A Perfect Score in Feminine Charm

Even so, Kushina earned more from rent alone than most ninja did.

Eiji swapped lunch boxes with Kushina without a second thought. If a pretty girl wanted to make him lunch, of course he would accept. He had never enjoyed that kind of treatment in his previous life.

When he opened the lunch box, the food inside stunned him.

Lobster, abalone, caviar, and premium beef.

Eiji's eye twitched. So this was how the wealthy lived. What a lavish lunch!

The money his parents had left him would only last until he graduated from the Ninja Academy. He spent most of it on training, which meant cutting back on food.

Since he could hunt and fish, he didn't eat too poorly. Today's lunch, though, was a little slapdash.

"Are you sure you want to trade? My lunch is rather... plain."

Even "plain" was generous. If Kushina's lunch was fit for a Daimyo, his was fit for a farmer.

"I don't mind. I made it for you, Eiji. Consider it a thank-you for yesterday!"

Kushina could have prepared two lunches, but her intuition told her that sharing this way would bring them closer faster. So she had made only one.

Tsunade had not formally taken on an apprentice yet, but Kushina was sure Eiji's abilities would win her approval.

Last night, Tsunade had also told Kushina about the village's intentions. It wanted that girly-looking Minato to get close to her so she would feel more at home in Konoha.

Kushina wasn't stupid. Far from it. She had grown up quickly after the Land of Whirlpools fell, and she understood immediately.

The village seemed to want to choose a future... partner for her.

Kushina didn't care why the village placed so much importance on her.

What gave anyone the right to choose her future partner for her?

And that girly-looking boy, of all people!

If others wanted to decide her fate, she would fight back!

Kushina had never lacked a rebellious streak. She would find her own partner!

And Eiji was the perfect choice!

He was handsome and strong, and most importantly, he had never made fun of her hair.

Grandma Mito seemed to support her, which made Kushina even more determined.

Girls tended to mature earlier than boys, especially in the Shinobi World.

She had noticed that the boys around her talked about nothing but where to go play next or which restaurant had the best food. Was Eiji that childish too?

If he was, all the better. She would win him over before he knew what was happening!

Watching Eiji eat the lunch she had made, bite by bite, filled Kushina with an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

He was taking her feelings into himself with every bite. That meant she had played a part in helping him grow stronger, didn't it?

Kushina opened Eiji's lunch box. Inside was ordinary white rice with tomato and egg.

To be honest, she didn't much like tomatoes. She almost hated them.

But Eiji had made it, so she decided to give it a try.

She picked up some rice and tomato with her chopsticks and carefully put them in her mouth. She didn't want Eiji to think she was uncouth.

Her eyes widened. Sweet and sour flavors burst across her tongue, balanced perfectly by the rice.

Could ordinary ingredients really taste this good?

I just piled expensive ingredients together, and it still doesn't taste as good as what Eiji made with ordinary ones...?

A moment ago, Kushina had felt as though she were floating on air. Now it was as if a huge rock had struck her on the head and sent her crashing down.

In reality, Kushina lowered her head, a deep sense of defeat welling up inside her.

No. I can't lose like this!

After yesterday, Kushina knew she might not be able to beat Eiji in a fight. But she couldn't lose to him in feminine charm too!

Just you wait. I'll win you over!

"N-next time, I'll make you something even better!"

Kushina clenched her little fists and fixed Eiji with a solemn look. He was still devouring his food.

Darn it! How could I lose to Eiji at cooking?

"Sure. I'm looking forward to it."

Eiji looked up and replied calmly, then went right back to eating. Kushina was furious.

"You don't think my cooking will ever surpass yours, do you?"

"That's not it. I really am looking forward to it."

As far as Eiji was concerned, getting to eat food this expensive for free was already a win.

If he could eat ingredients of this quality every day, wouldn't his body grow even stronger?

Mm, this really is delicious. The beef! The lobster...!

Eiji made up his mind. He was sticking close to Kushina. When a wealthy girl like her came along, what was he waiting for?

Sorry, Minato!

"Darn you! I'll beat you one day! Just wait!"

Today's contest ended in Kushina Uzumaki's complete defeat.

That night, at the Senju ancestral home.

"Waaah! I lost completely! I'm such an idiot!"

Kushina wailed like a sore loser while she kept cooking the dish she had eaten at lunch: stir-fried tomato and egg.

Seven or eight small plates of the dish already stood beside her. They were all failed attempts, or so Kushina thought.

She couldn't recreate the way Eiji had made it. What was his secret?

Kushina regretted not asking him how he had done it, but asking would have made her feel even more defeated.

Isn't there anything I'm better at than Eiji?

The novels made it clear: female characters who were close to the protagonist at first often went their separate ways when they could no longer help him.

"What's going on? Is it Kushina's turn to make dinner tonight? Whoa, were the tomatoes and eggs about to go bad?"

Nawaki came in through the front door and stopped at the sight of a table covered in stir-fried tomato and egg. His eye twitched.

"Don't worry about it. She's just reached that age." Tsunade sat at the table eating dinner and waved a lazy hand. "She lost to a boy she likes at cooking, so now she's sulking. Honestly, it tastes good. Why does she keep saying it's not good enough?"

At that, Nawaki sat down and took a bite. The sweet and sour flavors were nicely balanced. It was pretty good.

"I think it's fine. Does she really need to take it so seriously?"

"That's what girls in love are like. If they can't surpass the man they love in at least one area, their pride takes a hit."

Mito Uzumaki smiled faintly. Back then, Hashirama Senju had been so extraordinary that he had almost single-handedly persuaded the other great nations to sign peace treaties. As his wife, she had faced far greater pressure.

"Huh? Then where's your girlish side, Tsunade—owwww!"

Tsunade stamped hard on Nawaki's toes beneath the table, drawing a howl from him.

"Eat your dinner. Don't talk if you have nothing useful to say!"