Aoba suppressed that bit of mischievous thought in his heart and walked toward the interrogation room on another floor.
Kazuma and the others had not been thrown into prison.
Instead, they were directly detained in a special interrogation room inside the Hokage Building.
When he entered the interrogation room, the first person Aoba saw was Uchiha Izumi.
After serving as the captain of the police force for several years, she had shed some of her former youthfulness and softness, gaining instead a sharper and more imposing air.
Coupled with her high ponytail hairstyle, at first glance she really did look quite heroic and dashing.
As for Uchiha Mikoto, she was instead standing off in a corner, looking like she still hadn't quite adjusted her emotions.
Aoba felt that being this thin-skinned really wasn't a solution, 'We are going to live together in the future. How can she keep getting embarrassed so easily?'
"Hokage-sama, the mission you assigned has been completed smoothly. Kazuma and the other four have been completely brought under control."
Before he could even ask, Uchiha Izumi took the initiative to report seriously.
The other three Uchiha members behind her also straightened their posture.
Aoba pursed his lips, seeming a bit helpless. It was only now that he truly felt that thick barrier.
"Izumi, how about you just call me by my name like before. Hearing you call me Hokage-sama so seriously really makes me feel a bit uncomfortable," Although he was already the Hokage now, his old friends hadn't really changed how they addressed him. Sasuke even called him by his full name.
He was even unwilling to call him… cough!
In short, Aoba really didn't like this feeling of deliberately widened distance.
Hearing Aoba call her "Izumi," a smile flashed across Uchiha Izumi's otherwise serious face, though she quickly returned to a stern expression.
"That won't do. You're the Hokage now. As the captain of the police force, in formal situations I have to address you as Hokage-sama."
This time she was still serious, but there was a bit more teasing compared to before.
"Then in private, being the same as before is fine, right?", Aoba said with a smile.
"Alright," Uchiha Izumi's previously serious face also bloomed into a bright smile.
The other three Uchiha members looked surprised at this scene, clearly not expecting their captain to have such a close relationship with the Hokage.
After that, they went straight to the main point. Aoba personally checked the genjutsu on Kazuma and the others.
He had to admit that the genjutsu jointly constructed by five elite Uchiha genjutsu users, including Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Izumi, was indeed quite strong.
If it hadn't been actively lifted, those five would probably have been trapped in the illusion world for the rest of their lives.
At the same time, they would also completely obey the caster's commands.
At the current level, it was already more than sufficient for carrying out missions.
Since he confirmed there were no problems, Aoba had no further concerns. He directly lifted the restraints on the five of them and let them return to report to the daimyo.
After all, they had already been detained for two days. Although Konoha had been transmitting messages to the Fire Country daimyo under Kazuma's identity during those two days, it was now time for them to go back.
With Kazuma's matter resolved, Uchiha Izumi also led the three Uchiha members away, returning to the police force headquarters.
That left only Aoba and Uchiha Mikoto at the scene.
The two of them walked in the stairwell, the atmosphere somewhat awkward, with only their footsteps echoing through the space.
"Aunt Mikoto…"
"Aoba…"
After the silence, they both spoke at the same time.
"Aunt Mikoto, you go first."
Aoba reacted first.
"Th-this…"
Uchiha Mikoto's expression was a bit unnatural.
"Aunt Mikoto, if there's something, just say it directly. Is there really anything between us that can't be said?"
Aoba noticed her hesitant expression, smiled, and pulled her hand over, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Then…", Uchiha Mikoto finally made up her mind. She stopped walking, gritted her teeth, and said, "Aoba, do you have feelings for that child Izumi?"
"Ah, well…", The smile on Aoba's face instantly stiffened.
He never expected Uchiha Mikoto's question to be so sharp.
Actually, if it were other girls, Uchiha Mikoto would feel a bit jealous, but she could more or less accept it.
After all, she came later, and she was also an older woman.
But Uchiha Izumi… To be honest, she had always regarded her as her future daughter-in-law.
If something really happened… She didn't know how she would face it.
"Aunt Mikoto, why do you think I'd have ideas about Izumi?"
Uchiha Mikoto just looked at him quietly, "Yugao, Shizune, Konan, Kurenai, Anko… among the girls you call 'Nee-san,' which one has nothing to do with you?"
"Ah, well…"
That sentence ended the match on the spot.
Aoba thought about it carefully and felt that Uchiha Mikoto's reasoning did seem to make some sense, though it wasn't entirely correct.
"Actually… I've called quite a few people Nee-san who aren't that kind of relationship. For example, Nezu—uh, Kamado-sister."
"So you actually have ideas about Kamado too?"
However, his answer only expanded the scope of Uchiha Mikoto's suspicions.
"..."
Left with no choice, Aoba could only respond head-on. He looked into Uchiha Mikoto's eyes and said seriously, "Aunt Mikoto, I promise you, I truly don't have any extra thoughts about Izumi right now!"
"..."
Uchiha Mikoto also looked into his eyes. After thinking seriously for a moment, she nodded.
"Alright, I believe you. But I'm not against it either. It's just that if you do end up having feelings for Izumi, you must tell me in advance so I can be mentally prepared."
'So she still doesn't fully believe me.'
Aoba couldn't help but laugh and cry, only able to look at her with an extremely innocent expression.
Seeing his look, Uchiha Mikoto couldn't help laughing. She raised her hand and pinched his cheek, then changed the subject.
"Alright. What were you about to say earlier?"
Aoba also reined in his helpless expression and said, "I just wanted to ask if you want to go check on Sasuke. He should be just about to wake up now."
Only then did Uchiha Mikoto remember that Sasuke was still in the hospital. A trace of guilt rose in her heart, as she'd almost forgotten about Sasuke while thinking about Aoba's matters.
"Then I'll go to the hospital in a bit."
"I'll go with you. That way it'll be faster," Aoba offered to accompany her.
But after a brief pause, Uchiha Mikoto gave him a suspicious look.
Aoba was puzzled, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Aoba, you're not deliberately trying to avoid going back to work, so you want to go with me, are you?", Uchiha Mikoto asked tentatively.
"..."
Aoba was momentarily speechless, "I'm clearly trying to spend more time with you, Aunt Mikoto, okay?"
"Then did I misunderstand you?"
Uchiha Mikoto covered her mouth and laughed. Mainly because Shizune had been complaining these past two days that Aoba only knew how to slack off at work, so she'd subconsciously thought of that.
"Aunt Mikoto, as long as you know."
To express his dissatisfaction, Aoba reached out and pinched her cheek in return.
———
Aoba used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Uchiha Mikoto straight to Konoha Hospital.
But when the two of them appeared in Sasuke's hospital room, the scene before them was… well, a bit hard to describe.
"Sasuke, hurry up and let me see!"
"Idiot Naruto, if you want to look, then look. Don't go grabbing all over the place!"
[T/N: LMAO!]
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