Hoshiyomi gently patted Tsunade's back, signaling that it was about time to stop, but Tsunade still showed no sign of letting go. Hoshiyomi could only lower his head and softly whisper into her ear:
"Alright, everyone's watching. If there's something you want to say, let's talk about it later tonight."
The earlobe is a sensitive spot for Tsunade, and as she felt the warmth of Hoshiyomi's breath near her ear, a tingling sensation ran through her, and a faint blush crept onto her face.
Thinking about her impulsive behavior, Tsunade felt a bit regretful. With so many people watching, how could she... embarrass herself like that?
She gently released Hoshiyomi, her face still flushed, and stepped back, not daring to look at the others. She let Hoshiyomi greet the others, including Sakumo and the others.
Since they were childhood friends, even though they hadn't seen each other for some time, it didn't feel awkward at all. After exchanging a few friendly hugs, it was Sakumo who took the lead:
"Brothers who just joined, go ahead and complete your registration. The camp has already set up enough tents. After finishing the registration, rest for a bit. We'll have a good meal together tonight."
Hearing Sakumo's words, both the shinobi who had been stationed on the Sunagakure front and the new tropps Hoshiyomi brought all cheered excitedly.
After arranging the personnel, Hoshiyomi originally planned to go to Sakumo's tent to discuss the situation on the Sunagakure side with him and Orochimaru. However, Sakumo stopped him.
Sakumo subtly motioned with his eyes towards Tsunade, who was pretending not to care but occasionally glancing over at them. He then said to Hoshiyomi:
"Handle Tsunade first. Look at the look in her eyes. If I take you in now, I might get hit by one of her Monster Strength punches. We can talk later, during dinner."
Hoshiyomi gave Sakumo a surprised look. Was it really that love could change a person? Or should he say that Sakumo had been holding himself back for too long and had become a bit more reserved and shy? Was this the same Sakumo he knew?
However, Sakumo made a good point. Those things could be discussed later, but it was better to make sure his girlfriend was taken care of first.
With that thought in mind, Hoshiyomi didn't care about the curious or envious gazes of the people around them. He confidently approached Tsunade and said:
"Lady Tsunade, aren't you going to arrange a place for me to stay?"
Tsunade glanced at him but didn't say much. She led him to a tent near the main command camp. There were only two tents here, and she took him to one. As for who occupied the other, there was no need to mention it.
The tent was already tidied up, clearly prepared long in advance.
After leading Hoshiyomi inside, Tsunade intended to leave, thinking she'd come back when the crowd outside had dispersed. But Hoshiyomi directly grabbed her hand, pulling her back and embracing her around the waist, keeping her there.
Tsunade was startled by Hoshiyomi's sudden embrace. She instinctively struggled and said:
"What are you doing? There are still people waiting outside."
Hoshiyomi, unfazed, replied:
"So what if they see? You already acted like that at the entrance; do you still care about them seeing our relationship?"
Hearing this, Tsunade's face flushed again, but she didn't continue to struggle. Instead, she turned around and embraced Hoshiyomi once more.
Before, she had been so caught up in the excitement of their reunion that she hadn't felt it as strongly. But now, as she focused, she could distinctly feel his impressive presence.
Hoshiyomi lowered his head and whispered softly in her ear:
"Half a year apart, and your progress is remarkable."
Of course, Tsunade knew exactly what Hoshiyomi meant. Upon hearing his words, even her earlobes turned red, and she punched his back lightly, annoyed:
"Talking about that right after we meet... Can't you say something nice for once?"
The punch made Hoshiyomi feel a bit of pressure in his chest. With his mastery of swordsmanship and the physical conditioning that came with it, a regular person would probably have fallen to their knees right then and there.
Only someone with a body like his could withstand such a blow.
Seeing Hoshiyomi's grimace, Tsunade felt a little guilty but couldn't help but worry:
"Are you alright? Does it hurt a lot?"
Just as Tsunade was anxiously looking at him, Hoshiyomi suddenly moved. He lowered his head and blocked whatever Tsunade was about to say with a kiss.
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. She wanted to struggle, but her body felt weak, and a blush spread over her neck, making her look as stunning as the glow of a sunset.
At first, Tsunade had no power to resist, letting the naughty man do as he pleased, but before she knew it, he had crossed a line. As he was about to go further, Tsunade, feeling embarrassed, grabbed his hand and said:
"Don't go too far."
Tsunade tried to maintain a serious expression, but with her face flushed like it was, it was hard for anyone to take her seriously.
Hoshiyomi understood the importance of knowing when to stop. He didn't press on, instead holding Tsunade close and sharing their feelings for each other after such a long time apart. As their emotions deepened, a deep kiss inevitably followed.
Though they both felt a strong urge to become one with each other, they still kept their final bit of restraint. After all, this was a battlefield, and anything more could wait until the war was over.
...
That evening's dinner was extraordinarily sumptuous. To welcome the new arrivals, the cooks on the Sunagakure front had brought out their best culinary skills, and everyone couldn't help but praise the food.
In the main command tent, Sakumo, Shinku, and Orochimaru sat around the table, waiting for the last two to arrive. Sakumo glanced at the time and asked Shinku:
"How much longer do you think it will be?"
Shinku gave a playful grin and responded:
"They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it's been an entire afternoon. They should be here by now."
Orochimaru, although not participating in the conversation, couldn't hide the smile on his face.
Just as they were talking, they heard a voice from outside:
"Stop slandering us! We're being very restrained, unlike you, Sakumo."
It was, of course, Hoshiyomi, who was leading Tsunade inside.
Sakumo, embarrassed by the teasing, quickly tried to change the subject:
"They're here! Let's eat before it gets cold."
The group chuckled, stopping their teasing, and greeted Hoshiyomi and Tsunade.
When they entered, Hoshiyomi paused for a moment, as he noticed something unusual. Sakumo and the others were sitting in the guest seats, but they had left the main seat facing the tent entrance for him and Tsunade.
Hoshiyomi looked at Sakumo and said:
"What's all this? Making it look like I'm here to take over? If others see this, I might not be able to stay here anymore."
Sakumo smiled and explained:
"Don't overthink it," Sakumo said. "We don't need to worry about such things. I have no other intentions. I just want to go back to the village and see for myself."
"It's been almost three years since the war started. It's been so long since I've been back. It's time for me to go back and see. Plus, Kakashi should be about a year old by now. He hasn't met his father yet."
"Shinku's daughter has already met her father. It's time for me to go back and see my wife and kids too."
When Sakumo said this, Hoshiyomi suddenly realized something. The thought that Sakumo hadn't seen Kakashi since his birth hit him hard. He felt a bit moved. Without saying much more, he patted Sakumo on the shoulder:
"Don't say anything. Just leave it to me. I'll take care of it."