"You are already third-year students, and some of you have even qualified to take the graduation exam, but you still can't relax, because if you stagnate, you will be surpassed by the younger generation," Shirota Sensei said to the students in the classroom. Everyone responded in unison, and the course of this week was over.
Unknowingly, more than half a year had passed since Minato carried out the mission in the Land of Hot Springs.
"Minato, where are we going to play today?" Kushina came to Minato's seat with great interest. Since the last time, she would go to the streets of Konoha with Minato almost every weekend.
At first, the two went out secretly, but later, because of Mito, it became a fair and aboveboard thing.
"Today, a flower shop just opened. Let's go there and take a look," Minato smiled.
Mikoto was waiting at the door of the class early in the morning for the two who were already recognized as "couples" in the class. But except for the parties involved, they didn't know. The three of them walked to the school gate. Mikoto smiled at them and said, "Have fun."
Kushina wanted to ask her to go with them, but before she could say anything, Mikoto disappeared in front of them. Looking in the direction where Mikoto left, Minato narrowed his eyes. At first, he thought that Mikoto had rejected Kushina because of the Uchiha family motto, but in the past six months, he found that the real reason was not so. It seemed that after the ten-day vacation of the Ninja Trial, Mikoto had changed a little.
Kushina pouted her lips and then clamored for Minato to take her to the newly opened flower shop. At the speed of the two, they soon arrived in front of the newly opened flower shop. The fragrance of flowers filled their noses. The two stood in front of the door and couldn't help but take a deep breath.
"What beautiful flowers!" Kushina looked excited, and then her eyes focused on the flowers of different colors and shapes.
Seeing her happy look, Minato smiled knowingly. However, just as he was about to follow Kushina into the flower shop, a familiar figure caught his attention. In front of a shop about thirty-four meters away from the flower shop, there was a figure that Minato was extremely familiar with. Although it had changed compared to half a year ago, Minato could still recognize it at a glance. That person was Sarutobi Ao.
He was a genius boy of the Sarutobi clan, but the clothes he was wearing at the moment were not the clothes that a ninja should have. The long robes completely covered his slightly thin body. Minato found that Sarutobi Ao's body movements were a little unnatural when he walked.
"Is he hurt?" Minato murmured on the spot. He also respected this genius who was in the same class as Senior Nawaki very much, so he was ready to step forward and say hello. Just as he slowly approached Sarutobi Ao, someone rushed out directly from the alley on the side.
Minato glanced sideways, and a beautiful face appeared in his eyes. "Senior Suki?" Minato was stunned. The girl in front of him, who was slightly taller than him, was also a teammate of Senior Nawaki whom he had met during the Ninja Trial.
"Come with me," Suki did not explain too much to Minato but pulled him quickly into the alley just now. After entering the alley, Suki let go of Minato's arm. The latter was stunned and asked, "What happened?"
"Were you going to say hello to Ao just now?" Suki ignored Minato's question and asked back.
"Yes, what's wrong?" Minato was even more surprised. It was just a greeting, so why did she react so strongly?
Suki looked at Minato and said solemnly, "Then I advise you not to go to him."
"Why?" Minato was stunned.
Suki's expression seemed to be a little hesitant. There were some things that she obviously didn't want to tell Minato. Minato frowned, thinking that Kushina was still in the flower shop, he turned around and prepared to leave.
Swish! At this moment, a person appeared in front of him.
"Senior Nawaki?" Minato's face became somewhat happy when he saw the newcomer. After all, he and Nawaki are friends, but because the former had become a ninja, Minato had never seen him again after the Ninja Trial.
"Minato." Nawaki's face also showed a hint of a smile, but it was full of bitterness.
"What's wrong with you?" Minato was puzzled. Both Nawaki and Suki's reactions were too strange. Nawaki suddenly became as hesitant as Suki, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.
"Minato!" Kushina's voice called out. She was already standing at the entrance of the alley and was rushing towards this side. Nawaki turned sideways, made room for Kushina, and said, "It's Kushina."
"Senior Nawaki." Kushina still knew the basic etiquette. After calling out, she looked at Minato and said, "Why did you suddenly come here?"
Minato was a little surprised. He had just arrived here not long ago, but Kushina was able to find this place by herself.
"It was Senior Suki who pulled me here." He would not hide anything from Kushina and said immediately.
Kushina's eyes moved away from him, and then she saw Suki not far behind her. There was a hint of hostility in her eyes. This expression was fleeting. Kushina raised her eyebrows. What was wrong with her?
Suki laughed awkwardly. The atmosphere suddenly became a little stagnant. Minato turned his face to look at Nawaki and said, "Senior Nawaki, what is going on? Why don't you want me to meet Senior Ao?"
When he asked this, Nawaki's expression seemed to struggle more.
"Well, just tell them." Suki came to Nawaki and sighed.
"Come to think of it, I really feel Ao-senpai is acting strange," Kushina said, stunned for a moment. After half a year of teaching by Mito, her sensory ability had become very strong, but Mito never told her how to actively use this ability.
"The reason why I don't let you go to see him is because I'm afraid that your appearance will trigger him again," Suki explained to the two of them regardless of Nawaki's obstruction.
Both of them were stunned when they heard it. Minato asked, "Trigger him? What happened?"
Suki looked hesitantly at Nawaki, and the latter nodded, but Minato noticed that Nawaki clenched his fists tightly at this moment.
Suki looked at the two of them and explained, "That's because Sarutobi Ao is no longer a ninja."
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