Shopping
On Konoha's streets, sunlight filtered through the lush treetops, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow.
Itachi didn't often go out, and now, walking along Konoha's bustling streets, he looked around curiously.
Konoha, a land once ravaged by war, had now regained its former peace and prosperity. As the strongest and wealthiest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Konoha had reached new heights after the Second Shinobi World War, reestablishing its dominant position.
As the smoke of war gradually cleared, Konoha's villagers emerged from their fear and anxiety. Their old smiles bloomed on their faces once more, children played and chased one another through the streets and alleys, and the elderly chatted leisurely in the sunlight. The entire village was full of life and vitality.
Such a prosperous sight made it seem as though everything had returned to normal, and all things were moving in a better direction.
Mikoto first took Koki and Itachi to a place that specialized in furniture.
The furniture store stood on a corner of a Konoha street. Its spacious, brightly lit showroom displayed all kinds of furniture, and its decor was simple yet elegant, with wooden floors that complemented the furnishings.
As soon as Koki entered the store, the first thing he saw was row upon row of neatly arranged furniture: classical solid-wood beds, simple modern fabric sofas, multifunctional folding tables, and more. Every piece had been carefully designed and made, its flowing lines and fine details showcasing the craftsmen's care and skill.
Besides those, appliances from various brands, including televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines, were arranged at varying intervals nearby.
He went first to the television section, where he found a wide variety of sets. He carefully examined each one's screen quality, color reproduction, and functions.
Next, Koki headed to the refrigerator section. There were all kinds of models, from small single-door refrigerators to large multi-door ones. He opened one and felt a blast of chilly air.
In the washing machine section, Koki was drawn to a machine with an automatic laundry detergent dispenser.
Besides these common appliances, Koki also saw many small kitchen appliances, such as rice cookers, microwaves, and blenders.
The selection was dazzling-they had everything!
"What do you think, Koki? It's your first time here, isn't it? This is the biggest furniture store in Konoha. We bought all our furniture here," Mikoto asked with a smile.
"Very nice!" Koki nodded, though inwardly he was astonished.
Koki had never understood the technology in the Naruto world. It really gave him a strange sense of disconnect. They had televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, cameras, and all sorts of things. He even remembered real-time electronic video surveillance being used during Naruto's Chunin Ninja Exams, and a vending machine appearing on the night Jiraiya died in battle-not to mention the mobile cameras Itachi had used when the Anbu monitored the Uchiha.
It was both advanced and backward.
It was a shame there were no cell phones or computers. Otherwise, the Third Hokage could step down and let Orochimaru become Hokage. By now, they might have been partying on Douyin and experiencing the high speeds of maglev trains.
Being a ninja won't save Konoha! Unfortunately, he didn't understand technology either. Otherwise, he would have made an iPad one way or another.
An elegant woman in a kimono came over to greet them warmly. Beaming, she asked, "Hello, Lady Mikoto. We've been expecting you. Are you looking to purchase some home furnishings?"
Mikoto smiled radiantly and replied, "I need to get two guest rooms ready in the next few days. These, those, and these two beds as well-send them all to my house." Her fingers moved from one piece of furniture to another, her delight plain to see.
Seeing that his mother was clearly in a wonderful mood, Koki thought, Sure enough, women all love shopping!
The clerk's eyes had narrowed to slits from smiling.
After leaving the furniture store, Mikoto headed straight for a clothing store. Inside, the clothes came in a dazzling array of colors and original styles. Overwhelmed by the selection, Mikoto picked out more than ten outfits in one go for Koki and Itachi to try on.
Seeing Mikoto go overboard, Koki spoke up timidly. "Mom, isn't this too much? Besides, the clan will have clothes tailored for us." Koki was telling the truth; the clan had always had someone make custom clothing for their family.
"How could those clothes be enough? And don't you think these styles are lovely?" Mikoto pushed Koki and Itachi toward the fitting room, chattering as she went. "I still have to buy some for Shisui, Obito, and Kakashi too, but I don't know their exact sizes. I should buy a few things for my husband as well, though I don't know if he'll wear them... What a beautiful dress! Let me try it on."
Imagining Fugaku's stern face paired with those clothes, Koki couldn't hold back a snicker.
Koki and Itachi let Mikoto fuss over them without a word of complaint. Finally, Mikoto waved her hand and said grandly to the clerk, "Wrap all of these up for me!"
While Mikoto went to pay, Koki quietly said to Itachi, "Itachi, look at Mom. Doesn't she seem happy?"
"Mm!" Itachi blinked and nodded.
"Remember, shopping can put people in a better mood. If you make your girlfriend angry someday, go shopping with her."
"What's a girlfriend?" Itachi looked at Koki in confusion.
Looking at Itachi's bewildered expression, Koki couldn't help smiling. He explained, "A girlfriend is someone you like who likes you back. The two of you look after and support each other, and go through all the little things in life together. How should I put it? Like Mom and Dad. They'll always be together and face life's ups and downs together."
Itachi looked thoughtful.