TSSITWON Chapter 70: Shizune's Confession

Aoki, who was sitting next to her, did not notice the change behind Shizune's smile, but the atmosphere suddenly felt a bit strange. Aoki furrowed his brow in confusion, but then simply scratched his head without thinking about it further.

"Is that so..." Shizune said softly. This time, there was a slight change in Shizune's tone—somewhat cheerier than before, although still in a gentle and calm manner.

Aoki, still curious, brought up the previous topic again. "So why were you crying earlier?" Aoki asked firmly, his gaze fixed directly on Shizune's face.

"I want to hear it honestly, Shizune. Don't lie. I want you to trust me, just as I trust you," Aoki said, his voice becoming more serious and firm, causing Shizune to fall silent for a moment.

Shizune felt a tightness in her chest, as if something large was holding back her words. Her heart raced, and although she wanted to avoid the question, Aoki's determined gaze made it impossible for her to escape. Shizune bit her lip, trying to suppress feelings she had long kept hidden.

After what felt like an eternity, Shizune finally took a deep breath, as if surrendering to the weight pressing on her heart. "My heart hurts..." Shizune said softly, almost in a whisper, but this time her words were much clearer. "When I heard you were getting married, it felt like something was crushing my chest from the inside. I don't want you to go... I don't want you to leave me."

Aoki was silent, listening intently, his eyes still focused on Shizune, waiting for further explanation.

"I... I want you to always be by my side," Shizune continued, her voice trembling. Then, as if gathering all her courage, Shizune looked directly into Aoki's eyes, her gaze sharp yet filled with repressed emotion. "I... I like you, Aoki Sora! I love you!" Shizune shouted, her voice echoing in the night air, the words flowing out like a stream of water that had been held back for too long.

There was a moment of silence. The gentle breeze in the garden suddenly felt colder. Aoki was taken aback, his face showing a mix of shock and confusion. This confession came so suddenly, like a huge wave crashing without warning.

Shizune waited with her heart racing, anticipating Aoki's reaction.

Would Aoki react like Naruto—who was initially confused when Hinata expressed her feelings? Or would Aoki immediately reject her, breaking Shizune's heart?

Aoki swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. He hadn't expected Shizune to express these feelings now, at a time when he had to leave the village. The feelings felt so complicated, and Aoki didn't want to hurt Shizune's heart, but he also couldn't give a careless answer.

"Th-that...!" Aoki stammered, trying to find the right words. However, before Aoki could finish, Shizune gently pressed her index finger to Aoki's lips, stopping him from speaking.

"Don't answer now," Shizune whispered with a soft smile etched on her face. "I want to hear it when we both have become great people. When that day comes, I will confess again. But this time, I will cover your mouth first. And I will keep doing it until you confess first." Shizune's tone was filled with confidence, even though her happy tone tried to mask feelings that might run deeper.

Aoki fell silent, contemplating Shizune's words. Aoki was not a stiff man like some other protagonists, and he knew that if he gave an answer now, there was a chance they would drift apart. Therefore, Aoki chose to hold back and comply with Shizune's request.

After a brief pause, Aoki said calmly, "Um... well, I guess it's time for me to go. Actually, tomorrow I will be leaving the village. I will be traveling to become stronger, gaining experience by fighting against various ninjas. Initially, I planned to tell you tomorrow, but since we have met, it's better I say it now."