When Martial Uncle Ma said that, Naruto smiled, walked over to the herb plot, and pointed out several spirit herbs.
"White Crane Zhi, Moon-Gazing Grass, Board-Purple Root..."
Martial Uncle Ma had started out sneering, but his expression soon turned to surprise.
"Enough!" Naruto had named barely half the spirit herbs he recognized before Martial Uncle Ma cut his demonstration short.
"Very good. So you weren't entirely bluffing. I'll leave this medicine garden in your care for now."
Looking pleased, Martial Uncle Ma swiftly pulled a dark-green wooden token from his robes and tossed it to Naruto. "This token controls the restrictive seal here. Take it."
"Inside the house are my notes on cultivating spirit herbs over the years. Study them carefully. You're still unfamiliar with most of these herbs, so don't let them die on me!"
Martial Uncle Ma stroked his little beard as he warned Naruto.
"All right. Thank you, Martial Uncle Ma."
Naruto brightened at the prospect of reading Martial Uncle Ma's treasured notes on spirit herbs.
"I hope your abilities are as impressive as your talk. Then I might finally be free of this garden and stop letting it interfere with my cultivation."
Martial Uncle Ma continued, mixing promises with threats.
"This medicine garden is my private plot. If you can truly handle the work, I won't treat you poorly. But let me be clear: if you can't, get lost sooner rather than later, and I'll find someone else. Understood?"
Naruto did not take offense at Martial Uncle Ma's blunt words. He knew the man had a sharp tongue.
After giving Naruto a few more instructions for managing the Hundred Herb Garden, Martial Uncle Ma hastily gathered his things and left without looking back.
The old man was obsessed with alchemy, busy all day long, and bad-tempered