"You guys aren't losing sleep because of the ghost story I told yesterday, right?"
"You already know and still ask?", Tenten raised her eyebrows, stretched out her finger, and poked Aoba's lower back with slight displeasure.
"Last night when I was sleeping, I kept feeling like there was someone under the bed," Ino had a face full of resentment.
"I felt like my bedroom got livelier," Sakura also complained.
Hinata was too embarrassed to say that she had hugged Hanabi to sleep last night.
A hint of apology appeared on Aoba's face, "I didn't think you'd be that scared. I guess I won't tell scary stories anymore."
"It's not that bad. Listening to them occasionally is nice," Ino replied instinctively.
Now that she thought about it, 'Being close to Aoba out of fear yesterday evening wasn't so bad.'
"Hmm?", Aoba looked at Ino with confusion.
Noticing the others' gazes turning toward her, Ino blushed slightly and changed the subject.
"Aoba, I heard that during this year's New Year, there's going to be a special festival. Do you know about it?"
"You guys all know already?", Aoba was a bit surprised.
The four girls all nodded.
Ino signaled for everyone to gather around, then lowered her voice and said, "The main person in charge of this festival is my dad and Shikamaru's dad. Even the events at the festival were arranged by my dad."
"Really? Are there any fun activities at the festival?", Tenten asked excitedly.
"Hmm~", Ino touched her chin and thought seriously for a moment before smiling awkwardly.
"I can't say for sure. Anyway, there's going to be a lot of good food and fun stuff…", She had only glanced over it roughly last night.
"Then isn't that the same as saying nothing?", Sakura couldn't help but complain.
"As expected of the useless Ino," Tenten added.
"Hmph~", Hinata also chuckled softly with her hand covering her mouth.
"It's not like she said nothing. At least we know there will be food and fun at the festival," Aoba said with a serious face.
"Haha~"
The scene instantly filled with joyful air.
Ino looked a bit embarrassed and continued, "Actually, I remember there's a special event!"
"A special event?"
The girls turned into curious babies again.
Ino nodded, her expression also turning serious, "At the festival, from Hokage Rock, there are two roads leading to the venue. One is the normal road, and the other is a specially arranged activity."
"My dad named it 'The Way of the Ninja'!"
"The Way of the Ninja? That already sounds amazing."
The girls exclaimed in excitement.
Aoba, however, inexplicably thought of that movie version and asked, "So what's special about it?"
"They'll set up all kinds of scary props along the way. As long as you can make it through this path and reach the festival venue, you'll definitely become a qualified ninja in the future. That's why it's called the Way of the Ninja."
Ino explained thoroughly and seriously, "This road is specially prepared for kids who are still studying at the academy."
'Isn't this just a test of courage?'
'Those guys really love doing this kind of thing.'
Aoba internally complained, thinking it was going to be some impressive event.
Like letting him enter a genjutsu world or something.
"Sc-scary props…", The three girls looked a little frightened, "Then let's just take the normal road."
But Ino laughed, "This activity can only be done in pairs."
"In pairs?"
The three girls paused for a moment, then suddenly realized and turned their heads in unison to look at Aoba.
Aoba also froze, then laughed and said, "Sasuke and Naruto are together. With the rest of us, we can't really split evenly."
"It's fine. When the time comes, we'll draw lots. Anyway, if I'm not with Aoba, I absolutely won't go on that road," Tenten spoke decisively.
She also voiced what the others were thinking.
A chance to be alone in such a special setting. No one wanted to miss it. With a 1-in-4 chance, they were all imagining that they'd be the lucky one.
"Alright then…", Aoba nodded helplessly.
At this moment, Naruto and Sasuke sat down at their seats one after another.
"Aoba, good morning!", Naruto, with dark circles under his eyes, greeted Aoba.
"Good morning, Naruto," Aoba didn't even need to guess to know that Naruto had stayed up late lifting weights.
"Make sure to pace yourself!"
"It's fine. I'll just sleep during class and I'll be fully recovered," Naruto gave a thumbs-up, completely unashamed about sleeping during class.
"Then I'll say good night to you now," Aoba's mouth twitched as he looked toward the slightly awkward Sasuke, "Sasuke, why are you also late today?"
Sasuke's expression shifted a bit and he muttered, "Had some stuff to do."
Aoba looked at his unnatural expression, not knowing what he was thinking, but since he didn't want to say more, Aoba didn't ask and turned back around.
"Aoba…", t that moment, Sasuke suddenly called out.
Aoba turned around in confusion, "What is it?"
Sasuke took out a small box and pushed it in front of him, "This is a cake my mom made. She asked me to give you a piece."
"Aunt Mikoto made this?", Aoba curiously took it, opened the box, and saw a delicate and tempting chocolate cake inside.
On top of it were three big words: "Thank you."
Aoba smiled, "It looks delicious. Sasuke, help me thank Aunt Mikoto."
"Mm…", Sasuke replied a bit unnaturally, then suddenly felt a burning gaze.
He turned his head and, sure enough, it was Naruto.
That hopeful gaze was a little too intense.
Awkwardly, he took out another small box and pushed it toward Naruto, "This one's for you."
"Really?", Naruto looked extremely excited, clearly having completely forgotten about yesterday's fight.
"If you don't want it, I'll just eat it myself," Sasuke said irritably.
"I want it!", Naruto happily took the cake box. As soon as he opened it, he saw three big words written in fruit jam.
"I'm sorry," Naruto froze for a moment, then two thick tears rolled down his cheeks.
"What's wrong with you?", Sasuke was a little confused, 'How did a cake make him cry?'
He didn't know that Uchiha Mikoto had specially prepared a unique cake for Naruto.
"This… is youth!"
———
[Afternoon, After School]
After Aoba sent Tenten and the others home, he returned to school again.
When he pushed open the library door, he saw that Kurenai Yuhi and Kurama Yakumo were already sitting inside.
The two were reading the same book. Kurenai Yuhi was saying something, and Kurama Yakumo was listening seriously.
"Aoba-kun!", Kurama Yakumo noticed Aoba entering through the door and happily waved at him.
When she addressed him, she habitually added "-kun" after his name. It gave her the feeling that she was also a student at this school.
Aoba had no intention of keeping her in suspense and directly said, "My teacher agreed to help you with the treatment, but you'll have to go find her yourself."
"Really?", Kurama Yakumo stood up emotionally.
"That's great, Yakumo," Kurenai Yuhi was also sincerely happy for Kurama Yakumo, 'With Lady Tsunade on the case, there should be no worries about her health.'
"Of course it's true," Aoba also sat across from the two of them, "Yakumo-chan, can you show me your genjutsu?"
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