Days Living with Teacher

The first day of his new life began with Qianyu being blasted into the sofa. Last night's dinner had ultimately been cobbled together by Shizune using some simple ingredients she bought, since although the kitchen was brand-new, it was practically bare aside from basic cookware.

Today was a school holiday. The morning sunlight streamed through the newly installed glass windows and into the living room. Tsunade lounged in a reclining chair, looked at Qianyu, yawned, and casually asked:

"Kid, aside from knowing a few half-baked ninjutsu and that incomplete Wood Release, what else can you usually do? Cook? Clean? Or do you only know how to space out?"

Qianyu turned around with a hint of pride on his face, his chin slightly raised. "Tsunade-sensei, you asked the right person. There's only what you can't think of—nothing I can't do!" He said it with absolute conviction, and combined with his still-childish face, it gave him a strangely comical sort of confidence.

"Oh???" Tsunade raised a brow, now somewhat interested. She straightened up in her chair. "Big words. Why don't you show me what you've got?"

Qianyu blinked and pointed at the utterly empty kitchen and living room. "Even the cleverest housewife can't cook without rice. There are no ingredients, no seasonings, and not even a full set of proper kitchenware."

"What a pain." Tsunade stood and stretched lazily, her perfect curves fully on display in the morning light. "Fine, we'll go on a shopping spree. We need household supplies too—this place is so empty, mice could run laps in it. Shizune, let's go!"

The three of them headed grandly toward Konoha's commercial district. It was Qianyu's first time going shopping with the whole family, and it felt rather novel.

However, news of Tsunade's return to the village had clearly already spread. With her distinctive blonde hair and appearance, she was practically a moving focal point on Konoha's streets. Not long after they entered the bustling market, cries of surprise and greetings began rising all around them.

"It's Lady Tsunade!"

"Lady Tsunade returned to the village?!"

"It really is her! It's been so long!"

Ninja continuously came forward to greet her excitedly, their gazes filled with admiration. Tsunade merely nodded casually and gave a few noncommittal hums. She was not particularly warm, but neither did she give anyone a cold reception. Clearly, she was used to such scenes.

Walking beside her, Qianyu could clearly feel countless curious, probing gazes settling on him. After all, an unfamiliar child following one of the legendary Three Ninja was enough to set imaginations running wild.

Just then, an energetic green figure came rushing over upside down, his hands alternating with rapid thump-thump-thumps, kicking up a gust of wind!

"Yo! Lady Tsunade! What a reunion that sets the blood ablaze!" Might Guy stopped upside down before Tsunade, his eyes sparkling beneath his thick brows as he flashed his signature shining smile. He then noticed Qianyu beside her. "And this is...?"

Tsunade seemed entirely unsurprised by Guy's manner of arrival. She casually hooked an arm around Qianyu and pulled him to her side, then loudly declared in a tone that proclaimed ownership:

"Everyone, quiet down. I have an announcement." Tsunade spread her arms wide.

"This kid, Cangshu Qianyu! From now on, he's my disciple! Make sure you all remember that!"

Her voice was resounding, and half the block seemed to fall silent for a moment.

"Oohhh—!!" Might Guy instantly erupted with even fiercer flames of youth. "This is inheritance! This is the fiery bond of youth! I'm so moved! To celebrate this wonderful encounter, today I shall run twenty laps around the village on my hands! No, thirty laps!"

With that, he howled and charged away upside down with another series of thump-thump-thumps, leaving behind a trail of dust and bewildered pedestrians.

The crowd around them erupted into even louder discussion. Lady Tsunade's disciple? Cangshu Qianyu? Never heard of him. What had this kid done to deserve that? Surprise, curiosity, scrutiny... all sorts of gazes nearly drowned Qianyu.

Qianyu maintained an obedient expression on the surface, but inwardly he was delighted. Excellent, this was exactly the effect I wanted! Tsunade-sensei's advertisement was incredibly effective! From now on, anyone in Konoha who wants to touch me will have to think about who's standing behind me first.

Tsunade paid no attention whatsoever to the reactions around them. Still holding Qianyu close, she waved at Shizune. "Come on, let's buy groceries! Today, we'll let this kid show us what he can do!"

The shopping process could only be described as a sweep. Tsunade did not care about prices at all, directing Shizune and Qianyu to pick up this and that—from premium beef and fresh seafood to all kinds of foreign spices rarely seen locally, fine flour, high-grade cane sugar... Before long, the three of them had their hands full of large and small bags.

When they returned to the refreshed little house, Tsunade had the ANBU "kindly sponsor" quite a bit of basic furniture yesterday. Seeing the abundant ingredients piled across the kitchen counter, Qianyu rubbed his hands together eagerly.

"Tsunade-sensei, Sister Shizune, just wait to have your eyes opened!" He dragged over a small stool to stand on, only then barely reaching the stove.

Heh heh, the culinary culture of the ninja world is still far too monotonous. Today, I'll let you see what true gourmet food tastes like! Qianyu chuckled inwardly as his hands began efficiently processing the ingredients.

Thanks to memories from his previous life as a seasoned shut-in and food enthusiast, his movements were so quick they dazzled the eye.

At first, Tsunade leaned against the kitchen doorway merely to watch the show. But as the fragrance gradually spread layer by layer, her gaze shifted from indifferent to surprised, then to intent concentration.

In less than two hours, several dishes that were perfect in color, aroma, and flavor—completely beyond the ninja world's usual understanding—were set upon the brand-new dining table.

Prosperity Braised Prawns, Glazed Amber Candied Sweet Potatoes, Golden Eight-Treasure Sticky Rice.

Along with a pot of fish head and tofu soup simmered to a milky white.

"Th-This... what is this?" Tsunade and Shizune stared blankly at the dishes they had never seen before. In their impression, ninja ate either soldier pills or simple, quick foods like rice balls, grilled fish, miso soup, and barbecue.

The dishes before them were exquisitely presented, their aromas complex. They did not look like anything a seven-year-old child could make.

"You'll know after one bite." Qianyu handed them chopsticks, a confident smile on his little face.

Half-convinced, Tsunade picked up a piece of candied sweet potato and carefully took a bite. In an instant, the crispy outer shell, the soft interior, and the perfectly balanced sugar coating—sweet without being cloying, stretching into long threads—melted in her mouth. The wonderful flavor made her eyes fly wide open!

"Mmph—!" She did not even have time to speak before immediately reaching for the prawn covered in sauce, then the sticky rice, then the fish soup... Seeing this, Shizune could not resist taking a bite as well, and promptly joined the frenzy.

For a time, the only sounds at the table were chopsticks clinking against bowls and plates, along with satisfied chewing. At first, Qianyu was still able to eat a few bites leisurely, but he quickly realized that if he did not fight for it, there would be nothing left!

"Hey! Tsunade-sensei! That biggest prawn is mine!"

"The soup! We haven't finished the soup yet!"

In less than fifteen minutes, the plates were spotless, with barely any broth left behind.

Tsunade leaned back against her chair in satisfaction, rubbing her completely unchanged belly. Her amber eyes narrowed lazily as she looked at Qianyu, who was resentfully scraping the last bit of sauce from the bottom of a plate. A triumphant smile curled across her lips.

"Little Qianyu, I couldn't tell you had this in you. The taste... was passable, I suppose." "From now on, cooking will be your job."

Qianyu: "..." Great. Before he had even completed the apprenticeship ceremony, he had already become the household's personal cook. He looked utterly dead inside.

Shizune held back a laugh and took the initiative to help clear the dishes. Once everything was cleaned up, Tsunade formally took the seat of honor.

The simple apprenticeship ceremony began. Qianyu respectfully knelt and offered her a cup of clear tea. "Master, please have some tea."

Tsunade accepted it and took a sip, officially acknowledging him as her disciple. She set down the teacup, then took out from her clothes the necklace bearing a magatama-shaped pendant—the relic left behind by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

"Catch." She tossed the necklace to Qianyu. "Wear it, and don't lose it. Though... seeing it hanging around your neck feels kind of strange."

She looked at Qianyu's refined face, which carried Uchiha's faintly cold aura, with her grandfather's necklace hanging from his neck. The sense of incongruity was simply overwhelming. But when she thought of his Wood Release and Sage Body, it somehow... made sense?

Qianyu carefully accepted the necklace. Feeling the faint pulse of chakra beneath his fingertips, his heart stirred as well.

Could he refuse? This was the legendary Death Necklace—oh, no, it was the First Hokage's relic! He solemnly put it around his neck and tucked it safely against his body.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"Don't thank me yet." Tsunade took out another enormous scroll and unrolled it onto the ground with a bang. "This is Shikkotsu Forest's summoning contract scroll. Use your blood to write your name here."

"Huh? I have to bleed? Will it hurt..." Qianyu looked at the massive scroll and the requirement to write in blood, instinctively curling his fingers back.

"Cut the nonsense! What are you acting so timid for?" Tsunade snapped, knocking him on the head with another punch. "Hurry up!"

With tears in his eyes, Qianyu obediently bit his thumb and forcefully wrote the four characters "Cangshu Qianyu" in the designated spot on the scroll. His gaze swept over the two names beside it—Senju Tsunade and Hashirama Senju.

Damn! he cried inwardly. It's confirmed! The First Hokage's Sage Mode really did come from Shikkotsu Forest! Does that mean I might have a chance to go there and learn senjutsu too?

"Remember this hand sign sequence." Tsunade began forming seals. The movements were not complicated, but they contained a unique rhythm of chakra. "Summoning Technique!"

After a puff of white smoke, a small, pure white slug appeared on the table. It seemed a little dazed from having just been summoned, and spoke in a soft, delicate voice. "Lady Tsunade, what are your orders?"

"Let me introduce you." Tsunade pointed at Qianyu, who was curiously studying the slug beside her. "This is my new disciple, Cangshu Qianyu. The inheritor of Wood Release."

The little slug turned its antennae toward Qianyu, seemingly sensing him carefully. A few seconds later, it murmured in confusion, "Lord Qianyu... your chakra presence is very warm, very vast, very much like... the 'Divine Tree'? But also somewhat different—gentler and more natural..."

"Divine Tree?" Tsunade frowned. "What is that?"