Four Steps to One Dish for Beginners

Uchiha Ruri left behind three Shadow Clones, flashed, and returned to the Uchiha Residence.

By then, she had transformed from Six Paths Sasuke back into her original beautiful-girl form.

Liuli's original appearance was every bit the picture of a young lady: beautiful and noble, unforgettable at first sight.

She stood in the residence's courtyard, feeling the cool breeze brush across her cheek, and couldn't help but feel a strange stirring in her heart.

Thinking back to her transformation earlier and her trip to pay the Akatsuki a visit, she smiled faintly, feeling as though she'd found an indirect way to exploit a bug.

Her Shadow Clone could keep using Six Paths Sasuke's power, while she was free to move around the village and continue chatting with it.

At that thought, Liuli immediately opened the System Chat Group. There were four people in it: Hanabi, Rin, Satoru, and herself.

They had each set a photo of their original selves as their group avatar, which looked quite amusing.

Rin's avatar had become a little more flamboyant, but the others' were all fairly normal.

Liuli glanced through the group's chat history and saw that Hanabi and Rin were enthusiastically discussing something, while Rin remained as quiet as ever. She smiled faintly and began typing on the system's virtual keyboard. "I'm back in the village. Just keep working on your missions. It's still too early in the story; the main cast won't graduate from the Ninja Academy for several more years. There's no need to rush. The key is to take things one step at a time. Stay in touch and report your progress as it happens."

Her message was brief and to the point, without any unnecessary words or descriptions.

Every line hit the mark, making it easy to understand. She knew that, at a critical moment like this, clear communication mattered more than anything.

After sending the message, she leaned back in her training room chair and took a deep breath.

On a whim, Liuli decided to see what Sasuke was doing.

After all, she had always been curious about the Uchiha Clan's genius young boy.

She left the training room quietly and opened the door. The sight before her surprised her a little.

Sasuke stood alone on the training ground, holding a shuriken and practicing with total concentration.

His movements were nimble and swift, and every throw hit its target without fail.

Liuli could tell that Sasuke had already reached a fairly high level in Shurikenjutsu.

At the very least, he was unquestionably the top dog among the Ninja Academy's elementary school students.

Liuli decided that he was the elementary school Shuriken King.

Liuli stood quietly to one side, not disturbing Sasuke's practice. She watched his movements and expression carefully, trying to glimpse what was going on inside him.

She noticed how focused Sasuke was as he practiced, as though the whole world had dwindled to just him and his shuriken. His concentration and determination impressed Liuli.

Uchiha Sasuke sensed his sister's arrival and immediately stopped training to wipe away his sweat.

"Liuli, how are you feeling? Have you recovered?" Sasuke asked with concern as he ran over. Worry was written all over his face, and his deep black eyes revealed just how much he cared about his sister.

Liuli felt warmth flood through her as she saw the concern in Sasuke's eyes.

She smiled gently. "I'm much better, Sasuke. Don't worry."

Sasuke relaxed a little at her words, but he still said, "The Konoha medical team brought back some medicine just now. They said it would help you recover. You should get more rest and not push yourself."

Liuli nodded. She knew Sasuke genuinely cared about her health. Looking into his determined eyes, she felt a little moved. She gently patted his shoulder. "Thank you, Sasuke. I know you mean well. I'll get plenty of rest, so don't worry."

At the sight of Liuli's gentle expression, Sasuke's worry eased a little.

He knew Liuli was always strong and could face any difficulty bravely.

But Itachi Uchiha had truly hurt her last night. Sasuke had seen it with his own eyes.

As her younger brother, he needed to care for her and look after her even more, especially since they were the only two left in the Uchiha Clan.

Sasuke was about to say more and show Liuli how much he cared, when his stomach suddenly growled, breaking the warm atmosphere.

He awkwardly rubbed his stomach, a sheepish smile appearing on his face.

"Uh, I guess I'm hungry," Sasuke said, a little embarrassed.

He had wanted to chat with Liuli a while longer, but his hunger meant he had to find something to eat first.

Seeing Sasuke's embarrassed expression, Liuli couldn't help laughing. She thought he was adorable like this, just like a little kid.

She said warmly, "Go on, Sasuke. Find something to eat. Don't let yourself go hungry."

Sasuke nodded and headed for the kitchen. Inside, he found a spacious, bright room with every kind of cooking utensil.

Several pots sat on the stove, still carrying the aroma of food, as if someone had cooked a delicious meal there not long ago.

Sasuke looked around and suddenly spotted several strange books on the table. He couldn't help staring. "Huh? When did these get into the kitchen?"

He wondered to himself. As far as he could remember, these books had never been in the kitchen before.

He walked over and saw several titles written across their covers: "Four Steps to One Dish for Beginners!" and "How to Make Better Meals with the Sharingan?"

Sasuke was speechless. Who had left these here? Were they trying to get him to learn how to cook?

Sasuke couldn't resist complaining. "What the heck are these books? I'm Uchiha Sasuke, for crying out loud. I'm supposed to read these to learn how to cook? Give me a break!"

He was a genius ninja. Surely he didn't need books like these to teach him how to cook.

But when he opened one of them, he found himself drawn in by its contents.

It explained in detail how to make delicious dishes with simple steps, complete with vivid illustrations and practical tips. As Sasuke read, he began to study the instructions seriously.

"Huh? This step looks kind of interesting. I could try it," Sasuke murmured, then set to work. He followed the instructions one step at a time, and before long, an appetizing aroma filled the kitchen.

"I didn't know I had this much talent!" Sasuke said after tasting the meal he had made himself.

Meanwhile, Liuli was wandering near the Uchiha Residence, looking around carefully to see whether there was anything valuable or any furniture she could take.

But she found that the once familiar residence was now empty. Almost everything of value had been taken away.

A sense of loss welled up in Liuli. She muttered glumly, "The Third Hokage took everything valuable? Damn it, he couldn't even leave us a bite to eat."

She continued searching unwillingly, hoping to find something that had been overlooked.

Then Liuli suddenly remembered something. "Oh no, those books are still in the kitchen!"

Liuli stopped in the middle of her stroll, realizing that something was wrong. She couldn't help exclaiming to herself in dismay.

Those books—those Beginner's Kitchen Secrets she had bought not long ago.

They weren't ordinary cookbooks. They were reference books made specifically for beginners, detailing how to prepare various dishes and sharing cooking techniques, along with ways to make use of the Uchiha Clan's unique Sharingan.

For someone like Sasuke, who had never set foot in a kitchen, those books were undoubtedly a lifeline.

Yet those very books were what worried Liuli most. Sasuke might discover her little secret: she had once secretly prepared food for him, hoping he would get to taste her cooking.

Liuli could already imagine how awkward and helpless Sasuke would look when he found those books.

She knew she wasn't good at cooking, but she had still taken those books and specifically studied cooking secrets.

Liuli rushed to the kitchen doorway and saw Sasuke activating his One-Tomoe Sharingan. She was instantly surprised and curious.

She had seen the Sharingan's wonders for the first time, but had never watched Sasuke use it herself. She had no idea he would use such a powerful visual jutsu to cook in the kitchen. The sight was hilarious.

Liuli stood at the doorway, quietly observing Sasuke. His gaze had grown unusually deep, as though he could see the essence of everything. He stared intently at the cookbooks, as if searching for hidden secrets between the lines.

Liuli knew full well that Sasuke wasn't good at cooking.

Liuli stood outside the kitchen, eyes wide as she looked at the several delicious-looking dishes on the table. She could hardly believe her eyes.

She couldn't help blurting out, "Holy crap, that's amazing! You really made all these dishes? Is this Uchiha genius a fully rounded warrior too?"

Her voice was filled with surprise and teasing, as if to say, "Good grief, this Uchiha genius isn't just a fighter—he's a master chef too! Is there anything this all-around warrior can't do?"

Liuli's teasing made the whole room feel lighter. As she spoke, she walked into the kitchen, ready to taste Sasuke's cooking.

Looking at the dishes, Liuli couldn't help thinking that Sasuke was full of surprises. She had once thought the Uchiha were the sort who only knew how to fight and didn't know how to live. But now she saw how wrong she had been. Sasuke wasn't just an excellent ninja; he knew how to enjoy life too.

Liuli picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of meat in her mouth. A wonderful flavor immediately enveloped her taste buds.

She couldn't help closing her eyes to savor it. When she opened them, she found Sasuke watching her expectantly.

"Well? Is it good?" Sasuke asked.

Liuli nodded and smiled. "It's delicious, Sasuke. You did a great job."

"By the way, Liuli, where did those books come from?"

Sasuke went over to the table and picked up one of the books, looking curious.

He flipped through it quickly, but then suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on one page.

An indescribable expression crossed his face—surprise and confusion, mixed with the urge to laugh and the effort to hold it in.

Liuli noticed Sasuke's strange reaction and followed his gaze to the book cover.

The cover showed Madara Uchiha, drawn so vividly that he seemed real. He had his mouth wide open in laughter and held a spatula as if he were cooking. Even more strikingly, his Sharingan was activated while he cooked.

Beside him, Izuna waited expectantly, his eyes bright as if to say, "Look, that's my big brother! He can fight and cook! He's practically all-knowing and all-powerful!"

Liuli's heart was in turmoil too. She did her best to keep her expression calm, but the corners of her mouth still lifted slightly.

What a ridiculous cover! She had never seen a book this amusing. No wonder Sasuke was so surprised.

By now, Sasuke's face was bright red as he tried to suppress his laughter, but his eyes gave him away.

He looked up at Liuli, hoping she'd share his reaction, only to find that she was trying not to laugh too.

"Liuli, who's on this book's cover? He looks fierce,"

Sasuke asked curiously as he flipped through the book in his hands. His fingers brushed lightly over the pages, his eyes filled with curiosity about the unknown.

Liuli shifted her gaze from the kitchen flames to the book in Sasuke's hands.

She glanced at the cover and smiled. The person pictured was none other than the legendary powerhouse of the Uchiha Clan, Madara Uchiha.

He had been drawn so vividly that the unique glow of the Sharingan seemed to flicker in his eyes, and his crazed grin made him look amusing.

"I don't know who he is either, little sister. Just know that he's really strong," Liuli said, pretending not to know, a mysterious smile on her face. Her words were evasive; she clearly didn't want to dwell on the subject.

Sasuke furrowed his brows slightly. He sensed that Liuli hadn't told him the whole truth.

But he didn't give up on asking. After all, he was curious about the person on the cover.

"Really strong? How strong?" Sasuke pressed, his voice tinged with curiosity.

He wanted to know how strong this person truly was and how great the gap between them was.

Seeing how serious Sasuke was, Liuli couldn't help feeling amused.

She knew Sasuke was someone who pursued strength to the utmost. He would never be satisfied with where he was, always striving to challenge and surpass himself.

"Well, how should I put it? He's absurdly strong—an unmatched existence," Liuli replied after a moment's thought, giving a vague and exaggerated description.

She knew this description wouldn't let Sasuke truly grasp just how strong the man was, but at least it could give him a sense of that world and something to look forward to.

Listening to Liuli's description, Sasuke felt a surge of longing. He imagined a world where the strong ruled, and pictured himself one day standing at its peak, looking down on everyone.

But Liuli didn't let Sasuke sink any further into those unrealistic fantasies.

She shook her head gently. "That's not the point."

Sasuke was taken aback. He looked at Liuli in confusion, wanting to know what she meant.

Seeing Sasuke's puzzled expression, Liuli couldn't help feeling helpless.

She knew her earlier description might have misled Sasuke into thinking that world was what he ought to pursue. In truth, it was far beyond their reach. What they should focus on now was the reality before them and the path ahead.

"Sasuke, I know you're eager to become stronger, but you need to understand that a true strong person doesn't simply pursue power. They know how to use their strength properly to protect themselves and others." Liuli's voice grew serious. She hoped Sasuke would truly understand what she meant. "That world is full of temptations and challenges, but it's also full of dangers and traps. You should work hard to improve your strength, but you also need to keep a clear head and not let unrealistic fantasies mislead you."

Listening to Liuli, Sasuke felt a warmth in his heart.

"Liuli, I..." Sasuke wanted to say something, but found that he didn't know how to begin.

"Let's eat first. I haven't tried your cooking yet," Liuli said with a smile, interrupting his thoughts and bringing his attention back to the reality before him.

Sasuke snapped back to himself. He glanced at the delicious-looking dishes on the table and felt a rush of anticipation.

This was his first time trying his hand at cooking. Liuli's tasting it made him very happy.

"Okay. Let's eat first," Sasuke replied.