"Mm, work hard. Promotions and raises will co."
Seeing that Ajisai still looked tense, Aoba simply painted her a big rosy picture and wrapped up the topic.
"Ah?"
But unexpectedly, Ajisai froze when she heard that.
It was as if she didn't understand what Aoba ant.
When she ca to Konoha, all she wanted was to stay by Lady Konan's side, witness the peace in her eyes, and have food and lodging in the future.
'I can even get promoted and a raise?'
'Wait… do I even have a salary?'
"…"
Seeing her expression, Aoba didn't know what to say for a mont.
No matter what, he couldn't just not pay salaries, right?
What if one day his subordinates turned on him?
But this was the ninja world. With his strength, unless that one from the moon ca out, it seed like no one could casually turn on him anyway.
"Mm?"
Aoba was about to say sothing else when Tenten, standing beside him, started poking his waist with wide eyes.
That look was clearly urging him to hurry up.
"…"
"Konan-nee, we'll be heading off first."
Aoba greeted Konan.
Konan gave him a faint look. There was at least so compensation on Shizune's side, but when it ca to her, he was just going to brush her off with a single sentence?
She glanced silently at Ajisai and Tenten beside her.
But there were quite a few people on her side, so it really wasn't very convenient, she could only remind him, "Be careful. Don't go too far."
Tenten was, after all, half her disciple.
She was worried that if this bad guy treated Tenten like soone with Karin's kind of physique, sothing might go wrong.
"Ahem! I know."
Aoba could only give an awkward laugh.
Tenten also realized what Konan ant, and her face instantly turned red.
Her fair cheeks and neck were dyed with a layer of rosy blush, extrely cute.
Because she was wearing a white buttoned outfit, she looked like a strawberry wrapped in cream.
Seeing her like this, Aoba couldn't help but smile, then pulled her along and walked out of the office.
As the two of them left, Ajisai, who had been tense the whole ti, finally relaxed.
"…"
Seeing her like this, Konan didn't have much to say, only hoping she would adjust over ti.
But at this mont, Ajisai grew curious first, "Lady Konan, are Tenten and the Hokage going on a date?"
Konan paused for a mont, then nodded, "Sothing like that."
There was nothing to hide.
"Then… Lady Konan, won't you get jealous?", Ajisai asked, a bit gossipy.
"…"
Konan pressed her lips together, only giving her a faint glance, "Do your work. Stop thinking about nonsense."
"Oh."
Ajisai quickly lowered her head again.
'So she really is jealous after all.'
———
"What do you want to eat for lunch?"
Aoba brought Tenten outside. It was close to noon, so he decided to settle lunch first.
"Ichiraku Ran!"
Tenten answered without hesitation.
"Alright."
Aoba agreed just as quickly.
Thinking about it, he had been eating Ichiraku Ran for more than ten years, yet he still hadn't gotten tired of it. That was practically a miracle.
Maybe it was also because they only went to eat it once in a while now.
Holding his hand, Tenten also brought up sothing she had just learned.
"Konan-nee just told , you're planning to marry all of us. Is that true?"
There was a sparkle in the girl's eyes, mixed with unease and a bit of nervousness, afraid it might just be Konan joking.
Aoba paused. No wonder he felt that after returning from the Daimyo's residence, Tenten seed to be in a better mood.
'So Konan already told her?'
"I originally planned to tell you as a surprise. Didn't expect Konan-nee to tell you in advance."
Tenten's expression turned both surprised and delighted.
Even though she had already heard it, hearing it directly from Aoba felt completely different.
Aoba tightened his hold on her small hand and asked, "But it'll be a wedding with everyone together. Do you mind?"
Tenten's delighted expression slowly turned a bit resentful, "Of course I mind. So later, you have to co with to a place."
Her original plan had been to go to the target range on the back mountain where they used to practice throwing techniques.
That was where their connection began, so she wanted to go there together again.
But now that she knew they were getting married, she had a better place in mind.
Aoba smiled and said seriously, "Even if you want to go to the moon today, I'll take you there."
"What would we do on the moon? It's probably just barren, nothing there," Tenten asked curiously.
"Not necessarily. What if there is sothing?", Aoba looked mysterious.
"Really?", Tenten was a bit surprised.
"Who knows? When there's a chance, I'll take all of you up there to have a look. Treat it like a trip."
Aoba suddenly thought that he should also take Hinata to the moon soti and see if she could awaken the Tenseigan.
He didn't need to find any teleportation array. He could just fly there directly.
———
The two arrived at Ichiraku Ran.
Over the past year or two, the surrounding area had changed rapidly, but Ichiraku Ran remained the sa as always.
Although it was no longer the old wooden street-side stall and had been renovated, the shop itself was still the sa size.
It wasn't because business was bad. As "the ran shop most frequently visited by the current Hokage," Ichiraku Ran had long lines every alti.
Aya had even suggested tearing it down and rebuilding it, expanding the space, and hiring more staff.
As for permits and such, Ichiraku Ran was one of the most well-connected shops in all of Konoha, so it wasn't an issue at all.
But Teuchi felt that he was nearing retirent. He didn't want to tear down or relocate the old shop that had been with him for decades, so he planned to leave things as they were for now. After he retired, Aya could do whatever she wanted with it.
Maybe this was what made him a ran sage.
Fortunately, Aoba and Tenten had co early, so it wasn't crowded yet.
"Aya-nee!"
In a good mood, Tenten happily greeted Aya, who was busy preparing for the upcoming lunch rush.
"Tenten, Aoba?"
Aya was a bit surprised to see them and said with a smile, "It's been a while since I've seen just the two of you co by."
After all, every ti they ca before, it was always a whole group. So many girls chatting and laughing that talking with them made her feel younger.
Though she wasn't that old to begin with.
"You could say we slipped out on leave."
Aoba pulled Tenten to sit in their familiar corner spot.
With just the two of them, it did feel much more spacious.
"Is that so? Then this counts as sneaking off, right? Aren't you afraid Ino and Sakura will make a fuss?", Aya teased.
But Tenten blinked instead, "Aya-nee, how did you know Aoba and I are getting married?"
Aya: "?"
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