The sunset glow was as vivid as blood, spilling over the wilderness and forest.
More than a dozen carriages were parked beside the lake. The crowd had gathered into several groups, while wisps of smoke curled into the sky.
"It smells so good!"
Hyuga Rei stared greedily at the golden-brown pheasant in Watanabe's hands, her clear Byakugan filled with delight.
Watanabe expertly turned the branch skewering the pheasant and held it over the fire to heat it evenly, sprinkling on a few grains of salt now and then. Chiri, Hyuga Rei, and Hiruzen sat around him in turn, waiting for dinner.
"Watanabe, you're surprisingly capable. You're even this good at grilling," Hyuga Rei praised.
Chiri nodded almost imperceptibly. This guy really did have some skills. If she had been the one doing it, she would have been lucky not to burn the chicken black. There was no way she could have made it smell this good.
"Rei probably doesn't know this, but Watanabe's greatest skill isn't ninjutsu—it's cooking," Hiruzen joked. After gnawing on dry rations for three straight days, he was delighted to finally have some meat tonight.
"I've tried Watanabe's cooking once. Every dish was something I'd never eaten before, and it was even better than the restaurants outside."
"Really?" Hyuga Rei cooperatively put on a surprised expression and asked, "Watanabe, could you cook for me sometime too?"
You're being a little too fake...
Watanabe really wanted to call her out, but he simply refused. "No."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because you haven't paid."
Hyuga Rei did not hesitate. "Then I'll give all of this mission's reward to you, Watanabe."
Watanabe shot back, "If you don't, you're a dog."
"Hehehe, Watanabe, you're so funny. How could I be a dog?" Hyuga Rei's laughter was crisp, like silver bells, but Watanabe still