"Little handsome guy, big sister only wanted to take Zabuza away, I didn't intend to hurt you guys. How about letting big sister go?"
"Whatever you want, big sister can give it to you, okay?"
As she spoke, Terumi Mei even flirtatiously winked at Aoba, full of seductive intent.
'You're testing a monk with this? What kind of monk can't handle this kind of temptation?'
'If you're going to seduce, at least show a bit of cleavage.'
Aoba was speechless, 'Am I someone who can be seduced this easily?'
But Terumi Mei was currently tied up and didn't seem capable of doing anything else.
Before Aoba could speak, Uzumaki Kasui said faintly, "Just now, Sasuke was nearly captured by you all. If Sasuke had been caught, would you have let him go?"
"!", Sasuke's expression stiffened first.
He silently stood up and staggered back into the house.
"Uh…", Looking at Sasuke's hurt self-confidence, Kasui opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Aoba shook his head and looked again at Terumi Mei, who had a pitiful expression.
"I only spared you because you didn't show killing intent. Otherwise, you'd be a corpse by now."
Terumi Mei's expression didn't change much, only her tone sounded a bit resentful as she said, "Little brother, although cold and cool guys are popular, being too heartless might make it hard for you to find a girlfriend."
Aoba rolled his eyes. After placing a seal on Terumi Mei, he carried her to a new room and locked her up with Zabuza and Haku.
"Instead of worrying about whether I'll get a girlfriend, you should worry about whether you'll be able to get married," After saying that, Aoba left the house.
"This damn brat!", Terumi Mei immediately cursed.
Aoba had hit her sore spot with that sentence, she was already twenty-seven.
The Hidden Mist Village was still a mess, and now she had been captured by Konoha ninja.
'I really might not be able to get married.'
———
"You… came to rescue us?", After a long silence, Zabuza broke it with a low voice.
Terumi Mei nodded, looking a bit helpless, "But now, I've gotten myself caught too."
"Why? I'm just a missing-nin…", Zabuza didn't quite understand.
"To the Blood Mist, you're a missing-nin. But to the Hidden Mist, you're a hero…"
———
[Not Long After]
The group who had gone after them, Kurenai and the others, also returned.
"Aoba, are you all okay?"
As soon as they returned, they saw the fierce aftermath of battle all around.
Yakumo and the others immediately ran to Aoba and asked.
"What could happen to me? But we did get another prisoner. This mission might even be bumped up to S-rank."
"Really?"
"Maybe."
Later that night, the group took turns standing watch, but nothing happened.
———
[The Next Day]
Tsunade sent two ANBU squads.
One was responsible for negotiating with Tazuna and the civilian representatives. The other went to deal with Gato's company issues.
Aoba didn't care much about the negotiation details.
He only knew that in the end, Konoha got ownership of the Great Bridge and Gato's company.
Once the bridge was completed and some time passed, the Land of Waves began planting bananas.
Aoba, alone, returned to Konoha.
———
[Hidden Mist Village]
[Mizukage Tower]
"Lord Elder, that's the full account of the mission. We don't really know what happened specifically, but Lady Terumi Mei was indeed captured by Konoha's ninja," Ao reported everything truthfully.
After listening, the Elder's entire body started trembling slightly.
Then came a fit of coughing.
"Cough cough cough cough cough!"
"Lord Elder!", Ao looked at the old man with concern.
The Elder shakily waved his hand.
The Hidden Mist was currently in decline. In many people's eyes, Terumi Mei was already acknowledged as the next Mizukage.
The Elder sighed, "Contact Konoha. No matter what the cost, we must get Terumi Mei back."
But with the Hidden Mist now penniless, what could they possibly offer to make Konoha release her?
———
"I'M BACK!", Just as they entered Konoha's gate, Naruto couldn't help but open his arms and shout loudly.
It made many people stop and look over curiously.
Kakashi just shook his head slightly and didn't scold him. He understood Naruto's feelings.
The corners of Sasuke and Sai's mouths also curled up slightly.
Compared to the constant stress and rough conditions outside, Konoha still felt safer.
"Alright, there won't be any missions for the next two days. You can all take a good rest," Kakashi said to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai.
"Awesome!", Naruto shouted again in excitement.
Sasuke's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't show obvious joy.
Even during breaks, he needed to work harder.
This time, he was saved by Naruto, next time, he must be the one doing the saving.
"You three as well, take a few days off. I'll notify you when there's a new mission," Kurenai looked at Aoba's team and said.
"Yay!", Yakumo jumped up happily.
Then she grabbed Aoba's arm, "Aoba, let's go shopping together tomorrow. We haven't been back in a while. I've been craving dango from Snack Street."
"Sure," Aoba agreed instantly, then looked at Hinata, "Hinata, want to come too?"
"Yes," Hinata nodded, her little face blushing.
Yakumo puffed her cheeks, but since she was already far ahead, she didn't mind such a small thing.
Besides, Hinata's presence wasn't that strong anyway.
"You guys go back first," Kakashi waved at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sai, then said, "I'm heading to the Hokage Office to submit the mission report."
"I need to report too. Kasui-san, come with me," Kurenai looked at Kasui. As the mission's client, bringing her would streamline the process.
"Okay!", Kasui smiled and nodded.
"I'll go with you too," Aoba spoke up.
"Aoba, what for?", Yakumo asked curiously.
"I want to see the teacher."
"Oh~ okay then."
Everyone went their separate ways. As for Terumi Mei and the other two, they were invited for tea by ANBU.
At the Hokage Tower, Kakashi's group first went to the mission hall to submit the report.
Aoba headed straight to the Hokage Office.
As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Tsunade's fair, rosy feet.
Her legs were currently propped up on the Hokage desk, her whole body leaning back on the chair, holding a document.
"Who is it?", Tsunade, looking at the document, moved it aside instinctively, lowered her legs, and sat upright.
When she saw it was Aoba, she put her legs back up and continued reading.
"Oh, it's you, brat! When did you get back?"
"Just now," Aoba pulled over a chair, sat across from Tsunade, and began admiring her smooth jade feet up close.
The atmosphere in the office fell silent.
After a while.
Aoba noticed Tsunade's round toes curl slightly on the desk.
"Do they look good?"
"They look great," Aoba liked to tell the truth.
"You little perv," Tsunade withdrew her feet and tossed the document in her hand to him.
"What's this?", Aoba caught it with curiosity and looked it over.
"Chunin Joint Exam Application?", His eyes widened. What surprised him wasn't the exam, it was who initiated it, the Hidden Cloud Village.
"Is the Hidden Cloud trying to flex on us?"
Tsunade nodded, "Before, they tried to bribe us with a bit of profit to release our prisoners. I refused. So now they're trying to intimidate us with this."
"Do they really think I'm some weak old man?"
"Then did you accept, sensei?", Aoba asked.
Tsunade showed a mocking smile, "They're offering up their faces for us to slap, I definitely agreed."
"Brat, during the Chunin Exams, I want you to eliminate all the Hidden Cloud ninjas. Can you do it?"
"Guaranteed ro-sensei."
"Very good. That's my student!", Tsunade didn't mind his odd pronunciation and continued.
"This time you've done a big favor for Konoha too. Go on, what reward do you want?"
"Anything?", Aoba's eyes lit up.
"Of course!"
"But think carefully before you answer," Tsunade lightly wiggled her jade feet, eyes smiling into crescents.
"Uh… then let me see the Scroll of Seals."
"That thing? I've said it before, you can look at it anytime. Just don't learn any dangerous forbidden jutsu," Tsunade casually pulled the scroll out of a drawer and tossed it to Aoba.
She looked just like a rich woman spoiling her pet boy.
"This…"
'So casual?'
Aoba caught the scroll, but then started hesitating again. Honestly, there wasn't anything he really wanted right now.
"Then how about you give me a cut of Gato's company money?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him, "I remember the ANBU report said that about a billion in Gato's personal assets mysteriously disappeared. Wonder which missing-nin took that."
"Maybe it was stolen by his subordinates," Aoba's expression didn't change, feigning ignorance.
"Heh," Tsunade chuckled, "No rush. Gato's company belongs to Konoha now. If you want it, become Hokage and it'll all be yours."
"I really wonder what you need so much money for."
"Then what else can I ask for?", Aoba spread his hands helplessly.
Tsunade touched her chin, "Seems like there really isn't much else I can give you."
Even without achievements, Tsunade would give Aoba whatever he wanted.
"How about you give me a massage, sensei?", After thinking for a while, Aoba came up with this.
"Massage?", Tsunade's eyes widened a little, looking surprised.
"Yeah, that's the reward I want."
"Heh, fine!", Tsunade stood up, walked in front of Aoba, and looked down at him.
"Sensei, maybe I should choose something el—", Before he finished.
A soft, fragrant jade foot came stomping down toward him.
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