Hinata's Hidden Skill

He'd never had anyone buy him food before—not in all his life, apart from Uncle Teuchi and the old man who brought him his living expenses every month.

Qiushui nodded.

"That's great!"

Naruto jumped on the spot. When he landed, he stumbled and nearly fell. Then he turned around and ran back, his footsteps pattering as he got to work cleaning with even more enthusiasm than before.

He had to finish cleaning quickly so he could go eat ramen with Teacher Qiushui.

Seeing how happy Naruto was, Hyuga Hinata couldn't help feeling happy too.

As Hinata wiped the windows, Qiushui seized the opportunity to use Quality Assessment on her.

[Name: Hyuga Hinata]

[Chakra: 600]

[Hidden Skill: Helpless and pitiful, but an especially big eater (can eat dozens of times as much as an average person)]

[Chakra Quality: S+]

After looking through all the data, Qiushui realized that Hinata's quality was actually S+.

He thought carefully about what had happened in the original story.

Hinata hadn't had many standout moments throughout the series. When Pain attacked Konoha, she stepped forward to shield Naruto. Her courage was moving, but if Pain had truly wanted to kill her, one move would probably have been enough.

Then Qiushui remembered something else. Otsutsuki Toneri, the shut-in on the moon, had once come to the Shinobi World when Hinata was three. He'd praised the quality of her Byakugan and said he would marry her once she came of age.

That alone showed that Hinata wasn't lacking in talent.

She simply hadn't received the right training, and her potential had gone to waste.

And when Qiushui saw Hinata's hidden skill, he couldn't help raising his eyebrows.

He remembered that when Ichiraku Ramen held an eating contest, Hinata had beaten Choji Akimichi, the human bottomless pit, and taken first place.

Once Naruto had finished cleaning, Qiushui took him to the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

The two of them left the classroom building and followed the corridor toward the school gate. When they were nearly there, Naruto suddenly stopped. He lowered his head and said softly, "Teacher Qiushui... why don't you go ahead without me?"

He didn't want people looking at Qiushui strangely because of him.

Qiushui glanced down at him but said nothing. He simply reached out, rested a hand gently on Naruto's shoulder, and led him onward.

"Don't worry. Your teacher doesn't mind."

The hand felt broad and warm on Naruto's shoulder, filling him with warmth.

He walked carefully beside Qiushui, sneaking glances at the children around them being led by their parents, then looking up at the tall figure beside him.

Naruto quietly thought, If only Teacher Qiushui were my father.

Namikaze Minato: The whole family's laughing out loud.

Qiushui deftly lifted the curtain at Ichiraku Ramen and went straight to the counter. He sat down and called out, "Uncle Teuchi, one deluxe seafood ramen and one deluxe large bowl of pork-bone miso ramen."

To do a better job on the system's mission, he'd deliberately ordered Naruto's favorite ramen.

"Welco—" Teuchi, whose eyes were narrowed to slits, poked his head out of the kitchen. When he saw who it was, his voice brightened with surprise. "Well, Qiushui! It's been ages since you came by."

"I've been on missions for a while," Qiushui explained.

Teuchi looked at Naruto beside him, surprised. "What are you two doing together?"

"I'm a teacher now. Naruto's in my class."

Naruto leaned on the counter and tilted his head curiously. "Uncle Teuchi, do you know Teacher Qiushui?"

"Qiushui's been a regular here for years," Teuchi said with a laugh as he busied himself. "He used to come here with his classmates back when he was at the Ninja Academy. A few of the ramen dishes were improved based on his suggestions."

Naruto turned to Qiushui, his face full of admiration. "That's so cool..."

Qiushui calmly lifted his teacup.

Back then, he'd only been trying to get on good terms with Teuchi so he'd have somewhere to hide out. Teuchi had been developing some new dishes at the time, so Qiushui had offered a few small suggestions.

Before long, two steaming bowls of ramen were set on the table. The broth was rich, the slices of pork were thick, and the aroma was irresistible.

Naruto pressed his hands together, looking as reverent as if he were performing some sacred rite. "Let's eat."

He picked up his chopsticks and dug in, stuffing his mouth until his cheeks bulged. His face glowed with happiness.

Naruto drank every last drop of broth. When he set down the bowl, he sighed with satisfaction, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his round belly.

[Daily Mission: Treat Uzumaki Naruto, an SSS-quality talent, to a delicious meal of Ichiraku Ramen (Completed)]

[Reward obtained—Cooking Master Boy (Beginner)]

[Reward obtained—Cooking Master Boy (Beginner)—Effect: Food prepared by the player rapidly restores 20% of stamina and 5% of chakra, with a 100% chance of causing a brief hallucination (does not stack)]

A flood of cooking techniques poured into Qiushui's mind.

Just a moment ago, he'd felt like an ordinary person who could only make egg fried rice. Now he was a chef who had mastered frying, deep-frying, stir-frying, boiling, stewing, and steaming.

Qiushui stood there in a daze for a few seconds, considering the reward he'd just received.

Thanks to the many system novels he'd read in his previous life, he quickly made sense of it. It seemed the system's rewards weren't limited to this world; it could also randomly produce things from other worlds.

Qiushui looked at the effect description for Cooking Master Boy (Beginner) again. It restored 20% of stamina and 5% of chakra. Although the effect couldn't stack, it was nearly as good as an ordinary military ration pill. Besides, those things tasted awful—like chewing sand. This reward, on the other hand, was actual food.

As for the "100% chance of causing a brief hallucination" part...

He remembered the anime. People only needed to take one bite of a dish before their faces filled with rapturous delight, as if they'd been given a second chance at life. They'd float in bliss like they were ascending to heaven.

He fell silent for a moment.

He'd find a chance to try it.

He wanted to see whether it was really as exaggerated as it sounded.

Qiushui took out his wallet and paid. As soon as he stepped out of the ramen shop, a message appeared in front of him.

[Daily Mission: Improve the cleanliness of the living environment of Uzumaki Naruto, an SSS-quality talent]

[Mission Reward: Awarded based on a comprehensive evaluation of mission progress]

Qiushui looked at the mission that had appeared before him and said to Naruto, "I don't have much to do tonight, so I'll walk you home."

Naruto's eyes widened. He practically jumped as he asked, "Really?"

Qiushui nodded gently.

Naruto immediately perked up. He hopped ahead, turning back every so often to urge him on. "Teacher, hurry up! My house is over there!"