Konoha, the Uchiha Residence.
Sunlight filtered through the newly planted maple tree in the courtyard, casting dappled patterns across the veranda. A breeze swept past, bringing a hint of early autumn's coolness.
Tsunade had been "summoned" away first thing that morning by the mountain of paperwork in the Hokage Office.
Before leaving, she had proudly presented him with an astonishingly hefty "lovingly prepared lunch." Supposedly, it was her latest masterpiece, painstakingly developed the night before with the help of an ancient cookbook. With all the unquestionable authority of the Hokage, she had ordered Shinichi to "finish every last bite, and don't waste a single grain of rice."
Shinichi was currently sprawled bonelessly in a courtyard recliner, holding that decidedly "heavyweight" lunch in one hand while idly waving a palm-leaf fan with the other.
Although the intense hunger brought on by his Saiyan bloodline had been temporarily suppressed by Tsunade's undeniably "filling" breakfast, the craving for vast amounts of energy deep within him was like a quietly planted seed, stirring as it waited for the moment to break through the soil.
"Tch. With an appetite like this, I might end up eating through the entire Uchiha Clan's food reserves," Shinichi muttered. He picked up a piece of "secret-recipe meat cutlet," somewhat dark brown and giving off a complicated aroma, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed without changing his expression.
As for the flavor... all he could say was that Tsunade's cooking remained full of adventurous experimentation and uncertainty. Fortunately, his Saiyan bloodline seemed to have improved his tolerance for food as well. For now, at least, generous portions that filled his stomach were what really mattered.
After swallowing the last mouthful of "lovingly prepared food," Shinichi patted his stomach in satisfaction. With his hunger and thirst sated, this slacker's brain