"So Aoba is really going to become Hokage."
After hearing Mabui's words, Samui could not help sucking in a sharp breath.
Her tone was filled with emotion.
As for this news, it was not exactly something they had guessed. Rather, they had heard it from Tsunade herself.
Mainly because Tsunade had been getting more and more outrageous lately. Many times, even when they went to report work to her, she would just be lying on the sofa sleeping. In the past, she would at least put on an act and sit at her desk. Now she could not even be bothered to pretend anymore.
And then there was one time when they went to report work and happened to hear Tsunade say something like, ("I'm retiring in a few days anyway, can't I enjoy myself a bit?")
If one were to count who in Konoha was currently the most qualified to succeed as Hokage, it would probably be Aoba.
Still, there were lingering doubts.
They had absolutely no doubts about Aoba's strength. The main issue was his age. He was too young.
"Actually, it's pretty normal, right? Isn't the Kazekage of Sunagakure only thirteen right now?"
Mabui said this, but her face was slightly flushed, and she looked a bit absent-minded overall.
"The situation in Sunagakure is different. Sunagakure right now is nothing more than Konoha's toy," Samui directly pointed out Sunagakure's current standing.
As the Hokage's secretary, she naturally knew the concrete situation between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Although Sunagakure still retained a certain degree of independence, all major decisions had to be approved by Konoha.
She and Mabui had handled quite a few matters like this.
"Mm! but I feel like it's a good thing for Lord Aoba to become Hokage sooner. That way, we-we'll be able to be a bit more relaxed in the future," Mabui replied, still sounding distracted.
"That's true. Aoba probably won't be like Tsunade and enjoy slacking off."
After all, every time Tsunade slacked off, all the work fell onto them.
And Aoba had also drawn quite a few pies for them.
Samui cast a somewhat meaningful look at Mabui, whose complexion seemed a bit unnatural. Her expression was complicated and tinged with suspicion.
"Mabui, why does your face look so strange?"
"Huh? D-does it?"
Mabui immediately snapped out of her absent-minded state. The smile she deliberately put on looked a bit forced.
"You think I can't tell?"
Seeing her like this, Samui could not help rolling her eyes.
"Did Aoba say something else to you?"
"H-he didn't really say anything."
Mabui's face immediately grew even redder. Her skin tone was darker, so under normal circumstances it was hard to tell when she blushed.
"Spit it out."
Samui glared at her.
Mabui froze, then hesitated for a bit before finally speaking.
"Lord Aoba said… that after he becomes Hokage, we'll be his personal secretaries."
"That's it?"
It took Samui a moment to respond before asking.
"Huh? That's all I said."
Mabui was also a bit stunned, then nodded blankly.
"Just that?"
Seeing Mabui like this, Samui had thought something far more outrageous was coming. But that was it?
Personal secretaries at most meant changing offices.
"Hm?", Mabui frowned, her expression turning serious, "What do you mean 'just that'? This is a very serious matter, okay?"
Samui looked confused, "But aren't we already secretaries right now?"
"But regular secretaries and personal secretaries are definitely not the same. Otherwise, Lord Aoba wouldn't have emphasized it specifically," Mabui's face reddened again.
"When the time comes, maybe-maybe it'll be like Shizune. Not only meeting work requirements, but also having to meet daily life needs as well…"
"Uh!"
Hearing this, Samui looked at Mabui, completely at a loss for words. She said with a blank expression, "Then why don't you go ask Shizune properly?"
"Then should I go ask her now?", Mabui asked instinctively.
"...", Samui was even more speechless.
She genuinely did not know what was going on in Mabui's head.
Back when she was the Raikage's secretary, she had been a lofty, untouchable flower. How did she turn into someone on the verge of a lovesick meltdown the moment she faced Aoba?
'Could this be that CPU thing Aoba mentioned?'
Mabui grew a bit embarrassed under her gaze and lowered her head.
The atmosphere in the office fell into silence.
After a long while, the two exchanged a look, then each went back to their own work.
Since things had come to this, it was better to finish the tasks at hand as soon as possible.
They could still go out for a drink in the evening.
———
Aoba had no idea that his half-joking words would make Mabui think so much.
He had just walked out of the Hokage Building when he saw Karin and Tenten playing in the snow at the entrance.
"Aoba-nii!"
Noticing him, Karin immediately waved at him happily.
Aoba quickly walked over to the two of them, patted the snow off their shoulders and heads, and asked curiously,
"Were you waiting for me?"
"Hehe!"
Karin nodded with a smile, rubbing her head against his palm.
"Do you have anything else this afternoon?"
Tenten stuffed her ice-cold hands into Aoba's pockets, wanting to warm them with his body heat.
"No, I was just about to head home."
As Aoba spoke, he also put his hands into the pockets, holding Tenten's little hands that were cold from playing in the snow, and at the same time holding Karin's hand.
Just as cold.
"Then Aoba-nii, come with us. We have something to talk to you about!"
Without waiting for Aoba to respond, Karin grabbed him and started running.
When she finally stopped, what appeared before Aoba was the huge sign of "Yakiniku Q."
After more than a year of development, as Konoha's former largest barbecue restaurant, it had undergone a complete renovation.
"Are you treating me to barbecue?", Aoba asked with a smile.
Karin and Tenten did not answer. They just smiled and pulled him forward.
"You'll know once you go in!"
After entering, Aoba realized that Yakiniku Q seemed to have been booked out today.
Everyone inside was someone he knew.
Not just Ino, Sakura, Hinata, and Yakumo, but also Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and others.
Most of the classmates who had graduated together from the Ninja Academy back then were here.
With the year-end approaching and no missions at the moment, everyone could gather together.
As for what they were doing here, it went without saying.
Because right at the center, surrounded by everyone, was an enormous cake. It took two tables pushed together just to barely fit it.
On it were written the words, [Congratulations to Aoba on Becoming a Jonin!]
"Aoba, we made this big cake ourselves."
Ino and the others all wore proud expressions.
They had spent quite a bit of effort over the past few days making this cake.
"If you had told me ahead of time, I could have helped too," Aoba said with a smile.
"That won't do. This is a celebration gift we specially prepared for you," Ino directly rejected his suggestion.
Aoba smiled knowingly and reached out to pat Ino's head, "Then thank you, Ino, and everyone."
"Honestly, can you guys pay attention to where you are? There are still people here," Kiba interrupted them unhappily, then wiggled his eyebrows.
"Besides, we also prepared gifts for today's gathering."
Aoba blinked and raised a hand toward him, "Oh? Then Kiba, do you want me to pat your head too?"
"Haha!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
"I'll pass on that," Kiba immediately took a step back. For some reason, he felt something strange from that head-patting gesture.
With a dead-fish look, he lifted Akamaru, who had grown quite a bit.
"You can just pat Akamaru's head instead."
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Akamaru barked cooperatively.
The air instantly filled with an even more cheerful atmosphere.
———
Meanwhile, in the conference room of the Hokage Building, the heads of Konoha's various major ninja clans were gathered for an important meeting.
Tsunade cleared her throat and said, "Everyone, I called you here today mainly because there is an important matter I'd like to consult all of you about."
"Hokage-sama, please speak."
Nara Shikaku took the initiative to respond. Like Samui and the others, he had already sensed something.
"With the year-end approaching, when I count it up, I've already been sitting in this Hokage seat for quite a few years."
Tsunade's expression grew serious as she continued, "The village is now full of talented people. It's time to hand this position over to the younger generation."
"As for the candidate to inherit the position of Hokage, everyone is free to speak your minds."
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