Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 227 Afternoon at the Delightful Place

The lounge on the second floor.

It's not usually occupied, but Hazuki keeps it very clean.

Sosuke walked to the wooden wardrobe and opened the door. Inside hung several clean spare shirts and trousers.

He lowered his head and looked at his own body.

After a bone marrow replacement and the injection of vortex life factors, his muscles were well-defined and full, with a resilient tension subtly emanating from beneath his skin. It was a symbol of overflowing vitality.

Sosuke even felt that his current body, even if cut by an ordinary kunai, would probably close automatically without bleeding more than a few drops.

"I just sweat too easily."

Sosuke muttered something to himself.

My metabolism is so fast that I'm covered in sweat after just a few steps in the middle of summer.

He walked to the sink in the corner and turned on the tap.

Cool water gushed out.

He scooped up some water and scrubbed his face and neck vigorously. The cool water washed away the sticky heat.

He grabbed a towel and dried himself haphazardly, then casually pulled a white linen short-sleeved shirt from the closet and put it on.

Linen is a bit rough, but it is very breathable.

He walked to the window and pushed it open a crack.

A gentle breeze and the sound of cicadas wafted over me.

There was also the sound of water.

It came from below.

In the backyard on the first floor, Hazuki was rolling up her sleeves and washing the white shirt that Sousuke had taken off.

The cool water flowed, washing over the fabric.

Hazuki poured in some soapberry powder and kneaded it carefully.

A layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She turned her head and wiped her cheek with the fabric on her shoulder. A few strands of hair fell down and clung to her sweaty neck.

The clothes were washed and rinsed quickly.

Hazuki hung the shirt on a bamboo pole in the yard to dry. A gentle breeze blew by, carrying with it a fresh scent of soapberry.

She wiped her hands and went back into the inner room.

Koizumi was fast asleep on the tatami mat, her little belly rising and falling with each breath.

Hazuki gently covered her daughter's belly button. Then, she went to the kitchen.

I took a few plump green plums out of the freezer, chopped them, and mashed them into a paste. I added ice water and a little honey to make a glass of chilled green plum water.

She placed the cup on the tray and carried the tray upstairs.

The door was ajar.

Hazuki took off her slippers, leaving only white tabi socks, and quietly walked inside.

Sosuke was enjoying the breeze by the window.

"Boss, I've brought you a glass of plum juice. It'll cool you down in the summer."

"Um.

""

Sosuke turned his head to the side.

"Have you washed the clothes?"

"It's washed. I'll hang it out to dry in the yard; in this weather, it'll be dry in half an hour."

Hazuki picked up the glass of chilled plum water and brought it to Sousuke's lips.

Sosuke took a sip.

Sweet, sour, and icy cold.

"It tastes good," Sosuke commented.

"I added honey, so it won't be too sour," Hazuki said softly, putting down her cup.

Sosuke drank it all in one gulp.

Hazuki put the cup back on the tray and prepared to wash it.

"Hazuki".

Sosuke suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Hazuki stopped moving.

"Is the shop not busy today?" Sosuke asked.

"A sign for lunch break has been put up."

Hazuki answered softly, her heart starting to race.

"That means no one will bother us."

Sosuke exerted a little force.

Hazuki fell down and landed in his arms.

"Boss————"

Hazuki's cheeks instantly flushed red.

You look beautiful today.

Sosuke's gaze fell on her cheeks. They were glistening with sweat from her work.

He reached out and picked up a strand of wet hair clinging to her cheek with his fingertips, tucking it behind her ear.

Hazuki's voice was barely audible.

"I'm glad you like it."

Her body was very soft and docile, like a ball of water.

Sosuke didn't say anything more.

I don't know how much time passed.

The wind blowing against my skin brought a touch of coolness.

Hazuki nestled in Sousuke's arms.

Her long hair was disheveled, and her breathing was shallow. Her floral dress was pushed up to her waist. Her skin was covered with fine beads of sweat.

"Are you tired? Take a nap," Sosuke asked softly.

"A little bit————"

Hazuki's cheek was pressed against his chest.

"I'm not going to sleep anymore, I have to open the shop this afternoon."

Sousuke smiled.

He kissed the woman in his arms.

This woman was like a glass of warm water. Calm, thirst-quenching, and non-aggressive, allowing him to completely relax.

-

"I won't be going back to the manor for dinner tonight."

"Why?"

Hazuki blinked, not quite understanding.

"This weather is so hot!"

Sosuke said slowly and deliberately.

"Let's make some cold noodles tonight."

Hazuki's eyes lit up instantly.

"yes!"

Her voice even sounded a bit lighter.

"I'll go buy some fresh cucumbers later! There's also some buckwheat noodles that I just made this morning in the freezer."

"Um.

""

Sosuke nodded.

"Knock knock knock".

Just then, there was a knock on the door downstairs.

"Hazuki-neechan! Open the door!"

It was Maki's voice.

"I'm here to help."

Hazuki was startled and quickly sat up from Sousuke's arms, frantically straightening her clothes.

"Oh dear, Maki's back. I—I have to go downstairs."

Her face turned as red as a boiled shrimp.

Sosuke, on the other hand, remained quite calm.

He slowly stood up and put on his clothes.

"Don't panic."

Sousuke ruffled Hazuki's hair.

"Go wash your face. Then go downstairs and open the door."

"yes----"

Hazuki hurriedly ran towards the washbasin.

The tap was turned on full blast, and the water gushed out.

Hazuki scooped up some cold water and splashed it on her face.

She looked up at the mirror.

Her cheeks were flushed, even her earlobes were pink, and her messy hair was wet and stuck to her temples.

She picked up a dry towel and wiped her face.

"Boss, I'm going downstairs."

"Go."

Hazuki walked down from the second floor and quickly arrived at the store entrance.

"Here it comes!"

With a "click," the bolt on the wooden door was pulled open.

As soon as the door opened, a wave of heat hit us.

Maki stood outside the door, carrying several heavy account books in her hands, her forehead covered in sweat.

"Hazuki-neechan, why did you lock the door?"

Maki squeezed into the store, enjoying the cool air conditioning that hit her face.

"It's so hot!"

"Ah—that—"

Hazuki felt a little guilty and put her hands behind her back.

"I was washing clothes in the backyard just now, and I locked the door because I was worried that a thief might break in."

Maki placed the ledger on the counter.

She turned her head and gave Ye Yue a strange look.

As a reserve ninja who has received professional training, Maki's observational skills are no longer those of the little girl who used to serve dishes.

She sniffed.

"Hazuki-neechan, why do you have such a strange smell?"

Furthermore, Hazuki's skirt had slight wrinkles, and the buttons at the neckline seemed to be fastened incorrectly, making it look somewhat messy.

Hazuki's body froze instantly.

Her heart skipped a beat, her mind went blank, and she had no idea how to make up a lie.

"Squeak"

The sound of footsteps echoed from the wooden staircase.

Sosuke slowly walked down.

"The air conditioner on the second floor seems to be broken."

Sosuke walked to the freezer, took out a bottle of ice water, and complained.

"It's so hot up there you can't stand it. I just took a shower."

He unscrewed the bottle cap, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp of water. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his expression was so natural that there wasn't a trace of his true feelings.

Maki nodded in sudden realization.

"No wonder Hazuki-nee's face is so red, did she get hot when she went up to deliver water?"

"Yes—yes. It's too stuffy upstairs."

Hazuki quickly got off the donkey, her back already covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

She glanced at Sosuke furtively.

This man lies as naturally as drinking water.

"Boss, this is the bill for the ore that was shipped back from the Land of Lightning last month."

Maki stopped worrying about the taste and opened the ledger.

Would you like to take a look?

Sosuke glanced at the densely packed numbers and waved his hand.

"I won't look."

He walked to the rattan chair behind the counter and sat down.

"Take a break today. Don't talk to me about numbers."

Maki nodded.

"Okay. I'll take the ledger back to the manor and have Rena check it tonight."

Sosuke hummed in agreement and closed his eyes.

"Hazuki, didn't you say you were going to make cold noodles? Maki can have dinner with us too."

"Oh dear, I forgot!"

Hazuki seemed to awaken from a dream.

"I'll go buy it right away. Maki, could you watch over Izumi for me? She's still sleeping in the inner room."

"No problem, leave it to me."

evening.

The sun has set. The air still retains the warmth of the day.

[At the sweet spot], the wooden door is half-closed.

On the tatami mats in the inner room, there was a small table.

A glassmaker's bowl is placed in the center, filled with crystal-clear ice cubes and splashed water.

The buckwheat noodles were soaked in ice water, emitting a faint Buddhist aroma.

Next to it were several small dishes. There were finely shredded cucumber, golden egg strips, and okra tossed with sesame seeds.

A small bowl of dark dipping sauce, exuding the savory sweetness of bonito flakes and soy sauce.

This is the taste of summer.

"It's a shame we've started eating."

Maki clasped her hands together and eagerly picked up a mouthful of noodles with her chopsticks.

She dipped the noodles in the sauce and slurped them into her mouth.

"Wow! It feels so refreshing! Hazuki-neechan's cooking is getting better and better!"

Maki squinted her eyes contentedly.

Hazuki sat to the side, feeding Koizumi a small spoonful of egg custard. Hearing the praise, she smiled gently.

"Eat more if you like it. There's plenty of noodles in the kitchen."

Sosuke also picked up his chopsticks.

He picked up a pinch of buckwheat noodles, and then scooped out a large piece of green wasabi from the dipping sauce dish.

It's made from ground wasabi, and it's extremely spicy.

"Boss, you've put in too much, haven't you?" Maki kindly reminded him.

"I just love this flavor."

Sosuke said this with concern.

He picked up a noodle and started eating it.

Two seconds later.

Sosuke stopped chewing.

His brows furrowed sharply, and the chopsticks in his hand hovered in mid-air.

A pungent, spicy sensation shot straight to my head, then pierced my eyes through my nasal cavity.

His eyes quickly reddened, and tears uncontrollably welled up.

"Cough—cough cough!"

Sosuke turned his head away, covered his nose, and coughed violently.

The shipment overturned. This batch of wasabi was much more potent than he had imagined.

"Drink water quickly."

Hazuki quickly put down Koizumi's bowl and handed her a glass of iced tea.

Looking at Sosuke's disheveled appearance, she wanted to laugh, but dared not laugh out loud, and could only purse her lips.

Maki wasn't so polite.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Maki laughed mercilessly.

"Boss, are you sober now? I told you you put in too much."

Sosuke took the teacup and poured half a cup of ice water down his throat to suppress the spiciness.

He coughed until his eyes were red, and even the eye patch on his left eye was a little crooked.

"This batch of wasabi is not up to standard."

Sosuke wiped his eyes and seriously shifted the blame.

"It's too spicy and doesn't have any layered texture."

Hazuki poured him another full glass of iced tea.

After dinner.

Maki tidied up the accounts and miscellaneous items.

"Boss, it's a shame I went back to the manor first."

"6

"Okay. Be careful on the road."

Sosuke leaned against the wall, a toothpick between his teeth.

"Yes."

Maki waved and ran into the night.

The shop fell silent again. The occasional chirping of cicadas drifted in from outside.

Koizumi had finished eating and was lying on the tatami mat, playing with a cloth tiger by herself.

Hazuki was washing dishes in the kitchen. The sound of running water was loud and clear.

Sosuke walked over and gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Hazuki leaned back as she did so.

"Boss—the dishes aren't finished washing yet," she said softly.

"Every time I'm in a hurry."

Sosuke buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent.