[A Few Days Later]
Aoba was strolling leisurely through Konoha with Koyuki Kazahana when he suddenly noticed a long-legged figure carrying all sorts of snacks and street food.
He approached her and called softly,
"Kurotsuchi?", The girl, who was just stuffing a taiyaki into her mouth, stiffened slightly and turned her head immediately.
When she saw who it was, a flash of astonishment crossed her eyes.
"Gulp!"
"Aoba? You're Aoba?"
She swallowed the food in her mouth with bc some effort, looking utterly confused.
"It's me. For some reasons, I've grown a lot since you last saw me."
Aoba smiled and nodded, giving a vague explanation.
"That's really amazing!", Kurotsuchi couldn't help sighing in surprise.
"Aoba, is she your friend? She doesn't look like a Konoha ninja."
Koyuki, who had been quietly observing from the side, finally spoke up.
At first, she thought the newcomer might be yet another of Aoba's girlfriends, but after watching them interact, she realized their relationship seemed more like ordinary friends.
She could recognize the forehead protectors from other villages, after all.
"Mm. Her name's Kurotsuchi, granddaughter of the Tsuchikage."
Aoba introduced her simply.
Kurotsuchi also noticed the two of them holding hands, and seeing that the girl was someone she didn't know, she couldn't help but purse her lips.
'This guy, he's definitely going to die surrounded by women one day.' [T/N: Tyrion]
"The Tsuchikage's granddaughter?", Koyuki was a little surprised. For such an important person to show up alone in another village was pretty bold.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Koyuki Kazahana, daimyo of the Land of Snow."
"The daimyo of the Land of Snow?"
Kurotsuchi's eyes instantly widened.
She looked at Aoba in disbelief, 'So this guy's target has really reached the level of daimyos now?'
"Wait a second!", She suddenly thought of something, "Koyuki Kazahana, as in the actress who played Princess Gale?"
"That's me."
Koyuki admitted it with a smile. Although her face was still slightly disguised, since this was Aoba's friend, she didn't mind saying it.
"That's amazing! Do you think I could be an actress someday too?", Kurotsuchi said excitedly.
"You want to be an actress?"
Koyuki was momentarily stunned, it was the first time she'd heard of a ninja who wanted to become an actress.
"I think it'd be fun. You could go to lots of different places in the ninja world."
Kurotsuchi laughed cheerfully.
Koyuki finally understood, this short-haired girl didn't really want to be an actress; she just wanted an excuse to travel and play.
Even though acting wasn't exactly a noble profession, being treated so lightly still made Koyuki a bit frustrated.
"Isn't your goal to become the Tsuchikage? Why are you suddenly talking about being an actress?",.Aoba asked curiously.
Kurotsuchi smirked, "Can't I be like Lady Koyuki here? A Tsuchikage and an actress at the same time?"
"Whatever makes you happy."
Aoba could tell it was probably just another passing fancy of hers. He changed the topic back to business.
"So what brings you to Konoha? A mission?"
"Uh…", Kurotsuchi finally remembered why she was here. She instinctively hid the snacks she was holding behind her back and said with forced calmness, "I'm here on behalf of Iwagakure to meet your Hokage."
"You're looking for sensei? Because of the intelligence report we sent you guys?", Aoba quickly figured it out.
Kurotsuchi nodded, "Grandpa sent me to confirm the authenticity of the report, and a few of its details."
"I see…", Aoba's gaze fell on Koyuki beside him.
Koyuki understood right away and gently released his hand, "If you've got business, go take care of it first."
"Sorry."
Aoba apologized.
"No need for sorry… but don't you think you owe me a little compensation?"
Koyuki licked her lips, and Aoba instantly understood.
He leaned in and kissed her.
Right there in front of Kurotsuchi, the two shared an intimate moment.
Kurotsuchi suddenly felt her stomach tighten, like she'd just been force-fed a whole mouthful of dog food. Even the snacks in her hands didn't taste good anymore.
"You two, that's enough already! You're in public, people are watching!"
Seeing they still hadn't stopped, Kurotsuchi finally couldn't hold back anymore.
Aoba released Koyuki with a smile, "I'll see you later tonight."
"Mm."
Koyuki nodded, and two bodyguards emerged from the crowd to escort her back to her residence.
Aoba then turned to Kurotsuchi, "Come on, I'll take you to sensei."
Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes, "It's not like I don't know the way to the Hokage building. I don't need you to take me."
"Really?", Aoba glanced at the handful of snacks she was carrying and smirked teasingly, "If I hadn't run into you here, I get the feeling you'd be wandering around lost all day."
Kurotsuchi's cheeks reddened. She glared fiercely at him, "I wasn't lost! I just happened to be passing by and got hungry, so I bought some food, that's all."
"Looks like you were starving, huh?", Aoba continued to tease.
"Ugh~"
Kurotsuchi puffed out her cheeks and stopped replying, walking off toward the Hokage building.
Aoba quickly caught up, dropping the teasing and asking, "So how long do you plan to stay in Konoha this time?"
Though she didn't feel like talking to him, Kurotsuchi still answered honestly, "Once I finish Grandpa's mission, I have to bring the information back right away, probably leaving tomorrow."
"That soon?"
"Of course. I'm the next Tsuchikage, after all, I'm very busy."
"Then after you meet my sensei, come to my place for dinner tonight. The Tsuchikage's granddaughter doesn't visit every day; I should treat you properly."
At that, Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up, she still remembered his cooking, which was way better than most restaurants.
"Deal. These snacks can be my gift for meeting you again."
With that, she stuffed all the street food she'd bought into Aoba's arms.
———
"So it's true, that intelligence was real? Uchiha Madara really might be revived?"
Not long after, Kurotsuchi met Tsunade at the Hokage building and received confirmation straight from her.
Aoba added from the side, "This came from the man who killed the Fourth Hokage, a being called Black Zetsu. He'll definitely find a way to resurrect Uchiha Madara. We're not sure how yet."
"And there's also someone secretly collecting tailed beasts. Your Iwagakure should stay alert."
"I understand."
Kurotsuchi nodded seriously. Hearing it from Aoba made the intelligence much more convincing.
"Onoki only sent one little girl like you here?", After business was finished, Tsunade studied the long-legged girl before her with interest.
She was quite cute, in a few more years, she'd grow into another long-legged beauty.
'No wonder that brat seems to pay so much attention to her.'