Dinner lasted a long time.
If it weren't inside the Sealed Space, it would probably already be late at night.
Under Aoba's feeding, Tsunade also ate quite a lot.
After all, they were eating together.
After finishing the last sip of thick soup, she was completely stuffed.
She lay on the bed and could not help rubbing her still slightly trembling lower belly as she said,
"I'm kind of stuffed."
"But you're pretty skilled at this. Do you often eat like this with Shizune and the others?"
"Uh… no," Aoba answered honestly, "This is the first time."
"Really?", Thinking back to what just happened, Tsunade still felt a bit embarrassed.
She did not even know how she had ended up like that.
It felt like her bottom line was getting lower and lower.
Maybe one day this brat would drag her to hold hands with Shizune, heart to heart, and then go down the wrong path together.
As an even more ridiculous image popped into her mind, Tsunade lightly shook her head and quickly changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, since Kumogakure was basically destroyed in your battle with Uchiha Madara, and that old man Onoki knows how to read the situation, after seeing what happened to Kumogakure, he probably won't resist Konoha anymore."
"The only military force the other four great nations can still use is the samurai under the daimyo. When are you planning to deal with them?"
Aoba wrapped an arm around her slightly plump waist and shook his head.
"After losing their hidden villages, the daimyo of the four great nations are nothing more than dry bones in a grave. There's no need to rush dealing with them."
"After all, the ninja world is huge and the population base is not small. If we move against the other four great nations all at once, with Konoha and the Land of Fire's current size, maintaining stability everywhere would be quite troublesome. It's better to let them manage things for now, recover and build up strength for a while, make full preparations, and then solve everything in one go."
"Suit yourself."
Tsunade did not think further. She stretched lazily and said with a smile, "Anyway, I don't want to handle the Land of Fire's affairs for you anymore. For the next period of time, I've decided to wander around the Land of Fire and enjoy my retirement."
"If I have time, I'll go with you, Sensei."
Aoba had no objections.
Tsunade, however, looked at him with suspicion, "You sure you'll have time?"
"I've felt it today. Just the Land of Fire's work alone is already a lot. It's completely overwhelming."
"There will always be time. Those ministers aren't all useless," Aoba smiled, then turned to face Tsunade.
He reached out and rubbed her belly, which, because she had eaten too much, was slightly more raised than usual.
The touch was soft like cotton candy.
It was also like a springy water balloon.
As long as you pressed lightly, it would—
Tsunade could not help showing a speechless expression. She knew that after finishing serious matters, he was getting unserious again.
Without any courtesy, she directly kicked Aoba aside.
"If you're not full yet, go find Mikoto. I've been tired all day. I'm sleepy."
After saying that, she did not care that she had not taken a bath yet. She wrapped herself in the blanket and closed her eyes.
Aoba felt a bit speechless. He did not have any other thoughts. He just thought it was interesting and wanted to see whether it would be like in anime, where pressing once would—
But he really did have something to talk about with Uchiha Mikoto.
He walked to Tsunade's side and gently kissed the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
"Good night, Sensei."
After saying that, he put on his clothes and left the bedroom.
———
Because Aoba had used the Sealed Space halfway through the meal, not much time had passed outside.
When he arrived at Uchiha Mikoto's residence, she had just begun preparing for dinner.
The dishes were naturally prepared by the cooks in the daimyo's residence.
However, sitting beside the large table full of food was only Uchiha Mikoto alone.
It somehow felt like a lonely old person.
Aoba appeared directly in the seat beside Uchiha Mikoto.
"Aunt Mikoto, are you alone?"
"Aoba? I was just about to go call you."
Uchiha Mikoto was also a little surprised to see Aoba suddenly appear, then she smiled and explained the others' situation.
"Izumi is patrolling the streets of the capital with some people. She should be back around this time. As for Yakumo, she bought quite a lot of books today and is reading in her room. I was just about to go call her to eat."
"Oh, right. When I came back earlier, I heard from others that you were discussing serious matters alone with Lady Tsunade. Why didn't she come with you?"
"Uh… Sensei already ate earlier," Aoba explained.
"She ate?", Uchiha Mikoto looked puzzled.
"Yeah, I brought some food back from Konoha. While talking with Sensei, we happened to eat together."
"I see. Then Aoba, sit down and eat some dishes simply. I'll go call Yakumo."
Uchiha Mikoto did not suspect anything and stood up to leave.
"Wait, Aunt Mikoto."
Just as she stood up, Aoba pulled her and had her sit sideways on his lap.
This position was somewhat similar to earlier with Tsunade.
But also somewhat different.
Some things you only realize after actually sitting.
In certain aspects, Aunt Mikoto was even more impressive than Tsunade, like a large round millstone.
No, perhaps millstone was more fitting.
"Aunt Mikoto, I have serious matters to tell you."
"Se-serious matters?"
Uchiha Mikoto's face suddenly turned red. She seemed to have already sensed what serious matter he was talking about.
"Uh…"
Aoba knew she might have misunderstood. He really did have serious business.
But the lingering atmosphere from earlier with Tsunade had not fully faded, which led to Uchiha Mikoto's misunderstanding.
"Use… use that space time ninjutsu. It's getting late. Otherwise there won't be enough time."
Without waiting for him to explain, Uchiha Mikoto had already wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
They had been busy with serious affairs these past two days and had not done this kind of serious affair. In her heart, she had already started feeling a little restless.
After all, it is hard to go from luxury back to frugality.
What was there for Aoba to explain?
Do the serious affair first, then talk about serious matters afterward.
———
Several more hours passed inside the Sealed Space.
Uchiha Mikoto's stamina finally recovered to the level where she could move normally.
However, this time, after resting, the expression on her face was no longer the usual satisfied ease.
Instead, it was slightly complicated.
It was not disappointment or sadness, just pure surprise.
Like suddenly learning something unbelievable, yet not knowing how to face it for the moment.
So she sat in her seat, blankly lost in thought.
"Aunt Mikoto, what's wrong with you?"
Aoba did not understand. He did not know why after lying down for a while, she became like this.
Uchiha Mikoto pressed her lips together. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke.
"Aoba… the serious matter you just discussed alone with Lady Tsunade… was it also this?"
"Hm?"
Aoba's eyes widened at once.
Uchiha Mikoto stammered out the truth.
"Just now… that seemed to be… a scent very similar to Lady Tsunade's…"
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