A Formidable Rival?

Although Imagawa Sayuri did not know him well yet, his looks and the few words they had exchanged were enough to tell her he was a good person.

The Fire Daimyo saw the look on his daughter's face, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He was hardly a heartless man.

There had been nothing he could do about his eldest daughter. The other party had specifically demanded a marriage alliance with her. But his second daughter, Sayuri, was different. He would find her a suitable match, no matter what.

"Ryuuzaki Eiji. It's a pleasure to meet you."

What a lovely personality this girl has. She's the very picture of a Yamato Nadeshiko. She comes from a distinguished family, yet she's still so courteous. Back in my old world, people would have fought over her.

Kushina looked at Sayuri, then at Eiji. Alarm bells rang in her head.

The girl named Sayuri had not said anything, but Kushina's intuition told her there was danger.

Oh, I see. This woman wants to steal my best friend!

What is it with all these girls making eyes at Eiji? Do they think I'm not here?

"All right, Eiji, it's time for our daily training. Don't forget Minato's waiting for us in the forest!"

With that, Kushina tucked Eiji's arm against her chest and gave Sayuri a look she reserved for enemies.

Sayuri met Kushina's hostile gaze without showing anger or hurt. She merely narrowed her eyes and smiled back.

This one's a formidable rival!

Alarm bells rang even louder in Kushina's head. She grabbed Eiji's arm and headed for the front gate.

"Come on! If we're late, Sissy will start complaining again!"

Eiji did not resist. He let Kushina drag him out of the Senju Clan Compound.

Sayuri kept smiling, her eyes narrowed. Nothing of what she felt showed on her face.

They seem so close. I wish I could be friends with them.

At dinnertime, Eiji and Kushina returned to the Senju Clan Compound.

Kushina's bad mood had thrown off her training today. While practicing the Rasengan, she had burst one water balloon after another, leaving her hair a mess.

Exhausted in body and mind, Kushina held Eiji's arm as she pushed open the residence gate. There stood Sayuri, smiling at them both.

"You two must have worked hard. I've heated water for you!"

The formal competition was a week away, so the Daimyo and his party had to stay in Konoha for the time being. He thought it would do his daughter good to spend time with people her own age and had asked Mito Uzumaki to let Sayuri stay at the Senju Ancestral Home for the week.

Staying there meant going without servants, of course. Wanting to make friends with Eiji and Kushina, Sayuri had prepared hot water for them herself.

Nawaki watched with envy. Why did Eiji have all the luck?

Even Tsunade's mouth twitched. Getting the Daimyo's daughter to heat bathwater on the day they met was quite a feat.

Wow, so that's how she wants to play this!

Kushina saw straight through Sayuri's scheme. She had read enough stories to know Sayuri meant to make herself such a familiar presence that Eiji would grow used to her!

"Give it up! Eiji's already mine! I'm not letting you have him!"

Kushina wrapped her arms tight around Eiji's upper body, like a lioness warning other beasts away from her prey.

Eiji did not react. He could already imagine Kushina hissing at him if he tried to struggle.

"Miss Kushina, I think you may have misunderstood. I truly envy how close you two are, and I have no intention of coming between you," Sayuri said gently. "I rarely meet anyone my own age at the Daimyo's Palace. I'd like to be friends with you both."

"Friends?" Kushina's eyes shifted. "Just friends?"

"Yes. I mean it."

Kushina studied Sayuri's smiling face. She could not spot a single crack in it, and only then did she gradually lower her guard.

"Well, if you put it that way, Eiji and I can be your friends."

Kushina let go of Eiji and shook Sayuri's hand. Eiji took a bag of candy from his pocket and offered it to her.

"I made these sweets myself. Think of them as a gift to mark our new friendship."

Sayuri accepted the candy with both hands and dipped her head in thanks.

It looked as though Kushina had successfully made a second friend. No, Minato was her second... right?

Then again, characters who smile with their eyes closed are always monsters. Eiji wanted to say it, but held his tongue.

After all, Eiji sensed no ill will from Sayuri. Perhaps she really had been cooped up too long in a place as rule-bound as the Daimyo's Palace.

"Eiji and I are going to wash up first. Just wait until dinner—his cooking will amaze you!"

Sayuri watched Kushina hurry toward the Ancestral Home, pulling Eiji by the hand. The corners of her mouth lifted, but a trace of sadness crossed her eyes.

I really envy her. If I could, I'd be a girl from an ordinary family and spend my life with the man I love. But I've enjoyed all the luxuries of nobility. I can't be that selfish.

Naturally, Kushina washed first and Eiji went after her. Nothing else of note happened. When they came out of the back courtyard, they found the Daimyo and a large group of people gathered in the front courtyard.

The Daimyo said he had brought plenty of fresh ingredients and excellent chefs, and hoped to share dinner with Mito Uzumaki and Princess Tsunade.

At that, Tsunade smiled. She turned and spotted Eiji, who had come into the courtyard to see what was going on.

She hurried over, grabbed his arm, and pulled him in front of the Daimyo.

"Tell your chefs to take it easy. The real chef's right here!"

The Daimyo was taken aback. Sayuri tilted her head and looked at Eiji.

The chefs were even less pleased. They could not understand how a child not yet ten years old could be called a master chef.

"Tsunade, I'm a Ninja, not a cook."

Eiji sighed. He had only just finished washing up, and now he had to feed this whole crowd? At this rate, he might as well become a cook and go head-to-head with Teuchi.

"Quit complaining. None of the chefs here can match you, no matter how many there are. I don't want to eat anyone else's cooking!"

Eiji could only give in. He had brought this on himself by spoiling Tsunade's palate.

"Tsunade, are you sure this boy can match the chefs I brought? I recruited them from All Across the Country. They're the finest cooks there are."

The Daimyo gave Tsunade a searching look. She waved a dismissive hand.

"Oh, please. I've been to the Daimyo's Palace. Their cooking is good, but it's nowhere near this kid's. Have you ever seen a dish that glows?"

"Oh?"

Imagawa Yoshiteru's interest was piqued. He turned to Mito Uzumaki, and when she nodded in agreement, he grew even more excited.

An unexpected treat?

I only came to watch the Konoha Shinobi Graduation Exam to pass the time. But if I get to see this boy cook, the trip will already have been worth it! How fascinating!

The Shinobi World offered precious little amusement. Even as the Daimyo, he found life dull. Now he had the growing sense that one of the wondrous stories from his books was about to unfold before his eyes. How could he not be excited?