Sayuri's eyes softened as she looked at him.
"You've been managing so much all on your own, haven't you?" Her voice cracked slightly as she pulled him into another tight hug.
"Uhm... Auntie, I need air..." Xin muttered, feeling slightly smothered by her affectionate embrace.
Sayuri let go and wiped her eyes. "Alright, I'll do it! How could I say no to you?"
To her, Xin was practically like her own son. There was no way she could refuse helping him.
As they continued chatting, the front door suddenly opened.
"Mom, I bought some black pork for dinner!"
In came Mikoto Uchiha, holding a basket of groceries in one hand and rushing inside, her bare feet padding on the floor. She immediately spotted Xin's shoes at the entrance.
Excited, she kicked off her sandals and ran straight into the house.
She had managed to get off work early after convincing her superior to let her take a break, knowing that Xin was in the village.
"Oh, look at her, running around barefoot just because she knows you're here," Sayuri teased with a grin as Mikoto hurried over.
"Mom!" Mikoto's face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly composed herself. "You didn't have to tell him that!"
"Looks like I've said too much already," Sayuri laughed as she rose to her feet. "Well, I'll leave you two to chat. I've got dinner to prepare."
Before leaving the room, Sayuri handed Mikoto a bottle of Xin's favorite orange juice and winked at them. Mikoto's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red as she handed Xin the drink.
"So, when did you get back?" She asked, sitting down beside him.
"Just yesterday," Xin replied. "I came to ask your mom for some help with a restaurant I'm opening with Kushina."
"Oh, that sounds great!" Mikoto said with a bright smile. "Mom's been bored out of her mind lately. Having something to keep her busy will be good for her."
She listened as Xin explained the details of the restaurant, nodding in agreement with his plan. She understood why he needed someone reliable to handle the finances, especially with the Uzumaki clan members involved.
"You've thought this through," Mikoto commented. "It's definitely the right move to have Mom help out. You know how tricky things can get when money's involved."
Xin nodded. "Exactly. I don't want things to get complicated between Kushina and her clan, and I know I can trust your mom to handle things fairly."