Guest?

After purchasing the ingredients needed for the evening, Tokiju left the shop with Uchiha Hikari.

Upon reaching the shop entrance, the two parted ways.

Uchiha Hikari took the Space Scroll sealed with various ingredients and headed home first, while Tokiju began to wander aimlessly through the streets of Konoha.

Though it was said to be aimless, Tokiju was actually strolling through various parts of Konoha with a plan in mind.

After separating from Uchiha Hikari, Tokiju first went to a gift shop to pick out some New Year's presents before leaving the commercial district.

Tokiju walked slowly down the street, and before he knew it, he had arrived in front of the Hokage Building.

Glancing past the distinctive building before him, Tokiju's gaze landed on the Hokage Rock behind it.

Tokiju leaped up in a few swift movements and stood atop the stone face of the First Hokage—his own grandfather's head.

He then sat down cross-legged and began to tell his grandfather about his life over the past few months, as well as wishing him a happy New Year.

After chatting about his recent life, Tokiju even took a nap up there, looking quite content.

Meanwhile, on Uchiha Hikari's side.

After parting ways with Tokiju, she headed toward the Senju Residence, but as she walked, she suddenly vanished.

At this moment, the Root member wearing a Black Sheep Mask who had been tailing Uchiha Hikari was left completely bewildered.

He hurriedly poked his head out, trying to check if any uncontrollable situation had occurred in the vicinity.

Just at that instant, he felt a slender, jade-like hand press onto his shoulder.

Then, he heard a crisp voice ring out inexplicably from behind him.

"Hehe, are you looking for me?"

Hearing this, the Root member immediately turned around, only to be met by a pair of blood-red pupils.

Seeing this, the Root member jumped backward to dodge, but by the time he regained his senses, there was no one there at all.

The Root member shook his head vigorously and looked back toward the direction Uchiha Hikari had been heading.

However, he discovered that Uchiha Hikari had already disappeared around a nearby street corner.

Seeing this, the Root member hurriedly gave chase.

But what he did not know was that a peculiar black composite pattern had already appeared on his shoulder.

And what he knew even less was that he no longer had any memory of the strange incident that had just occurred.

Back to Tokiju, he rested for half an hour on the First Hokage's Hokage Rock before rising to leave.

The Anbu and Root members who had been following Tokiju naturally followed him as they left.

Only the Root, once again, split off one person to go back and carefully inspect the spot where Tokiju had been lying.

After confirming there was nothing unusual, he returned to the main group monitoring Tokiju.

Little did he know, shortly after that Anbu left, the light energy around the spot where Tokiju had been lying began to slowly aggregate.

In the end, that light energy condensed into the shape of a small bird, which then spread its wings and flew high into the sky.

Upon returning to the Senju Residence, the first thing Tokiju saw was Shizune reading a book in the living room.

As for her emergency food supply—ah, no, her pet pig Tonton—it was sprawled out on a mat nearby, fast asleep.

Seeing Shizune, Tokiju immediately stepped forward to greet her: "Sister Shizune, did you get off work so early today?"

Hearing Tokiju's voice, Shizune put down her book and replied with a smile: "Yes, it's New Year's today, so the hospital let us off early."

Hearing this, Tokiju nodded and said cheerfully: "Hikari and I just bought some ingredients. Watch me work; I guarantee you'll have a wonderful New Year's Eve dinner tonight."

Shizune smiled gently and nodded, expressing her anticipation.

Just then, Uchiha Hikari pushed the door open and entered, saying: "I've been hearing you talk about this 'luxurious New Year's Eve dinner,' I want to see what kind of tricks you can pull off."

As she spoke, Uchiha Hikari tossed the Space Scroll filled with ingredients toward Tokiju, giving him a slight nod in the process.

Tokiju caught the scroll and saw the hint, knowing she had already branded the Root member with Yachihoko.

Of course, in this situation, it was not the time to delve deeper.

Thus, Tokiju immediately rolled up his sleeves and said boldly: "Alright! Then just wait and see what a real New Year's Eve dinner is!"

With that, Tokiju took the scroll and walked into the kitchen with great enthusiasm.

He had lived alone before transmigrating, and although most of his time was spent making money, he would occasionally treat his stomach to something good. However, eating out alone always felt like a poor value.

Therefore, every so often, he would learn how to cook a few specialty dishes online and then recreate them to reward himself.

This resulted in Tokiju being a good cook, though he had never had the chance to show it off before.

Now that he finally had such an opportunity, he had to show these Ninja World natives what Chinese cuisine was all about (tactical lean back).

Outside, Shizune asked: "Do you need me to help prepare the ingredients?"

Tokiju replied from inside the kitchen: "No need, you guys just wait outside for dinner!"

As he spoke, Shizune heard several "poof" sounds of the Shadow Clone Technique coming from the kitchen.

Seeing that Tokiju had even resorted to the Shadow Clone Technique, Shizune naturally said nothing more and simply went back to her book.

Before long, Tsunade returned as well.

At this moment, Tokiju was still working up a sweat in the kitchen, completely unaware that his older sister had already come home.

Seeing Tsunade return, Shizune immediately stepped forward to greet her, "Ah, Lady Tsunade, did you not go to the casino today?"

Ever since returning to Konoha, Shizune's life had taken a turn for the better.

Although Lady Tsunade was addicted to gambling, whenever she ran out of money, she would go to the hospital to perform surgeries to earn more gambling funds.

This meant that Shizune's own little treasury was no longer being eyed by a greedy hand, and her savings were increasing day by day.

Although she hadn't saved much yet, she simply felt that her current life was one worth living, far happier than when she was wandering outside with Lady Tsunade in the past.

Hearing Shizune's question, Tsunade frowned and said with dissatisfaction, "Hey, in your eyes, am I really just a woman who only knows how to go to the casino?"

Upon hearing this, Shizune shifted her gaze toward Tsunade, her eyes seemingly asking, aren't you exactly that kind of person?

"You..." Seeing this, Tsunade pointed a finger at Shizune, but soon sighed and said, "Sigh, forget it. Where is Tokiju? I have something to ask him."

Shizune pointed toward the kitchen and said, "Tokiju is in the kitchen right now. I wonder what Lady Tsunade needs him for?"

Tsunade waved her hand, then shouted toward the direction of the kitchen, "Hey, Tokiju! A few more people are coming over tonight, remember to make extra food!"

Hearing this, Tokiju poked his head out of the kitchen and asked in confusion, "Ah, who? To think someone actually wants to come over to our house for a free meal!"