Naruto: I'm Starving

Was this kid really a dead last?!

Ebisu was a little dumbfounded.

A dead last with a profound understanding of Ninjutsu and control over his Chakra as fine as a hair?!

That was terrifying!

If someone like him counted as a dead last, wouldn't that mean there wasn't a single good student in Konoha?!

The Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage had just taken a sip of tea when he saw that his own grandson had actually succeeded in learning the Rasengan, even blasting a deep, enormous crater into the ground!

"Pfft—"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The sheer shock made the Lord Hokage choke on his tea and cough violently.

Although choking on the tea was uncomfortable, Hiruzen Sarutobi was smiling.

He was gratified that his mischievous grandson had managed to learn Ninjutsu in such a short time.

At the same time, he was even more astonished by Shinki's terrifying teaching ability!

The Third Hokage knew his grandson's temperament and talent better than anyone!

Yet Shinki not only had a precise grasp of Konohamaru's personality, he could also tailor his teaching to the student!

With his sharp words and profound understanding of Ninjutsu,

he had taught Konohamaru an A-rank Ninjutsu that was extremely difficult to master in just one day!

Terrifying insight!

Terrifying comprehension!

And terrifying teaching ability!

The Third Hokage could already seem to foresee that, if all went well, Shinki would surely become a rising star in the Shinobi World!

A super genius who would make all the great nations tremble in fear!

Outside the village, at Shinki and Konohamaru's training ground.

After blasting a large crater into the ground with the Rasengan, Konohamaru hurried to defend his big bro. "Teacher Ebisu, I told you long ago that what Big Bro Shinki teaches is really good, didn't I?!"

Ebisu's expression was a sight to behold.

He was astonished by Shinki's understanding of Ninjutsu and his teaching ability, but he couldn't bring himself to praise him.

After all, he had just mocked him like that...

As Ebisu struggled with his expression, the Third Hokage's voice suddenly sounded in his ear:

"As a teacher responsible for educating others, you should clearly recognize your own shortcomings and have the courage to face and correct them. One more thing: admitting that someone else is outstanding isn't hard."

Hearing the Third's aged voice, Ebisu froze and murmured to himself, "Third... have you been watching me all along? It seems I really was too narrow-minded as a teacher this time..."

Ebisu immediately bowed his head to Shinki.

"I'm sorry!! Shinki, you aren't a dead last. I apologize for what I said to you! You proved everything to me with your strength and teaching ability!"

Shinki scratched his head. He hadn't taken what Ebisu had just said to heart.

Because he really was a dead last in his class...

But since Ebisu was willing to apologize now, he would gladly accept it.

"It's fine. Calling me a dead last was perfectly objective. I'm not angry."

Shinki waved a hand as he spoke.

Hearing that, Ebisu thought Shinki was pointing out his narrow-mindedness, and he couldn't help bowing his head even lower. "I'm truly sorry. As a teacher, I shouldn't be prejudiced against any student. I made a grave mistake!"

Shinki remained puzzled.

Why did he apologize again...?

After apologizing, Ebisu took Konohamaru's hand. "Young master, today's lessons have already been delayed for a long time. It's time to go back and study."

Konohamaru pulled a long face. "Huh? I don't want to go back. I want to keep training with Big Bro Shinki! (✘Д✘๑)"

Shinki waved a hand. "Go back with your teacher. My final exams are coming up, and I have plenty to do. I don't have time to keep a little brat like you company."

Only then did Konohamaru give up in disappointment. He waved to Shinki before Teacher Ebisu took him away.

After Konohamaru left, Shinki finally remembered that he had come out to buy groceries and cook...

So much time had slipped by that he was getting a little hungry...

Naruto's house.

Having finished training, Naruto was starving. He rummaged through the house looking for something to eat.

After searching everywhere, he found that all the food in the house had been eaten over the past few days.

Hungry, Naruto lay on the floor, looking weak.

_(´□`" ∠)_

"That guy Shinki said he was going out to buy groceries this morning. Why hasn't he come back yet? I'm starving..."

Naruto muttered.

Just then, the door swung open.

Shinki walked in carrying bags of groceries.

Naruto's eyes immediately lit up: (´◊ω◊｀)

He rushed to Shinki's side with the Body Flicker Technique, even faster than the Flying Thunder God!

He rummaged through the basket of groceries in Shinki's hands, hoping to find something he could eat!

But after looking through it, he found nothing but raw meat and vegetables. The only things he could eat were two carrots...

"Why didn't you buy some instant noodles? We could keep them for emergencies. You have no idea how close I just came to starving to death... (´இ皿இ｀)"

Naruto took a carrot from the basket and bit into it without even washing it.

"Oh, right. I would've forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it."

Shinki slapped his forehead, only then remembering that he had forgotten to buy any ready-to-eat food.

"Haven't you already forgotten?" Naruto pouted.

He had barely finished speaking when Shinki's body vanished from the spot.

Three seconds later, Shinki flew back using the Flying Thunder God, carrying a box of cup noodles...

"I put a Body Flicker mark in a corner of the market, so it'll be convenient to buy groceries from now on."

Shinki spoke with satisfaction.

Naruto had no time to listen to him.

When he saw Shinki reappear with the instant noodles, his eyes gleamed green. He snatched the box, opened a cup, and wolfed it down...

Shinki shook his head helplessly.

He walked into the kitchen and started preparing dinner.

As an elementary school student of the new era,

he was well-rounded in morals, academics, physical fitness, the arts, and practical skills!

Cooking was no challenge for Shinki either!

Stir-frying, making soup, deep-frying—he was skilled at them all!

Tonight, he planned to make corn and pork rib soup to nourish them both!

An hour and a half later, the corn and pork rib soup was ready.

Naruto looked dubiously at the iron pot Shinki set on the table. "You... you made this?"

Shinki nodded. "Yeah. Doesn't it smell good?"

Naruto shook his head, looking suspicious. "No, it smells too good! Didn't you only know how to fry leftover rice before?! How come you can make soup now?!"

He and Shinki had been good friends since childhood.

To put it bluntly, he even knew how many moles Shinki had on his butt.

But in all their years together, he had never seen Shinki display such superb cooking skills!

"Uh... I figured it out, of course! Cooking is just like learning Ninjutsu. As long as you're willing to put your mind to understanding it, nothing is beyond you!"

Shinki gave him a casual excuse.

He couldn't very well say he was a super elementary school student who had transmigrated from the Celestial Empire, could he?

Naruto was still somewhat doubtful after hearing Shinki's words, but he mostly believed him.

After all, Shinki had already demonstrated extraordinary insight when it came to Ninjutsu, so it seemed reasonable enough that he could cook too...

Seeing Naruto lost in thought, Shinki put a pork rib in his bowl, trying to stop his thoughts. "All right, stop thinking about it and eat. The soup will get cold if you wait any longer!"