Aoba brought Kurotsuchi back home, and it didn't cause much of a stir.
Even though it was already after work hours, most people in the house still hadn't returned yet.
Kin and Shizune were in the kitchen preparing dinner, while Mei Terumi and Temari were tidying up the table and setting out the bowls and chopsticks.
Yugito, meanwhile, had pulled Samui and Mabui aside and was whispering with them.
It looked like she already knew about their relationship with Aoba. Her lips were pressed together, and she seemed a little annoyed.
She was also the only one who noticed Aoba bringing Kurotsuchi back. She bared her teeth and shot him a glare, like a hissing little cat.
Samui and Mabui noticed as well. After looking over, they helplessly spread their hands at him.
Then the three sisters went back to chatting among themselves, only this time their voices were even lower, like they were secretly plotting something.
Seeing this, Aoba could only shrug in resignation. He didn't interrupt their little conspiracy and instead helped Kurotsuchi onto the sofa.
"Your body hasn't recovered yet, so just sit and rest for a while. Fuu should be back soon too."
"Okay…"
Kurotsuchi nodded obediently.
Everyone else had something to do, and being the only one sitting there made her feel a bit awkward. But right now, even if she tried to help, she'd probably just make things worse.
"Mm."
Seeing that, Aoba left the house again.
He had something proper to take care of this time.
Since the meeting had been postponed to the next day, he naturally had to inform Gaara.
Given the current situation, there was no need for Temari to stand in for him. They could just hold a proper meeting.
Arrange everything that needed to be arranged, properly.
Meanwhile, just as he said, Fuu soon returned home together with Uchiha Hikari.
The ninja academy dismissed classes fairly early.
The reason Fuu only got back close to dinner was mainly because there was a snack street along the way home.
They basically ate while walking. Being able to get back before mealtime was already pretty good.
As for Uchiha Hikari, staying home alone was boring, so she tagged along.
Even though she was a bit older, there were quite a few people every year who failed to graduate from the academy and had to repeat.
"I'm back!"
The moment Fuu entered, she energetically announced her return.
"I'm back too."
Uchiha Hikari mumbled as well, a lollipop still in her mouth.
"Welcome back."
Kurotsuchi came to the entryway, one hand bracing against the wall and the other on her hip, greeting the two of them.
"Kurotsuchi, you're back too?"
The moment Fuu saw her, her eyes lit up. She quickly changed her shoes and rushed over, throwing herself into Kurotsuchi's arms.
After not seeing each other for a while, Fuu had really missed this first friend she made before coming to Konoha.
She hadn't expected to see her the moment she got back today.
But Kurotsuchi, whose legs were already a bit weak, hadn't expected Fuu's sudden pounce at all. She was almost knocked over, stumbling back several steps before steadying herself.
"You're way too excited."
Kurotsuchi helplessly rubbed her little head.
"Sorry about that."
Fuu scratched her head a bit awkwardly. But after that brief embarrassment, she started to feel puzzled.
She had been a bit excited just now, sure, but logically speaking, Kurotsuchi shouldn't have been knocked over that easily.
And why did her stance look a bit off today?
"Kurotsuchi…"
"What is it?"
"Uh, it's nothing really. You just look a bit weak today. Is something wrong with your body? Mm, but your complexion looks pretty rosy. You seem quite healthy."
Fuu leaned close to Kurotsuchi's ear and asked in a low voice, covering her mouth.
"This…"
Hearing that, Kurotsuchi's face became even redder, though she quickly composed herself. After all, she had already been Tsuchikage for some time.
"Ahem! I'm not unwell. It's just that there's too much work, so my legs are a bit sore. Being the Tsuchikage is really tiring."
"Sore legs…"
Fuu barely accepted that explanation, though she still felt a bit doubtful.
After all, Kurotsuchi was very strong. Logically, her physical condition should be excellent too. For her to get sore legs just from work...
'It seems being Tsuchikage really does involve a lot of work.'
Seeing that Fuu had been fooled, Kurotsuchi pulled her and Uchiha Hikari over to sit on the living room sofa and started chatting about recent interesting things.
The others in the house, seeing her like this, didn't expose her either.
After a while, Aoba came back home almost at the same time as Tsunade and the others who had just finished work.
When Tsunade saw the faint redness still lingering on their faces, she looked a bit suspicious.
"You all went to deal with the Five Kage Summit today, right? What exactly did you talk about?"
Before dinner started, Tsunade sat on the sofa and asked with a hint of doubt.
"Uh, well…"
The faces of those who had participated all showed varying degrees of awkward blush.
Especially Kurotsuchi, since she had basically slept straight through until evening.
"…"
At this point, Tsunade didn't even need them to answer. Just from their reactions, she could already guess the general course of events.
"Well, it couldn't be helped. After all, someone was so tired from work that they fell asleep halfway through the meeting and slept straight until dinner time. Naturally, the meeting couldn't continue."
Mei Terumi's reaction was the calmest.
After all, that had been her goal from the very beginning.
Kurotsuchi naturally knew she was referring to her, but she really had fainted halfway through. And what happened afterward… she had no way to refute it.
She could only sit there, her face flushed bright red.
The others, seeing this, naturally understood what had happened.
Then they all shot knowing looks at Aoba, who was already being clung to by Karin.
He said it was a Five Kage Summit, but in the end he went off to… do that instead.
Only Fuu, after a brief moment of confusion, innocently remarked, "Being the Tsuchikage really is tough."
Kurotsuchi: "..."
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