Chapter 274: ...the shopping street

The next morning, Fourth Mizukage's residence.

"Ryosuke, accompany me shopping, won't you?"

Mizunuki Ren gently hugged Ryosuke's shoulders; anyone who saw this lovely, obedient appearance couldn't help but have their heart soften.

Unfortunately...

Hearing Ren's coquettish behavior, Mizunuki Ryosuke's expression changed drastically.

Mentioning Mizunuki Ren, in most cases, she could be considered a candidate for a "perfect girlfriend" in Ryosuke's heart.

But there was only one thing that happened that would make Mizunuki Ryosuke avoid Mizunuki Ren at all costs.

And this thing was also Mizunuki Ren's greatest hobby.

That is—shopping!

Yes, the thing that made the dignified Fourth Mizukage change color at the mention of it was shopping! And it was limited only to accompanying Mizunuki Ren shopping!

With Mizunuki Ryosuke's current financial resources and status, he was certainly not afraid of spending money.

It was just that he simply couldn't endure this kind of "torture."

Yes, it was a kind of "torture."

For Ren, the purpose of shopping wasn't to buy anything; it was simply to "shop."

Ren enjoyed the process of shopping; as for whether she would buy anything, it wasn't important.

Most of the time, Ren's choice was—to not buy a single thing.

Because she didn't lack anything at all.

All of Mizunuki Ren's food, clothing, and daily necessities were far beyond what was available on the market.

As long as it was something Ren wanted, she only needed to give an order, and countless people would scramble to deliver it to her.

Because of this, Ren only looked at the goods sold on the Mist's shopping street out of novelty; in reality, she had no need for them.

Because of her behavior of only shopping without buying, Mizunuki Ren had long since been blacklisted by the Mist's shopping street.

Ren had even earned the title of "Shopping Street Runaway Maniac."

After all, which merchant could accept a customer who "only shops without buying"?

But for the merchants of the Mist, facing Mizunuki Ren, they really couldn't afford to offend her...

Some people are born in Rome; this sentence is not false at all.

From the moment Mizunuki Ren was born, her identity was destined to be different from ordinary people.

In the past, the identity of the Third Mizukage's daughter allowed Mizunuki Ren to wantonly experience her "hobby."

In the territory of the Mist, no one dared to make things difficult for the Mizukage's daughter to her face.

But at least at that time, Ren's actions were considered "restrained," and the frequency of her shopping was maintained at once a month.

The merchants could all still accept it with a smile.

And after the Third Mizukage passed away, Mizunuki Ryosuke inherited the title of "Fourth Mizukage."

At the same time, Mizunuki Ren also smoothly transitioned from "Mizukage's daughter" to "Mizukage's girlfriend."

Her status was not affected in the slightest; on the contrary, it increased rather than decreased.

Mizunuki Ren's status within the Mist once even surpassed that of the Third Mizukage's time in power.

After all, the prestige of the Third Mizukage, Mizunuki Taki, during his tenure, and his degree of control over the village, were simply incomparable to Ryosuke's at this time.

Because of this, the frequency of Ren's shopping had gone from once a month to once every three days...

And this trend was still constantly rising.

As Mizunuki Ryosuke's only publicly acknowledged "official consort," there was probably no one in the Mist who dared to provoke Mizunuki Ren.

For Ren, Mizunuki Ryosuke had always shown only great favor; he would do his best to satisfy all of Ren's requests.

But Ren had a gentle personality and had never proactively made requests to Ryosuke.

There was only one thing: Ren would not only ask, but ask repeatedly, and Mizunuki Ryosuke would rack his brains thinking of excuses to decline.

Needless to say, this thing was naturally—shopping!

Everyone around Ren, from her mother, Mizunuki Rikka, down to many young girls of the Mizunuki clan...

Upon facing Mizunuki Ren's request to "go shopping together," all of them changed color at the mention of it.

And at this moment, looking at Mizunuki Ren's longing, bright eyes, Ryosuke wanted to refuse but really couldn't bear to.

But unfortunately, he really had things to do today; no matter what, he could only refuse Ren's request.

"Sorry, Ren."

"I have to meet the Cloud Village's envoys today; I really can't spare the time."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said with a hint of apology.

News had come from the Ninja Cat Hospital that Bee's body had recovered to the point where he could move normally, so he had to meet the Cloud Ninja trio as soon as possible to push the plan forward.

"Is that so..."

A trace of disappointment flashed in Ren's black-and-white eyes, but soon she seemed to think of something.

"Then..."

"Can you take me with you?"

"Among the Cloud Village's envoys, is there a girl with short golden hair?"

Ren said cautiously, with a hint of expectation on her face.

"Hmm? How do you know?"

"Among the Cloud Village's envoys, there is indeed a golden-haired girl named Samui."

Mizunuki Ryosuke raised an eyebrow, looking at Ren before him with slight suspicion.

"It was that day..."

Immediately, Mizunuki Ren simply told Ryosuke the situation of meeting Samui one by one...

Hearing this, Ryosuke's expression was somewhat strange.

He hadn't expected that Ren and Samui would have such a connection, nor had he expected that someone could actually endure Ren's way of "shopping."

"I promise I won't cause you any trouble."

Ren said again with expectation, looking at Mizunuki Ryosuke with an expression like a little puppy left at home by its owner.

Seeing this, Ryosuke's heart softened immediately, and just as Ryosuke was about to give Ren an answer...

"Ren, you cannot trouble Ryosuke."

At this time, Rikka, who had been hidden for a long time, suddenly appeared beside the two and admonished Ren in a serious tone.

As the wife of the previous Mizukage, Rikka deeply understood that a qualified Mizukage's wife could not interfere with political matters at will.

Hearing this, a trace of disappointment flashed in Ren's eyes.

"Understood, Mother."

Ren was not a willful or unruly girl; after hearing Rikka's admonition, she naturally knew that her behavior seemed to lack a sense of proportion.

Seeing this situation, Mizunuki Ryosuke looked at Mizunuki Rikka on the side with a look that was half-smile, half-serious; the two's gazes met briefly in the air before immediately shifting away.

For some reason, after Rikka saw Ryosuke's gaze, her milky-white skin also became slightly rosy, and her face, which was originally full of majesty and maternal love, also had a hint of embarrassment.

Before, when Ren said she wanted to "go shopping," Rikka had avoided her and disappeared without a trace.

And now, when Ren talked about following Mizunuki Ryosuke to meet the Cloud Village envoys, Rikka suddenly appeared to stop Ren.

The deep meaning implied in this was enough to explain the problem; even as Ren's biological mother, Rikka also somewhat avoided Ren's way of "shopping."

For no other reason than that every time she thought of accompanying her daughter to "shop without buying," and the strange looks from the shop clerks on the shopping street, Rikka felt her cheeks heat up.

Recalling the meaning in Ryosuke's gaze just now, Rikka's expression became even more embarrassed.

Her way of doing things didn't seem like that of a steady mother figure either...

"It's fine, Aunt Rikka."

"Just let Ren come with me; I have a sense of proportion."

To this, Mizunuki Ryosuke just smiled gently and said to Ren and Rikka before him.

"Really!"

Ren, who thought there was no chance, was overjoyed and hugged Ryosuke excitedly.

"Of course."

Mizunuki Ryosuke smiled and touched Ren's head, full of doting.

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