"Looks like, going to find Tenten for lunch is a bit too late...", Aoba looked at the sun in the sky; at this time, normal people had already started eating lunch.
Just now, if Yakumo hadn't been so weak in her limbs at the end, a lot more time might've been wasted.
Originally, he intended to invite Yakumo to come eat lunch together, but judging from her state, she was already burned out.
So he could only come out alone.
The Kurama clan was considered a mid-sized ninja clan in Konoha, and they still had people to cook.
He went again to Tenten's ninja tool store and found that she still hadn't returned home.
He couldn't help feeling a little puzzled.
'Didn't they have no special training today?'
Aoba activated Kagura's Mind Eye and finally located her chakra inside a training ground.
But she was alone, training by herself.
No idea if she'd had lunch or not.
Still being at the training ground at this time, even if she did eat, it was probably a bento.
Aoba thought for a moment, then used Flying Thunder God to return home.
In the living room, Uzuki Yugao, Terumi Mei, and Temari, who had been chatting and snacking on melon seeds, all jumped slightly when Aoba suddenly appeared.
"Aren't you planning to go out for a stroll?", Aoba asked curiously as he looked at the three gathered together.
Uzuki Yugao was stunned, just now she had been telling Temari some of Aoba's embarrassing childhood stories. She didn't expect him to return right at that moment.
But she quickly recovered, "We're planning to go out later. But what about you, Aoba? Why'd you suddenly come back?"
Terumi Mei teased with a smile, "Did your explanation to those little girlfriends of yours not go well?"
Temari didn't say anything, just looked at Aoba with a strange expression.
Because just earlier she had heard from Uzuki Yugao that Aoba, when he was young, especially liked tricking girls out of their pocket money. [T/N: Oh yeah, I forgot. Where's the gacha now? Why isn't he doing it?]
She didn't expect that he was already a sinful man from such a young age.
'How did he end up growing into what he is now?'
Aoba didn't pay much attention to it and explained, "I came back to cook something. I still have to head out again later."
"Haven't had lunch yet? There are still some ingredients in the fridge, I'll heat them up for you," Uzuki Yugao was about to get up, but was stopped by Aoba.
"No need, I'm not cooking for myself."
Uzuki Yugao instantly understood, shot him a glance, and sat back down.
"Need help?", Temari also asked.
She was always so polite.
Aoba shook his head and said with a smile, "No need, I'll do it myself."
"Alright~", Temari nodded, then continued whispering with Uzuki Yugao.
Even though their voices were soft, Aoba could hear them clearly.
"..."
'Talking about my embarrassing stories right in front of me, is that ethical?'
Aoba shook his head helplessly, changed into an apron, used Shadow Clone Technique, and got busy in the kitchen.
In less than half an hour, he had finished all the dishes.
They were all dishes that Tenten liked to eat.
He packed them into lunchboxes.
"Yugao-neesan, Mei-neesan, Temari, I'll head out first. Be careful when you go out later," Aoba greeted the three.
"Mm… right, don't forget about your engagement ceremony tonight. Remember to come back early," Uzuki Yugao reminded him.
"I got it," Responding, Aoba's figure disappeared.
———
Aoba appeared in a forest.
This place was very familiar to him.
In the past, he and Tenten often came here to practice throwing techniques.
It was also the place where the two had met for the first time.
But the current Tenten was no longer the "tracing master" of the past.
She was now a throwing master who could hit the bullseye with a dozen shuriken at once.
Aoba walked toward Tenten, pretending to meet her by coincidence.
"Tenten, what a coincidence. Didn't expect to meet you here. Have you had lunch yet?"
Tenten's original throwing motion paused slightly when she heard Aoba's voice.
But only slightly, then she continued throwing as if she hadn't heard anything.
Being ignored, Aoba didn't feel awkward at all.
He simply walked a short distance away and began unpacking the food he had brought.
As the lunchboxes were opened, the aroma of food instantly spread out. Since it had just been freshly prepared, it was still steaming hot.
Gulp!
Aoba clearly heard a swallowing sound.
He looked toward Tenten and saw that she had just thrown out four shuriken.
One of them missed the target…
"Tenten, want to eat together?", Aoba asked with a smile, "These were all made by me personally."
Tenten's throat moved slightly, but she still ignored him and ran off to pick up the shuriken.
'Well then, might as well eat first.'
He had used up a lot of energy at noon and was hungry too.
"This chicken is really good."
"These meatballs are also nice."
"These soup dumplings are great too."
"..."
As he ate, he loudly commented on the food.
BANG!
Tenten's patience finally reached its limit.
With one punch, she knocked over the target, then came over and sat down opposite Aoba.
Still didn't say a word, just stared at him fiercely.
Her eyes were glowing green.
Aoba, understanding her intent, handed her the bowl and chopsticks.
"Hmph!", Tenten snorted lightly, then took the utensils and started eating in big bites.
She really hadn't had lunch yet and had trained the whole day, she was genuinely hungry.
Aoba smiled faintly as he watched Tenten eat.
"Slow down. There's drinks too."
He took out a bottle of milk.
The first step of breaking the ice was complete.
Starving Tenten quickly devoured all the food.
Then she lay lazily on the grass, even rubbing her slightly bulging belly.
"Aren't you about to get engaged? Why aren't you spending time with your fiancée and instead came looking for me?", Although she finally spoke, her words still carried thorns.
Aoba packed up the lunchboxes and replied with a smile, "Being with Tenten is more important."
"Hmph! I don't believe that," Although Tenten's words were tough, the corners of her lips had already curved up.
After packing everything up, Aoba sat beside Tenten, "Tenten, are you going to continue training or go into the village to play?"
Tenten hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm going to train."
Aoba was a little surprised but quickly said, "Then I'll keep you company."
Tenten noticed the surprised expression on Aoba's face and explained, "My opponent in the third round of the exam is Temari. I don't want to lose to her."
"I see...", Only then did Aoba recall the result of the drawing lots from the second round of exams.
'A lot has happened during this time…'
"You didn't care at all, did you?", Tenten ground her teeth, glaring at him.
She looked like she was about to get up and bite him.
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