"Then how about staying by my side and help me handle some simple work."
Since she had come all the way from Amegakure to Konoha to rely on her, and had once been her little fan, Konan naturally wanted to look after her a bit.
As for being a spy or anything like that, judging from the few times they had met back in Amegakure, this girl really wasn't suited to be a spy.
Besides, she doubted there was any village left that would dare send spies to Konoha.
Ajisai's eyes gradually lit up.
If she could stay by Angel-sama's side, that would be an incredible surprise for her.
Seeing Konan say this, Aoba nodded.
"Alright, we'll arrange it as Konan-nee said."
They didn't know her abilities yet, so they would start with this arrangement. What happened later would depend on her capability.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama! Thank you, Angel-sama!"
Ajisai bowed excitedly to both of them.
"Angel-sama?"
Shizune couldn't help glancing at Konan a couple more times after hearing that title.
Well, Konan usually carried herself in a cool and distant way in public. She did give off an angel-like image.
But at night, she was clearly more of a fallen angel.
"...", Noticing Shizune's gaze, a faint blush appeared on Konan's usually calm face.
She looked at Ajisai, who was waiting expectantly for her instructions, and coughed lightly.
"In Konoha, don't use the title 'Angel' anymore."
"Ah? Then what should I call you?", Ajisai blinked.
"You can just call me by my name. Just don't call me Angel."
Konan felt that if Ajisai kept calling her Angel, she wouldn't be able to hold her head up at night anymore.
"Alright. Then from now on I'll call you Ah! Umm... Konan-sama."
Changing a title she had used for more than ten years was not easy for Ajisai.
"Mm."
Konan nodded in satisfaction at her quick adjustment.
"In that case, go back to my office first. Let Tenten explain the general work to you. I still have something to talk about with Aoba."
"Understood."
Ajisai straightened up immediately, bowed to Aoba again, and then left the office.
Konan's office was right next door. She had already been there earlier.
"Ahem! Konan-nee, what is it you wanted to say?"
After the office door closed, Aoba asked.
"To be precise, it's 'suck,' not 'say,'" Konan replied bluntly.
"Ah… well…", Aoba felt a bit embarrassed. She was getting more and more direct.
"...", Shizune's expression turned strange again.
'Yes, definitely a fallen angel.'
What happened in the office afterward was not something for outsiders to know.
It wasn't that she was dissatisfied. It was just that when someone else had eaten, if she didn't eat too, she would feel like she had missed out a little.
———
In the office next door—
Tenten was a bit confused when she saw Ajisai return alone.
"Where's Konan-nee?"
"Konan-sama and Hokage-sama still have important matters to discuss. I'll be staying here to work from now on, so she asked me to come ask you about the job," Ajisai explained seriously.
"You're staying here to work too?", Tenten's eyes immediately sharpened.
"Y-Yes!", Ajisai grew nervous at once.
Had she said something wrong and been disliked?
"Was it Aoba who asked you to stay?"
Tenten continued.
"Aoba?"
Ajisai was surprised. This girl, who looked about her age, was directly calling the Hokage by his name. But remembering the question, she quickly explained.
"It was Konan-sama who asked me to stay. Hokage-sama agreed."
"I see," The sharpness in Tenten's eyes softened a little, "Then we're colleagues now. Welcome."
She stood up and extended her right hand.
"Thank you."
Ajisai shook her hand, then asked curiously, "By the way, Tenten, why do you call Hokage-sama by his name?"
Tenten blinked and answered directly, "Because I'm Aoba's girlfriend."
"Ah?"
Ajisai blinked in confusion.
"Then what about Konan-sama?"
"Konan-nee is too."
Tenten replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"W-What?"
Ajisai's eyes widened.
She seemed to realize something.
'Could it be that the rumors really are true?'
———
After finishing matters in Konoha, Aoba went to the rebuilt Kumogakure.
Since he had sent Samui and Mabui to rebuild the village, he naturally wouldn't just leave them alone. Every once in a while, he came to check on the situation.
And, conveniently, to check on Samui as well.
But when he arrived, Samui wasn't there. Only Mabui was in the office handling work.
"Aoba-sama?"
Mabui looked pleasantly surprised when she saw him and quickly stood up.
"Mm. Is Samui not here?"
Actually, Aoba had already sensed that Samui was in the office next door, but he still asked casually.
Mabui pressed her lips together, and for some reason, there was a hint of resentment in her tone.
"Is there something you need Samui for, Aoba-sama?"
"Uh…"
Aoba naturally caught the resentment in her voice and froze for a moment.
'Is she jealous?'
But if you really counted it, he and Mabui hadn't made any real progress yet. At most he teased her occasionally, and she would blush and stammer.
So Mabui's current attitude surprised him a little.
Then again, it had been several days since he had seen this little secretary.
Kumogakure was still just a small village under reconstruction, with pitifully few ninja. Aoba didn't neglect it, but he didn't focus too much on it either. He only came to check every few days.
That meant he also only saw Mabui every so often.
As for Samui, that investigation happened every night.
Previously, when he came, Samui had probably been around, so Mabui hadn't shown this kind of resentment.
He couldn't let his little secretary work with emotions weighing on her. Realizing this, Aoba explained,
"I was just asking casually. Since Samui isn't here, Mabui, you can brief me on Kumogakure's recent situation."
After saying that, he walked to the main seat and sat down, picked up a document to read, and waited for Mabui to begin.
But after a while, Mabui still hadn't spoken.
Aoba looked up at her in confusion.
He saw that she was clenching her fists, her expression firm, as if giving herself encouragement.
"Mabui?", He reminded her.
Mabui snapped back to her senses, picked up a document, and walked over to him.
It looked like she intended to stand and report.
"Mabui, you can just sit—uh!"
Aoba had intended to persuade her.
But Mabui didn't need persuading.
She did plan to sit while reporting.
She walked straight in front of him.
And then sat directly on his lap.
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