Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 48 The Future Hokage Couple

The whole morning.

The restaurants in Ganwei are packed.

The Uchiha, who were usually kept at bay, had no choice but to gather outside and line up for their food.

"Two skewers of tricolor dumplings, to go."

"I want red bean yokan, with extra sugar."

Maki was so busy at the counter that she barely had time to breathe.

Her little face was rosy, and although she was busy, her eyes were bright.

"This is yours, please take it."

Maki handed over the paper bag and bowed slightly.

A young Uchiha boy said "thank you" and then walked away with the paper bag.

Sousuke sat in his usual spot in the corner.

He was drinking tea.

He was playing with glass marbles in his hand.

Excuse me! Please let me through!

A series of hurried footsteps approached.

Accompanied by a rash voice.

A black-haired boy wearing orange goggles and a dark blue tracksuit rushed into the store, panting.

He tripped on the threshold of the door because he was running too fast.

"Wow!"

The boy lunged forward.

It looked like he was about to land face-first on the ground.

A Uchiha clansman sitting by the door didn't even lift his eyelids, only slightly shifting his foot.

Just as the boy was about to fall flat on his face, a hand firmly grabbed the back of his collar.

It's Sousuke.

He grabbed the boy's clothes.

Be careful.

Sosuke lifted the boy up and made him stand up straight.

The boy adjusted his askew goggles, revealing a dusty but energetic face.

"Thank you, big brother!"

The boy said loudly, then sniffed.

"It smells so good!"

His eyes were fixed on the glutinous rice balls in the counter, and his mouth was practically watering.

"I want ten skewers! No, twenty skewers!"

The boy searched all his pockets.

In the end, he only managed to pull out a few copper coins and a crumpled banknote.

The boy's face fell instantly.

"I only have... two hundred taels left."

Two hundred taels of silver isn't even enough to buy a string of dumplings.

"Obito!"

A stern rebuke came from the doorway.

An older Uchiha Chunin frowned as he looked at the boy.

"You've embarrassed yourself again! You're half an hour late for throwing practice today!"

Obito Uchiha.

Sousuke's eyes narrowed slightly.

That masked man of the future, the mastermind who manipulates the entire ninja world.

Right now, he's just a nobody who wears goggles, helps old ladies cross the street, and can't afford to buy dumplings.

"I...I was helping an old man carry his things on the road..." Obito explained, his face flushed.

"Excuses!" the Chunin scoffed. "You have no talent and you don't even know how to work hard. Look at Kakashi, he graduated at five years old, and what about you? Still wasting your time at the Ninja Academy."

Obito clenched his fist.

Several Uchiha clan members around them also cast disdainful glances their way.

In the elitist Uchiha clan, the worst student has no right to breathe.

Obito lowered his head and turned to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Sosuke called out to him.

He took a cardboard box from the counter.

It was filled with a box of poorly presented dumplings.

Some were deformed from being squeezed, and some had the sauce poured on crookedly.

"These are today's defective products."

Sosuke handed the box to Obito.

"It's a waste to throw it away. If you don't mind, could you help me get rid of it?"

Obito was stunned.

He looked at the box of dumplings.

Although the shape isn't pretty, the aroma is the same, and the portion is generous.

"Really...for me?"

"I don't like wasting food," Sosuke said calmly.

Obito's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He was an orphan, and few people showed him kindness.

"Thank you, big brother! My name is Obito! Uchiha Obito!"

"I'm going to be the Hokage!"

Obito loudly proclaimed his dream, then grabbed the box and ran off as if it were some rare treasure.

Several Uchiha in the shop sneered.

"Hokage? Based on that loser?"

Stop dreaming.

Sousuke sat back down in his chair, watching Obito's retreating figure.

"Last-place finisher..."

Sosuke took a sip of tea.

In this world, many underdogs often possess terrifying explosive power.

It was afternoon.

An unexpected guest arrived on Hongshan Street.

This is near the Uchiha clan's territory. As far as the eye can see, the streets are filled with people with black hair and fan-shaped family crests.

But today, a splash of red has broken in.

It was a head of bright red hair, as vibrant as flames.

A young woman was walking down the street, looking quite indignant.

She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing loose-fitting casual clothes.

Uzumaki Kushina.

The Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.

She originally intended to find Minato Namikaze, but that blond guy went on another mission.

I'm in a bad mood and I want to eat something sweet.

She heard that a delicious new dessert shop had opened here, so she came without hesitation.

She stopped at the entrance of [Ganwei Chu].

"Is this the shop that Mikoto highly recommended?"

Kushina sniffed.

A rich, sweet aroma wafted into my nostrils.

"It smells so good..."

The initial gloom was instantly dispelled by the sweet aroma.

Kushina pushed open the door.

The wind chimes jingled and chimed.

The shop was originally quiet, with a few Uchiha customers talking in hushed tones.

Upon hearing the door open, more than a dozen pairs of dark eyes turned to look at them.

If it were anyone else, being stared at by so many Uchiha would probably be sweating bullets by now.

Kushina simply waved her hand casually.

"Oh, everyone's here?"

That tone was very familiar.

The Uchiha clan members in the shop were stunned for a moment, then recognized the newcomer.

"It's Kushina."

An elderly Uchiha man put down his teacup, his expression softening slightly.

"Looking for Lady Mikoto again?"

Although the Uchiha clan was xenophobic, they maintained a subtle politeness and acceptance towards Mikoto, the clan leader's wife and a close friend.

After all, in this village, the only Jonin willing to interact with the Uchiha without any reservations, besides the always smiling Minato Namikaze, were this red-haired "Red Hot Chili Pepper".

"I'll look for it later." Kushina walked to the counter, found an empty seat, and sat down. "I heard that the red bean soup at this shop can make people forget their troubles. I'll give it a try."

Maki was a little nervous; she had never met this person before.

Sosuke came out from behind the counter, gently patted Maki on the shoulder, and gestured for her to go help in the kitchen.

He looked at the girl in front of him.

Despite his youth, the immense, deep-sea-like chakra fluctuations he exuded could be faintly sensed even without sensory ninjutsu.

This is the highest-level "container". No wonder it can hold the Nine-Tails.

Welcome!

Sosuke smiled and handed him a glass of warm water.

"Since you're Mikoto-sama's friend, your tastes should be similar. Would you like to try the extra-rich red bean soup?"

"Extra strong?"

Kushina's eyes lit up, and she slapped the table.

"I want that! Double the sugar! I need some comforting today!"

"no problem."

Sosuke turned around and told the Ministry of Revenue to make preparations.

Soon after, steaming hot red bean soup was served.

The deep red broth is filled with golden-brown, soft, and chewy rice cakes, and sprinkled with golden osmanthus flowers.

Kushina couldn't wait to scoop up a spoonful.

That intense sweetness, mixed with the soft, glutinous texture of red beans, melts instantly on the tip of your tongue.

"Ugh—!"

Kushina let out a long, satisfied sigh.

"It truly lives up to its reputation! It's so delicious!"

When she's in a bad mood, she needs this extreme sweetness to soothe the fox inside her.

The Nine-Tails' chakra is a collection of hatred, while sugar is a source of happiness.

Sosuke, holding a cup of tea, handed it over at the opportune moment.

"Have a sip of tea to cut through the greasiness."

"Thank you, boss." Kushina looked Sousuke up and down. "You don't look like a businessman, you look more like a ninja."

As expected of the Uzumaki clan, their senses are incredibly powerful.

"I am indeed a businessman," Sosuke smiled.

"Hmph, you're lying."

Kushina mumbled something while eating mochi.

"However, your candy is indeed very good. It's purer than the candy from other shops in the village."

"Where did you get this?"

Although this girl is carefree, she has a very sharp intuition.

"Trade secrets," Sosuke replied.

"No matter what, you're very capable," Kushina praised.

Just then, the door was pushed open again.

Sunlight streamed in through the crack in the door, and a tall, slender figure walked in.

Her golden hair was dazzling in the sunlight.

Minato Namikaze.

At this time, he was about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing the iconic ninja vest, with a gentle smile on his face.

"Kushina, so you were here all along."

Minato nodded slightly to the Uchiha in the shop, his politeness impeccable.

"Minato, the Jonin."

The Uchiha clan members nodded in return.

The Uchiha clan always respected Minato.

"Watergate?"

Kushina put down her spoon and deliberately put on a stern face.

"Weren't you supposed to be preparing supplies for the front lines? What brings you here to see me?"

"The supplies have been inventoried."

Minato walked over to Kushina and sat down naturally.

"I heard the red bean soup here is good. I'd like to eat it with you before we go to the meeting point."

This is Minato Namikaze.

High emotional intelligence, naturally charming.

Kushina's face instantly turned red, and her previous imposing aura vanished in an instant.

"Hmph... Since you want to eat it so much, I'll reluctantly share half with you."

She pushed the bowl a little closer.

Minato smiled and looked at Sousuke.

"Boss, could you please bring me another spoon? And I'd like one of the same thing too."

"OK."

Sosuke turned around to get the cutlery.

He stood behind the counter, quietly watching the couple.

The future Fourth Hokage and his wife sat in a dessert shop next to the Uchiha clan's territory, sharing the same pot of red bean soup with the surrounding Uchiha clan members.

There was no tension, no political divide.

Sousuke saw an elderly Uchiha Chunin looking at Minato and whispering to his comrade:

"That's Minato Namikaze... I heard he saved our clansmen on the battlefield during World War II, when he was just a Chunin."

"Yes, he's a reliable man."

Minato took a sip of the red bean soup, and his eyes lit up.

"It's really sweet." He looked at Kushina, meaningfully, "Just like you."

"Ahem!"

Kushina almost choked on the mochi, her face turning as red as her hair.

"Just eat yours, you idiot!"

The surrounding Uchiha members let out good-natured laughter.