Aoba thoroughly enjoyed a strong brain pillow wave.
Tsunade, with no sense of formality, leaned on Aoba's shoulder, letting the two snowy peaks rest atop his head.
Perhaps this could ease the burden on her shoulders a bit.
Though she was a ninja, in the original work, Samui had said before that having too big a chest often caused shoulder pain.
Aoba was feeling the unusual sensation from the top of his head when he suddenly noticed Uchiha Mikoto looking at them with a surprised gaze.
Uchiha Mikoto stared at Aoba's head in a bit of a daze.
Although she'd seen it often before, this was the first time experiencing it so directly.
It nearly covered Aoba's entire head.
She looked down at her own chest, wondering if placing them there would have the same effect.
'Hmm?'
Uchiha Mikoto suddenly sensed a gaze.
She raised her head slightly and met Aoba's eyes.
After dazing for a moment and realizing what she had just been thinking about, she quickly lowered her head.
Although her face was hidden by black hair, her exposed ears were already red to the tips.
Aoba: ?
"Hah! Who would've thought the Fourth Raikage, who used to love threatening others with war, would finally choose to abandon his comrades just to avoid war?"
At this time, Tsunade's mocking voice rang out.
"That was also within expectations," Aoba straightened his back slightly.
Feeling the pressure from her chest, Tsunade's cheeks flushed with a pink hue.
She immediately stood upright, and didn't forget to knock on Aoba's head once.
"So what now? Are we still going to continue pressuring Kumogakure?"
Ever since Aoba started helping with work, she had pretty much shelved her brain.
"No rush. Let's first see where Kumogakure's bottom line is," Aoba smiled, "But we can go ahead and deal with those useful guys in the prison."
"You mean Samui and the others?", Tsunade asked.
Aoba nodded, smiling as he said, "They're all rare talents. Killing them would be a waste, and releasing them would be hateful."
"So then, what do you plan to have them do?"
Aoba rubbed his chin, thinking for a bit, "Hmm… something like a Hokage secretary or so."
"What?" ×2
The ones who shouted in surprise were Uchiha Mikoto and Shizune.
'Being Hokage secretaries, that would be stealing our jobs, wouldn't it?'
"Aunt Mikoto, Shizune-nee, don't worry. It's just having them help handle some matters. It won't affect your roles," Aoba comforted Uchiha Mikoto and Shizune with a line.
Then his face was caught in a pair of wicked hands, and the two mountains once again pressed down on his head.
"Brat, watch yourself. I'll say this in advance, Samui and the others aren't like Konan. They're Kumogakure ninjas," Tsunade pulled at Aoba's face, viciously reminding him.
She knew full well what this brat was thinking.
'That Samui, is nearly on my level.'
"Ugh… I understand. Don't worry, sensei. I'll test them a little first."
"Test what?"
"The bonds between them."
———
Inside the dim Konoha prison.
Konoha still had some sense of humanitarianism.
They hadn't tortured the three of Samui. On the contrary, the three were even imprisoned together.
Of course, the living conditions weren't very good.
"I wonder what the situation outside is like now?", Yugito Nii leaned against the wall, eyes a little hollow.
They'd already been locked up for a few days. The village should know about their situation by now.
"The village should already be negotiating with Konoha. Maybe soon, we'll be able to leave," Mabui comforted Yugito beside her.
Although Yugito was the strongest among them in terms of ability, her mindset was still a bit lacking.
Samui nodded as well, "That Aoba guy is strong, but compared to Teacher Killer Bee, he's still a bit lacking."
Samui's teacher was indeed the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, Killer Bee.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
At that moment, she suddenly heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"It's… you?", Samui looked at the person in surprise.
Aoba walked into the cell where the three were held. The three of them had no thoughts of resistance.
Because their chakra had all been sealed.
Aoba observed their condition for a moment, then smiled and said, "Looks like you've been doing pretty well in prison during this time."
"Has Konoha decided how to deal with us?", Samui looked intently at Aoba.
Aoba took out a document, "I've got one good news and one bad news for you."
"What's the good news?", At that, Mabui asked instinctively.
'Could it be that Lord Raikage has already reached a deal with Konoha to ransom us?'
"The good news is, you all will be able to leave here soon."
"Really? Could it be Lord Raikage…"
Hearing that they could finally leave this pitch-dark prison, Yugito was instantly overjoyed.
Only for Aoba to show a helpless expression on his face, "Unfortunately, it's not that. You've been abandoned by Kumogakure."
"What?" ×3
All three of them exclaimed in unison, their first reaction being disbelief.
Because Kumogakure would never abandon comrades.
Aoba naturally saw through their thoughts and threw the document in his hand in front of them.
"This is the message your Raikage sent over."
Mabui, who was closest, picked it up and glanced at it. Her eyes instantly widened, her face full of disbelief.
"Mabui, what's written on it?"
Samui saw Mabui only staring with wide eyes and saying nothing. An ominous feeling immediately rose in her heart.
While speaking, she already took the document to read, and Yugito leaned in as well to look at the contents.
"This can't be!"
It was clearly written on the document.
As long as Konoha gave up on war, Kumogakure was willing to abandon Yugito, Samui, and the others. And would also pay sufficient compensation to Konoha.
"This… this is absolutely fake!", Yugito's eyes lost their shine, because in her memory, Raikage had never abandoned comrades.
But whether it was fake or not, it was actually obvious at a glance.
To prevent the transmission of false information, each village would include a special code when issuing orders.
'So this document… is real.'
Samui took a deep breath, hands tightly clutching the document, eyes looking at Aoba.
"Then you said we can leave soon, what do you mean by that?"
"Samui, as the rumors say, you truly are someone who can remain calm at all times," Aoba couldn't help but praise her.
Samui gave a cold laugh, "To be praised by someone as strong as you, what an honor."
"Since you're so calm, I'll give you a chance," Aoba grinned, pulled out a kunai, and tossed it in front of Samui.
"As long as you choose to kill one comrade, then you and your remaining comrade can leave."
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