Rewarding You with Becoming My Student

"Today, you all did very well. Let's go have grilled meat!"

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

Hikawa glanced at him and really wanted to say, If you want to laugh, just laugh. Your mouth is already crooked. I'm afraid you'll start acting out the return of the Dragon King.

"Grilled meat!"

Yuhi Kurenai's ruby-like eyes lit up as she said excitedly, "I want beef!"

The three had just stepped out of the school gates when they ran into an unexpected visitor: Tsunade.

"Tsunade-sama."

Yuhi Shinko hurriedly greeted her.

"I'm looking for Hikawa."

Tsunade spoke directly.

"Hikawa, go keep Tsunade-sama company."

Yuhi Shinko said very knowingly, "Kurenai and I will head back first."

"Huh?"

Yuhi Kurenai was somewhat displeased by Tsunade's act of taking him away.

She reluctantly glanced at Hikawa before leaving with Yuhi Shinko.

"..."

Hikawa wore a strange expression.

He felt there was something ambiguous about Yuhi Shinko's words, giving him the illusion that he was a Takama-ga-hara Host.

"You really are popular with girls."

Tsunade noticed Yuhi Kurenai's expression and remarked casually.

I'm popular with boys too.

Those three boys were arguing about how to... beat me up.

Hikawa asked, "What does Tsunade-sama need me for? Are we going to the Casino?"

"No."

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

You already knew?

Had the news spread that quickly?

It seemed Hatake Kakashi's reputation was simply too great.

Hikawa replied, "It was all thanks to Tsunade-sama."

The key to defeating Hatake Kakashi had not been Konoha-Style Swordsmanship, but the thirty-percent arm-strength bonus.

One step ahead, every step ahead.

After gaining the advantage through his arm strength, he had become unstoppable.

"What does that have to do with me?"

Tsunade gave a light snort and said, "Sometimes, you're so modest that you don't seem like a child at all."

"Then I won't be modest. Tsunade-sama, is there any reward for taking first place?"

Hikawa held out his hand and asked with a smile.

Having spent so much time with Tsunade, a little joke like this was harmless.

Besides, although she had a violent personality, she was very soft—soft-hearted, that was.

"I'll reward you by making you my student."

Tsunade said it abruptly.

Although it had been Sarutobi Hiruzen's suggestion, she was not opposed to taking on a disciple.

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

He was a mature, steady genius, and he was cute and good-looking too.

His only flaw was that his talent for Medical Ninjutsu was not as strong as his talent for genjutsu.

But it was not without its merits. His foundation was solid, and he learned one piece of knowledge at a time.

Of course, the most important thing to Tsunade was that he was pleasing to the eye.

"Huh?"

Caught off guard, Hikawa revealed a surprised expression.

Was there really such a good thing?

He had thought he would only have a chance to become her disciple after obtaining the Yang Style talent, but he had not expected it to happen so soon.

"What? You're unwilling?"

Tsunade turned her head, and a chilling gleam flashed through her beautiful eyes.

"I'm willing!"

Hikawa felt that if he hesitated for even a second, she would swallow him whole.

"That's more like it."

A smile appeared on Tsunade's face, and she held out her hand.

Hikawa instinctively leaned back tactically, but he still failed to avoid the head pat.

"Let's go home."

The smile on Tsunade's face deepened.

Hikawa nodded somewhat lifelessly.

Well, this was great. Now that he had become her student, he had automatically dropped down a rank. She would definitely pat his head like crazy from now on.

A short while later, they returned to Tsunade's home.

Hikawa had been there many times already and was no longer curious.

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

For the past month, he had been building his foundation, and he could only barely hold his own against the carp.

"Come here."

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

"...?"

Hikawa looked at her with a bad feeling.

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

Tsunade said with a beaming smile.

Please act like a human being!

I'm just a child!

Hikawa suddenly understood why Shizune had become a housekeeper, secretary, and maid all at once in the original story.

"The first lesson for a ninja is self-reliance."

Tsunade raised a fair finger and said with a smile.

What kind of excuse is that? You're just lazy.

Still, cooking was not a big deal.

He had often cooked in his previous life, though food in the Ninja World was Japanese cuisine, so there were differences.

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

Tsunade thought for a moment before speaking.

"Tamagoyaki? I know how to make that."

Hikawa rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen.

Tamagoyaki was really just an egg roll: roll up a fried egg and drizzle it with sauce.

"Oh?"

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

She did not doubt him much, because Hikawa had always seemed more mature than children his age.

"Mm."

Hikawa stood on a small stool and began his performance.

"Do you make this often?"

Tsunade noticed how skillful his movements were.

"I'm an orphan."

Hikawa explained casually.

Tsunade froze for a moment and immediately fell silent.

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

"Put that down."

Hikawa put on a stern face and said, "I'm in charge of the kitchen now."

What he hated most was someone interfering while he cooked.

"You little brat, are you trying to become a rebellious disciple on your first day?"

Tsunade reached out and flicked his forehead.

But her body was honest, and she stepped back to the doorway.

With her arms folded across her chest, she watched Hikawa bustle around, feeling the warmth of everyday life for the first time in a long while.

Having a student was actually pretty nice.

It looked like she could slack off openly from now on.

"It's done!"

Hikawa brought out a plate of tamagoyaki.

The rolled omelet looked like sushi.

"Mm, not bad."

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

At that moment, three lines of text appeared before Hikawa's eyes.

He could not help but stare. There was an unexpected gain too?

E-Rank Talent Entry: Chef.

Trigger condition: Cooking for the first time.

Effect: Deliciousness increased by 10%.

It was somewhat useful, but not by much.

Would the advancement path lead to God of Cooking? Or perhaps Special Grade Chef?

Would the effect be clothes bursting off?

Hikawa looked at the voluptuous Tsunade before him and could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

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

"Tamagoyaki alone won't fill you up."

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

With quick reflexes, Hikawa caught the warm coat.

He turned to look at Tsunade cooking and felt that something about this scene was off.

Would it taste good?

Hikawa suddenly remembered that, in the original story, Tsunade had cooked for Nawaki in one of her memories.

Nawaki's reaction after eating it had looked as though he had been poisoned.

No!

Hikawa's heart immediately turned to ashes.

Wait.

Hope suddenly appeared in his eyes.

Because Tsunade's roasted chicken had tasted pretty good.

But roasting and stir-frying were two different things.

Holding the tamagoyaki, Hikawa went into the living room, sat at the dining table, and waited uneasily for his fate.

"Tempura. Try it."

Tsunade soon appeared.

Fried?

Hikawa's heart stirred. He picked up a fried shrimp, chewed it a few times, and his eyes lit up. "It's delicious."

It was not exactly exquisite, but after surviving a disaster, it really did taste a little better.

Tsunade nodded slightly.

She was good at frying and roasting, but not at stir-frying.