Qiushui seized the opportunity to say, "Now do you see how important it is to learn the theory? It can save you from taking so many wrong turns. If you don't understand this stuff, you'll waste a lot of time practicing ninjutsu that isn't suited to you. Your progress will be slow, and you'll always improve more slowly than everyone else."
Naruto nodded. For the first time, he felt that studying might actually be useful.
Qiushui knew he could have explained all this to Naruto from the start, but then it wouldn't have made much of an impression. Naruto would probably forget it after a nap. Letting him experience failure firsthand before explaining the principles would make sure he remembered the lesson.
Feeling the sunlight grow hotter, Qiushui raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. It was 11:05. He took out the study materials he'd prepared earlier, filled with content he'd marked as likely to appear on the exam, and told Naruto, "Stay here and practice. Don't wander off. I'm going back to cook. I'll bring you some food in a bit."
Naruto was already ravenous, but the excitement of learning a new ninjutsu that morning had drowned out his hunger. He nodded at once.
This was the first time anyone had ever cooked for him, and he was thrilled.
Worried Naruto might actually sit in the blazing sun like an idiot—something his personality made all too likely—Qiushui had him move the table and chairs beneath a tree's shade. "Naruto, make three more clones and have them study with you."
Naruto immediately made three clones. If something good happened, he had to share it.
The three clones had thought something fun was about to happen. When they learned they'd be studying, they all pulled long faces. Like Naruto, they were terrible students.
Naruto, on the other hand, was quite happy. Even if the clones were all himself, at least he'd have some company.
Qiushui made two clones and had them supervise Naruto's studies. It was a good chance to test whether clones could use the Talent Aura skill.
After leaving, he first went to a fresh food market. He walked past the different stalls and bought beef tenderloin, bird's-eye chilies, cilantro, eggs, tomatoes, soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, salt, black pepper, and a whole assortment of other seasonings.
Even though he'd acquired the Cooking Master Boy cooking skill, his dishes wouldn't taste very good if he didn't have enough seasonings.
Since it wasn't wartime and supplies were plentiful, everything cost only 1,300 ryo. During wartime, it would have cost twice as much.
Qiushui headed back with his bags.
He entered the apartment, went upstairs, and unlocked the door. He'd already cleaned the place before. It had a refrigerator, a washing machine, a television, and everything else he needed.
Qiushui went straight into the kitchen, set down the groceries, and tied on an apron. He was ready to test whether the Cooking Master Boy skill really worked as spectacularly as its description claimed.
He started cooking enough rice for five. He had a big appetite, and Naruto's was probably just as big. Next, he put ten eggs in a pot of cold water and set them to boil, then began preparing the stir-fry.
The first dish Qiushui made was Stir-fried Beef. It went perfectly with rice, and its essence lay in bringing together four qualities: fragrant, spicy, savory, and tender. If any one of them was missing, the whole dish would suffer.
He took out the beef tenderloin he'd bought. It was the most tender cut of the entire cow, making it perfect for this dish.
Following the instructions in his memory, Qiushui washed the meat, patted it dry, and placed it on the cutting board. He examined the grain carefully. He had to cut against it, slicing the meat into pieces about two or three millimeters thick. The thinner the slices, the faster they would heat through and cook.
He added light soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine to the beef, then mixed it thoroughly by hand until the slices had absorbed all the seasonings and felt slightly sticky. He added starch and a small pinch of baking soda and mixed them in. Finally, he drizzled on a spoonful of cooking oil and gently tossed the meat to seal in its moisture, then left it to marinate for ten to fifteen minutes.
He heated oil in a wok. Once it reached about 60 percent of its maximum temperature and began to smoke faintly, bubbles quickly forming around a pair of chopsticks dipped into it, he added the marinated beef.
He quickly separated the slices with a spatula and stir-fried them over high heat. As soon as the beef changed color and was about eighty percent cooked, he removed it from the wok and set it aside. This step had to be quick, or the meat would turn tough.
Leaving a little oil in the wok, he turned the heat to high and added minced ginger, garlic, wild pickled chilies, and bird's-eye chilies. He stir-fried them until their fragrance and heat filled the air, then returned the beef to the wok. He added more chilies and poured the prepared sauce around the edge of the wok, keeping the heat as high as possible as he quickly stir-fried everything together. At the end, he sprinkled in the cilantro, turned off the heat, and tossed the ingredients twice in the residual warmth of the wok. As soon as the cilantro wilted, the dish was ready.
Qiushui packed the dish into a thermal container, took off his apron, and headed out.
The Hyuga Clan's grounds lay in the heart of Konoha. The sprawling estate was neatly arranged, with meticulously trimmed shrubs lining the flagstone paths. Every leaf pointed in the same direction, much like the rules passed down through generations of the family: orderly, strict, and not to be crossed.
Two small figures faced off in the training area of the Hyuga Clan leader's estate.
Hyuga Hinata's fingers curled slightly at her sides. She remembered her father's instruction: when she couldn't use the Byakugan proficiently, she had to learn to predict her opponent's next move from their stance.
Standing opposite her, Hyuga Hanabi was only six years old and barely reached her sister's shoulder. She stood straight and didn't make the first move, quietly watching Hinata. She knew there was a gap between her strength and her older sister's.
Hinata bit her lower lip and struck first, using a basic Gentle Fist move. She pushed her palm toward Hanabi, afraid of hurting her little sister, so she used only half her strength. Hanabi lightly pivoted to the side, and the palm brushed past the front of her clothes, stirring a faint breeze.
Now! Hanabi seized the opening and darted out a small hand, moving incredibly fast. Her hand was too small to grip her sister's wrist, so she slipped it precisely between Hinata's fingers, into the gap between her knuckles. The angle was so tricky it seemed she'd calculated it in advance.
Before Hinata could pull her hand away, the force dragged her forward. Fortunately, Hanabi wasn't very strong. Hinata staggered a step, then regained her balance.
Beside a veranda pillar, Hyuga Hiashi stood with his hands behind his back. He watched his elder daughter's performance, his brow faintly furrowed.
Standing beside him was the former clan leader, his father, Hyuga Tenin. The old man's expression was calm.
Once she had regained her balance, Hinata immediately brought her small hands together in front of her and assumed the standard Gentle Fist stance.
Hanabi also took her stance. Her form was even more precise than her sister's, despite Hinata being four years older.
This time, Hanabi didn't choose to defend. She could tell her sister hadn't used much strength just now.
She stepped forward, pushing out her right palm while guarding her chest with her left. They were basic moves that had been taught countless times, yet she performed them with effortless grace. Hinata retreated half a step and met her with her right palm.
Their palms collided with a dull thud.
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