The morning sunlight slanted through the woods. Shizune opened her eyes groggily, feeling a heavy weight against her chest.
She looked down and saw Son Goten's little head buried firmly in her bosom. His chubby little hands clutched restlessly at her collar, and his steady breaths brushed her neck.
That intense masculine aura turned Shizune's entire face as red as a cooked shrimp, and she went so stiff she could not move.
"If you're awake, stop pretending to sleep, Shizune. Your heart's beating even faster than before."
Son Goten mumbled with his eyes closed and nuzzled against her twice more. That astonishing softness and springiness made him reluctant to let go.
"You... you little pervert, get up! Lady Tsunade's been waiting outside forever!"
Shizune gave him an embarrassed, irritated push, but Son Goten seemed glued to her, his strength astonishing.
"What's the rush? My wife's tired from carrying me. Isn't it only natural to have another big sister hold me instead?"
Son Goten lingered for quite a while before reluctantly crawling out of the sleeping bag under Shizune's pleading gaze. Before leaving, he made sure to plant a hard kiss on her fair, pretty cheek.
After a quick wash, the group set off on the final stretch back to Konoha.
After several days away, Konoha's enormous red gates finally appeared at the far end of their view.
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki were leaning against the gateposts, yawning. When they spotted the approaching group in the distance, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"Is that... Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin? And Lord Jiraiya?"
"That kid holding Lady Tsunade's hand... isn't that Goten from Ichiraku?"
Son Goten had no interest in paying attention to the two gatekeepers. The moment he entered the village, he started shouting at the