The morning breeze brushed their cheeks. Aoba had only waited half an hour when Yakumo came hopping along, bouncing as she ran.
From far off she waved at him, then fell quiet as she drew near.
"Temari did not sleep well last night?", she asked curiously, looking at Temari who was leaning on Aoba's shoulder and sleeping.
Aoba nodded gently, "This mission has to do with Sunagakure. She worried all night and couldn't sleep."
"I see," Yakumo said nothing more and simply sat down on the other side of the bench, leaning on Aoba's other shoulder.
"Aoba, I didn't sleep well either last night."
Aoba naturally had no objections with pretty girls on both sides.
Before long, Hinata and Yuhi Kurenai arrived as well.
Aoba woke Temari just in time.
Kurenai didn't linger; without even looking at Aoba, once everyone was present she led the group and they set off.
Apparently she still hadn't recovered from the insinuations from the day before.
"I'll carry you on my back, you sleep a bit more there."
"Ah?"
Aoba didn't give the still-dazed Temari a chance to answer; he simply hoisted her onto his back.
Temari hadn't been sleeping very soundly anyway, because Hinata and Yakumo's gazes felt like twin blades constantly planted into her back.
In truth, the two of them were just thinking about whether they should try the same trick so Aoba would carry them on the road too.
———
Three days flew by.
Under Kurenai's lead, the group finally arrived at Sunagakure.
"We're finally here!", Yakumo wiped the sweat from her brow; the exhausted look in her eyes brightened a little.
Sunagakure was exactly as the intel described: during the day the sun baked everything with almost no shade, and winds blew sand everywhere.
She just wanted a good bath and to check whether her skin had been ruined by this environment.
Kurenai also exhaled a long breath.
Though she had not shown it as obviously as Yakumo, she too felt some discomfort.
After all, this environment was harsh, a world apart from Konoha.
"Aoba-kun, you can put me down now," Temari, curled on Aoba's back, murmured softly with cheeks slightly flushed.
"Alright."
Aoba smiled and released the hand he'd had on her rounded rear.
Feeling the soft weight gone from his back, he couldn't help but feel impressed inwardly.
Temari really was extraordinarily gifted. At a young age she already had strength not inferior to Yugao's.
She left her peers far behind.
Given time, she might become the next peak in the shinobi world.
But as soon as Temari landed, her legs went weak; she staggered and nearly sat down on the ground.
Aoba caught her in time, "You okay?"
"Y… yes," Temari's eyes were misty.
Of course her legs would go weak.
Nearby Yakumo couldn't help covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, forgetting that yesterday she'd been the same, sweating so much she almost soaked Aoba's clothes.
"Welcome to Sunagakure."
Back in Sunagakure, Temari visibly relaxed; she'd worried all the way here, but seeing the village as always, a small smile finally appeared on her face.
She had feared the village might be in chaos due to tensions with Konoha's shinobi.
"Should we go see Granny Chiyo first?"
Now that Gaara wasn't yet Kazekage, many matters were temporarily handled by Chiyo.
At present Konoha shinobi entering Sunagakure didn't need to report in, so Sunagakure didn't yet know Aoba and the others were here.
Aoba shook his head, "Let Konoha rest here for a bit first."
Besides, he had just sensed a familiar chakra inside Sunagakure.
That surprised him.
"Temari, want to go catch up with your brothers first?"
Temari paused and shook her head, "No, I'll stay with you."
The four of them walked toward the village center.
Along the way, because they wore Konoha headbands, they drew a lot of attention.
Some were curious, some indifferent, some wary, and naturally some hostile.
Even Temari, the Sunagakure princess, received her share of hostile looks.
Aoba strolled calmly to his destination. From far off he saw Yamato building something...
"Yamato!"
Aoba stepped forward and greeted.
"Aoba? What are you doing in Sunagakure?", Yamato, just finished using his three-room-two-hall wood-style technique, stared at them in surprise.
"The teacher said Sunagakure is having some trouble here and told us to come sort it out."
Aoba explained with a smile, then asked, "Isn't Kiba and the others here?"
He had sensed Yamato's chakra.
"I see."
Yamato nodded, "Only I'm here. The Hokage sent me to help build a shopping street."
"A shopping street?"
Aoba looked at the nearly deserted avenue. There were many shops, but most had their doors shut.
The few open shops had hardly any customers.
Yamato understood Aoba's thoughts and sighed a little, "You'll see soon. This is probably why the Hokage sent you."
"I figured as much."
Aoba looked at banners on the ground reading things like "Reject Konoha Goods" and "Sunagakure Belongs to Sunagakure Villagers" and had already guessed the reason.
'What a bunch of stubborn people!'
"You've been traveling for days and must be tired. Rest a bit first."
Seeing how dusty and worn they looked, Yamato led them into an inn.
Along the way many people recognized Aoba and the Konoha shinobi and greeted them warmly.
Everyone picked rooms, then went to shower.
They were covered in sand.
Aoba had just taken off his coat in his room when Yakumo suddenly knocked and ran in.
"Aren't you resting?", Aoba asked.
"Aoba, check if I got tanned or sunburned?", Yakumo came up and looked at him expectantly, tilting her face up.
Aoba couldn't resist pinching her soft cheek; it hadn't become rough, just a bit drier.
"Don't you have a mirror in your room?"
"It's that I can't see my back."
Saying that, Yakumo started taking off her clothes, leaving only a white camisole.
"Quick, look for me!"
She even deliberately pushed her small chest out at him.
"Weren't you asking me to check your back?"
"Don't you want to see the front?"
"..."
Aoba's eyes were very honest.
Yakumo's face flushed slightly; she didn't cover herself, and instead grabbed his hand—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"..."
Aoba's hand froze in midair. Yakumo couldn't help but smirk.
"Of course, it must be Hinata again."
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