Mikoto pinched Aoba's face again. What Sasuke lacked, she made up for with Aoba.
Aoba was speechless.
But considering the chakra metal, he chose to lie flat and let Mikoto do as she pleased.
"Aoba, it's so late today, are you going to stay and sleep at Auntie's place?"
Aoba shook his head, "No need, sensei might still be waiting for me."
"Alright then."
After rubbing for a while longer, the two walked out of the bedroom together.
"You two… what were you doing?", Sasuke heard the sound of the door opening and instinctively turned to look.
'Why does it seem like Aoba's face was a little red?'
Aoba didn't answer but directly said goodbye.
"Sasuke, I'll head back first, see you tomorrow."
"Oh… okay, see you tomorrow," Sasuke responded somewhat dumbly.
Aoba turned and left.
———
By the time he returned to the Senju ancestral home, the sky was completely dark.
"I'm back, sensei," Aoba entered the living room.
"Why so late? Karin came back early," Tsunade was lying sideways on the sofa, watching TV. She glanced at the incoming Aoba, then shifted her gaze back to the TV.
"I went to Aunt Mikoto's house," Aoba sat down next to Tsunade, expression confused, "Didn't Karin tell you?"
Tsunade pursed her lips and stared at him, "What graduation gift did Mikoto prepare for you?"
Aoba took out the scroll and handed it to Tsunade.
Tsunade took it and opened it, her eyes widened slightly, "Chakra metal?"
Though not much, even this small amount could sell for tens of millions at a high price.
"Sometimes I really wonder, are you sure your surname isn't Uchiha?"
"What nonsense are you saying?"
"I'm serious, how about letting Mikoto be your godmother?"
Aoba rolled his eyes and ignored Tsunade's babbling, "Sensei, do you know anyone in Konoha who can process chakra metal?"
Tsunade tossed the scroll back to Aoba and stretched lazily, "You don't actually need to ask me that, you already know someone."
"Tenten?", Aoba caught the scroll and responded instinctively.
Tsunade nodded, then suddenly rolled her eyes and asked, "Do you prefer the graduation gift I gave you, or Mikoto's?"
'You're just asking for humiliation,' Aoba ridiculed in his heart.
"I prefer sensei's gift."
"Really?", Tsunade's expression was playful, "But my gift to you isn't as valuable as Mikoto's."
"Sensei, gifts shouldn't be judged by price. Although the necklace you gave me isn't as expensive as Aunt Mikoto's, I can genuinely feel your heartfelt intention."
"If I have to say why I like sensei's gift more, then maybe it's because I like sensei more," Aoba answered with a very sincere expression; Tsunade couldn't see even a trace of pretense.
Her lips curled slightly into a satisfied smile, "Since your answer pleased me very much, I'll give you another gift."
Tsunade reached into her bosom and took out a scroll from that fourth-dimensional space.
'Such a familiar scene.'
Tsunade threw the scroll to Aoba. "Take a look."
Aoba caught the scroll, opened it, and saw it densely filled with text and numerous illustrations.
Eventually, Aoba's gaze stopped on three words, Flying Thunder God.
"Sensei, this…"
Tsunade waved her hand, "If you can really learn it, it'll make future mission outings safer."
"But I haven't done anything to deserve it. Giving me this level of forbidden technique… isn't it too much?"
"Just treat it as an advance. Anyway, in a few years, the Hokage will be you. Besides, whether you can learn it is still uncertain. The Flying Thunder God isn't that easy to master," Tsunade looked indifferent.
"Thank you, sensei!"
———
[The Next Day]
[Ninja Academy]
Today was the day of graduation class placement, and the classroom was especially lively.
Many students were already wearing forehead protectors, gathering in small groups, discussing excitedly who their teammates and sensei would be.
Of course, many were silently praying in their hearts.
''''Must be in the same class as Aoba, must be in the same class as Aoba…''''
Tenten and Sakura joined hands in prayer, chanting earnestly.
'Girls praying…'
"I say, aren't you all being a bit too much?", Perhaps realizing she couldn't be in the same class as Aoba, Ino looked at the others' devoted prayers and felt totally relaxed.
"Not excessive at all. This is a precious opportunity to be the first to get close," Tenten answered without hesitation. She'd heard others say that many couples ended up together because they were placed in the same genin team and eventually became official.
"To be in the same class as Aoba and Sasuke, must be with Aoba and Sasuke…", At this moment, Naruto's voice of prayer also came from behind, drawing eye-rolls from Tenten and Sakura.
It was one thing for girls to compete, but why was Naruto joining in to stir trouble?
Sasuke was also silently praying in his heart, but he was only worried that his team might have someone who would drag them down.
The one acting most normal among them was Hinata, probably because she already knew the results.
Just as the class was buzzing with excitement, Iruka walked in.
The previously noisy classroom immediately quieted down. The students all looked at Iruka on the podium with expectant eyes.
Iruka showed a gratified smile.
"From today onward, you are all independent ninjas, but you're still novice genin…"
"From now on, you will form teams of three as genin and complete missions under the guidance of a jonin instructor…"
After some formalities, Iruka began reading the class placements.
"..."
"Team 7, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Sai!"
"Huh? Not Aoba?", Naruto immediately frowned and sighed.
But he quickly came back to his senses, looked at Sai in the back row, scratched his head, and smiled apologetically, "Sai, I didn't mean to look down on you."
Sai smiled back at him, "I understand."
Sasuke also furrowed his brow slightly, a bit disappointed, but didn't complain much.
At least no one would drag them down.
Sai's strength was among the top in class.
"Team 8, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Aburame Torune!"
Although Hinata was missing, it was still a reconnaissance team, and Aburame Torune also had solid combat ability.
"..."
"Team 10, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Choji!"
An uncontested team.
"Team 11, Tenten, Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Karin!"
This could be considered the support team.
But when the three of them heard this grouping, they didn't know whether to be sad or glad.
At least the three of them, being close friends, wouldn't be "isolated" like Ino.
When the two teams had gatherings in the future, guess who wouldn't be invited?
"Team 12, Shirakumo Aoba, Hyuga Hinata, Kurama Yakumo!"
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