Little Princess of the Terumi Clan!

Unlike the lively reception hall, a courtyard in the backyard was brightly lit but noticeably quieter. Even the servants coming and going kept their voices as low as possible.

So this is the courtyard of the Little Princess of the Terumi Clan! Jiogan thought.

At the start of the banquet, the Little Princess of the Terumi Clan had made a brief appearance in her mother's arms before being carried back to the backyard soon afterward. Jiogan had been busy portioning food at the time and had not had the chance to look!

Inside the room, a woman was nursing an infant while two servants attended her. The woman was Mei Ling, wife of Miho Terumi, the current clan head!

Mei Ling looked lovingly at her daughter as she suckled, the adorable sight enough to melt her heart!

"Mei, my child, grow up healthy and happy!" Mei Ling said.

"Mei? Could this child be Mei Terumi, the future Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure?!" Jiogan suddenly thought!

With that thought, Jiogan could not help examining the baby's features closely. She was still far too young to connect with the stunning beauty she would become, but the color of her hair confirmed that she really was the future Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.

Without paying further attention to the backyard, Jiogan withdrew his Sensing Technique. I never expected that, in the future, I'd be cooking for Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage. That really is quite the experience! He shook his head and smiled.

After tonight's banquet ended and the guests departed, Jiogan had not managed to gather any secret intelligence. Today had not been an occasion for the people of Kirigakure to exchange information; most of what they said had been official pleasantries.

Before long, Jiogan fell into his first peaceful sleep in Kirigakure.

The next day, Jiogan got up early and went to the kitchen to help Uncle Kang prepare breakfast for the clan head's family. Uncle Kang also took the opportunity to teach Jiogan some cooking skills. Jiogan's grilled fish was unrivaled, and he had also asked Maruboshi Kosuke for advice on making soup, so he learned quickly!

"Yo! A Xin, did you suddenly get the hang of it? You're learning pretty fast today!" Uncle Kang said in surprise.

"It's all because Uncle Kang teaches so well. Your skills are incredible! I've been helping in the kitchen for so long, always watching you work. I've been practicing in private too, hoping to lighten your burden as soon as possible!" Jiogan said with a smile.

After hearing Jiogan's flattering words, Uncle Kang burst into laughter, thoroughly pleased. He said he still had plenty of secret techniques and told Jiogan to study hard. The head chef's position would be his someday!

Jiogan humbly accepted and said that he would definitely study seriously and not let down Uncle Kang's painstaking efforts.

A week later, Jiogan had identified his main sources of intelligence: Miho Terumi's study and reception room, as well as the Mizukage Building.

The Terumi Clan compound was located in the eastern part of Kirigakure, only three kilometers in a straight line from the Mizukage Building. Jiogan's barrier-ignoring sensory detection ability was simply too overpowered. As long as he wanted to, he could investigate almost anywhere in Kirigakure at any time.

However, he only needed to investigate Kirigakure's external intelligence and submit reports on schedule. There was no need to dig up everyone's secrets. Konoha would not attack that barren land isolated overseas.

This undercover mission really was like coming here on vacation to experience Kirigakure's local customs.

What Jiogan did not know was just how difficult it was for Root spies to infiltrate this place, and how they lived every day in constant fear.

At that moment, Jiogan was busily cooking Miso Soup in the kitchen. Ever since Miho Terumi and Mei Ling had tasted the Miso Soup Jiogan made, they had both loved the flavor! They often specifically requested that Jiogan make soup!

Nonsense, this is Maruboshi Kosuke's Miso Soup recipe after years of research. There's only one in the Ninja World! No, now there are two! Just watch how I conquer you all! Woohoo! Jiogan increased the heat beneath the stove, making the soup richer.

"Achoo!" Maruboshi Kosuke, who was carrying out a Patrol Mission in the Land of Fire, sneezed. Did I catch a chill while camping last night?! I should cook myself a pot of Miso Soup once I get back to the outpost and build myself up!

Another half month passed, and Jiogan had completely integrated into the Terumi Clan. At the same time, he used the Monkey Clan's communication network to send back his first report!

"Kirigakure has dispatched a team of around fifteen men, led by two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Kushimaru Kuriarare, wielder of Nuibari, and Jūzō Biwa, wielder of Kubikiribōchō. They have secretly headed for the Land of Whirlpools, apparently intending to make a move against the Uzumaki Clan!"

An hour later, Hiruzen Sarutobi received the intelligence. "That kid Jiogan has already settled into his cover and started sending back information so quickly?"

"The Uzumaki Clan? Kirigakure must be after the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu! Their plan must be stopped!" Hiruzen Sarutobi thought.

He then dispatched a team of Anbu Ninja led by his disciple Orochimaru to the Land of Whirlpools to sabotage Kirigakure's plan!

Jiogan did not care about Hiruzen Sarutobi's follow-up actions. He was only responsible for sending intelligence back.

Half a year passed quickly. Jiogan's unparalleled grilled fish had also become famous throughout the Terumi Clan. With his outstanding cooking skills, he flourished there.

Although he had not fought at all, the frequent use of the Qi Sensing Technique over the past half year, along with his Tai Chi training, had caused the qi mass in his Dantian to grow noticeably in Kirigakure's year-round weather of either fog or rain. This, in turn, increased his Chakra reserves as well. He now had more than enough Chakra to cast a C-rank Ninjutsu over a hundred times.

Seeing that his strength had not stagnated because of the undercover mission, Jiogan carried out his assignment with even greater peace of mind. Over the past half year, he had sent six reports to Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, maintaining a frequency of roughly once per month. Several contained highly important confidential intelligence, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi extremely satisfied with Jiogan's efficiency as an undercover agent!

Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected Jiogan to deliver intelligence roughly once every three months. "It seems Jiogan is very suited to undercover work. Let him handle this infiltration mission for the long term!"

There was no helping it. Jiogan was just too useful!

Jiogan did not know that his undercover career might not end for years!

At that moment, he was dealing with the servants in young lady Mei Terumi's courtyard. "A Xin, the young lady has grown a little. We need to prepare some baby food for her. Do you have any ideas?"

"Is that so?" Jiogan replied. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I've got it. I'll make a bowl of red bean and barley porridge!"

He then went into the kitchen and got busy. In the end, he placed a bowl of thoroughly cooked, soft, sticky, sweet red bean and barley porridge into a food container and handed it to a servant to take to young lady Mei Terumi.

Back in Mei Terumi's courtyard, the servant opened the food container and brought the porridge to the mistress. It was still steaming.

"It smells so good! What kind of porridge is this? I've never seen it before. Is this another new creation from A Xin?" Mei Ling took the bowl, and her eyes lit up as she inhaled the porridge's fragrance!

"Yes, Madam. A Xin said it is called red bean and barley porridge, and it is very suitable as supplementary food for the young lady," the servant replied.

Mei Terumi picked up a spoon, blew on the steam, and tasted a mouthful first. Her eyes lit up even more! "My goodness, this porridge is so delicious! A Xin's cooking really is beyond words!"

She then began feeding the slightly older little Mei Terumi. The sweet, soft, glutinous texture delighted the young lady. Her tiny body managed to eat nearly half a bowl, and she giggled happily! Not long after eating her fill, she fell asleep, still hiccuping in her sleep.

Looking at her daughter's adorable appearance, Mei Ling's heart was about to melt. But she did not forget to finish the remaining half bowl herself. She then handed the empty bowl back to the maid and said, "Tell A Xin that the young lady likes his red bean and barley porridge very much. Have him make a bowl every evening."

The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew.