"I... I…"
"I was just now being controlled by the Two-Tails!"
Two-Tails: (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Yugito pondered left and right, thought for a long while until her head almost started smoking, then decided to throw the blame onto the speechless Two-Tails.
"Hahaha!"
Aoba couldn't hold back his laughter. Once again, he felt Yugito was kind of cute.
"Don't laugh!", Yugito, both angry and embarrassed, reached out to pinch Aoba's cheeks.
The two wrestled playfully on the sofa for a while, until Aoba got tired from laughing and finally stopped.
He looked at the slightly breathless Yugito and smiled, asking, "And now? Is it you? Or the Two-Tails?"
"What do you mean?", Yugito's brain didn't catch up for a moment.
Only when she saw Aoba's serious eyes did she suddenly realize.
She remembered what Samui had told her before, that love is mutual care, and in a relationship, you can't always let the other person take the initiative. Supposedly, that would keep consuming their feelings for you.
Although neither had ever said it directly, the two of them had basically confirmed their relationship already. Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken the initiative to kiss this guy just now.
Yugito bit her lip, finally making up her mind.
"I... it's me right now!"
"I see."
Aoba didn't say much more. But he didn't plan to let her off that easily, either. The next moment, Yugito suddenly leaned in on her own.
Her warm red lips pressed against his.
A faint fragrance filled the air.
Aoba was briefly stunned, feeling her bold and unrestrained movements.
He hadn't expected Yugito to be this forward.
Naturally, he wouldn't disappoint her either.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Yugito's warm, slender body.
But, out of sheer muscle memory, his hands inevitably started to move toward their usual places.
"No... no."
Yugito's body tensed up. She firmly caught those wandering fingers, leaned back slightly, and pulled some distance between them.
Her face was flushed, her breathing uneven, and a rare hint of daze flickered in her eyes.
"Now... now isn't the time..."
Yugito bit her lip, released him, and said, "Besides, this is the sofa. Kin could come out any moment."
Aoba froze for a second.
'Is that... her giving in?'
"So you mean, if we change places and no one's around, it'd be fine?"
Yugito felt the heat of his gaze.
Her body trembled, and she spoke in a flustered tone, "That's not what I meant. I just didn't want you to think you're the only one being proactive. As for the rest... I'm not ready yet."
At that moment, Yugito was all soft and shy, none of her usual proud demeanor remained.
"I understand. Before you're ready, I won't do what I just did again," Aoba promised earnestly.
"Mm."
Yugito nodded lightly, her face still red as she looked at him, "Then... just kiss me again."
After saying that, she leaned forward once more.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Kin, who had long since finished tidying the bedroom, stood looking at the two of them on the sofa, unsure whether she should interrupt.
Although Yugito's actions earlier had made her angry, she clearly couldn't bring herself to disturb them now.
After all, Aoba was quite into it too.
Slowly, she also got caught up watching.
But soon, someone came to break the scene.
"Aoba, Lady Tsunade has something urgent, hm?"
Shizune called out as she pushed open the door, only to freeze at the sight of the two people on the sofa.
"Ah?", Yugito froze too when she saw Shizune suddenly walk in. Her brain seemed to short-circuit.
Then, like a machine, she buried her face in Aoba's chest, pretending to be an ostrich.
"You two really shouldn't be this shameless!", Shizune sighed helplessly in reprimand.
"Ahem! Shizune-nee, what does sensei need me for?"
Aoba coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the topic. He had only wanted the kitten to open up to him emotionally, he'd just used a slightly physical method.
"It's something pretty important. Get yourself ready and head over quickly. I'll be going first."
Shizune didn't even bat an eye anymore. She'd even helped Konan before. Saying that, she shut the door and left.
"It's... it's all your fault! Shizune saw us!", Yugito muttered a small complaint from his arms.
"Didn't you often see me with Shizune-nee and the others like that too?", Aoba tried to console her from another angle.
"That's different!"
"Then do you regret it?"
Hearing that, Yugito's body trembled slightly. After a long silence, she finally answered.
"I don't regret it..."
"Then there's no problem."
Aoba smiled, cupped her flushed cheeks, and gave her a deep kiss.
"Sensei has something to discuss with me, so I'll go first."
"Mm."
With that, Aoba's figure vanished from the sofa, leaving behind a dazed Yugito.
Kin still didn't come out.
———
Aoba appeared at the door of the Hokage's office. He straightened his clothes before knocking and walking in.
"Kurotsuchi?"
As soon as he entered, Aoba saw Kurotsuchi, whose legs seemed even longer than before.
Compared to her cuteness a year ago, she now had the bearing of a young woman.
When Kurotsuchi saw Aoba approach, she just glanced at him and quietly moved a few steps farther away.
"...", Aoba's lips twitched slightly.
Tsunade, however, watched the scene with great interest, this was a first.
"Kid, looks like someone doesn't like you."
Aoba looked helpless, then turned to Kurotsuchi, "So you've decided to keep your distance from me completely now, huh?"
Kurotsuchi still didn't say a word, only stepped back a little more.
Aoba simply walked over and stood right next to her.
Kurotsuchi looked at him with clear displeasure and finally spoke, "Do you even know what the villagers of Konoha and Iwagakure are saying about us?"
"So you're going to cut ties with me over a few meaningless rumors?", Aoba asked.
Kurotsuchi pouted, "That's not what I mean. I just think... at work, it's better if we maintain a proper distance."
"And what kind of distance counts as proper?"
"This...", Kurotsuchi didn't even know herself.
Aoba shook his head helplessly, "Alright, why care so much about what others think? Just interact normally. We're innocent and have a clear conscience. If you deliberately keep your distance, it'll only make people suspect more."
Kurotsuchi pursed her lips and stayed silent, which was as good as agreement.
"Are you two done talking?", Tsunade asked with a teasing smile, having watched their exchange.
Aoba almost forgot there was a vinegar jar sitting in the office, so he quickly switched back to business.
"Sensei, is there something urgent?"
Tsunade curled her lips but didn't make things difficult for him. She got straight to the point.
"The two Jinchuriki of Iwagakure have been captured. Onoki has decided to call for a Five Kage Summit."