Aoba looked at the money in Naruto's hand with a complicated expression.
Naruto took out a bill worth ten thousand ryo from inside.
"This will be your fee for making a friend yesterday."
"But it's not just about playing around. I'll teach you how to train your body so you won't get bullied in the future."
Aoba simply decided to train here. It was just a change of environment, and besides, he could even make some money here.
Chakra extraction techniques couldn't be taught carelessly. If Sarutobi Hiruzen had an opinion about it and felt he was overstepping his bounds, he'd have to be extra cautious.
Besides, even if Naruto learned how to extract chakra right now, it wouldn't be very effective. With the Nine-Tails interfering, it was difficult for him to grasp many techniques. Taijutsu would be far more useful.
With the Nine-Tails' chakra and the Uzumaki bloodline, he was basically born with a natural Taijutsu physique.
"Alright! Alright!", Naruto nodded excitedly and followed behind Aoba. To him, as long as he wasn't alone, it didn't matter if they were playing or not.
"Oh right, Aoba, do you still want this money?"
Aoba had only taken a thousand ryo, but Naruto was still holding several tens of thousands.
Aoba shook his head and said, "Just keep the money. Next time, I'll take you shopping. If they dare to look down on you, just touch everything in their shop and see if they still look down on you."
"Eh? Won't that be a bit too much?"
"What's wrong with it? You're not taking it for free. You take the stuff, and you leave the money. That's fair, isn't it?"
"...", Watching the two leave on their own, Sasuke suddenly felt a sense of being left out.
It was the same feeling he had at noon when he watched his brother get taken away by Shisui.
For some reason, he felt an inexplicable connection to Naruto.
"W-Wait a second!", Sasuke subconsciously shouted, but then quickly covered his mouth, his eyes darting around as his face turned red.
He pretended it wasn't him who called out.
Aoba and Naruto turned around in confusion. Seeing Sasuke's expression, Naruto thought he might have misheard.
Aoba, on the other hand, showed a playful expression, "Do you want to come with us? Training together would be more efficient."
Sasuke hesitated for a moment, but his words were still sharp, "Hmph! I just want to find your weaknesses so I can defeat you."
Aoba thought that even if Sasuke were cremated and turned to ash, his mouth would still be stubborn. He'd probably still say: "This fire is not as good as my Fire Style!"
"What about me? What about me? Even in skipping stones, you weren't my match," Naruto also wanted Sasuke's acknowledgment.
"You only beat me in skipping stones. It won't be long before I can hit the other side too."
"Hmph, all talk! By the way, you still haven't told us your name."
Naruto suddenly realized they had been talking for so long, but he still didn't know the other boy's name.
"Sasuke! I am Uchiha Sasuke, the one who will defeat both of you in the future!"
And so, by the small river, three figures burned with youthful energy.
Aoba didn't know much about Taijutsu, so he just taught Naruto how to run, do squats, push-ups, and sit-ups—a basic Saitama training routine.
With Naruto's physique, he could push himself to the limit in Taijutsu training.
Aoba was the same. Though he didn't have any special physique, he knew medical ninjutsu, which allowed him to relieve muscle fatigue and soreness.
Sasuke followed suit. He thought that if he doubled the training under Aoba's method, then went home to train with his brother's help, he could definitely defeat him.
.
.
.
The afternoon passed in the blink of an eye, and soon the sun was setting.
After saying goodbye, Sasuke headed home.
Aoba, meanwhile, took Naruto on a shopping spree, buying a bunch of fresh goods.
"Aoba, can I come find you again tomorrow?", Before parting, Naruto, carrying large bags, looked at Aoba expectantly.
Aoba smiled and nodded, "Of course."
Now that he realized Naruto was actually quite rich, he had no problem spending more time with him.
After all, his main way of improving his strength was through the system's gacha pulls.
Otherwise, with his current abilities, he'd probably become a second Tsunade. If he wanted to compete in high-level battles, it would be tough.
Watching Naruto walk away alone, Aoba also headed home.
Since he had trained his body in the afternoon, he decided to practice his Vacuum Blade at night. Plus, he had earned three thousand ryo today, so he'd save it up until he had enough for a ten-pull.
He didn't like single draws, they were too nerve-wracking. A full ten-pull was much more satisfying.
Thinking about today's earnings and plans, Aoba walked through the streets with a bright smile.
Just then—
"Tsunade-sama, you can't drink anymore!"
"Shizune… Let me have a little more… hic… I've been hiding and running around these past days. It's been so long since I had a drink."
"But we still have things to buy later!"
"And drinking so much in the village… it's not a good look."
"Hic~"
"…"
A strange conversation and a familiar name suddenly reached Aoba's ears.
He instinctively stopped and turned toward a nearby restaurant.
'No way!'
At a glance, he saw a voluptuous blonde woman drinking boldly—an old fox in a young body.
It was none other than the legendary granddaughter of the First Hokage, student of the Third Hokage, one of the Legendary Sannin, and the founder of Konoha's medical ninja system—Tsunade!
Although he had never seen Tsunade in person before, her 'legendary assets' were unmistakable. That fair, deep abyss could make anyone stand in awe.
Aoba was puzzled, 'Why is Tsunade here?'
'Is this the surprise the Third Hokage prepared?'
As Aoba was observing Tsunade, she also noticed him.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and took a good look at the boy, better looking than even a crystal ball's vision.
She waved at him, "Hey, brat, come here for a moment."
Normally, Aoba shouldn't have recognized Tsunade at this moment.
So, he remained still, putting on a cautious expression while looking at Shizune, who was holding a little pink pig.
"Miss, do you need me to call the security force?"
"Huh?", Shizune and Tsunade were both stunned, unable to react for a moment.
Shizune asked in confusion, "Why call the security force?"
Aoba pointed at Tsunade and said worriedly, "Because she looks like she's about to go on a drunken rampage. I'm worried she'll be a danger to everyone's safety."
"Pfft!", Shizune immediately burst into laughter.
Tsunade, on the other hand, had a tic mark appear on her forehead.
"You little brat! Who are you calling a drunken maniac?"
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