A Guest?

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

Once they reached the shop entrance, they went their separate ways.

Uchiha Hikari headed home first, carrying the Space Scroll sealed with all kinds of ingredients, while Tokiju began wandering aimlessly through the streets of Konoha.

But though he claimed to be wandering aimlessly, Tokiju actually had a plan as he strolled around Konoha.

After parting ways with Uchiha Hikari, he first went to a gift shop and picked out some New Year's presents. Only then did he leave the shopping district.

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

His gaze swept over the distinctive building before settling on Kage Rock behind it.

Tokiju leaped up in no time, then stood atop the First Hokage's stone likeness—in other words, on top of his own grandfather's head.

Then he sat down cross-legged and told his grandfather about his life over the past few months, as well as wishing him a happy New Year.

After catching him up on how things had been going, Tokiju even took a nap up there, looking completely at ease.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Hikari had gone in a different direction.

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

The Root agent wearing a Black Sheep Mask, who had been following and monitoring Uchiha Hikari, was utterly dumbfounded.

He quickly leaned out to check whether anything unexpected had happened nearby.

At that very moment, he felt a delicate hand settle on his shoulder.

Then a clear, playful voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"Hee-hee, were you looking for me?"

At the sound of that voice, the Root agent immediately turned around—and found himself staring into a pair of blood-red eyes.

He hurriedly jumped back, but when he recovered his senses, there was no one in front of him.

The Root agent shook his head and looked back toward Uchiha Hikari.

But he suddenly realized that Uchiha Hikari had already disappeared around the street corner in the distance.

He hurried after her.

What he didn't know was that a strange black pattern had appeared on his shoulder.

Even more than that, he had already forgotten everything about the strange incident that had just taken place.

Back to Tokiju: after resting on the First Hokage's likeness on Kage Rock for half an hour, he got up and left.

The Anbu and Root agents who had been following Tokiju naturally left with him.

Only Root sent another agent back to carefully inspect the spot where Tokiju had just lain.

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

Unknown to him, not long after the agent left, the light around the spot where Tokiju had rested began slowly gathering together.

In the end, it took the shape of a small bird, which spread its wings and flew into the sky.

When Tokiju returned to the Senju Residence, the first person he saw was Shizune, reading in the living room.

As for her emergency rations—no, her pet pig, Tonton—she was sprawled on a cushion nearby, fast asleep.

Seeing Shizune, Tokiju immediately went over to greet her. "Shizune, you're off work early today?"

Hearing his voice, Shizune set down her book and replied with a smile, "That's right. It's New Year's, so the hospital closed early."

Tokiju nodded and said cheerfully, "Hikari and I just bought some ingredients. Just wait and see what I can do. I guarantee you'll have a wonderful New Year's Eve dinner tonight."

Shizune smiled warmly and nodded, looking forward to it.

Just then, Uchiha Hikari came in through the door. "I've heard you go on and on about this fancy New Year's Eve dinner. I want to see what you can actually come up with."

As she spoke, she tossed the Space Scroll full of ingredients toward Tokiju, giving him a slight nod as she did.

Tokiju caught the scroll and saw her signal. He understood that she had already marked the Root agent with Yachihoko.

Of course, there was no point in looking into it further right now.

So Tokiju immediately rolled up his sleeves and declared with confidence, "All right! Just you wait. I'll show you what a real New Year's Eve dinner looks like!"

With that, he took the scroll and strode into the kitchen, full of enthusiasm.

Before he crossed over, Tokiju had lived on his own. Though he spent most of his time making money, he still occasionally treated himself to a good meal. But eating out alone never seemed worth the price.

So every now and then, he would learn how to make a few specialty dishes online and recreate them as a treat for himself.

That was how Tokiju had become such a good cook. He'd just never had the chance to show it off before.

Now that he finally had the chance, he had to show these Ninja World natives what Chinese cuisine was all about. (Strategic lean-back.)

Watching him, Shizune asked, "Do you need help preparing the ingredients?"

From inside the kitchen, Tokiju replied, "No need. Just wait out there for dinner!"

As he spoke, Shizune heard several "thump, thump, thump" sounds from the kitchen—the sound of him using the Shadow Clone Technique.

Seeing that Tokiju had even brought out his Shadow Clone Technique, Shizune said nothing more and went back to her book.

Before long, Tsunade came back as well.

Tokiju was still hard at work in the kitchen, completely unaware that his big sister had returned.

As soon as Shizune saw Tsunade, she went over to greet her. "Oh, Lady Tsunade, didn't you go to the casino today?"

Ever since returning to Konoha, Shizune's life had improved.

Although Lady Tsunade was hooked on gambling, whenever she ran out of money, she would go to the hospital and perform surgeries to earn more for her bets.

As a result, no one was eyeing Shizune's little nest egg anymore, and her savings had been growing steadily.

She hadn't saved much yet, but she felt that this was what a normal life should be like—far happier than when she had been wandering from place to place with Lady Tsunade.

Tsunade frowned at Shizune's question and said crossly, "Hey, do you think I'm the kind of woman who only ever goes to the casino?"

Shizune looked at Tsunade with an expression that seemed to ask, Aren't you, though?

"You..." Tsunade pointed at Shizune, but quickly sighed and said, "Forget it. Where's Tokiju? I need to talk to him."

Shizune pointed toward the kitchen. "Tokiju's in the kitchen right now. What did you need him for, Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade waved her hand, then called toward the kitchen, "Hey, Tokiju! We'll have a few extra people over tonight, so make some more food!"

Tokiju stuck his head out of the kitchen and asked in confusion, "Huh? Who? Who wants to come freeload off our dinner?"