On the living room floor, there was hardly any space to step.
Small and large gift boxes were piled into several small mountains, their colorful wrapping paper shimmering under the lights. Amidst these "peaks," a red figure was darting back and forth.
"Minato! Look at this! What do you think of this?"
Kushina Uzumaki held a finely crafted cloth tiger, suddenly thrusting it in front of Minato Namikaze. Her eyes, usually full of spirit, were now filled with anxiety. "I saw this at the market a few days ago. I heard that little girl's name is Karin, right? Children should like soft things like this, don't they?"
Minato, holding Naruto who was currently blowing bubbles, smiled helplessly and was about to nod.
"No, no!"
Before Minato could even speak, Kushina shook her head and tossed the cloth tiger behind her. "That child suffered so much in the Grass Village; she's definitely more mature than most kids. If I give her such a childish toy, will she think I'm not respecting her?"
"Um... Kushina, actually..."
"Right! Clothes! Girls definitely like new clothes!"
Kushina rushed over to another pile of gift boxes like a whirlwind and pulled out a small pink kimono. "The fabric is silk, so it won't irritate the skin. But... is pink too tacky? Should we go with red? After all, it's the signature color of our Uzumaki Clan."
She muttered to herself while holding the poor kimono up to her own body, looking extremely excited.
Minato freed a hand and gently pressed his wife's shoulder.
"Kushina, calm down."
Minato's voice was gentle, carrying a soothing power. "No matter what gift you bring to see them, they will be very happy."
"But..."
Kushina stopped, turning to look at Minato. Her eyes were slightly red. "I... I've never met them. Since the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, I thought I was the only one left in this world."
She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of her clothes. "Now that I suddenly know there are still clansmen alive, and they're right there in the hospital... I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'm not good enough, and I'm afraid they won't like what I bring."
The usually fiery "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero" was now like a young bride meeting her in-laws for the first time, fraught with worry to the extreme.
Minato sighed, adjusted Naruto's position, and then reached out to pull Kushina into his arms.
"It's all right. As long as it's from you, they'll love it."
Minato whispered, "Because you are their only relative left in this world. For people who have survived such a hell, the bonds of blood are more precious than any gift."
Leaning against Minato's chest and listening to his steady heartbeat, Kushina's anxiety finally began to subside.
"Really?" she asked in a muffled voice.
"Really." Minato kissed the top of her head. "Besides, we can't move the whole house there, can we? Just pick the most practical items. As for the rest, there's plenty of time ahead."
Kushina sniffled and emerged from Minato's embrace, her face regaining its drive.
"Okay! I'll listen to you!"
She gestured toward the pile on the floor with a grand sweep of her arm. "Take those blood-replenishing medicinal herbs, and those few sets of clothes. Oh, and that... that ointment that makes skin look better! I heard they have many scars on their bodies..."
Her voice trailed off at the end, but her movements didn't stop.
Minato watched his wife's busy back, a warm smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
He knew Kushina wasn't just picking out gifts; she was trying to use these things to fill the void left in that mother and daughter's hearts for so many years.
...
Meanwhile, on Konoha's commercial street.
As the most prosperous area in the village, the shops here were a dazzling array.
Inside a high-end gift shop called "Children's Fun House."
"This pellet drum is nice. The sound is crisp and can soothe the mind."
Jiraiya held a pellet drum painted with the Konoha symbol, shaking it twice. He looked seriously at Tsunade beside him. "Though Karin has had a rough life, she's still a child. She should like this."
Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, brows furrowed, her eyes scanning the shelves with clear impatience.
"Too slow."
Tsunade glanced at the pellet drum in Jiraiya's hand and snorted coldly. "At the rate you're picking things one by one, we won't reach the hospital until dark."
"It's the thought that counts! Do you even understand?"
Jiraiya countered, "Giving a gift is about 'sincerity.' You have to consider the other person's needs..."
"Manager."
Tsunade completely ignored Jiraiya's babbling and pointed to an entire wall on the left. "This row, and that row over there—are they all things for girls?"
The manager froze for a moment, then instinctively nodded. "Ye... yes, Tsunade-sama. These are all the latest styles for the season. There are dolls, hair accessories, and..."
"Pack it all up."
Tsunade interrupted him, her tone as calm as if she were buying a head of cabbage.
"Huh?" The abacus in the manager's hand dropped to the floor with a clatter.
"What's with the 'huh'?"
Tsunade's brow furrowed, and her dominance as one of the Sannin leaked out instantly. "What? Afraid I can't afford it? Charge it to the Hokage building's account... no, charge it to my personal account. I saved up quite a bit from previous missions anyway."
"No, no, no! This humble one will pack it right away! Right away!"
Realizing what was happening, the manager's face instantly bloomed like a chrysanthemum as he turned and started shouting at the staff to pack everything frantically.
Jiraiya's hand holding the pellet drum froze in mid-air, his mouth twitching.
"Tsunade... you're being a bit too..."
"Too what?"
Tsunade turned her head and looked at him matter-of-factly. "We don't know what that child lacks. Since we don't know, we'll buy everything she might need and let her choose. The rest can be thrown away or given to others."
'Is this how rich people think?'
Gamakon, perched on Jiraiya's head, rolled his eyes and couldn't help but complain, 'Is this the legendary "Since I don't know what you like to eat, I'll order the entire menu"?'
"Shut up, you bratty toad."
Tsunade glared at Gamakon. "Grandmother Mito's clansmen have fallen on hard times and come to Konoha. If I, a descendant of the Senju Clan, couldn't even bear to part with this much, that would be a true disgrace."
At this point, Tsunade seemed to recall something and pointed to an expensive set of medical ninja tool models in the display case.
"Pack that up too. What if the child has a talent for medical ninjutsu? We should start her training early."
Jiraiya looked at the model, which even a Jonin might not be able to afford, and silently put his pellet drum back on the shelf.
"Fine, trying to compete in 'sincerity' with a wealthy woman is just asking for humiliation."
Jiraiya sighed, then put on a grinning face and leaned in closer to Tsunade. "Since we're buying so much anyway, one more item won't hurt, right? I see a limited edition deluxe version of 'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi' over there..."
"Get lost."
Tsunade was brief and to the point.
...
Half an hour later, at the entrance of the Konoha Hospital.
The midday sun was a bit blinding as people came and went through the hospital gates.
Two groups of people happened to meet at the bottom of the steps.
The scene was quite spectacular for a moment.
On the left was Minato Namikaze's family.
Minato held Naruto in one hand while carrying a large bundle on his back that was even taller than him, and he held two large baskets in his other hand.
Kushina walked ahead, her hands also busy as she cradled several exquisite gift boxes.
On the right were Tsunade and Jiraiya.
This group's style was even more exaggerated.
Behind Jiraiya followed four breathless shop assistants, each pushing a small cart piled high to the brim.
Tsunade walked at the very front with empty hands, a cool breeze following her, radiating an aura of a mature and powerful woman.
Gamakon lay on Jiraiya's shoulder, a piece of foxtail grass in his mouth, looking like he was enjoying the show.
The two groups stopped at the gate, staring at each other in surprise.
"Yo, Minato."
Jiraiya was the first to break the silence. He pointed to the massive bundle on Minato's back and joked, "Are you guys... moving house? Or do you plan on opening a branch store in the hospital?"
Minato gave a wry smile, but before he could speak, Kushina glared back first.
"Lord Jiraiya, you have the nerve to talk about us?"
Kushina pointed at the four carts behind Jiraiya, her mouth twitching. "Are you visiting a patient or restocking inventory? People would think you've bought out the entire Konoha Hospital."
"This is all Tsunade's doing."
Jiraiya immediately passed the buck, pointing to Tsunade beside him. "She said we had to give the kids the best, and ended up clearing out half the store by accident."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, and seeing the various bags and bundles in Kushina's hands, she let out a rare smile.
"It seems we're on the same wavelength."
Tsunade stepped forward and looked at Kushina's slightly nervous face. "What? Getting nervous?"
Kushina blushed, lowering her head in embarrassment. "After all... it's our first meeting. I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?"
Tsunade freed a hand and gave Kushina's shoulder a heavy pat. "You're both from the Uzumaki Clan; the same blood flows through your veins. That's enough. As for these things..."
She gestured toward the spectacular mountain of gifts behind her and then at the bundle on Minato's back.
"They're just material things meant to spruce up the atmosphere. What truly matters is your sincerity."
"The old lady Tsunade is right,"
Gamakon spat out the grass root and said lazily, "The stuff both sides brought combined could probably fill that hospital room to the ceiling. Forget visiting the patient; the mother and daughter won't even have a place to step. They'll probably think they're at a scene for fencing stolen goods."
The corners of Minato's mouth curled up. Naruto, in his arms, seemed to sense the adults' mood and waved his little hands, letting out a couple of "ee-ya" sounds.
The heavy and tense atmosphere was instantly lightened by Gamakon's complaint.
Minato adjusted the bundle on his back. "Since we're all here, let's head up together. I imagine they must be waiting anxiously."
The group made a grand procession through the lobby, drawing stares from surrounding doctors, nurses, and patients.
The Hokage himself was carrying a bundle, and the legendary Sannin were pushing carts.
Such a display was likely a first in the history of the Konoha Hospital.
Looking at the onlookers, Gamakon grinned and said to Minato, "Later, you can give them a commemorative banner with 'Miraculous Healing' embroidered on it."
Minato nodded, signaling that it was a fine idea.
Upon reaching the floor with the special care units, Tsunade waved her hand for the shop assistants to leave the items temporarily at the nurses' station, only taking a few light things in her hands.
Minato also put down the large bundle, letting Kushina carry only the tonics and clothes she had picked out first.
They arrived at the door of the hospital room.
Kushina's steps suddenly faltered.
She stared at the closed white wooden door, her hands shaking slightly and her breathing becoming rapid.
The bravado from downstairs vanished instantly, replaced by the panic of someone nearing home after a long absence.
"Minato..." She looked back at her husband.
Minato didn't say a word, only giving her a firm look before reaching out and gently grasping her cold palm.
"Go on."
Minato said softly, "We're all here with you."
Kushina took a deep breath, like a female warrior about to charge onto the battlefield, then suddenly raised her hand and pushed open the door.