Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 226 The Eye of Purity, The Reason to Live

Sosuke was busy with experiments until late at night yesterday, and slept until noon.

He washed his face, put on a loose linen short-sleeved shirt, and strolled to Red Fan Street in his wooden clogs.

[The sweet part].

The air conditioning in the store was turned up very high.

Sosuke pushed open the door and went in.

There weren't many customers at this time. Hazuki was sitting behind the counter, holding an account book in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she was doing some calculations.

"Don't bother calculating it, let's do it when Maki has time."

Sosuke walked over, took a bottle of chilled barley tea from the freezer, unscrewed the cap, and took a big gulp.

"Boss, you're awake."

Upon hearing the sound, Hazuki quickly put down her account book and stood up.

She was wearing a light green floral dress, her hair pulled back, looking very casual and homey.

"Would you like something to eat? I'll make you some cold noodles."

"No, I'm not hungry. I'm just thirsty."

Sosuke held the barley tea and his gaze fell on the tatami mats in the inner room.

There, a tiny figure was crawling on the floor with its bottom sticking out.

Koizumi.

A little girl who is just over one year old is at the most mischievous age.

Hearing the commotion outside, she jumped up, leaned against the door frame, and poked half her head out, her big, bright black eyes staring at Sosuke.

"hug----"

Koizumi shouted indistinctly, staggering and wobbling as he lunged at Sosuke.

Sosuke put down the teapot, bent down, and scooped up the chubby little dumpling.

"Oh, you've gained weight again."

Sosuke weighed the contents of his hand.

"Hazuki, what did you feed her? She's gotten as fat as a little pig."

Koizumi didn't know what "pig" meant, but she knew that the uncle who always came to see her mother was hugging her, so she happily giggled and drooled all over Sosuke's shirt.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Hazuki took out a handkerchief and came over to wipe her daughter's drool.

"This child has such a big appetite. Every time she sees guests eating dessert, she drools. I try my best to control myself—"

Sosuke looked at the carefree, laughing little life in his arms.

Black eyes, pure and without a trace of impurity.

He suddenly remembered those Sharingan eyes, filled with killing intent and ambition.

Even though they are both Uchiha eyes, the difference is so huge.

He remembered someone.

Mikoto.

Ever since Itachi Uchiha was taken away by the Eighth Hokage, Mikoto has been like a soulless person.

Although Sosuke sent her calming medication and promised to bring the child back, he knew that these things could not soothe her pain.

"Hazuki".

Sosuke suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"Lend me this chubby little girl for half a day."

"Huh?" Hazuki was stunned.

"I'll go check on Lady Mikoto."

Sosuke, holding Koizumi, turned and walked away.

Mikoto's mansion.

The door was closed tightly.

Sosuke held Koizumi in one arm and pushed open the door with the other.

A deathly atmosphere pervaded the air.

When the old servant saw Sosuke, she quickly came forward, her eyes red and her voice low.

"Lord Takaya, you've arrived. The lady—she hasn't eaten much for two days."

He just sat there in the corridor, lost in thought. He wouldn't listen to anyone who tried to persuade him.

"Okay. You can go ahead and get back to work."

Sosuke didn't ask any further questions. He carried Koizumi, who was chewing on her fingers, to the inner courtyard.

Under the long corridor, in the shadows.

Mikoto Uchiha was kneeling there, dressed in a plain-colored kimono.

Her face was pale, and her long, black hair was draped over her shoulders.

She just sat there blankly, her eyes unfocused.

Sosuke walked up the corridor.

The wooden planks made a slight creaking sound.

Mikoto did not respond.

Sosuke walked over to her and placed the chubby little Izumi into Mikoto's arms.

"Why?"

Suddenly, a warm, soft, heavy object appeared in her arms, and Mikoto's empty eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion.

She instinctively hugged Koizumi.

Koizumi wasn't shy. She recognized the pretty auntie.

She reached out her chubby little hand, grabbed a strand of hair that was hanging down in front of Mikoto's chest, and tugged it hard.

"Eeya!"

Koizumi grinned, revealing a few small baby teeth, and giggled.

The slight pain in her scalp, along with the clear laughter of a child, stunned Mikoto.

She looked at the vibrant life in her arms, feeling the milky scent and warm body of the little girl.

My eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

"spring----"

Mikoto buried her face in Koizumi's shoulder, and her shoulder began to heave violently.

She dared not wail loudly, for fear of frightening the child.

It was forcibly suppressed into a series of soft sobs.

I am deeply saddened.

Koizumi didn't know what was happening; she only felt that the aunt was hugging her a little too tightly.

She reached out her little hand and touched Mikoto's hair, patting it awkwardly, just like Hazuki usually did to comfort her.

Sosuke sat quietly on the wooden floor without saying a word.

"Do".

The deer in the courtyard, its belly full of water, struck the bluestone with a clear, hollow sound.

After a few minutes.

Mikoto's crying gradually subsided.

She released Koizumi's hand and wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sosuke."

Her voice had a strong nasal tone.

I lost my composure.

"fine."

Sosuke adjusted his posture, bent one leg, and rested his hand on his knee.

"This chubby little girl is quite heavy, hopefully she's not making it hard for you to breathe?"

Mikoto paused for a moment, looked down at Koizumi who was playing with her sash in her arms, and a smile appeared on her lips.

"She's very sturdy. Hazuki has taken good care of her."

Sosuke stood up and walked to the edge of the corridor.

"Mother-in-law."

He called out towards the entrance to the inner courtyard.

The old maid who had been waiting outside the door immediately ran in, her eyes red, clearly having heard Mikoto's crying outside.

"Lord Takaya, what are your orders?"

"Go to the kitchen and cook a pot of porridge. Also, prepare a side dish of pickled radishes."

"Yes! I'll go right away!"

The old maid nodded repeatedly, wiping away tears as she ran to the kitchen. If the lady was willing to eat, it meant she was alive again.

"Mr. Sosuke."

Mikoto held Koizumi in her arms and spoke softly.

"Thank you. You brought Izumi here on purpose, didn't you?"

"Um.

Sosuke sat down again.

"You cried just now, that's good."

Sosuke looked at her.

"If you keep holding it in, your body will break down. If you die, when I bring Itachi back, whose mother will he call?"

Mikoto's eyes welled up with tears as she read the name, but this time she didn't cry.

"Yashiro—will he really treat Itachi well?"

"meeting."

Sosuke spoke with certainty.

"Yashiro was a madman, but he took Itachi not out of revenge, but for the sake of inheritance."

"In his eyes, Itachi was the bloodline of the Fugaku clan leader and the future of the Uchiha clan. He would rather starve to death than let Itachi lose a single hair."

"Furthermore, the Daimyo wants to use them to keep Konoha in check. Therefore, they will receive the best resources and protection."

"They will be treated as honored guests of the daimyo's mansion. The weasels will grow up there, drinking the finest milk and wearing the finest silk."

"Even—" Sousuke sneered, "the treatment is even better than in Konoha."

Mikoto remained silent.

Reason told her that Sosuke was right. But emotionally, as a mother, the pain of separation from her child still tore at her heart.

Soon, the old servant came over carrying a tray.

A bowl of steaming white fish porridge, and a small dish of finely chopped pickled radish.

"Madam, please eat it while it's hot."

The old servant looked at her expectantly.

Mikoto looked at the bowl of porridge.

A sudden, sharp pain shot through her stomach. She had been starving.

She really needs to live.

She placed Koizumi on the soft cushion next to her.

Koizumi is very well-behaved, even when she cries or makes a fuss.

Mikoto picked up the bowl and the spoon.

Her hands were trembling slightly.

I scooped up a spoonful of porridge, ate it, and put it in my mouth.

The rice grains were cooked until they burst open, the white fish was fresh and delicious, and the sesame oil was light and subtle. As it slid into my stomach, it brought a long-lost warmth.

Tears fell into the bowl again, but she ate one bite after another.

At that moment, Koizumi seemed to smell a fragrance.

She clung to Mikoto's knees, tilted her head back, and opened her small mouth.

"ah----"

The little boy stared at the bowl of porridge, his mouth watering.

Mikoto stopped what she was doing.

She looked at the greedy little guy and burst into laughter through her tears.

"You little glutton, has Hazuki been starving you?"

She scooped up a little bit of the porridge broth with a spoon and fed it to Xiaoquan.

Koizumi smacked his lips, seemingly finding the taste pleasant, and clapped his hands happily.

After finishing the bowl of porridge, a trace of color returned to Mikoto's face.

"Thank you, Mr. Sosuke."

Mikoto put down her bowl and thanked them sincerely.

I thank him not only for bringing Koizumi, but also for his protection during that chaotic night, and for helping the Uchiha clan stabilize the situation.

"It's my duty to do this."

Sosuke Ki stood up and patted the wrinkles on his clothes.

"You should get some rest."

"As for Itachi—"

"I named him that. So it's my responsibility to watch him grow up."

"I will bring him back. But I need time."

"I'll wait."

Mikoto's voice was firm. Having weathered many storms, this former matriarch of a wealthy family had finally rediscovered her resilience.

"As long as he is alive, I will wait ten or twenty years."

"It took so long to use."

Sousuke smiled.

He bent down, scooped up Koizumi who was yawning after eating and drinking his fill, and tucked him under his arm.

"Let's go, Little Pig, it's time to go back to sleep."

Mikoto watched his overly skilled, even somewhat rough, way of holding the baby and couldn't help but smile as she offered a gentle reminder.

"Mr. Sosuke, when you hold a baby, you should support her back; it will make you and her more comfortable."

"Really? She looks quite sturdy."

Although Sosuke said the same thing, he still adjusted his posture, supporting Koizumi's buttocks and letting her head rest on his shoulder.

"Goodbye."

They left the Uchiha clan's territory.

The afternoon sun was even more scorching.

The ground was scorching hot, and the air was slightly distorted.

Sosuke carried Koizumi and walked along the street without any shade. Before long, his back was soaked with sweat.

"It's so hot!"

Sosuke complained.

Koizumi, nestled in his arms, slept soundly, drooling all over Sosuke's shoulder.

Return to the [Ganwei Room], push open the back door, and go back to the inner room.

"Boss, you're back."

Hearing the noise, Hazuki went around to the inner room from the front.

She immediately noticed the large water stain on Sosuke's shoulder.

"Oh dear, the child is drooling again."

Hazuki felt a little embarrassed.

She quickly took Koizumi from Sosuke's arms. Koizumi only whimpered twice, found a comfortable position in her mother's familiar embrace, and continued to sleep.

"What happened to Lady Mikoto?" Hazuki asked softly.

"Much better, he's eating now."

Sosuke walked to the freezer, took out a bottle of ice water, pressed it directly to his forehead, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"That's fine, let's do it together."

Hazuki carried Koizumi onto the tatami mat and settled her in.

She picked up a clean towel, wet it, and wrung it out.

"Boss, wipe your sweat. Your clothes are soaked."

Hazuki walked up to Sousuke and handed him the towel.

Sosuke took the towel and wiped his face and neck haphazardly.

"There are spare shirts upstairs. You can go change into one; I'll wash the other one for you."

Although Kyouri is a shop, there is also a lounge on the second floor where Sosuke occasionally takes a break.

"Okay. It's so uncomfortable to have clothes sticking to my body."