The new year arrived with the warmth of a fresh start, and Naruto and Hana woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains. With smiles on their faces, they rushed to the bathroom to freshen up, their excitement bubbling over for the day ahead. As they finished and stepped out, Hana was dressed in a pink floral-patterned kimono, the soft hues matching her gentle nature. Naruto, ever the little mischief-maker, wore a moon-patterned haori hakama, giving him an air of elegance beyond his years. Together, they made their way downstairs, where their mother, Kushina, was already waiting.
Kushina, in her red kimono, greeted them with a bright smile. "Happy New Year, Naruto, Hana! Here, these red cards are for you two, and this is a gift from me," she said, handing them each a red card and a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Naruto and Hana eagerly opened their gifts, their faces lighting up with delight. Kushina had put a lot of thought into each present, and her warmth and love were evident in the carefully chosen items. For Naruto, the gift box contained a red scarf with a swirl pattern, symbolizing the Uzumaki clan's heritage. There was also a small, hand-carved wooden figure of a fox, representing his connection to the Nine-Tails. It was a token of his bond with the village's protector, a subtle yet meaningful gesture.
For Hana, Kushina had chosen a soft, pink hair ribbon, intricately woven with tiny flowers, symbolizing her love and care for her daughter. Along with the ribbon, there was a small, silver locket with a picture of their family inside, capturing a moment in time that would forever be treasured. The gifts were not just objects, but expressions of Kushina's hopes for her children—her desire for them to grow up surrounded by love, feeling cherished and always connected to their heritage.
Naruto and Hana looked up at their mother, their hearts full of gratitude. "Thank you, Mom! Happy New Year!" they said in unison, giving her tight hugs.
Kushina smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling. "I'm so happy you like them. You two mean the world to me."
But Naruto wasn't done yet. With a grin, he pulled out two more gift boxes from behind his back. "Mom, Hana, I also have gifts for you both," he said proudly, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Kushina raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Huh? Gifts for us? But where did you get the money for these?"
Naruto shrugged casually, though his cheeks flushed with the tiniest hint of embarrassment. "Well, I used some of my shadow clone technique to transform into an adult and started a business. It's a dessert shop... and it's booming now, so I guess I'm rich."
Kushina and Hana stared at him, completely shocked. The idea of Naruto starting a business at his age was unfathomable, let alone one that had become successful so quickly.
"Wait, you started a business?!" Hana blinked in disbelief, her eyes wide with astonishment. "A cupcake shop? You're really... rich now?"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, a cupcake shop! It's super famous all over the place. I make the best cupcakes in the village, and it's going really well!" His grin grew as he handed them their gift boxes. "So, these are from me, made possible by my own money."
Kushina, still processing the shock, looked at him with a mixture of pride and disbelief. "You really did all that... for us?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
Naruto nodded again. "I wanted to give you something special for New Year's, something I worked hard for."
Hana smiled, her cheeks a little pink as she opened the gift box Naruto had handed her. Inside, she found a sleek, delicate sword with a beautifully etched hilt, its blade light but sharp, perfect for her. Along with it, there was a hairpin made of silver, shaped like a blooming flower, and a small orange fox statue, carved from wood with incredible detail, representing both her connection to Naruto's spirit animal and her strength. "This is amazing, Naru! A sword, a hairpin, and a fox statue? You really thought of everything!" she said, her voice filled with joy.
Kushina opened her own box, and inside was a stunning, orange and red flower-patterned gown. The fabric was luxurious, with intricate stitching that seemed to glow in the light, a perfect reflection of her beauty. Her heart swelled with emotion as she ran her fingers along the soft material. "Naruto... this is beautiful," she whispered, her voice thick with affection. "You really outdid yourself."
Naruto smiled, happy that they loved the gifts. "I'm glad you like them!" he said, his grin never fading.
As the family embraced, the new year began with love, surprise, and a little bit of magic from Naruto's unexpected business success.
---
Author's Note
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider sending power stones and golden tickets to support my writing. Your encouragement means the world to me!