Aoba looked at Tsunade's departing back and couldn't help but sigh.
'Looks like this kind of thing would be better discussed somewhere else.'
When the time comes, even if he has to wear his head down to the bone, he's going to make sure Tsunade agrees.
Thinking that, his figure disappeared as well.
"Eh? Did they… have a fight?", Kurotsuchi, who had been hiding at a distance and secretly observing, saw the two part ways and couldn't help but be surprised.
She didn't understand why the two of them, who had seemed perfectly fine, suddenly started quarreling.
But since they had separated, that meant her stalking journey could come to an end.
Kurotsuchi released her Transformation Jutsu and turned to leave.
But just as she turned around, "Bang!", she ran straight into someone.
"Hiss!"
"Ao… Aoba?"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched her aching nose. Before she could even complain, she realized the person standing in front of her was Aoba himself.
Aoba narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
"What a coincidence, Kurotsuchi. Didn't think I'd run into you here."
"Y-yeah… real coincidence, haha!"
Her irritation instantly vanished, replaced by a flicker of guilt.
This guy probably already knew she'd been tailing them.
"Just now, there was a little mouse following us around, but it suddenly vanished. I don't suppose you happened to see it?", Aoba's expression was all kindness.
Kurotsuchi couldn't help but curl her lip. Sure enough, he already knew.
But since it was out in the open now, she decided to drop the act and crossed her arms.
"It was me!"
Aoba raised an eyebrow, "You're awfully bold about it."
"Following you was wrong, I admit that. But aren't you going to explain your relationship with Lady Tsunade first?", Kurotsuchi still spoke with full confidence.
Aoba tilted his head, looking puzzled, "Me and my Sensei are together, both willingly. What exactly needs explaining?"
"Th-this…"
"Lady Tsunade is your Sensei! And she's so much older than you," Kurotsuchi looked utterly baffled.
Aoba replied calmly, "If it's true love, none of that matters!" [T/N: 😑]
"Besides, this doesn't really concern you, does it?"
"…", Kurotsuchi was momentarily speechless. Just as Aoba said, she was nothing more than an outsider. The two were mutually consenting, even if some parts of it were hard to understand.
But the ninja world didn't have any rule forbidding a student from being with their teacher. Still, she couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Aoba, I've noticed you really like people older than you, huh?", Her words were already phrased gently, 'The girls this guy likes aren't just a bit older. They are way older.'
Kurotsuchi simply couldn't comprehend it.
"Maybe it's because I lost my parents shortly after I was born. Without their care, I lacked a sense of security, so I guess I'm drawn to big-sister types like my Sensei or Yugao who know how to be gentle." [T/N: Mommy issues]
As he spoke, Aoba even put on a wounded expression, as if mourning his tragic childhood.
But in truth, his childhood hadn't been tragic at all.
Naive Kurotsuchi looked at his face and actually believed him, that his strange preferences came from childhood trauma.
Thinking that it was understandable, she realized she might have brought up a painful subject and hurried to apologize.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"It's fine, I forgive you," Aoba replied easily, then added, "About me and my Sensei… I'd really appreciate it if you kept that a secret."
"Why?", Kurotsuchi looked confused.
"Because she's not mentally prepared yet. Just like how shocked you were to see us, other people's reactions would be even more exaggerated."
Aoba patiently explained, "When that happens, rumors might spread. I don't care what people say about me, but I don't want my Sensei to get hurt."
"Please, Kurotsuchi, if you can keep this between us, I'll cook anything you want to eat."
Seeing how earnest he looked, Kurotsuchi couldn't help but purse her lips. This was the first time this guy had ever begged her for something.
"You sure play the part of a scoundrel well."
"But fine, since you said it yourself, no matter what I want to eat from now on, you'll make it for me."
"Of course."
Aoba's smile returned, and he thanked her sincerely.
"Thank you, Kurotsuchi."
"What's there to thank me for?"
Her whole body prickled with goosebumps. Aoba acting all sentimental like that just made her uncomfortable. She then remembered how angry Tsunade had seemed earlier.
"So Lady Tsunade got mad because I found out about you two?"
"More or less. But as long as you don't tell anyone, it's fine."
"Is that so?", Kurotsuchi's eyes started darting mischievously.
"What are you plotting now?"
Knowing her well, Aoba could tell she was up to no good.
"Heheheh!"
Kurotsuchi gave a sly laugh, "Aoba, you don't want anyone else to find out about you and Tsunade, right?"
"?"
Aoba widened his eyes, the tables had turned.
"Didn't you just promise not to say anything?"
"I don't care! Anyway, everything I buy this afternoon, you're paying!"
Kurotsuchi folded her arms proudly.
Aoba thought she was going to say something outrageous, but that was it? Guess she hadn't read enough novels.
"Fine. Just keep the receipts, and I'll reimburse you later."
"I'm heading back first."
He waved and was about to leave, but Kurotsuchi grabbed his wrist.
"No way, you're carrying my bags this afternoon!"
Aoba was speechless.
"Fine."
———
All afternoon, watching Kurotsuchi hopping from shop to shop, peeking here and there with excitement, Aoba couldn't help but feel like he was taking care of a daughter.
By the time they returned to the inn, the sky was already dark.
Thanks to the sealing scrolls, they didn't have to lug around piles of bags.
"Alright, we bought all this stuff today, so don't forget, what you saw today stays in your stomach!"
After handing the scroll to Kurotsuchi, Aoba poked her forehead, speaking half in jest.
"No way!", Kurotsuchi covered her forehead, backing away quickly with a mischievous grin.
"Aoba, this secret, I'm gonna eat it for a lifetime!"
Before he could react, she dashed upstairs and ran straight to her room.
Aoba watched her back and couldn't help but feel speechless. Somehow, it felt like their roles had been reversed.
Though honestly, her "threat" didn't really matter to him. He was just humoring her because she seemed to be having so much fun.
With a helpless shake of his head, Aoba picked up two bottles of sake and went upstairs to find Tsunade.
He wanted to have a good discussion with her, about why it's always in the darkest, dampest depths that the source of life begins.
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