Half an hour later.
Aoba arrived outside Ramen Ichiraku's entrance.
It was time for dinner.
However, it was not very lively inside.
The entire Konohagakure was shrouded in the dark clouds of war.
This was something that had already been felt when Aoba walked all the way here.
The number of people coming and going on the streets had decreased.
The people in the village had already begun to store food in their homes.
Occasionally, he would encounter some people passing by, and the expressions on their faces were a little dull, as if they didn't know where the future was going.
The village seemed to be in low spirits.
Suddenly.
Aoba lifted the curtain and walked into Ramen Ichiraku Noodle House. He could only see a few people in front of him.
It was far less lively than usual.
"Brother Teuchi, give me a bowl of ramen!" Aoba greeted Teuchi.
"Okay!"
Teuchi immediately responded. His face became much duller and not as cheerful as before compared to usual.
"Brother Teuchi, what happened?" Aoba asked, knowing that there were not many people in the shop, so he just chatted with Teuchi.
"Don't you know?" Teuchi looked at Aoba in confusion.
"I'm not too sure." Aoba shook his head.
"Last night, Kumogakure made a scene in the village and killed someone. Third Hokage-sama was furious and led an Anbu team to capture all of Kumogakure's envoys. This matter might lead to Kumogakure declaring war on Konohagakure. Now, rumors of the war are flying everywhere, making people panic. Even fewer people are moving into the village." Teuchi said with emotion.
"So there are fewer people coming to eat noodles." Aoba nodded.
"More than that!"
Teuchi shook his head helplessly. The corners of his mouth curled up into a bitter smile. He said, "Several members came today to ask me for their money!"
"This is indeed a problem." Aoba nodded. Now that the war was about to start, people were still more willing to control the money in their own hands. This was the distress of the period of war. There would not be such a problem if it were in a peaceful era. Moreover, even if there was a problem, Ramen Ichiraku could use their final interpretation right. After that, Aoba asked, "Brother Teuchi, how will you deal with this?"
"I gave them a refund."
Teuchi said as he cooked the ramen. He looked a little helpless, but it was also his current state at the moment.
"These members are all loyal old customers. They are willing to give me the money. They already trust me very much. I can't let them down!"
Teuchi was quite honest in this aspect.
He did not use the final interpretation right that Aoba had given him.
However.
Aoba still approved of this very much.
"Brother Teuchi, you did the right thing. This is a critical period. In a critical period, there must be a special period of practice. Compared to those losses, you have maintained a more important reputation. After the war, everyone will still deposit money on Ramen Ichiraku's members."
"Actually, I think so too. If not for the war, these problems wouldn't have happened. I don't know when the war will end!" Teuchi sighed helplessly. This kind of thing was not a natural disaster but a man-made disaster. The other party directly invaded your head and couldn't stop it. What could he do?
"This war won't last long," Aoba said with a smile.
"How did you know?" Teuchi looked at Aoba suspiciously. He now seriously suspected that this kid knew everything. Just now, he deliberately asked him what was going on and took him for entertainment.
"Because Minato is going to train. When he comes back, this war will end!" Aoba directly told Teuchi about Minato. Initially, he came to ask about Minato, so it was not a problem to talk about it now.
"Are you so confident in Minato?" Teuchi was stunned for a moment. He squinted his eyes and smiled. He picked up the noodle strainer and began to fish up the noodles, saying, "I already expect that day would come."
"I am very confident in Minato." Aoba nodded. This sentence was not flattery, but he really thought so.
The current Minato had already mastered Hiraishin no Jutsu(Flying Thunder God Technique), but the Rasengan had not been developed yet.
But with the war as a catalyst, he believed that it wouldn't take long for Minato to develop the Rasengan.
Now, he had a chance to master Sage Mode earlier than before, and might even have a deeper understanding of the Sage Mode.
On his side.
Uzumaki Kushina might become a perfect Jinchuriki.
If it was handled well...
Maybe she can enter Kurama Chakra Mode.
From another perspective.
Kushina belonged to a branch of the Ashura bloodline, which also belongs to the Sage Body bloodline. In terms of senjutsu training talent, she might even be above Minato.
After all, Naruto had such an abnormal physique because he had inherited Uzumaki Kushina's physique.
This time, Minato and Kushina went to Mount Myoboku together.
When they returned to Konohagakure.
It was likely that they would become a ninja couple who could enter the Sage Mode.
At that time.
Whether it was Kumogakure, Iwagakure, or Kirigakure.
They would all be afraid of Konohagakure's power.
The war naturally could not continue.
As for how long this Third Ninja World War could last...
The time that Aoba gave in his heart was the time that Minato finished training on Mount Myoboku.
When Minato returns.
The Third Ninja World War would end at that time!
"Hahahaha, I see that you are so confident in Minato, and I am also confident. Then let us wait for Minato's good news!" Teuchi laughed loudly. After chatting with Aoba, his mood improved, and he was no longer as depressed as before.
"That's right."
Aoba nodded as well. He was also looking forward to it.
If Minato could rise up quickly.
With his relationship with Minato.
In the future, no one would easily destroy his peaceful life.
"The ramen is ready!"
While talking to Aoba, Teuchi had already poured soup on the noodles that he had fished out.
Teuchi turned around and placed the ramen in front of Aoba.
"Enjoy it slowly!"
Teuchi said with a smile. After chatting with Aoba, he found that the road ahead was not so difficult to travel. The flames of war that were about to ignite might be extinguished soon.
"Thank you."
Aoba thanked Teuchi. Then, he put his palms together and made a simple gesture of courtesy.
He picked up his chopsticks.
He prepared to eat ramen in front of him.
Just at this time.
A voice came from outside Ramen Ichiraku. The voice came very suddenly as if it had appeared out of thin air.
"Brother Teuchi, two bowls of ramen!"
This voice was Minato's voice. As soon as the voice fell, Minato lifted the curtain and appeared in Ramen Ichiraku.
Minato held a big box in his right hand, and Kushina, who had her red hair tied into a ponytail, walked in with him.
"Minato, what a coincidence! We were just talking about you!" Teuchi said with a smile. He immediately put the noodles into the streamer. Now he views Minato with friendly eyes, waiting for Minato to end the war!
"Hahahahaha!"
Minato laughed directly and smiled that seemed to contain a healing warmth, dispelling the traces of depression that remained in Ramen Ichiraku.
"Aoba, I knew you were here. I just mentioned you to Kushina!" Minato's eyes fell on Aoba and directly ignored the cooking Teuchi.
At the same time.
Kushina's eyes were also focused on Aoba.
The way she looked at Aoba had changed, and she was no longer as vigilant as before. Instead, she looked at him as if she was looking at her friend.
As the saying goes, eyes are the window of the soul.
Through the change in Kushina's eyes, it could be seen that her impression of Aoba had changed.
It was the night before.
After Minato confirmed that he could use the Reverse Summoning Technique to head to Mount Myoboku and learn senjutsu.
Minato went straight to Kushina.
It was midnight at the time.
Minato directly used the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) mark beside her to come to her room.
It scared her a lot at the time...
So Minato had to comfort her first...
What happened next was not the main point...
The point was that Minato told her about learning senjutsu, and it was Aoba who said that it was better for her to go with him.
Such a simple attack.
It directly changed Kushina's impression of Aoba!
Of course.
Kushina didn't know that Aoba was the one who suggested Minato learn senjutsu.
According to Minato's explanation.
Gamabunta told him about this matter, and then he inadvertently mentioned it to Aoba, who asked him to take her.
"Oh?"
After hearing Minato's words, Aoba instantly looked at Kushina next to Minato.
Kushina immediately nodded at Aoba.
Aoba also nodded.
Then.
He turned his eyes back to Minato, not asking what he had said to Kushina.
None of this was important.
He directly started the next topic.
"Did Third Hokage-sama allow you?"
Aoba's tone was faint, and it seemed like he was asking. In fact, it sounded like a chat or the kind of chat waiting for an answer.
"Yes, Third Hokage-sama agreed. I will take Kushina to Mount Myoboku to train. If there is any urgent matter, we will rush back to the village!"
Minato nodded.
He did not say the full detail to Aoba.
That was not his secret.
It was Kushina's secret!
Kushina was the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, one of Kumogakure's targets when the war started.
Right now, Kushina couldn't use the power of the Bijuu too skillfully. If she rashly went to the battlefield, it might become an uncertain factor. Moreover, the village wasn't that weak, so she was allowed to hide in Mount Myoboku.
This trip to Mount Myoboku.
For Kushina.
Not only would it be a breakthrough, but it was also a form of protection as the Kyuubi Jinchuriki.
This was a power similar to nuclear weapons.
Before the other side uses it.
They were not in a hurry to release it.
Minato did not tell Aoba everything about Kushina. It was not that he did not trust Aoba, but he promised to keep it a secret.
It was like when Minato helped Aoba keep a secret.
Minato did not tell anyone about Aoba's secret including Kushina.
This was the principle of his life!
As he spoke.
Minato carried the box and walked to Aoba, finding a seat to sit down.
Kushina followed behind Minato and walked over.
After the two of them sat down.
Minato looked around, then approached Aoba and asked in a low voice.
"Aoba, there's actually a question that I'm very confused and don't understand. Why are you sure that Third Hokage-sama will approve my vacation?"
After leaving Aoba's dormitory, Minato had been very puzzled. It was reasonable to say that the village was in need of people now. He should not be allowed to leave and should be sent to the battlefield.
As he asked this question.
Kushina also stared at Aoba curiously.
She discussed this issue with Minato, and no matter how she thought about it, she didn't think there was any special reason. You can't say it was just a lie, can you?
It was because neither of them understood the logic behind this.
They could not help but ask Aoba.
"This heh..."
After hearing Minato's question, a smile appeared on Aoba's face. He first looked at Minato, then looked at Kushina. He found that the two were very curious.
"It's actually very simple!"
"Because..."
"Third Hokage-sama doesn't want to start a war at all!"
Aoba said in a low voice. He had long felt it. Even at this point, the Third Hokage was still trying to find a way to solve the problem through negotiation.