"?", The one with question marks in his head wasn't just Sasuke. Uchiha Mikoto, who had just opened the door, also froze.
She saw Aoba with his hand on her son's head, speaking seriously about taking care of the mother and child, and her gaze turned unfocused.
'Aoba is already much taller than Sasuke. This motion…'
It was like a father promising his child that he would definitely give the child and his wife a good life.
This wasn't the first time she had felt this strange deja vu.
Uchiha Mikoto didn't dare think further. Her face felt unbearably hot.
When she noticed Aoba looking at her, she instinctively closed the door again.
Then leaned against the office door, pressing a hand to her chest. Her heart pounded wildly, as if about to jump out.
'Why would Aoba say something like that?'
'Is it because he likes me?'
Uchiha Mikoto pursed her lips. Suddenly, the heart that had been pounding calmed down.
"This…", Aoba looked at the door that had suddenly been shut and was at a loss.
He only wanted to tease Sasuke, 'How am I supposed to know Mikoto would open the door just then?'
'The timing is too perfect.'
He wanted to explain, but she had already shut the door.
Now he really didn't know what to do.
"How long are you going to keep touching me?"
Sasuke slapped Aoba's hand away, Sharingan glaring at him.
Aoba almost couldn't keep a straight face, 'Why do these Uchiha brothers both like to stare with their Sharingan?'
"Ahem! Sasuke, I was just joking with you."
"What did you say?", Sasuke's three tomoe spun rapidly, almost linking into a straight line.
In Sasuke's mind, this bastard definitely had done something with his mother. That was why Aoba would say something like that, and why his mom had hidden the moment she saw him.
And now, after taking advantage of her, this jerk wanted to brush it off as a joke.
It filled him with rage.
"Uh? I mean, I'll definitely take good care of you and Aunt Mikoto."
Aoba thought it better to continue along that line.
In any case, whether because Itachi had given him ten million or for other reasons, he would definitely take care of them.
"Hmph! I don't need you to take care of me."
Sasuke snorted, "Just take care of my mom. If she gets hurt, I'll fight you to the death!"
Without waiting for a response, Sasuke turned and left.
Aoba felt helpless. Sasuke seemed far more open-minded than Uchiha Itachi.
After all, Itachi couldn't even accept having a stepfather, but Sasuke could accept him, 'Truly the legendary king of endurance.'
After complaining in his heart, Aoba planned to knock on Mikoto's door to explain.
But before he could knock, the door opened on its own.
Uchiha Mikoto paused when she saw him, then smiled gently, as if nothing had happened just now.
"Aunt Mikoto, about earlier, I—"
"It's fine, Aoba. I know what you meant," She cut him off before he even started.
"?"
'I haven't said anything yet and you already know what I meant?'
Aoba blinked. Something felt odd about Mikoto today.
"But Aoba, you've already helped us so much. Without your support these years, I might not have made it this far," Her face showed gratitude, then flushed again at some thought.
"I didn't really help that much. You made it here through your own hard work."
Aoba waved his hand.
He wasn't being modest. He had only suggested to Tsunade to put Mikoto's name on the list.
If Mikoto hadn't been capable, she wouldn't have lasted as Hokage's secretary.
Mikoto didn't continue that subject. No matter what Aoba said, she would always remember his kindness.
"Aoba, would you like to come to my house tonight? Sasuke's been out of the village so long. I want to give him a welcome dinner."
Sasuke: "?"
"Well…", Aoba hesitated.
"I also invited Kushina and Naruto," Mikoto added quickly.
"In that case, we could just gather at my place. It'd be livelier," Aoba suggested.
But Mikoto firmly shook her head, "If we go to your home, the dinner will surely be prepared by Kin and the others. I want to personally cook for you… and for Kushina."
"All right. Then I'll come find you after work."
Since she insisted and it was just dinner, Aoba didn't refuse.
"Mm. You're going to see the Hokage, right? I won't keep you. See you after work," Smiling brightly, Mikoto closed the door.
Aoba really felt something strange in her gaze but didn't dwell on it.
———
At the Hokage's office, he knocked on the door.
"Come in!", Tsunade's voice sounded.
Aoba opened the door and found an utterly exhausted Kakashi inside.
"Kakashi."
"Yo," Kakashi weakly waved at him.
Judging by his condition, his mission must have been rough.
"Kid?"
Tsunade blinked. She wasn't expecting him. Her lips almost curled up, but with Kakashi there she forced her expression back to sternness.
"What is it?"
"I have something very important to report, Sensei," Aoba imitated her serious expression.
Tsunade wanted to roll her eyes but restrained herself. She said to Kakashi, "I've already read your mission report. You did well. You'll handle the Land of the Moon from now on. You may leave."
"Yes!"
Kakashi didn't linger. Since the report was submitted, he could claim his payment and then go enjoy himself.
He heard the Icha Icha movie adaptation was showing in Konoha. He'd been too busy with missions to see it.
Now he finally had time to appreciate it.
Hopefully they didn't cut too many of the best scenes for the theater release.
"All right, Kakashi's gone. Speak."
Tsunade stretched lazily, then slumped into her chair like melted mud.
Seeing her heavy chest sagging as her clothes strained under the weight, Aoba zoned out for a second.
He quickly stepped up and supported her.
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