Keeping the Promise

"Son, you spent money all morning. Let Mom treat you to lunch, or I'll really feel bad about it."

"It's fine. I've spent less than a fraction of the money I earned, so don't feel burdened, Mom."

"Even so, Mom can't just keep letting you pay!

I happened to make a little money recently too. Mom wants to spend some on her son, okay?"

Xuanhui was slightly puzzled, but he still agreed.

[As expected of Nara Clan blood. She really has a head for business!]

Xuanhui assumed she had made the money through business.

Fortunately, he did not ask further.

The two went to a barbecue restaurant popular with Konoha residents and enjoyed lunch.

They had wanted to stroll around some more, but Konoha did not have many places for leisure. There were hardly any plazas or parks.

After wandering the streets for a while, the two returned home.

When Xuanhui got home, he glanced at the clock, then at the calendar.

"Mom, this one is for you. Don't touch the others—they're gifts I bought for someone else."

Nara Yamanaka took the ornate bag with some confusion.

When she opened it, her little mouth immediately formed an O!

"Didn't I say not to buy it? You child..."

Though she complained, her gaze kept lingering on the clothes.

"This outfit suits you perfectly, Mom. You look so beautiful in it that I couldn't help buying it."

"You brat! You really know how to sweet-talk!"

Nara Yamanaka lightly tapped Xuanhui on the head, the smile on her face growing brighter.

She practically floated as she walked, skipping over to the mirror and accidentally knocking over one of the bags beside it.

She lowered her head and looked.

The glimpse of a pink skirt hem and a white silk, long tube-shaped garment froze her in place.

Xuanhui stepped forward and calmly put the clothes away, picking up the separately packaged bag.

"Mom, I'm going out to see a friend. Get some rest first."

Without looking back, he left, leaving her alone at home with her imagination running wild.

Holding the bag, Xuanhui thought for a moment before running toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Big bro? When did you get back?"

"I got back early this morning. So, did you miss me?"

"Not at all."

"By the way, do you still remember our bet?"

Fugaku's gaze instantly drifted into the distance. His eyes, sharp enough to boast 5.2 vision, seemed blind at that moment.

"Ah! This floor sure is... floor-like!"

Xuanhui stepped forward, grabbed Fugaku by the collar, shoved him down, and straddled him.

"Quit playing dumb, you brat!"

"Damn! You're lying, right?! Show me your jonin badge!"

Fugaku's expression changed at once. He struggled wildly with all four limbs, his body like a fish flopping ashore.

"My jonin application has already been submitted, and I earned merits on the battlefield. I'll become a jonin within the next couple of days!

If you agree now, I'll only make you treat me to ramen!

But if you don't agree, then in a few days, when I bring proof, just wait to be fleeced!"

"Fine, fine! I agree!"

Fugaku immediately agreed. He had no choice—when you were under someone's roof, you had to bow your head!

Besides, the terms were simply too tempting!

"What's that in your hand?"

Fugaku suddenly noticed the bag Xuanhui was holding.

"Don't tell me you were originally planning to use torture tools to force me into submission?"

"When would I be that bored?"

Xuanhui reached into the bag and slowly pulled out the precious item inside.

"My second reason for coming here to find you..."

A holy glow nearly blinded Fugaku, making him so excited that he forgot to breathe.

"Don't forget, this is the agreement between the three of us!"

"Amazing! You even specifically bought the cutest one!"

Fugaku and Xuanhui stared at the clothes in their hands and fell into deep thought.

"Minato looks so delicate. This cute style feels like it would suit him!"

"We forgot to buy a wig. Should we get him a twin-tail wig too?"

"Good point, brother! What color?"

"Pink."

"Not good enough, brother! I think it should be red."

"What's your reasoning?"

"Isn't Kushina red-haired?"

"Brilliant insight, brother!"

"How do we make him put it on?"

"We're Uchiha, after all! And it's two against one—how could that kid possibly win?"

"We should lower his guard first. That'll make it easier to catch him!"

"I've already bought the clothes. I'll go get the wig, you go get a camera. Then you can make a sealed room for him!"

"OK!"

"Brothers united?"

"Can cut through gold!"

The two high-fived and instantly vanished from the room.

To make their operation even faster, they even used the Body Flicker Technique.

Knock knock knock!

"Coming!"

The weather was too hot, so after taking a shower, Minato simply threw on a short-sleeved shirt and shorts before answering the door.

The moment he opened it, Fugaku was staring at him with a nervous expression.

"What's wrong, Fugaku?"

"I have something important to tell you. Is anyone else home?"

"No, they went on a long trip."

"Then that's perfect."

Fugaku entered and casually shut the door behind him.

"Come on, come on! Let's talk in your room!"

"What's so mysterious?"

Though Minato was somewhat confused, he obediently did as told.

As soon as they entered Minato's bedroom, a delicate fragrance washed over them.

"You burn agarwood in your room too?"

"I've been paying more attention to my image lately!"

Minato scratched his head somewhat bashfully, which only made Fugaku's expression firmer.

"Why is your room so hot? Open the window."

Fugaku walked to the window, examined it for a moment, then flung it wide open.

Minato did not think much of it. Ever since waking up today, he had been staying in the living room, and the bedroom was indeed a little hot.

"Fugaku, what exactly happened?"

"Don't you know? Xuanhui is back!"

"Huh? Brother Xuanhui is already back!"

"Yeah! Apparently, Lord Hokage's disciples, Orochimaru and Tsunade, brought him back together, and he's already submitted his jonin application."

"Th-this is good news, isn't it? Shouldn't we go congratulate him?"

Fugaku frowned slightly, his features twisting into a knot.

"Of course we should give him a congratulatory gift! The problem is, the gift he wants now is the gift we agreed on before!"

"When did we ever agree to..."

Minato stopped halfway through his sentence, his eyes widening more and more.

"The reason I heard about it was because my family told me that a kid has been coming around looking for me lately!"

"Oh no..."

"And he said something about dealing with this easy one first, then going after the difficult one!"

"It's me..."

The two fell silent. Fugaku stared motionlessly at Minato, observing his reaction.

"Fugaku, what should we do!"

"I have a plan. Come closer."

Minato swallowed and leaned over with his ear.

Fugaku turned his head and waved fiercely toward the window behind Minato.

A black shadow instantly slipped into the room.