[Early Morning]
Aoba woke up in a world of snow-white fluff.
This was his own bedroom.
Snow-white, naturally referring to the two on his sides, Uzuki Yugao and Terumi Mei.
Last night, they had just engaged in a tough battle.
Aoba leaned in and kissed both of their foreheads, then gently moved the snow-white arm pressing on his chest aside, pushing the two to lie flat on either side.
"Mmm~", Even though Aoba's movements were small, he still woke up Yugao. She rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Getting up this early?"
"Mm, I'm going to the Hokage building with Tsunade-sensei. You two sleep a bit more," Aoba lowered his head and nuzzled her hair.
"Right, I'll be eating dinner outside tonight," Although he had already mentioned this during last night's cheerful bed activity with the two women, now was a good time to remind them again.
"Mmm~", Yugao didn't respond, just brought her lips to his and then drifted back to sleep.
———
Aoba arrived at Tsunade's home, where Shizune was still preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
Tsunade likely hadn't gotten up yet.
He entered the kitchen first.
"Hm? Aoba, you came over pretty early today."
Shizune's sweet and crisp voice rang in Aoba's ears, "Aoba, don't tell me you lost to Yugao and Terumi Mei?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Aoba walked over and patted Shizune's full and plump thigh, "Although Yugao-neesan and Mei-neesan's combat strength is several times stronger than yours, they still aren't my match."
"I don't believe it!", Shizune's pretty face flushed slightly, "How could they be several times stronger? Aoba, you're exaggerating their combat strength just to brag about yourself."
"Then why don't you guys compete?", Aoba suddenly laughed and leaned next to Shizune's ear, "How about at night, the four of us..."
"No way!", Thinking of the scene of lying in bed with Yugao, Terumi Mei, and Aoba, four people, Shizune's face turned completely red.
"Go wake up Lady Tsunade already!", Shizune twisted her waist and shook off Aoba's mischievous hand.
———
[Hokage Office]
The secretary uniform that Aoba had missed yesterday was finally made up for.
Early in the morning, just as the three had sat down in the Hokage office not long ago, Uchiha Mikoto hurriedly ran in holding a document.
Her full chest wrapped in a white shirt swelled as her breath became slightly rapid.
"Aunt Mikoto, did something happen?"
Uchiha Mikoto's anxious appearance made Aoba feel a bit strange. He had never seen her this flustered before.
Uchiha Mikoto handed the document in her hand to Aoba.
"Aoba, this is news from Kumogakure."
"News from Kumogakure?"
Aoba took it, and after reading the content, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What is it? What did Kumogakure say?"
Tsunade, seeing Aoba's reaction, also grew curious.
"Heh, that Fourth Raikage guy says our Konoha had long premeditated to launch war on Kumogakure. That's why we held the Chunin Exams to lure their envoy, and then detained them."
"If we don't return the people, they'll declare war on us," Aoba explained the gist of the document to Tsunade.
"That Fourth Raikage, acting like the villain complaining first," Tsunade couldn't help but coldly laugh, "Kumogakure's ninja released the Two-Tails inside the Chunin Exams arena. Everyone saw that with their own eyes. No matter how Raikage argues, it's a fact."
"That's an old tradition of Kumogakure. Raikage's reaction was within expectations," Aoba set down the document in his hand. He wasn't surprised at all by Raikage's reaction.
Kumogakure had once used war threats to force Hyuga Hizashi to his death.
'Now they want to use war threats again, how nostalgic.'
"That may be so, but this Raikage guy is getting too arrogant," Tsunade looked toward Aoba, "What do you plan to do in response?"
"If Kumogakure likes to threaten others so much, then let's threaten them back."
"How do you plan to threaten them?"
Tsunade had a look of leaving everything up to Aoba.
"Just tell Kumogakure... if they want to ransom back the Two-Tails and Mabui, Samui, and the others, then they need to pay sufficient monetary compensation and exchange with the Eight-Tails. Otherwise, after the Chunin Exams, we'll join forces with Sunagakure and Kirigakure to attack Kumogakure."
Let Raikage taste the pain of choosing between his brother and his village's comrades, and the threat of plunging the village into war.
Aoba looked forward to Raikage's reply.
"Alright, let's do it!", Tsunade readily agreed, "Mikoto, respond to Kumogakure according to Aoba's plan."
Although Tsunade hated war, she wasn't someone who would just take a threat without fighting back. Konoha now had no fear of war.
"Understood," Uchiha Mikoto responded crisply and left the office, going to prepare the reply for Kumogakure.
But not long after, she returned again. This time, it wasn't bad news.
"Aoba, this is news from Sunagakure."
"Hmm?", Aoba took the document and raised an eyebrow again after reading.
"Sunagakure agreed to Konoha's terms, but Chiyo wants to come to Konoha?"
Chiyo's identity was very delicate. She was both a respected elder of Sunagakure and its strongest remaining force. She held immense influence among the Sand Ninja but was also in a retired status, not interfering in Sunagakure's internal affairs.
"If they already agreed and still want to come, then they're probably trying to gain other benefits."
Tsunade's lips curled slightly, "Then we really should properly 'host' her."
"Hmm?", Aoba's expression was confused.
'Why does it feel like sensei's attitude is strange? She has been like this for a few days now.'
———
"Aoba, come home with Auntie," After work in the afternoon, Uchiha Mikoto subconsciously took Aoba's hand. She wanted to bring him home.
"Hmm? Aoba, are you going to Lady Mikoto's house again today?", Shizune looked confused, her gaze naturally landing on their clasped hands.
Uchiha Mikoto also noticed that Shizune's eyes seemed off, and remembering their relationship, she subconsciously let go of his hand.
She explained, "I just want to invite Aoba over for dinner, as thanks for taking care of Sasuke during this time."
"I see...", Shizune suddenly remembered that Aoba had saved Sasuke in the Forest of Death, so it seemed reasonable for the other party to invite him to dinner.
She patted Aoba's hair, "Then remember to come home early."
"Mm, I will," Aoba agreed very firmly, which made Shizune quite satisfied.
———
"I'm home!", Sasuke pushed open the front door and shouted loudly.
"Sasuke? Welcome home. Dinner's almost ready."
"You... why are you in my house again?", Sasuke looked at Aoba walking out of the kitchen, eyes wide in shock.
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