Seeing the three of them reveal surprised expressions, Temari couldn't help but feel a bit nervous again.
She thought there might be something wrong with her outfit, but was too embarrassed to ask directly.
"This is my first time wearing this kind of outfit, I don't know if it suits me or not?", Although she asked the question to all three people, her gaze never left Aoba.
"Very pretty, the outfit really suits you, but…", Aoba hesitated for a moment.
"But what?", Temari asked in confusion.
"Temari, you don't need to force yourself. Even though this is a political marriage, you can totally go at your own pace," Aoba comforted Temari.
Her movement of holding his arm was a bit too stiff.
Temari paused upon hearing this, and then realized that he was trying to comfort her, which warmed her heart.
She smiled and said, "I'm really not forcing myself, you know."
Her originally stiff movements became more natural.
Since she said that, Aoba didn't say anything else, "Then let's go."
———
"Karin, aren't you coming?"
"What? Is Aoba-nii hoping I'll go watch you and your two fiancées show off your love?", Karin crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks with a grumpy expression.
"Uh… that's not what I meant…"
"Alright, you guys go already. So as not to make trouble at your engagement ceremony, Sakura, Tenten, and I aren't going," After speaking, Karin gave a snort and pushed Aoba out the door. Then she added one more thing, "Of course, we're not skipping out because we're upset or anything, okay."
Looking at Karin's sincere expression, Aoba couldn't help but gently pat her on the head, "Thanks."
———
The engagement venue was at the Hokage Building. Judging by today's setup, Tsunade had probably invited a lot of people, hopefully the space would be enough.
The four of them quickly arrived at the Hokage Building.
Even though they came a bit early, many people were already present in the arranged venue.
A lot of them were familiar faces. Aoba originally wanted to go over and greet them, but two people had already approached them first.
Gaara and Kankuro.
Both of them had quite complicated expressions, especially Gaara.
It was a mix of all kinds of emotions, even Aoba couldn't fully understand it.
Kankuro just looked like he had swallowed a fly.
"Bro… Brother-in-law… hello!" ×2
The two little brothers greeted Aoba with stiff, fragmented voices, but they were at least sincere.
Temari, who stood nearby, instantly blushed when she heard them.
Meanwhile, Terumi Mei's eyes lit up after hearing that. She started searching for the Kirigakure people in the venue.
There were indeed some Mist-nin in the hall, but they were standing far away.
No choice, this wasn't exactly a moment of pride for them.
Temari and Aoba were close in age, just a year or two apart.
But their Mizukage… was more than ten years older than him.
This marriage alliance, even if it benefited Kirigakure, still felt somewhat shameful.
Seeing a bunch of Kirigakure shinobi standing off in the distance, Terumi Mei slightly frowned.
'Those guys aren't giving me any face.'
She was definitely going to make life hard for them once they got back.
'But if the Mist nin did come over… how should they address Aoba…?'
Hearing the two call him "brother-in-law" made Aoba feel a bit strange.
This was his first time being called that. Even Hanabi didn't like calling him brother-in-law.
"Mm… thanks," After thinking for a moment, Aoba patted their shoulders and said, "Thanks. I'll give you red envelopes later."
Just as he finished speaking—
"Pfft~", Terumi Mei suddenly let out an uncontrollable giggle.
"What's so funny?", Everyone looked toward her.
"Ahem!", Terumi Mei showed an embarrassed expression and explained, "I just thought of something funny."
What she thought of was, 'If Kirigakure shinobi addressed Aoba, wouldn't they have to call him "Mizukage Husband"?'
Since she was Mizukage, and Aoba was her future husband.
That's why she laughed.
Aoba didn't pay it much mind, more people had started approaching them.
"Aoba, congrats!", Naruto and the others came over cheerfully.
Shikamaru, Kiba, and the rest also offered sincere congratulations.
"By the way, Ino said she didn't want to come," Shikamaru leaned over and whispered.
Aoba paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's okay."
The girls might've discussed this beforehand.
What he was more curious about right now was Sasuke.
The guy looked super pissed, like someone owed him a few hundred ryo.
Aoba couldn't figure out why.
'Have I done something to upset the Second Duck?'
He sent over a questioning glance, but Sasuke only glared at him without saying a word.
Aoba was even more confused now, 'Is it because I haven't visited Aunt Mikoto these past two days?'
Sasuke really was angry on his mom's behalf. At least from his point of view.
After a simple round of greetings, the group quickly dispersed. Aoba brought Temari and Terumi Mei to find Tsunade.
When they found her, it just so happened that Shirakumo Hayame was also there.
The two of them were talking with Chiyo.
As for Rasa, Temari's father, he was still lying in the hospital.
"Sensei, Uncle, Granny Chiyo," Aoba greeted the three of them.
"You brat, you really gave me a big surprise this time," It had been a while since they'd seen each other. When Hayame saw Aoba, he could barely recognize him.
Who knew what he felt when he got the ANBU report?
A little bit of Uzumaki bloodline was fine, but when did their family have Senju blood too?
He even wondered if they had picked up the wrong baby back then.
"Hehe, Uncle, let me introduce you…", Aoba smiled and pulled Terumi Mei and Temari to the front.
"This is Terumi Mei, current acting Mizukage of Kirigakure. And this is Temari, daughter of the Fourth Kazekage."
After the introduction, Hayame did his best to keep a neutral expression.
He was afraid of making any impolite facial expressions.
Back in the day, all the noble ladies of the village were basically claimed by this kid.
And now he wasn't even satisfied with Konoha's girls, he was going after the Kage of other villages.
He felt like… even if next time he heard this brat got involved with some princess or daimyo, he wouldn't be surprised.
'Just… used to it.'
"Mei-neesan, Temari, this is my uncle, Hayame. He's a pretty powerful jonin," Aoba introduced Yeyama to them too.
"Hello, Uncle!" ×2
Terumi Mei and Temari both politely greeted him.
"Hello, girls," Hayame's mouth twitched again. Temari calling him uncle was fine.
But Terumi Mei… She didn't seem that much younger than him.
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