Chapter 14: Birthday

At Yamanaka Flower Shop, Mrs. Yamanaka was still sitting in front of the shop. Looking at the sky, it seemed to be getting late. Why hadn't they returned yet?

Mrs. Yamanaka was a little worried, but soon, she saw her daughter's figure. Ino was being carried on the back of that same-age boy named Natsuwari, walking towards her. Seeing this, she was a bit stunned. Had something happened? Did Ino hurt her leg?

Thinking this, Mrs. Yamanaka quickly walked out of the flower shop to greet them.

"Mom, I'm back." Ino's eyes lit up when she saw Mrs. Yamanaka and called out immediately. Natsuwari also put Ino down at this time.

Mrs. Yamanaka breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see any injuries on Ino. Then she couldn't help but say, "You child, how could you let someone carry you?"

"Well, that, I couldn't walk anymore~" Ino acted coquettishly towards her mother.

"Couldn't walk? You must have been playing around on the way." Mrs. Yamanaka stated her guess.

Ino didn't say anything, her face slightly red as she turned her head away, looking like she had been caught.

"Sorry to trouble you." Mrs. Yamanaka looked at Natsuwari, who wasn't even out of breath, and was slightly surprised. He had good stamina.

"It's no trouble at all. I should thank Yamanaka-san for leading the way." Natsuwari said.

"See, Mom, even Natsuwari said so." Ino immediately felt much better about Natsuwari after hearing this.

Mrs. Yamanaka rolled her eyes at Ino and then said, "Don't be so formal. Just call her Ino. Anyway, wait a little longer. I'll decorate it for you. Don't refuse."

Natsuwari was silent for a moment before nodding. Since she had said so, he could only agree.

Soon, Mrs. Yamanaka came out with a bouquet of decorated carnations.

Natsuwari was a little stunned. He seemed to have only bought one.

"Here you go." Mrs. Yamanaka saw Natsuwari's hesitation and said, "Consider the rest as a birthday gift from me and Ino to your mother."

"Yes, Natsuwari, take it." Ino also said from the side.

"Thank you." Natsuwari took the flowers. "Then I'll take my leave."

"Natsuwari, see you at school tomorrow." Ino waved to Natsuwari at this time.

"Yes, see you at school."

Mrs. Yamanaka held Ino's hand and watched Natsuwari's figure, sighing. What a good child. It was just that... Mrs. Yamanaka's expression became a little strange. He didn't quite seem like a child.

The next moment, Mrs. Yamanaka was amused by her own thoughts. Ino's classmate wasn't a child, so could he be an adult?

Thinking this, Mrs. Yamanaka pulled Ino back into the shop. Although he didn't mind, she should still teach Ino a lesson. Otherwise, it would be too impolite to waste someone's time and then trouble them in the end.

At night, Mrs. Yamanaka told Yamanaka Inoichi, who had returned from a busy day, about what happened today.

After hearing this, Yamanaka Inoichi pondered and said, "I think I know him. He should be my classmate's son."

Mrs. Yamanaka immediately became interested and asked about it.

Yamanaka Inoichi thought for a while and said, "His father and mother were both my classmates. But his father should have passed away before he was born, and his mother should be working at the barbecue restaurant owned by Choza's family. Since we know each other, we should take care of him if we can. But I heard that she has a good work ethic and hasn't caused any trouble for Choza."

"I see." Mrs. Yamanaka sighed and said, "No wonder he's so sensible."

"It seems you like that little guy quite a bit." Yamanaka Inoichi couldn't help but say when he saw Mrs. Yamanaka like this.

"Of course, who doesn't like a sensible child?"

......

At Natsuwari's home.

Natsuwari had already set up the cake. The house had been cleaned up earlier, just waiting for his mother to come back.

Thinking this, Natsuwari formed hand seals again.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu."

After exchanging a glance with Natsuwari, the Shadow Clone went out. It was responsible for observing Sana's location, and Natsuwari would light the candles after receiving the notification.

As for waiting until midnight, forget it.

After a while, some information suddenly appeared in Natsuwari's mind, and he understood. The Shadow Clone had seen Sana returning and had dispersed itself.

Natsuwari opened the box. The cake inside was still intact. He lit the candles.

Then Natsuwari looked at the still bright room and, after thinking for a moment, drew the curtains. This way, there was a sense of atmosphere. Only the candlelight flickered and danced in the room.

Sana was walking towards her home as usual, thinking about what to make for dinner tonight. As for what special day it was today, she herself wasn't aware of it.

After all, it had been a long time since she had celebrated this day, and she had long stopped remembering it.

Hmm, little Natsuwari was now attending the Ninja Academy, so his energy consumption should have increased. She needed to make a good meal for him, Sana decided.

Thinking this, Sana arrived at the front door. Looking at the closed door, Sana didn't think much of it. At this time, Natsuwari was probably still playing outside.

So Sana skillfully took out the key, opened the lock, pushed open the door, and walked in.

The next moment, Sana froze. In the dim room, candlelight flickered, and under the light was a birthday cake she hadn't seen in a long time. And the only one who could have prepared all this seemed to be...

"Mom, happy birthday." Natsuwari, with a smile on his face, handed the flowers in his hand to Sana.

Sana blankly took the flowers and stood there, stunned.

"Mom, you can come and make a wish and blow out the candles." Natsuwari said, looking at the still burning candles.

The next moment, Natsuwari felt himself being tightly hugged, and then he felt the wetness on his shoulder. He couldn't help but be stunned.

Even though he had lived for more than twenty years in his past life, he still didn't quite understand why people cried at times like this. Although he could tell it was tears of joy, it shouldn't be so joyful just for a birthday, right?

Of course, whether he understood it or not, there was one thing Natsuwari did understand: at this moment, it was best to wait quietly, waiting for Sana to vent her emotions.

Seeing his mother like this, Natsuwari also made a decision. Every year on this day, he would come back and spend this day with his mother.

Sana wasn't crying simply because of the cake. It was just that at the moment she saw Natsuwari's blessings, looking at those flowers, all the pressure and perseverance of carrying this family alone for so many years instantly received the most perfect answer.

Her perseverance, her efforts, were all worth it. It was good that she didn't give up back then, good that she didn't leave with him and leave Natsuwari alone during the process. She was also glad that Natsuwari had always been so sensible. If he had been a mischievous child, she might have really broken down and not been able to persevere.

The tears at this moment were tears of release after so many years of suppression, tears of joy at finding the meaning of her perseverance for so many years.

Everything in the past was in the past. Now, what she wanted was to watch her child slowly grow up.

After a long time, Natsuwari still hadn't moved, quietly waiting for Sana to finish. But he looked at the candles and could only say softly,

"Mom, the candles are almost burned out."

"Yes, Mom has already made a wish, and the wish has already come true." Sana finally let go of Natsuwari and said gently.

"Then... make another wish that hasn't come true yet?" Natsuwari suggested after thinking for a moment.

Sana suddenly laughed and then said, "Okay."

Sana came to the cake, closed her eyes, and after a while, opened them and blew out the almost burned-out candles.

She hoped that little Natsuwari could live a safe and sound life, then find a virtuous and beautiful girlfriend, and preferably have a chubby grandchild while she was still alive!

(End of Chapter)