Chapter 43: New Year

For Natsuro, the holiday didn't bring any special changes. His training and study continued without interruption, and with his growing physical strength, the time dedicated to them even increased.

Days passed by, and finally, the New Year arrived.

This day wasn't particularly special for him, but for Shinai, it was a significant occasion. She prepared several special dishes that weren't usually on the menu to celebrate a year's worth of safety and peace.

Seeing Shinai so happy, he decided not to go out for training, instead he decided to take a day off for himself.

Shinai, seeing her son staying home to help and spend time with her, couldn't help but smile and feel a bit sentimental.

The changes over the past year had been quite significant. The most notable change was that Natsuro had finally enrolled in the Ninja Academy and displayed extraordinary talent, which she hadn't anticipated at all.

She had thought Natsuro's talent might be good but not exceptional, possibly just a bit better than his father's. Becoming a special Jonin would be quite impressive. Now, it seemed she had underestimated her son.

After dinner, she changed into a kimono that she usually reserved for special occasions.

Natsuro, on the other hand, didn't choose to wear a kimono. It wasn't that he disliked it, but he wasn't used to it. He found it cumbersome and inconvenient for activities. Instead, he opted for an outfit similar to what he wore when meeting the Third Hokage.

When she saw him, her eyes lit up.

Years of training had given Natsuro a distinct, rugged look that his peers lacked, making him look quite handsome.

"Let's go." she said with a smile.

Natsuro nodded and followed her. On such a special day, he was more willing to spend time with his mother.

Soon, when Shinai and Natsuro stepped onto the street, they found it crowded with people celebrating the New Year. Various stalls with snacks and entertainment created a dazzling scene.

Shinai seemed to be very happy in this environment. Although she didn't buy anything, the festive atmosphere brought her joy.

To be honest, Natsuro didn't understand this feeling. He wasn't used to such a crowded environment. He preferred being alone or with friends, and the crowd of people wasn't pleasant.

However, even if he didn't like it, he decided to endure it for the day.

Soon, Shinai ran into some colleagues from work, and he had to put on a polite smile and greet them.

Even more frustrating was that his reputation had spread to his mother's workplace, so every colleague he met praised him.

This meant he had to smile and respond with gratitude.

At this point, he suspected that Shinai had brought him out just to show him off. Every time she met someone she knew, she seemed even more delighted!

Natsuro sighed. Although he didn't like it, as long as his mother was happy, that was enough.

He lost track of how long it had been, but the day felt endless. Surely it would end soon? She must have already met all her colleagues. His forced smile was making his facial muscles stiff!

During this time, He also ran into a few of his classmates, but he generally ignored them. Instead, they approached him, much to Shinai's delight.

Most of those who approached Natsuro were young girls, which made Shinai even happier. She thought her son was quite attractive, though his attitude was a bit frustrating. Ignoring people could be hurtful.

However, she was surprised to see that the young girls didn't seem upset. They were used to such treatment and appreciated that he acknowledged them today.

So, there was no reason to be sad. Just enjoy the moment.

Moreover, she realized that he looked quite handsome in his outfit, almost comparable to Sasuke!

"Natsuro, this isn't acceptable!" After sending off another classmate of his, Shinai said, "If you keep this up, when will my future daughter-in-law ever find you!"

He was speechless and pointed at himself, "Mom, I'm only six years old, though I'm almost seven. Isn't this a bit early?"

"Early? Your father started pursuing me in the third grade. It wouldn't hurt if you started a bit earlier." She said with a mix of exasperation and affection.

He was shocked. He had noticed that people in the world of Naruto seemed a bit mature for their age, but he hadn't expected it to be to this extent.

"Natsuro!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached his ears.

Shinai also turned to look and saw a little girl with golden hair. The girl looked somewhat familiar, but Shinai thought she probably didn't stand a chance since her son wasn't very promising in this area.

"Ino, happy New Year."

To her surprise, her son seemed to have had an epiphany. This time, he didn't just reply briefly and ignore the girl. It appeared that they were acquaintances, and there might even be potential.

Her eyes brightened.

"Oh, Shinai, it's been a long time." came a voice from beside Ino. Shinai looked over and saw Ino's parents, Yamanaka Inoichi and his wife.

"Inoichi? Is that you? And this must be Mrs. Yamanaka. Happy New Year!" Shinai recognized Yamanaka Inoichi and realized why the little girl looked familiar—she was the Yamanaka family's daughter.

"Happy New Year." Yamanaka Inoichi and Mrs. Yamanaka responded. They then watched as their daughter ran over to Natsuro.

Inoichi felt a bit disappointed. His little girl seemed to be getting taken away, but Mrs. Yamanaka was pleased. Unlike her husband, she had been paying attention to school matters.

Mrs. Yamanaka knew of Natsuro's reputation. Even though he was just a first-year student, he had shown outstanding talent.

Initially, Mrs. Yamanaka had a good impression of Natsuro, appreciating his maturity and thoughtfulness towards his mother. Now, knowing about his talent, she found him even more admirable.

At this moment, Mrs. Yamanaka and Shinai's eyes met, and it seemed they both understood. They smiled at each other and then turned their attention to Natsuro and Ino.

"I want to catch up with my old classmate for a while. You take that little girl and have some fun. Here's some money—buy whatever she wants. Don't worry about the cost!" Shinai said.

He was a bit resigned. He understood what his mother was up to but agreed nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Yamanaka said to Ino, "Ino, your father is catching up with an old friend. If you want to play, go with your classmate. It's fine."

Inoichi had wanted to say something but decided to stay quiet after a look from his wife. He had things to discuss with Shinai.

Ino didn't think too much about it. She wanted to spend time with Natsuro, so she agreed.

Thus, Natsuro, who had only planned to accompany his mother on a walk, ended up making plans with Ino and their parents and then went their separate ways.

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