does this mean he already counts me as his girlfriend too?'
Aoba hadn't even confessed, and she hadn't agreed either.
'Isn't this too fast?'
"Alright, since Isaribi successfully extracted chakra today, let's all celebrate together," Anko put one arm around Isaribi and the other around Aoba's, heading out of the training ground.
Aoba didn't refuse. At the same time, he held Yakumo's hand with his other hand. The four of them walked side by side.
A step behind, Kurenai shook her head helplessly. She had come to guide Yakumo, but with Aoba here, Yakumo's entire attention was on him.
So she just followed behind the four of them.
But halfway through this so-called celebration, Aoba already regretted it.
Because both Anko and Yakumo were the type who didn't care about place or occasion.
One teased him with her bare feet under the restaurant table, while the other went so far as to throw genjutsu on him for a hands-on battle in the movie theater.
Fortunately, Aoba had sharp senses and stayed vigilant, preventing their hands and feet from colliding.
That single afternoon, he'd lived in constant fear, every step a cautious one.
When they parted ways, Anko even winked at him.
That was definitely a signal.
———
"Aoba, how far have you and Anko gotten?", On the way to the Hyuga clan, Kurenai, walking alongside him, couldn't help but ask a question she'd been holding in for a long time.
Ever since Anko's curse mark was removed, she had clearly sensed changes in Anko.
Changes both physical and psychological, there was no way she wouldn't notice.
"Ah? Kurenai-neesan, I don't know what you're talking about," Aoba feigned ignorance.
Seeing that, Kurenai tugged at his cheek, "Don't play dumb with me. Did that Anko make you promise to keep it secret?"
"Huh?"
This time Aoba was genuinely stunned, 'She figured it out just like that?'
'As expected of a true best friend.'
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