Sometimes, the smallest gift determines whether destiny opens its door… or slams it shut.
"Well, well… Itachi," Ayato said lightly, leaning back in his chair with a knowing half-smile, "is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
Itachi stared at him for a moment, lips parting as if to protest.
"Ayato, about what you just—"
The words stalled in his throat.
Because Itachi understood something very clearly.
The man in front of him was not ordinary.
He was the one who had untangled his own inner doubts.
The one who had guided Shisui when even the clan's elders failed.
And the one Shisui himself had admitted was the source of those insights.
Arguing with Ayato now would only make him look childish.
"…Never mind," Itachi said quietly after a pause. "Today… let's leave it for another time. I'll come again."
He glanced toward Izumi behind him.
She was still visibly dazed, cheeks faintly pink, clearly not recovered from the emotional whiplash of meeting his mother so suddenly.
Today wasn't the right moment for serious discussions.
Besides…
The real battlefield wasn't here.
It was tonight's dinner.
His father, Uchiha Fugaku, was not an easy opponent.
With that thought, Itachi gave Ayato a small nod and turned to leave with Izumi.
Just as they reached the door—
"What does one usually bring when visiting someone's home for the first time?" Ayato asked casually, as if the question had simply slipped out.
Izumi froze.
Then her eyes lit up.
Right!
This was her first time visiting Itachi's home!
Shouldn't she prepare a gift?!
"…Um," she hesitated for half a second, then mustered her courage and turned back. "May I ask something?"
Ayato's lips curved slightly.
Business had just walked back through the door.
"What would you like to ask, Miss Uchiha Izumi?"
"I'd like to know… if it's a first visit, what kind of gift should I bring?" Izumi asked timidly, fingers nervously clasped together.
Ayato poured her a fresh cup of tea, steam curling gently upward.
"For a first visit," he said thoughtfully, "you should consider what the hosts value most."
"Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking," Izumi nodded eagerly.
"If it's Fierce-Eyed Fugaku," Ayato continued calmly, "what he probably wants most… is the continuation of the Uchiha bloodline."
He shot Izumi a deliberately mischievous glance.
"Ah?!"
Izumi froze.
Then realization hit her like lightning.
Her face instantly turned crimson.
Even in this world, kids matured fast enough to understand what that meant.
Itachi understood it too — and nearly choked on air.
"O-Of course," Ayato chuckled, waving his hand dismissively, "that's still far too early for you two."
Izumi nearly melted from embarrassment.
"You should focus more on Itachi's mother — Uchiha Mikoto."
"Mikoto…?" Izumi echoed softly.
She glanced toward Itachi, who suddenly realized with a faint pang of guilt that he didn't actually know his parents' preferences very well.
He'd always been focused on training, missions, and self-discipline.
Family details often slipped past him.
"If it's Mikoto, that's much easier," Ayato said gently.
"She likes flowers — especially beautiful ones."
"Flowers?"
Izumi's eyes sparkled as her thoughts immediately began racing.
What flowers were in season right now?
"For example," Ayato continued, "carnations from the Yamanaka flower shop. This is their best season — fresh, fragrant, and elegant. You could consider those."
The flower shop was a bit of a walk from here, but there was still plenty of time before dinner.
"Carnations…" Izumi murmured, mentally mapping the route already.
Ayato added helpfully, "Common bouquet numbers are five, six, ten, twelve, sixteen, eighteen, twenty, twenty-two, twenty-four, twenty-seven, thirty, or thirty-three. Choose whichever feels right to you."
"I see! Thank you very much, Boss Ayato!" Izumi bowed slightly, clearly energized.
After a moment's thought, Ayato added one more suggestion.
"It wouldn't hurt to bring a bottle of sake from the street market too — the one run by the Uchiha clan."
"That's a great idea!" Izumi nodded firmly, clenching her fists as if preparing for battle.
This was important.
Very important.
"Then," Ayato said pleasantly, "thank you for your patronage."
"Ah—right! How should I pay?" Izumi asked suddenly, remembering the shop rules.
"As per shop policy," Ayato replied with an easy smile, pointing toward the signboard, "anything you deem appropriate."
Izumi hesitated.
Then suddenly—
She dashed out of the shop.
Itachi blinked in surprise.
A few seconds later, Izumi rushed back in, holding a skewer of freshly bought tri-color dango.
"This will be my payment! Is that okay?" she asked eagerly.
Ayato accepted it with a satisfied smile.
"Of course. I'm very pleased with this payment."
"Then we'll be going, Big Brother Ayato!" Izumi waved cheerfully as she pulled Itachi along.
Itachi bowed politely before following her out, his expression somewhere between resigned and amused.
"Such good kids," Ayato murmured fondly as he took a bite of the dango.
Sweet. Soft. Comforting.
Just as he finished chewing—
[Ding.]
[Congratulations, Host. Two transactions completed.]
[Function 5 Progress: 4 / 10 transactions — 100 points awarded at 10.]
Ayato smiled faintly as the system notification appeared.
Four down.
Only six more to go.
And somehow, business was getting… unexpectedly lively.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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