After Aoba finished cooking for the three of them, he left.
He had spent quite a bit of time just now, and it was already the end of the school day at the Ninja Academy.
He still needed to go pick up Fu.
As for Anko's home—
"Anko!", Kurenai, who had been quietly eating, suddenly put down her bowl and chopsticks.
"What?", Anko jolted hard at the sound, lifting her eyes just over the rim of her bowl, her gaze guilty.
Even though she hadn't thought much of it at the time, she'd been panicking ever since.
"Ever since you became a teacher, your ninja training has gotten a bit lax, hasn't it?"
Kurenai picked her bowl back up, her expression blank, her tone calm.
"Huh?", Anko's mind went blank for a moment, and then she immediately understood what the other meant.
She was looking for an excuse to beat her up.
"Ahem! Kurenai, I'm just an ordinary academy teacher now. As long as I can teach the students, that's enough. Strength and all that… it's really not that important anymore."
"That won't do. A ninja ultimately depends on their strength. If you get careless with daily training, what will you do if you run into danger you can't handle?"
Kurenai said this earnestly, her face still stern.
Anko weakly countered, "Aoba left me a defensive technique. I'm not in any danger."
Kurenai's wine-red eyes narrowed slightly. When she remembered she had one on her as well, she relaxed a little.
But her temper was still flaring. She definitely wasn't about to let Anko off that easily.
She'd practically gotten dehydrated earlier.
"You can't rely on Aoba for everything. He's very busy too."
Before Anko could make up another excuse, she continued, "There's still plenty of time. After we finish eating, we're going to the training grounds."
"Kurenai, how about… another time? I'm totally out of strength right now, I'm really not in any condition to fight… and you're not in great shape either, are you?", Anko leaned close to Kurenai, speaking in a spoiled tone.
Kurenai's face went even colder, 'This girl really did it on purpose.'
And she'd realized… that.
Anko suddenly realized she'd said the wrong thing, backed off with an awkward laugh, and pouted.
She knew she wasn't escaping a beating today.
Before, she could at least fight Kurenai on equal footing. Now… Not only had she been away from fieldwork for over a year, the exhaustion from this afternoon alone was too much.
'Damn it!'
'Just Kurenai, that's all. Once I change locations someday, I get back at her properly.'
As for Isaribi, she only dared to shrink off to the side trembling, not saying a single word.
———
Aoba had no idea Anko was already plotting how to bully Kurenai back.
When he arrived at the Ninja Academy, Fu was already waiting by the gate.
But it looked like she was talking to someone, her expression full of shock.
When he got closer and saw who she was talking to, he was a little surprised as well.
"Hanabi?"
"Aoba-nii!"
Hanabi, who had been whispering something to Fu, also saw Aoba. She immediately ran toward him, and before even closing the distance, she jumped right at him, throwing herself into his arms.
"Hanabi, there are still a lot of people around," Aoba caught the tiny, soft, sweet-smelling Hanabi with helpless ease.
He didn't care much about the strange looks from people around them and started rubbing her head vigorously.
Hanabi pretended to push him away a few times, complaining, "Aoba-nii, you haven't come to see me in forever!"
Aoba pinched her chubby little cheeks, "I'm busy too, okay?"
"Aoba-sama… long time no see," Hyuga Natsu, who had come to pick up Hanabi, also walked over. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, almost shy.
"Natsu, long time no see," Aoba smiled at her as well.
According to Hiashi's intentions, her role now was essentially Hinata's bridal attendant.
And the reason wasn't some shady deal.
After a year of research by Aoba, the cursed caged-bird mark representing the branch family had disappeared from Natsu's forehead.
Hiashi was perceptive enough not to have it reapplied, and no one else in the clan knew.
So after discussion, the final plan was that after Hinata and Aoba married, Natsu would go with Hinata to Aoba's home. To take care of them.
Of course, that was Natsu's own wish too.
If she was going to be a maid anyway, it didn't matter where she served.
And staying close to the future Hokage was more than she could hope for.
Although… the maids in Aoba's home might not be too happy about it.
"Mm," Natsu lowered her head, blushing.
At that moment, Aoba also noticed Fu's strange look. He thought she was upset that he was late.
"Sorry, Fu. Something came up, so I'm a bit late."
"Huh? N-no… no problem. Hanabi was chatting with me the whole time," Fu quickly waved her hands and turned her head away.
Aoba felt even more suspicious, because even though she wasn't looking at him directly, she kept sneaking glances out of the corner of her eye, eyes filled with curiosity, confusion, and a bit of caution.
He looked at Hanabi still in his arms, her face all innocence.
Mystery solved.
'Nine times out of ten, this girl has said something to Fu.'
Not that he minded. Hanabi wouldn't badmouth him, at most, she'd talk about things he'd done.
Let Fu know he was a scumbag, and stay a little farther away from him.
He had no intention of hiding anything anyway.
Still, Aoba couldn't help feeling a bit sentimental.
Ever since he became a rebellious disciple under Ōnoki, his own disciples seemed to be following down that same rebellious path.
Especially that Sara, he didn't even dare stay overnight in Roran while she knew he was there.
"Alright, we should head back."
Aoba passed Hanabi to Natsu.
Natsu reached out to take her, but after a couple tugs, Hanabi clung to Aoba like she was glued there.
She wouldn't budge.
"Aoba-sama…", Natsu looked at him helplessly.
"I want Aoba-nii to walk me home," Seeing Hanabi's hopeful eyes, Aoba couldn't refuse.
He apologized to Fu with his expression, "There's still some time before dinner. Want to walk around Konoha for a bit?"
"No problem!"
Fu didn't just accept, she looked thrilled.
"Then let's go."
———
It was twilight, right after school.
The shops lining the street glowed with golden light from their windows, like tiny lighthouses.
Children ran past, laughing, their footsteps fading into the distance.
Merchants and visitors streamed back and forth, everyone wearing warm smiles.
Even after some time away, Konoha's commercial district was still as lively as ever.
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