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[Posting first. This line will be removed after editing; repeat downloads will not result in repeat charges.] "I'm back."

"You're home so early today. How was school?"

Sword Star's mother, Kiko, leaned half her body out from the kitchen and asked with a smile.

Kiko was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with gentle features and a smile that never seemed to leave her face.

"It was fine. Nothing special," Sword Star replied. "Oh, right. Two friends are coming over for dinner tonight. Would that be too much trouble?"

"Not at all. It's rare for Sword Star to bring friends over. Mom couldn't be happier." Kiko smiled brightly. "I'll just add a couple more dishes. It's no trouble at all..."

But—

The way you rolled up your sleeves and raised the kitchen knife, ready to go all out, made it hard to believe you were merely "adding a couple more dishes."

"How about I help out?" Sword Star offered.

"No need!" Kiko waved a small hand. "Don't underestimate a full-time housewife."

No one was underestimating you. If every housewife had your combat strength, a hundred thousand White Zetsu would be no more than a dish.

A piece of cake.

The kitchen was presumably Kiko's domain, and no one was allowed to point fingers there, or the consequences would be severe. Once, Sword Star's old man had gotten carried away, spouting grand opinions with great passion. The result was a week of unsalted stew.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Leave the food to me!" Kiko declared energetically.

"Alright. I'll go check on the Insect House."

Sword Star took off his sunglasses and coat, removed the weights from his limbs, and headed to the Insect House.

As its name implied, the Insect House was where the Aburame Clan raised insects.

The