Reward You as My Student

Chapter 40: Your Reward Is Becoming My Student

"You all performed well today. Let's go eat grilled meat!"

Yuhi Shinko suppressed the urge to burst into loud laughter, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he spoke.

Hikawa glanced at him, wanting to say, Just laugh if you want to. Your mouth's already crooked. I'm afraid you're about to pull a Dragon King's Return.

"Grilled meat!"

Yuhi Kurenai's ruby-like eyes sparkled as she exclaimed excitedly, "I want beef!"

Just as the three of them stepped out of the school gate, they ran into an uninvited guest: Tsunade.

"Tsunade-sama."

Yuhi Shinko quickly greeted her.

"I'm looking for Hikawa."

Tsunade said directly.

"Hikawa, go with Tsunade-sama."

Yuhi Shinko said knowingly. "I'll head back with Kurenai."

"Huh?"

Yuhi Kurenai was a bit dissatisfied with Tsunade's poaching.

She cast a reluctant glance at Hikawa before following Yuhi Shinko away.

"..."

Hikawa wore a strange expression.

He felt that Yuhi Shinko's words had a double meaning, giving him the illusion of being a Takama-ga-hara Host.

"You really are popular with girls."

Tsunade noticed Yuhi Kurenai's expression and remarked casually.

I'm popular with guys too.

Just now, three boys were arguing over who got to... hit me.

Hikawa asked, "Tsunade-sama, is there something you need from me? Are we going to the Casino?"

"No."

Tsunade shook her head and asked, "I heard you beat Kakashi?"

You already know?

News travels that fast?

I guess Hatake Kakashi's reputation is just that big.

Hikawa replied, "That's all thanks to Tsunade-sama."

The key to defeating Hatake Kakashi wasn't Konoha-Style Swordsmanship, but the 30% arm strength boost.

One step ahead, every step ahead.

Once he gained the advantage from his arm strength, it snowballed out of control.

"What does that have to do with me?"

Tsunade snorted lightly. "Sometimes you're so humble it doesn't suit a kid."

"Then I won't be humble. Tsunade-sama, is there a reward for getting first place?"

Hikawa held out his hand and asked with a smile.

After spending this long with Tsunade, a little joke like this was harmless.

And although her personality was violent, she was soft—soft-hearted, that is.

"Your reward is becoming my student."

Tsunade said abruptly.

Though it was Sarutobi Hiruzen's suggestion, she wasn't opposed to taking on a disciple.

Over the past two months, she had already figured Hikawa out.

A mature and steady genius, cute and good-looking to boot.

His only flaw was that his talent in Medical Ninjutsu wasn't as strong as his talent in genjutsu.

But that wasn't without merit—his foundation was rock solid, grasping every knowledge point step by step.

Of course, for Tsunade, the most important thing was that he was easy on the eyes.

"Huh?"

Hikawa was caught off guard, revealing a surprised expression.

There's a good thing like this?

He had thought it would take acquiring the Yang Style talent before he had a chance to become a disciple, but he never expected it to happen so soon.

"What? You're unwilling?"

Tsunade turned her head, a chilling glint flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"Willing!"

Hikawa felt that if he hesitated even a second, he'd be devoured alive.

"That's more like it."

A smile spread across Tsunade's face, and she reached out her hand.

Hikawa instinctively leaned back in a tactical retreat, but still couldn't dodge the head-pat.

"Let's go home."

The smile on Tsunade's face grew even warmer.

Hikawa nodded with a look of utter resignation.

Great. Now that he was a student, he'd been automatically demoted a rank, and he'd definitely be subjected to her relentless head-patting from now on.

A moment later, they returned to Tsunade's home.

Hikawa had been there many times before and had long since lost his curiosity.

He stepped into the living room and asked, "Teacher, what are we learning today?"

For the past month, he'd been building his foundation, only managing to trade blows evenly with Carp.

"Come here."

Tsunade headed straight for the kitchen and stopped at the doorway.

"...?"

Hikawa looked at her, a bad feeling creeping up on him.

"Today, I'll teach you how to cook first."

Tsunade said with a beaming smile.

Have a heart! I'm just a kid!

Hikawa suddenly understood why Shizune had become a housekeeper, secretary, and maid all rolled into one in the original story.

"First lesson for a ninja: self-reliance."

Tsunade raised a fair finger and said with a smile.

What excuse are you making? You're just lazy.

But cooking wasn't really a big deal.

Hikawa had done it often in his past life; it was just that the food in the Ninja World was Japanese-style cuisine, which had its differences.

"Let's start with the simplest thing: Tamagoyaki."

Tsunade thought for a moment and said.

"Tamagoyaki? I know how to make that."

Hikawa rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen.

Tamagoyaki was essentially an egg roll—folding a fried omelet and drizzling it with sauce.

"Oh?"

Tsunade said with interest, "Then you make it, and I'll watch."

She wasn't too suspicious, because Hikawa behaved much more maturely than other kids his age.

"Mm."

Hikawa stepped onto a small stool and began his performance.

"Do you make it often?"

Tsunade noticed his technique was very skilled.

"I'm an orphan."

Hikawa explained casually.

Tsunade froze for a moment, then fell silent.

She stepped forward and said, "Let me do it instead."

"Put it down."

Hikawa said with a stern face. "The kitchen is my domain now."

What he hated most was someone messing around while he was cooking.

"You little brat, on your very first day, you already want to be a rebellious disciple?"

Tsunade reached out and flicked him on the forehead.

But her body was honest, retreating back to the doorway.

She crossed her arms and watched Hikawa bustle about, feeling a long-missed sense of life in the air.

Having a student wasn't so bad after all.

Looked like she could slack off openly from now on.

"Done!"

Hikawa brought out a plate of Tamagoyaki.

The rolled omelet looked like sushi.

"Hmm, not bad."

Tsunade picked up a piece of Tamagoyaki, took a bite, and said.

Just then, three lines of text appeared before Hikawa's eyes.

He froze for a moment—an unexpected bonus?

[E-Rank Talent Entry: Chef.]

[Trigger Condition: First time cooking.]

[Effect: Flavor increased by 10%.]

Somewhat useful, but not much.

The promotion path after this—God of Cooking? Or Special Grade Chef?

Would the effect make clothes burst off?

Hikawa looked at the well-endowed Tsunade in front of him and couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

Coach, no—system, I want to learn this.

"Tamagoyaki alone won't fill you up."

Tsunade took off her jacket, tossed it to him, and said, "You wait outside. I'll make another dish."

Hikawa caught the warm jacket with quick reflexes.

He turned his head to watch Tsunade cook and couldn't shake the feeling that the scene was off.

Would it taste good?

Suddenly, Hikawa remembered—in the original story, Tsunade's memories included a scene of her cooking for Nawaki.

And Nawaki's reaction to eating it was like he'd been poisoned.

No way!

Hikawa's heart sank into despair.

Wait.

Hope flickered in his eyes.

Because the roast chicken Tsunade made wasn't bad.

But roasting and stir-frying were two different things.

Hikawa carried the Tamagoyaki to the living room, sat at the table, and waited anxiously for his fate.

"Tempura. Try it."

Soon, Tsunade appeared.

Fried?

Hikawa's heart stirred. He picked up a piece of Fried Shrimp, chewed a few times, his eyes brightening as he said, "It's delicious."

It wasn't exactly exquisite, but surviving a disaster did make things taste a little better.

Tsunade nodded slightly.

She excelled at frying and roasting, but stir-frying was not her forte.