civilwarnovels Chapter 359: For the Sake Of
Chapter 359: For the Sake Of
After hearing Naruto's words, Sakura was stunned for a moment, and then an expression that was both annoyed and amused appeared on her face.
She took a few steps forward, lightly punched Naruto's shoulder, and scolded him playfully:
"Honestly! I was totally fooled by your line back then about 'not being good at preaching or comforting people'!"
"I didn't expect your silver tongue to be so sharp."
Naruto chuckled, then raised a hand to scratch his head, a look of slight pride on his face. "People improve, you know!"
Sakura rolled her eyes at him, but the smile in them couldn't be hidden.
She stopped paying attention to her 'duplicitous' husband and turned around, looking at her two sons who were now standing obediently to the side.
Her gaze first fell on Shinachiku.
Although she had wanted to lecture him just now, Naruto's interruption, combined with seeing her son's guilty yet forced-calm expression, made her heart soften by half.
Sakura stepped forward, reached out to pat Shinachiku's shoulder, and her voice softened:
"Shinachiku, it's okay for boys to be a bit lively."
She glanced at Taichi, who was standing quietly nearby, and continued to Shinachiku,
"But you have to get along well with your siblings, okay?"
"If your allowance isn't enough, just ask Mom directly."
She looked at Taichi again and added:
"Taichi too."
Sakura specifically mentioned: "Your Mom Hikari really has no concept of money. If you give her too much, she might forget where she put it a moment later, or she might not know how much to give you at all."
"That's why your father doesn't feel comfortable letting her give you pocket money directly; he's afraid she'll give it without keeping track, leading you to spend it recklessly."
"So, if you run out of pocket money or want to buy something, just ask me or your father directly. Remember?"
Sakura instructed them seriously.
Hearing his mother say this, Shinachiku's eyes darted around as if he had remembered something.
First, with great 'loyalty,' he stuffed the box of tempura in his hand into Taichi's hand next to him and said 'generously,' "Here, Taichi, you eat first!"
Taichi was stunned for a moment. He looked at the tempura in his hand, then at the suddenly 'generous' Shinachiku. A flash of doubt crossed his eyes, but he said nothing and silently took it.
Wait, I was the one who bought this in the first place.
Then, under Sakura's surprised gaze, Shinachiku pulled out a small stack of neatly folded banknotes from his pocket.
Holding up the money, he looked at Sakura with an 'I'm a good boy' expression and said:
"Mom, no need! Dad... already gave me some just now!"
As he spoke, he even shook the stack of money specifically, as if to prove his 'financial resources were ample' and he didn't need to apply for extra.
"!!!"
As soon as these words came out, the smile on Naruto's face instantly froze.
His blue eyes widened suddenly, looking at his 'father-betraying' son in disbelief.
'Ugh, damn you... you brat, you actually sold me out!'
Kiba, who was nearby, took in the whole scene. Seeing Naruto's expression instantly switch to that of an 'old father backstabbed by his son,' a very bad feeling immediately rose in his heart.
Experience told him that this was not a place to linger.
He made a split-second decision and grabbed Tamaki, who was still out of the loop and thinking the father-son interaction was quite interesting. He whispered urgently, "Tamaki, let's go! Quickly!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Tamaki was somewhat bewildered.
"Don't ask, just go."
Without another word, Kiba pulled his wife and quickly slipped into another side path, instantly disappearing into the crowd of the festival. His agility was no less than it had been in his younger years.
"Oh?"
Sakura let out a meaningful syllable from her nose. Her eyebrows arched slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved into a half-smile, but her gaze made Naruto feel a chill down his spine.
"I remember..."
Sakura spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice not high, yet carrying the pressure of an impending storm.
"Naruto, I remember every household expense is accounted for."
She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared intently into Naruto's somewhat flickering eyes.
"Which fund did the money you just gave the kids come from?"
"It couldn't be..."
Sakura drew out her words.
"...that you used 'public property' that shouldn't be touched?"
"No, absolutely not."
Naruto's scalp felt numb under Sakura's scrutinizing gaze, and he waved his hands frantically.
"Public is public, private is private. I still have that much principle."
"Besides, I don't care for that bit of money in the village accounts at all."
His source of income was mainly from writing books like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West.
There were also the war reparations given to him personally by the four major nations and dozens of small nations. Naruto split the proceeds with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire on a 1:99 basis.
Guess who took one share and who took ninety-nine?
Of course, 'the romantic ninjutsu tales of shimura' and its companion piece, 'The Dashing Tales of Sarutobi,' were both written under another pseudonym.
That royalty money was Naruto's secret stash.
The income of Naruto and his wives was all openly recorded within the family. Although there was no real need to hide a secret stash, Naruto still enjoyed the thrill of it.
Occasionally, he would buy a small gift for his family or give the kids pocket money and such.
"Pfft, this is the first time I've seen you make that face, Naruto!"
After hearing that Naruto hadn't misappropriated public funds, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.
Even after being Hokage for so many years, Naruto was still the same Naruto she knew!
Naruto never lied about things like this.
If he wanted to keep a little secret stash, so be it; it's not like he'd go out and spend it recklessly.
Taichi looked at his brother with schadenfreude.
Heh.
Daring to backstab Dad? You're in for a world of hurt!
Recalling the powerful strength Dad showed when he tore through the time tunnel before, Taichi felt it was lucky that Dad didn't hit his kids.
"Honestly, scaring me again. You guys must have colluded in secret, didn't you?"
Naruto 'affectionately' rubbed Shinachiku's head, then turned to Sakura with a relaxed, casual tone:
"By the way, Sakura, I remember a large new stationery bookstore opened over by the festival's commercial street. They say they've stocked many of the latest editions of books like 'Five Years of Ninja Exams, Three Years of Mock Tests'."
"Since I see Shinachiku has so much energy lately, he must have plenty of drive for his studies too. I'll go pick out a few pounds... oh no, I mean buy a few 'boxes' of suitable exam papers and exercise sets for him."
Shinachiku's face paled in horror as he tried to awaken paternal love: "Dad!"
"Dad, Daddy! I was wrong, I was really wrong! I shouldn't have blabbed. I'll give you back the pocket money! I'll definitely be good from now on!"
Shinachiku quickly clung to Naruto's arm, beginning to 'wail' and 'beg for mercy' without a shred of dignity.
Naruto gave him a cold glance, feigning indifference.
'You're even calling me Daddy to beg for mercy?'
'Truly spineless!'
'I'll buy you some exercise sets later to help you grow a backbone.'
Sakura watched the 'clash' between father and son, shaking her head helplessly, but her eyes were full of laughter.
Of course, she wouldn't really let Naruto buy several 'boxes' of test papers for the child.
"Alright, alright."
Sakura stepped in to mediate, pulling Naruto back.
"The festival isn't over yet; we can talk about homework later. For now, go clean your dirty hands and faces, and then..."
She looked at Naruto and winked.
"Shall we go watch the fireworks together? I heard they're especially beautiful this year."
It was back then, right before the fireworks bloomed, that she had been brave once, and then she had gained this beautiful life she had now.
Loving Book So Far? Check Out 30+ Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/FictionOP