Shopping List

Xuanhui had to coax his mother for quite a while before finally settling her down.

To keep her company, Xuanhui suggested that they go shopping together and buy a few things.

Nara Yamanaka happily agreed. After all, aside from tending the shop, she usually had nothing else to do.

Ever since she stopped being a ninja, her mind had been filled with her handsome husband and adorable son.

But now neither of them kept her company, so she could only write novels by herself—melodramatic stories with herself as the protagonist.

She relied on that little hobby to pass the time.

Now that her son was back and had even taken the initiative to ask her out shopping, she was in an exceptionally good mood!

Xuanhui changed into casual clothes and waited downstairs. Half an hour passed, yet his mother still had not come down.

"Mom! Are you done getting ready yet?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

The sound of footsteps pattering down the stairs followed.

Xuanhui turned to look. A little yellow dress, white shoes, and a small straw hat tied with a pale blue bow.

"You look pretty young."

"Your mother is only thirty-four! I'm still in the prime of my youth!"

"Sure, you really do look great."

Nara Yamanaka did not mind her son's perfunctory praise. She took his hand and headed out.

"Son, where are we going shopping?"

"First, to the pawnshop. I need to exchange some money."

"?"

With Nara Yamanaka looking utterly bewildered, Xuanhui took her to an old pawnshop in Konoha that had been open for over a decade.

"Wait outside for me. I'll be done in a moment."

After leaving that instruction, Xuanhui went inside alone without looking back.

About ten minutes later, he emerged holding a stack of bills, looking thoughtful.

"This time, I only pawned a pearl necklace and a gold bracelet, but they were pretty valuable! They didn't even ask where they came from. Has commerce in the ninja world not developed to the point where cumbersome procedures are necessary?"

When Xuanhui came out, he discovered that his mother was chatting with someone.

He stepped closer and saw that it was an aunt from the Akimichi clan, his mother's friend of over twenty years.

"This plot is just so moving! I'm telling you, as long as you..."

Akimichi Ruri noticed Xuanhui approaching behind her good friend, and immediately changed the subject.

"Oh! Xuanhui! Long time no see! You've grown so tall!"

"Auntie, it's been a long time!"

Xuanhui greeted her with a smile, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver bracelet.

"Whenever my dad and I weren't around, you took such good care of my mom! This is just a small token of appreciation. Please accept it."

"Oh my! How could I possibly accept this?"

Akimichi Ruri hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands. How could she accept something like that?

"It's fine, Auntie. It's iron. You can keep it and use it to fool other people."

"Good boy! You're so thoughtful! Then Auntie will accept it!"

Watching the two play off each other, Nara Yamanaka felt that something was off.

Only after Akimichi Ruri finished greeting them and turned to leave did she suddenly realize.

"You brat! Who's the adult here, you or me?

Who did you learn that from? Now you've made me look like a child!"

Xuanhui's ears were twisted painfully, and he hurriedly begged for mercy.

"Mom! I was wrong! Doesn't saying that make you seem younger? A mother who gets looked after by her son from a young age—how happy is that?

Other people would be jealous even if they wanted to be!"

"Hmph! At least you know how to talk!"

As soon as Nara Yamanaka released him, Xuanhui hurriedly covered his ears.

"Let's go. Where are we shopping next?"

"Let's visit a clothing store and buy you a couple of outfits."

"Alright! Let's go!"

After only a few steps, Nara Yamanaka suddenly grabbed Xuanhui by the shoulder.

"You're treating me? You went to the pawnshop to get money?"

"Yeah. What else, did you think I went there to rob the place?"

As he spoke, Xuanhui waved the stack of bills in his hand, making her stare wide-eyed.

"What did you trade for? How could it be worth so much?"

"Loot from a mission. It was really valuable! Don't worry about it. I'm paying today, so we can buy as much as we want!"

"You brat! You'd better explain yourself today! Who exactly is the adult here?"

"Hey, hey, hey! Mom! You're not happy when I spend money on you? Your son is being filial here! You can't pinch me again!"

"Tch! You're my son. I can do whatever I want with you!"

As they bickered, they made their way into Konoha's bustling district.

Xuanhui did not know which shops were good, so he simply let his mother choose.

Nara Yamanaka was incredibly enthusiastic, dragging Xuanhui from one end of the street all the way to the other!

By the time he was completely worn out and sat down to rest, Nara Yamanaka had finally found a decent shop and several outfits she liked.

While waiting for her to change clothes, Xuanhui walked over to the children's clothing section next door.

He first picked out three casual outfits suitable for everyday training.

Then he picked out a burgundy T-shirt, a purple little skirt trimmed in white, and a gray hoodie.

There was also a pink dress and a pair of white stockings, but those would not be mentioned for now.

"Pack these up. I'll pay for them all together later."

"Certainly!"

Though the sales clerk was somewhat doubtful about Xuanhui's age, judging by his bearing, he was probably just short...

"Xuanhui! Look! How is it?"

"Wow! You look just like a fairy!"

Even with large and small bags hanging from his hands, Xuanhui still managed to clap without any trouble.

"How about this one?"

"Beautiful as a celestial maiden!"

"Take a look at this one too!"

"Lovely as a flower!"

"Hahahahahaha!"

Xuanhui had really been put through the wringer today. He had accompanied his mother shopping, carried her things, and had to come up with all sorts of ways to praise her.

However, after looking for a long time, his mother still refused to buy the most beautiful but very expensive red dress.

While pretending to use the restroom, he secretly went back and bought it, planning to give it to her when they got home.

"Tired from shopping? Want to go eat?"

"It's a little early. Let's go to the supermarket first and buy some snacks."

"Alright."

Nara Yamanaka quietly reached for the bags in Xuanhui's hands, but he directly dodged away.

Nara Yamanaka's heart could not help warming.

Her son had quietly grown into a reliable adult!

After entering the supermarket, Nara Yamanaka stopped wandering around and simply stayed by her son's side, picking out snacks he had loved as a child.

Xuanhui did not notice. All his attention was focused on choosing food for the three little ones.

"Jiraiya can make the meals. I need to buy them some treats!

Get some chips...

Get some instant noodles...

Egg-and-ham sausages definitely need to be included...

Might as well get three cases of milk! They're all still growing..."

"Son! Son! Were you listening to your mother?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

Xuanhui saw the expression on Nara Yamanaka's face—slightly angry, yet carrying a trace of grievance.

"Can Mom carry the clothes for you? You can't even hold all those snacks..."

"Okay... Thank you, Mom..."

What else could he do? No matter how great heaven and earth were, parents came first!

The two of them left the store carrying huge bags of things.

They had originally planned to go straight to a restaurant, but could only take everything home first.