After leaving Orochimaru's residence and returning home, Ryun sat on the porch and began reading a ninjutsu scroll.
Asuka finished watering the flowers in the yard and moved closer to him.
Her son used to love reading manga, but now he always preferred scrolls, especially those related to ninja and ninjutsu training.
He no longer slept in, spending all his time training instead.
He used to occasionally go out to play with friends, but now he seemed to have cut off all social interactions.
"Son… don't you want to go out and play with your classmates? You should take a break sometimes. Isn't training every day a bit too monotonous?" Asuka tentatively asked.
"What break? Isn't it already summer vacation?" Ryun replied without looking up, still focused on the scroll.
"Mom means you shouldn't push yourself too hard… It's good to be ambitious, but you should also rest sometimes…"
Ryun raised an eyebrow and gave Asuka a strange look.
"Weren't you always the one telling me to stop being lazy and study more? Why are you saying the opposite now? I'm starting to wonder if you're really my mother…"
Ryun turned the tables and questioned her, and his last remark about "mixing things up" made Asuka doubt herself.
'That's right… Didn't I always hope he would work harder and study more? Now that he's actually listening, why am I…'
It wasn't just her son who had changed—she had changed too.
Before, she wondered if he was really her son, and now he was questioning if she was really his mother… Wasn't it the same logic?
People always change. No one stays the same forever, though the extent of the change varies…
Asuka felt like she had an epiphany!
"You should chat or go shopping with aunts and other mothers more often…" Ryun continued reading the scroll.
"I can't just go shopping or chat with them every day… They all have jobs…" Asuka muttered.
Thanks to Ryun's manuscript royalties, their family no longer struggled financially, and she didn't have to work in a stuffy factory during the hot summer.
But quitting her job left her feeling restless. Staying at home all day was boring, and she didn't know how to pass the time.
"You could grow flowers, plant herbs, or even open a small shop… Do some small business or something."
Ryun casually suggested ideas. His mother was just too idle. If she found something to do, she wouldn't keep nagging him.
"That's not a bad idea…" Asuka's eyes lit up.
"I'll go out later and see if there are any suitable small businesses to start."
Hearing his mother's interest in business, Ryun suddenly had an idea.
"Actually, I know two good small businesses. Do you want to try them?"
Asuka immediately became curious.
"What businesses? Tell me!"
"You could open a flower shop, mainly selling chrysanthemums, carnations, and lilies…"
"A flower shop! That sounds nice, but why focus on those flowers?" Asuka looked puzzled.
Ryun chuckled but didn't answer.
"What's the other business?"
Asuka thought a flower shop was a good idea but wanted to hear the second option.
"You could also open a clothing store or a garment factory, specializing in selling or making mourning clothes (black outfits)…"
"What?!"
Asuka was stunned for a moment before turning red with anger.
"You silly child, what kind of nonsense are you thinking about?"
Asuka pinched Ryun's ear and scolded him.
Chrysanthemums were for the dead, carnations were for the sick, and black clothes were worn at funerals…
Both businesses were depressing… Asuka couldn't help but hit him.
"Ow ow ow… That hurts…"
Ryun winced in pain and quickly apologized, making Asuka reluctantly let go of his ear.
With the Second Great Ninja War approaching, there would be plenty of deaths. If ordinary people wanted to make money without crossing "taboos," these two businesses were actually great opportunities…
"..."
Ryun felt wronged. Why did he get beaten for no reason?
"Making money… There's no shame in it, Mom. You're overreacting!" Ryun rubbed his ear, looking resentful.
"Make money? Who would buy such depressing things now?" Asuka glared at him.
"They'll come soon… First, figure out the supply chain. By the time your shop is ready, you might not have to worry about sales…"
Ryun smirked mysteriously, only for Asuka to pinch his cheek and scold him again.
In the end, Asuka partially accepted his suggestion and thought a flower shop was feasible. Since she liked flowers, she decided to open one.
However, she firmly rejected the idea of selling chrysanthemums or white flowers.
Watching Asuka leave the house, Ryun muttered under his breath:
"Foolish mother… You'll soon realize which flowers sell best!"
Three days later.
A series of sharp thunderclaps echoed near a remote river.
"Chidori!"
Ryun gripped lightning in his hand, his chakra bursting from his feet as he charged forward at an incredible speed. His electrified blue palm pierced precisely into the target.
"Ryun…"
A girl's voice called from a distance. Sensing someone approaching, Ryun's three-tomoe Sharingan instantly faded.
Whether it was the joy of mastering an A-rank jutsu or seeing the visitor, Ryun grinned widely and waved energetically at Kushina, who was running toward him.
"You really are here!" Kushina said, seeing his happy expression.
"Didn't you say you'd come find me in two days? Why did it take so long?"
Ryun walked up to her, circled her once, and praised:
"Wow… That's a really pretty dress! I've never seen you wear it at school before."
Flattered by his words, Kushina blushed. She had deliberately worn this new dress today.
"If I didn't come, wouldn't you come find me? What kind of boy are you? You want to learn techniques but wait for others to come to you?"
Kushina put her hands on her hips, pretending to be annoyed, her proud expression looking adorable.
"Isn't it the same? Next time, I'll go find you, okay?"
"Hmph… That's more like it!" Kushina snorted, her face full of satisfaction.
Soon, a charred, smoking tree caught her attention.
"I just saw you holding a ball of lightning!"
The tree had a huge black hole burned through it, proving what she saw wasn't an illusion. Ryun seemed to have mastered a powerful ninjutsu!
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