Companion

As everyone dispersed, calm slowly returned to the front of the Ninja Academy.

After telling his family about tonight's gathering, Jiraiya finally arrived at the place they had agreed on beforehand.

Looking at Kagura's black hair and black eyes, his eyelids rose involuntarily.

He questioned him in an unfriendly tone:

"Hey, kid, didn't you keep saying yesterday that you weren't coming?

Why did you come along today?"

Faced with the question, Kagura could not be bothered to pay attention to him and merely rolled his eyes at him.

The facts proved that reasoning with women did not work.

Under Tsunade's threat, Kagura ultimately came along with them.

After all, he had kept his distance from Tsunade at first because of their respective identities.

But psychologically speaking, Kagura did not actually dislike Tsunade.

Moreover, after graduating from the academy, they were destined to be assigned to different teams, and their chances to spend time together would only grow fewer.

Thinking of that, Kagura stopped resisting and resigned himself to coming with them.

At that moment, Tsunade stepped forward and shouted at Jiraiya in annoyance:

"Why do you care so much? Kagura's here now anyway, so shut up and stay put."

Jiraiya shrank back and pouted aggrievedly.

Putting on the air of a big sister, Tsunade looked around, then waved her little hand and said:

"Alright, since everyone's here, let's go."

At that moment, the ever-calm Orochimaru spoke up and asked:

"But where are we going?

We only said we were getting together. We never discussed where specifically."

"(⊙o⊙)..."

Hearing that, Tsunade froze, and her raised little hand slowly lowered.

That was right. They had only said they were gathering, but they had never discussed where to go.

She tilted her head and thought, trying hard to recall the kinds of gatherings adults held.

Suddenly, she clenched her right hand into a fist and slapped it into her left palm, saying excitedly:

"Let's find somewhere and have a big meal!

My father and the others always find a place to drink and eat whenever they get together!"

Kagura and Orochimaru looked at each other and said in unison:

"It's the end of the month. We have no money~~~"

Yes, these two orphans relied on the relief fund issued by the village every month to survive.

It was not a small amount, but there was no way much would be left over.

Jiraiya scratched his head and said:

"I spent all my allowance on books a few days ago."

As he spoke, he gave a few embarrassed chuckles.

At that point, the three of them suddenly looked at Tsunade in perfect unison.

Seeing their gazes, Tsunade nervously stepped back half a step.

Jiraiya's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly:

"I heard your father is the Son of the Land of Fire's Daimyo, Tsunade. You should have lots of allowance money, right?"

Facing their expectant eyes, Tsunade swallowed and said awkwardly:

"I...

My family stopped giving me allowance money a long time ago.

They're afraid I'll take it to the casino..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until, by the end, the three of them could barely hear what she was saying.

Hearing that, Kagura suddenly understood.

Right, he had nearly forgotten that the person before his eyes had a nickname like "Casino Fat Sheep."

And her gambling habit had been cultivated by the First Hokage when she was only a few years old...

Kagura sighed, narrowed his eyes at Tsunade, and summed it up:

"So, you went so far as to threaten me into coming.

Then you found out that us poor bastards don't even have anywhere to go?"

Though his words were somewhat harsh, Tsunade had to admit that he had a point.

Looking at the dejected Tsunade, Kagura shook his head and gave a wry smile.

Then he raised both hands and clapped. After drawing everyone's attention, he said:

"Alright, it's not completely hopeless.

You all have some money on you, more or less, right? Take it out."

Though the three did not know what Kagura intended to do, after exchanging puzzled looks, they obediently took out their money.

After counting everyone's contributions, Kagura nodded in satisfaction and muttered to himself:

"Mm, not bad.

This should be enough."

After saying that, he ignored the three of them and lifted his leg to walk away.

Though the people behind him did not know what was going on, they consciously followed after him.

After following Kagura through several street corners, they discovered that they had somehow arrived at the vegetable market.

"Hey, Grandma, you're looking energetic today too!"

"Mm-hmm, yes. Please help me get some meat, enough for around four people."

"Oh, throw in a scallion too."

"Come to think of it, older sister, you seem even prettier today."

The three stared blankly as Kagura moved skillfully among the various stalls.

Before long, bags of ingredients had appeared in Kagura's hands.

Though she had guessed what Kagura intended to do, Tsunade still asked hesitantly:

"You're...

Planning to cook for us yourself?"

Kagura shot her an annoyed glance and asked in return:

"What else?"

Tsunade's eyes widened as she asked in surprise:

"You can cook?"

"What else?"

Hearing his answer, all three showed looks of surprise and looked at him with admiration.

Sensing that something was off, Kagura finally came back to his senses and asked cautiously:

"You all can't cook?"

The three nodded in perfect unison.

He looked at Orochimaru in disbelief and said:

"Don't you live alone?

Then what do you usually eat?"

"Mm... usually cup noodles, and sometimes I buy bread."

Orochimaru said as much.

Kagura looked at him disdainfully and pouted.

"No wonder you always look malnourished."

Orochimaru:...

After buying the food, Kagura directly led everyone to his home.

Come to think of it, this was the first time he had brought anyone to his home since crossing over.

After entering, Tsunade excitedly looked around everywhere.

Kagura's place was small and could almost be taken in at a glance, but it was very neat.

After Tsunade volunteered to help, only to accidentally chop the cutting board in half with a knife.

Kagura pulled a long face and invited the three great deities into the living room.

Back when he was still on Blue Star, as an otaku, he might not have been much of a chef, but he knew some cooking skills.

Combined with the five years of practice living alone after crossing over, Kagura was now thoroughly skilled.

In less than an hour, four dishes and one soup were placed before everyone.

The rich aroma assailed their noses, and the three could barely sit still.

Jiraiya twitched his nose, feeling the saliva in his mouth being secreted madly.

Seeing the three secretly swallowing their saliva, Kagura chuckled inwardly and said:

"Alright, don't be polite.

Dig in, everyone."

The moment his words fell, the impatient Tsunade was the first to pick up a brightly colored piece of meat and stuff it into her mouth.

Her eyes lit up, and she praised him loudly:

"Kagura, your cooking is actually this delicious!

What is this?"

"Oh, this is twice-cooked pork."

"Hiss~~~ So spicy!

What about this?"

"That's Mapo tofu."