Try New Tea with New Fire

At noon, after finishing their tasks, the group came beneath the shade of the trees.

The gentle breeze carried half the lingering warmth of late summer and half the coolness of early autumn.

They gathered around a pot, looking over the fruits of their morning's battle.

Several plates of sliced ingredients sat nearby. They only needed to be swished in the pot briefly before eating. Everyone's eyes lit up at this novel way of dining.

"Uncle Snake, what are you making?"

Watching Orochimaru put the stir-fried rabbit meat into the specially customized yin-yang hotpot, Shizune asked in confusion.

"Rabbit meat hotpot. You'll find out soon enough!"

"Bunnies are so cute. How can you eat bunnies...?"

Orochimaru pinched her little cheek and paid no mind to her nonsense.

"Orochimaru-senpai, the mushrooms are washed. Should I put them in?"

The mushrooms Minato had picked had already been washed by Kushina, who brought them over with Minato. Minato was also carrying other wild vegetables.

They had brought some greens already, but Orochimaru had worried there would not be enough, so he had sent him to gather more. Besides, Orochimaru wanted to taste these all-natural vegetables.

Orochimaru grabbed a handful of mushrooms and added them to simmer with the rabbit meat. With the spices he had brought back, a rich fragrance soon spread through the air.

The Anbu ninja watching from afar unconsciously swallowed. It was their first time smelling something so tempting, especially at mealtime.

"Say, should we go over and ask them for some?"

One Anbu ninja suddenly found the Military Ration Pill in his hand utterly unappetizing and could not help speaking to his companion.

"Hmph. Our surveillance has already made them dislike us. Do you think they'll give us a friendly welcome if we go up there?"

Another Anbu ninja answered. Seeing that the first ninja was still unwilling to give up, he continued:

"Do you think Orochimaru would dare kill us? You can tell at a glance that he isn't someone to provoke. I heard he even dared to attack his own companions back then."

Upon hearing that, the Anbu ninja's reluctance instantly faded. Thinking of Orochimaru's fearsome reputation, the others also abandoned the idea of going over to mooch a meal.

As the Hokage's direct assassination force, the Anbu were like the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty. Their authority and privileges were extremely high; with an order from the Hokage, they could go anywhere.

As a sharp blade in the hands of successive Hokage, they were usually responsible for carrying out difficult missions issued by the Hokage, and they possessed equally high authority when facing dangerous situations.

Over time, some of them naturally developed the habit of looking down on everyone. Other than Konoha's upper echelons, they did not need to give anyone face.

But before the Legendary Three Ninjas, they did not dare act recklessly. The Sannin were currently at the peak of their strength, each having reached Kage-level. In the Anbu, they would at least have been captains.

That was also why the Third Hokage had not immediately ordered them to bring Kushina back after she ran away. With three Kage-level fighters protecting her, they could at most be icing on the cake.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru kept stirring the yin-yang hotpot with a ladle. His companions had already gathered around it, and Shizune had even picked up her bowl and chopsticks, ready to strike.

"Orochimaru, why have I never seen you make hotpot at home?"

Tsunade said with some dissatisfaction. After all, they had lived under the same roof for years, yet Orochimaru had never shown off this skill.

"Yeah, Uncle Snake!"

Shizune chimed in as well. Seeing their faintly resentful expressions, Orochimaru smiled.

"I was afraid feeding you too well would make you fat!"

The two curled their lips at his answer. Ever since Orochimaru started doing research, he had been busy running in circles. Where would he have found the time?

Since coming to this world, he had not enjoyed more than a few comfortable days. Who was he working so hard for? World peace, of course!

"Looks like coming here with Jiraiya-sensei today was the right choice. We're benefiting from our teacher's good fortune."

Minato said with a smile, still looking a little bashful.

"Eat as much as you want. There are plenty of ingredients today, so you can judge whether your Brother Snake... your uncle's cooking is any good!"

Jiraiya said, patting Minato's shoulder, worried that Minato and Kushina might hold back.

Try new tea with new fire; enjoy poetry and wine while young.

"Alright, we can start!"

Orochimaru ladled out a little broth to taste, then spoke the words everyone had been waiting for.

"I want the spicy one..."

"Tsunade, don't fight me for it..."

"Here, Kushina, try this..."

"Ahhh... it's so hot..."

For a moment, everyone began feasting heartily. After being tempted by that aroma for so long, finally getting to eat to their hearts' content was such a blissful thing.

At first, everyone thought this simple method of eating would be nothing special. But the first bite of fragrant, crisp, tender meat completely conquered them.

"Minato-senpai, we should've had you catch more rabbits."

Shizune's mouth was glistening with oil as she ate. Sure enough, she could not escape the law of "it smells so good." Everyone else wholeheartedly agreed.

"I'll catch more this afternoon!"

"I have to say, Orochimaru-senpai's cooking is amazing. I wish I could cook this well too."

Kushina also looked at Orochimaru enviously. Who would have thought that Brother Snake, with his cold expression, could cook such delicious food? Was this the tenderness hidden beneath his indifferent exterior?

Kushina let her thoughts run wild, then glanced at Minato, who was grinning like a two-hundred-pound fool. Her Minato was not bad either. At least he did not mind the food she cooked.

After finishing the rabbit meat, they began swishing slices of beef, lamb, and fish. Other than the fish, Orochimaru had sliced everything at home and brought it along.

"Ah! I haven't eaten until I was this full in ages. It would be great if we could eat like this every day."

After eating and drinking their fill, Jiraiya lay atop a large rock, enjoying the cool breeze. The others also found places to sit and digest their food.

It was late summer and early autumn, so there was still a cool breeze. It soothed the bodies and minds of the group, who were drenched in sweat from eating.

Orochimaru also found a shady spot and lay down quietly, enjoying this pleasant moment.

Listening to the rustle of leaves, the chirping of insects and birds, and the thunderous roar of the enormous waterfall, he did not know when Shiro had come to his cheek and gently rubbed against his jaw.

Ever since coming to this world, he had been constantly on the move, never daring to relax for even a moment.

Perhaps because this rare leisure time was so precious, Orochimaru unknowingly fell asleep.

When the others saw Orochimaru half reclining against the rock, asleep, they did not disturb him. Tsunade, Shizune, and Kushina gathered together, whispering about something, with soft laughter drifting out from time to time.

Minato also went over to ask Jiraiya something, probably about training. What a diligent child.

After an unknown amount of time, Orochimaru was suddenly awakened by a shout.

His eyes flew open at once. The lingering drowsiness vanished in an instant as his cold serpent eyes turned toward the source of the sound.