Yakumo blinked blankly at the scene. She had only wanted to tease this little girl a bit, to make her retreat on her own.
She never expected that after this kid found out about Aoba the scumbag's true nature, she would actually come up with such a request.
'So now ain't I basically helping them along?'
Hinata, seeing this, couldn't help but purse her lips, "If Hanabi finds out she suddenly has an senpai, she'll definitely throw a fit."
"Then I'll have to trouble Hinata to help me coax her together."
Aoba gave her a pleading look.
Hinata's delicate face couldn't help but flush, her love-struck brain starting to kick in, "Aoba-kun only needs me in matters like this."
"I can help too," Temari suddenly spoke with a smile.
"..."
'You just want to see Hanabi break down, don't you.'
Aoba instantly saw through Temari's thought, but he didn't call her out.
Because honestly, Hanabi breaking down was kind of cute.
"Since you're going out to play later, do you want me to find you a guide?", Seramu asked.
She had no intention of joining them shopping. She still had to arrange the affairs of Roran for the coming period.
She had plenty of time at night.
Aoba, however, shook his head, "We'll just wander on our own. If a stranger follows us, we'll actually feel a bit uneasy."
"That's fine. Oh, right, here."
Seramu nodded, then as if suddenly remembering something, took out a communication device and handed it to Aoba.
"If anything comes up, contact me anytime."
"Mm."
Aoba accepted it with a nod.
"What's this?"
Yakumo, curious as always, looked like a baby seeing the world for the first time, interested in everything.
"This is called a communication device…"
Aoba explained its function to her while walking outside.
He was already thinking of making one in Konoha as well.
But since Konoha didn't have something special like the Dragon Vein, he'd need to swap in another medium.
Twenty years later, Roran was even more prosperous than it had been before.
Though mostly cut off from the outside world, being cut off also had its benefits.
With the chakra of the Dragon Vein, Roran could be entirely self-sufficient.
Not entangled in the wars of the shinobi world, the faces of Roran's people all shone with hope for the future and smiles of happiness.
Quite a few older shopkeepers, upon seeing Princess Sara, still a little child in their memories, suddenly appear on the streets, were shocked.
But soldiers immediately came forward to greet her.
That afternoon, the group spent the most time at the amusement park.
After all, no matter how advanced other things were, compared to Konoha the gap wasn't that great.
But an amusement park was something they had never seen in Konoha.
Though the rides were a bit childish for shinobi, for young boys and girls, they were just right.
"Aoba, when we get back, build an amusement park in Konoha too!"
Even after returning to their lodging, Yakumo still looked reluctant to let go.
Hinata, Temari, and even Kurenai all had eyes filled with anticipation.
It had to be said, amusement parks were indeed perfect places for girls their age.
Though of course, you couldn't go too often, or it would get boring.
Aoba thought for a moment, "That wouldn't be hard. But Yakumo, you actually have a quicker way."
"Hm? You mean using illusions?"
Yakumo froze, then immediately understood his idea.
Aoba nodded. "You can control the five senses with genjutsu. If you set up an illusion experience hall and recreate the amusement park one-to-one…"
"That's a pretty good idea. I might even make good money off it."
Yakumo fully approved, but in the end she shook her head, "Forget it."
"Why?"
Aoba looked at her in surprise.
Yakumo leaned in close, took his hand, and smiled, "Because in a place like an amusement park, the important part isn't playing, it's about who you're playing with!"
Hinata and Temari both nodded in agreement.
Kurenai gave Aoba a quick glance, then mentally pictured it herself, her cheeks faintly reddening.
Aoba couldn't help but chuckle.
That was true.
Overall, today's trip to the amusement park had been fulfilling.
Only Sara was a little dissatisfied. Because before, she always went alone with her teacher. But today, she suddenly had several teacher's wife tagging along.
Aoba could only pat her head.
He'd just have to find time to take this girl by herself again.
Back at their lodging, Seramu had already had people prepare a big, rich dinner.
After a day of playing, coming home to a feast put an extra smile even on Sara's face.
Dinner passed in lively cheer.
———
Late at night.
Yakumo and Hinata quietly slipped over again.
The two lay to Aoba's left and right, resting in his arms.
Aoba, however, was considering how to send them back to their own rooms.
Tonight was clearly not suitable for sleeping together.
Because Yakumo would definitely not keep her hands to herself. And Aoba had endured for three years, his firepower wasn't simple.
To avoid an uncontrollable situation, he had to snuff out the possibility at the cradle.
As for the rest, once they returned to Konoha tomorrow, it would naturally be settled.
Thinking this, Aoba remembered Hinata's eyes, and decided to take the chance to explain a little.
"Hinata, do you know about the Tenseigan?"
"Tenseigan?", Hearing this term she had never heard before, Hinata froze.
Yakumo on the other side perked her ears up too.
"Mm," Aoba's eyes locked onto Hinata's, his tone softening as he spoke gently, "The two most widely known eyes in the shinobi world are the Sharingan and the Byakugan. But besides those, there are two other powerful eyes, called the Rinnegan and the Tenseigan."
Aoba explained what he knew to the two girls.
"The Tenseigan is considered the evolved form of the Byakugan. It holds the ultimate power of creation and destruction."
He said, "If I'm not mistaken, your Byakugan is currently in the process of transforming into the Tenseigan."
Hinata was so shocked she couldn't even speak.
"If my eyes become the Tenseigan… then in the future, I'll finally be able to help Aoba-kun, right?"
Hearing Hinata's words, Aoba froze for a moment.
Then he pulled her small, delicate body into his arms.
"Mm."
He had already decided: once they returned, no matter what, he would help Hinata evolve her eyes into the Tenseigan!
Yakumo frowned slightly at the sight.
But seeing the heavy atmosphere between them, she said nothing.
She would just wait until Hinata fell asleep, then pull the progress back to herself.
Aoba didn't make the two return to their rooms, but he firmly forbade Yakumo's wandering hands.
And once the two were asleep, he left a body pillow between them, then slipped quietly out of the bedroom.
———
On the balcony of the high tower.
Seramu sat alone on a lounge chair, gently swaying, staring blankly at the bright moon in the sky.
A light breeze blew, carrying the crisp, pleasant sound of wind chimes into the serene night.
As Seramu listened to the chimes, it was as if a stone had been dropped into her heart-lake, rippling out circles of waves.
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