Becoming a Chūnin

Uchiha Yu's standing practice began at eight in the morning and naturally ended at eleven thirty.

Afterward, the fatigue in his body had completely vanished. At the same time, his mind had become exceptionally alert, and the feeling of being brimming with energy was wonderfully comfortable.

Overall, it felt like he had gotten a good night's sleep.

A quick check revealed that the Natural Energy consumed to repair his hidden injuries had not only fully recovered, but had noticeably increased.

The changes in his Natural Energy were not limited to quantity.

The fire-element Natural Energy had become much more docile. The burning sensation in his body was noticeably weaker, and it had become far easier to control.

The earth-element Natural Energy no longer felt lifeless. It had gained a touch of spirituality, making it much smoother to wield.

Good. Not just a little good, but very good. Exceptionally good.

"Finished, meow?"

"Huh? Ah, yes, finished."

"I'm hungry, meow."

"Okay, I'll cook."

"Hurry up, meow!"

Other than missing breakfast, everything was great.

Since breakfast had been skipped, lunch needed to be more substantial.

As usual, Uchiha Yu started by cooking rice. Once he had put the lid on and left it to simmer over low heat, he took out the prepared shrimp and sliced chicken breast.

These two tender meats needed to be blanched in water, using a quick parboil to preserve their springy texture.

He then diced the beef. This coarser-fibered meat needed to be steamed over high heat for fifteen minutes to ensure the beef fibers became tender.

He scooped the steamed rice into bowls, drizzled in a little soy sauce, added the three kinds of meat and a raw egg, then mixed everything evenly with his chopsticks.

As he stirred vigorously, the beaten egg was gently cooked by the heat of the rice. Acting as a medium, it blended together the flavors of the rice, shrimp, diced chicken, and diced beef.

He kept stirring hard, and once a distinctive sweet, savory flavor emerged, the Three-Fresh Meat and Egg Rice was ready.

Miwa Masayo was conquered by the sweet savoriness from her very first bite. After swallowing with her eyes closed, she savored the aftertaste for a long while before saying, "Add a little more sugar. It might taste even better."

Uchiha Yu gave her a thumbs-up and carefully sprinkled in the powdered sugar he had prepared beforehand.

Now it was completely perfect. Miwa Masayo wolfed it down in huge mouthfuls, unable to say another word.

In truth, it was still a little short on sweetness, but the Tabby Cat did not mention it, and Uchiha Yu did not add more.

Sugar was simply too expensive.

The Aburame Clan of this Ninja World had never undergone any breakthroughs in sugar-making techniques. Powdered sugar could only be refined from honey, so naturally its price was painfully high.

That tiny sprinkle of powdered sugar he had just added cost as much as half the entire meal.

And it was wartime now. As one of the most important strategic supplies, sugar purchases were strictly rationed.

Even if Uchiha Yu was willing to spend the money, he could not buy more sugar.

Miwa Masayo seemed mischievous, but she was actually very gentle at heart and would not make demands that put Uchiha Yu in a difficult position.

Three-Fresh Meat and Egg Rice was purely sweet in flavor. Though there was very little powdered sugar, the combination of shrimp, chicken, and egg had its own distinctive sweet savoriness, which was excellent for a Ninja Cat.

Humans did not have cats' heightened ability to taste umami, however, so Uchiha Yu brought out fermented bean curd, instantly turning the Three-Fresh Meat and Egg Rice into a heavenly mixed rice dish by human standards.

That was, provided one could get used to the smell of fermented bean curd.

Miwa Masayo loathed fermented bean curd. Even though none had been added to her bowl, its smell still made her sneeze several times in disgust.

Suddenly, the Tabby Cat's ears folded backward, and her eating speed immediately slowed.

Uchiha Yu also put down his chopsticks and asked in confusion, "Why would the Anbu come to my door in the middle of the day?"

"There was no ninja hawk cry, so it probably isn't about the war."

"Oh, right. It has been several days since I completed that B-rank mission for my chūnin assessment. The approval should be coming through."

"Meow, can the Third Hokage really be that efficient?"

A few seconds later, an Anbu who had made no effort to conceal himself knocked on the window and said through his voice-altering mask, "Uchiha Yu, Lord Hokage has summoned you. Please assemble in the Hokage's office at one thirty in the afternoon."

After speaking, the Anbu tossed a pass inside.

Uchiha Yu did not pick up the pass immediately. He first confirmed that the Anbu had left his house and entered the neighboring home. Then he carefully inspected the paper, making sure it contained no poison, poisonous insects, sealing techniques, or other dangers before picking it up and reading it closely.

Seeing the wording on the pass, he nodded. "Just as expected. It's a notice of promotion to chūnin."

"The Third really has to summon me to his office and issue the documents in person over something as simple as promoting me to chūnin."

"Just thinking about having to listen to his long-winded speech makes me want to throw up."

"Don't be like that, meow. I think the Will of Fire makes a lot of sense."

"Oh, give me a break. I studied that every day at the Ninja Academy. There are only a few dozen words in total, yet they made us study it in different ways for four whole years!"

"Four years?!"

Uchiha Yu's gaze suddenly sharpened. Lowering his voice, he said, "Most importantly, the person saying it is wrong."

"If it were the First Hokage, who founded Konoha, speaking of the Will of Fire, I would give it the utmost respect, because he was a genuine man."

"If it were the Second Hokage, who died fighting to cover his disciples' retreat, speaking of the Will of Fire, then no matter how much I disliked him, I would have nothing to say, because he lived by his words."

"But when the Third speaks of the Will of Fire, all I feel is disgust. He never went to the front lines during the last Ninja World War. The White Fang of Konoha died for no apparent reason, and there was never an explanation. He sent children under ten years old onto the battlefield."

"As for what the Third truly thinks, I don't know. But the words he says most often and the actions he takes are completely contradictory."

"That's why I hate him."

"I understand why you find him so irritating now. You've never said any of this before, meow."

"It's been six years since I graduated, and I haven't seen the Third once. Why would I have thought to talk about him?"

"Even though I don't want to see the Third Hokage, I still have to go to make a living. No freedom..."

Uchiha Yu sighed as he quickly finished his lunch, placed the dishes in the kitchen sink, changed into clean clothes free of kitchen fumes, and walked out the door.

Miwa Masayo deeply sympathized with her poop-scooper's reluctance, and even her eating slowed down.

Only after Uchiha Yu pushed open the door and left did she suddenly react. "Wait, meow!"

"I'm leaving the pots and dishes to you, Rika-chan!" His voice rapidly faded into the distance.

"My name isn't Rika-chan!"

"No, wait, meow, I don't have hands!"

"That's not right either! Washing dishes is your job!"

"You bastard, meow!"

Unable to call her poop-scooper back, Miwa Masayo looked at her rice bowl, then at the pots, bowls, and utensils piled high in the sink, and finally at her spread-out paw pads.

Suddenly, the Tabby Cat gave a sinister little laugh, then happily continued enjoying her food.

It was only washing pots and dishes, after all.

I, Miwa Masayo of Cat Castle, would do it.

But...

"You made me do it, so don't blame me, meow."