"What a shame, not even a little reserved for a young lady."
Mito gave Kushina a disapproving look. All these years of raising her felt like a waste.
"Grandma, I'm always your good girl," Kushina purred, snuggling close to Mito.
"Alright already, you'll shake Grandma to bits!"
Mito gently tapped Kushina's forehead, sending her slightly stumbling back.
It had been a while since she last checked on Kushina—she was practically full-grown now.
She had already mastered all the sealing techniques she needed.
"You two sit, I'll clean up first," Misaki said, rising from the table.
Kushina dutifully got up to help.
"Grandma, let me go with you later," Tsunade spoke up, sensing that something was off, though she couldn't quite figure out what.
"I can manage alone." Mito smiled politely as she declined, knowing Tsunade still had official duties to handle.
"It's fine, I can go later. My work isn't that urgent," Tsunade insisted, unsettled by her own uncertainty.
"Grandma hasn't gotten so old I need an escort. You focus on your work."
"Then how about Ginji comes along?"
"Will you come out with Great-Gran later, Little Ginji?" Mito refused again—not because she sensed anything, but simply because she knew Tsunade had more important things than keeping her company.
"Okay."
Ginji readily agreed, nodding without hesitation and walking over to stand beside Mito from where Kawaki sat.
"It's nice having Ginji with you."
"We won't tag along then."
Kawaki cut in before Tsunade could protest further.
"Fine then."
"Just make sure Ginji behaves for Great-Gran, alright?" Kawaki added.
"Mom, I will," Ginji obediently nodded again, leaning against Mito happily.
Having been raised mostly by Mito since childhood, Ginji naturally leaned heavily on her.
"Grandma, don't buy him too many snacks."
Tsunade couldn't resist reminding them, as she usually did—Mito's soft spot for the grandkids was legendary.
"Of course not! Do you think I need lessons from you?" Mito snapped impatiently, clearly not taking the warning seriously at all.
"Here, drink some tea."
By now, Misaki and Kushina had finished cleaning the table, bringing over tea and fruits.
The family resumed their warm conversation around the table, reminiscing about the past and sharing present joys, their laughter never stopping.
An hour later, the fruit was gone and the tea long finished.
Kawaki and Tsunade soon got ready to leave—they both had work to attend to.
"Grandma, we're off now," Kawaki stood up to say goodbye.
"Yeah, go do your thing," Mito waved without getting up.
"I'll have Nawaki bring Ginji back home tonight."
"Grandma, see you later," Tsunade rose with Kawaki, waving goodbye to her son.
"Bye, Mama and Dad."
Ginji watched them leave, looking visibly brighter after they were gone.
"Are you afraid of them or something?"
Nawaki could deeply relate to Ginji's situation—it reminded him so much of his own childhood.
A faint smile tugged at Nawaki's lips as he began teasing Ginji.
"Sounds like you're not afraid either, Uncle?"
Ginji admitted freely, unashamed and unfazed.
But a single counter-question left Nawaki extremely embarrassed.
He'd really shot himself in the foot this time.
"I…"
"Not even a little cute. Uncle won't play with you anymore."
Thinking it through, Nawaki still couldn't bring himself to say he wasn't afraid—not even he would believe that.
He stood up and roughly ruffled Ginji's hair before turning to leave.
"Just picking on kids again."
"You smelly uncle."
Ginji grabbed at his messed-up hair and muttered complaints softly.
"Haha, ignore him."
"Let your auntie help."
Having enjoyed the spectacle, Misaki stepped in to fix Ginji's hair.
"I'm heading out now."
Kushina couldn't stay put for long—if Minato wasn't coming home, she saw no reason to stay indoors either.
"Mm."
Mito gave a soft acknowledgment, and Kushina disappeared shortly after.
"Grandma, I'll be going to the lab now too."
"If you come back at noon, I'll cook lunch."
Misaki clearly embodied the ideal wife and mother—always thoughtful toward those above and below her.
"No need. You focus on your work."
"At noon, I'll just grab something quick with Ginji outside."
Mito wasn't the strict mother-in-law type who'd make Misaki go through unnecessary trouble.
"Okay then, I'm off."
"Ginji, bye-bye."
Misaki gently pinched Ginji's cheek before gradually walking away.
"Great-Gran, should we depart soon too?"
Ginji looked up at Mito, his eyes clear and bright.
"Not yet. Let's get some money first with Great-Gran."
Holding Ginji's hand, Mito walked toward the bedroom—no way to go out without cash.
"Don't need it. I have mine."
Ginji lightly pulled away from Mito's grip and proudly took out his small wallet from his pocket.
He unzipped it fully, revealing all the pocket money he'd saved over time.
"Wow, so much!!"
Mito pretended to be surprised, but the amount inside the tiny wallet was already unimaginably huge for an ordinary kid.
"Told you! Ginji's been saving this for ages."
Flattered by Mito's reaction, Ginji swelled with confidence, feeling like the richest kid in Konoha right now.
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That proud little look? Pure tsundere.
"Keep saving. Great-Gran will give you more later."
"You've probably bought plenty of snacks for Aoi already, haven't you?"
Mito patted Ginji's head and followed with a playful jab.
"Not that often actually."
In an instant, Ginji's face flushed red. Although he hadn't denied it outright, he clearly felt slightly awkward.
"Not that often means how many times exactly?"
Mito kept a smile playing on her lips, unwilling to let Ginji off the hook as she continued her questioning while walking.
"Just… not that often."
"Aww come on, Great-Gran, stop asking!"
How many times had he bought things for Aoi? Ginji could barely remember at this point—he could only act cute to get through this.
"Alright, alright. I won't ask anymore."
Mito finished speaking and took Ginji's small hand. The two talked and laughed while walking toward the bedroom.
She opened a small drawer on the dressing table—this was where Mito kept spare cash—and said, "Here's one, here's another."
"Enough?"
She handed Ginji two of the highest denomination notes from inside.
"Enough, enough! Thank you Great-Gran!"
Ginji didn't refuse. He accepted the bills, folded them neatly, and placed them into his little wallet.
He had a rough understanding of Mito's wealth.
He'd occasionally heard Tsunade mention that Great-Gran held deeds to an entire commercial district in Konoha. Though he didn't grasp the full extent, he understood it meant immense wealth.
"Let's go too. Leave your uncle alone to watch the house."
Mito casually pocketed some money and put the rest away.
"Okay."
Ginji eagerly reached out and took Mito's hand, and the two walked out the door hand in hand.
"Nawaki, take good care of the house."
As they passed the martial arts training hall, they saw Nawaki doing warm-up exercises. Mito called out at once.
"Got it, Grandma."
...
Naruto: Starting from Pursuing Tsunade
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