If you gave me a panda

Rain pattered against the window ledge all night.

It was almost noon when Cangyue slowly opened his eyes.

He had sat cross-legged on the bed all night, yet he still felt refreshed, without even a trace of drowsiness.

"I don't even need to sleep anymore?"

Cangyue rolled his shoulders.

After his swordsmanship reached lv5, he had spent the night familiarizing himself with his Sword Intent domain.

Within its radius, the landing points of raindrops, the movement of air, and even the faint trembling of flower petals by the window were all reflected clearly in his consciousness.

A night of contemplation had left him more refreshed than a normal night's sleep.

"Looks like I'll be ascending soon."

Grrr.

The noise from his stomach shattered that lofty atmosphere.

Cangyue glanced down.

"Too bad I haven't mastered grain avoidance yet."

He raised a hand and beckoned.

The Flame and Thunder Swords beside the wall rose into the air together.

The purple Flame Sword hovered at his feet, while the Thunder Sword slipped into its sheath.

Cangyue was about to leave when a system notification suddenly appeared.

[Trait upgraded]

[Green trait: Eternal Dream]

[Training speed during sleep further increased]

[New effect: This trait can be shared with others, granting recipients one-third of the original effect]

Cangyue paused.

"Eternal Dream upgraded?"

This trait had originally been white.

After leaving Konoha, he had stopped promoting Dream Training, so its influence should have been growing more slowly.

Cangyue thought for a moment, then recalled what had happened the previous night.

Obito had seen him sitting motionless as his swordsmanship underwent a transformation in an instant.

He had even awakened a Sword Intent domain and forced Obito back across space while Obito was intangible through Kamui.

"Don't tell me that guy really thinks I suddenly got stronger just by sleeping sitting up?"

Given Obito's current strength and experience, a single shock to his understanding carried far more weight than it would for an ordinary ninja.

Besides, Dream Training had already left an impression on Konoha's students, teachers, the Third Hokage, and the Nine-Tails, bringing the trait close to its upgrade threshold.

Obito's shock last night had supplied that final push.

"As expected of someone who played a major role in driving the Shinobi World War."

"He sure jumps to conclusions efficiently."

Cangyue nodded in satisfaction.

The shared effect was only one-third of the original, but it was still immensely valuable.

From now on, even without Mental Guidance, he could let Naruto, Sasuke, and the others truly benefit from training in their sleep.

His title as the "founder of Dream Training" was now firmly established.

Cangyue pushed open his door.

A white letter fluttered down from above the doorframe, and the Thunder Sword caught it neatly.

The paper was folded tidily and bore a faint, familiar trace of Chakra from the Dance of the Shikigami.

It was clearly something Konan had left.

Cangyue opened the letter.

The contents were simple.

Head to the meeting hall immediately upon waking.

"Calling a meeting before they even let me finish sleeping."

Cangyue rubbed his stomach.

"Doesn't the Akatsuki have any labor laws?"

He casually folded the letter and headed to the second basement level.

He could be late for a meeting.

He couldn't skip a meal.

The underground kitchen was more spacious than Cangyue had imagined.

Rice, flour, vegetables, meat, and seasonings were sorted neatly, and a low-temperature sealing array by the wall was dedicated to storing ingredients.

Cangyue opened a few cupboards, and his eyes brightened slightly.

"Not bad on the logistics front."

At least it beat chewing on soldier pills every day.

He rolled up his sleeves and took out eggs, fresh meat, and a few vegetables.

The purple Flame Sword floated beneath the stove, controlling the temperature with delicate adjustments to its flames.

The Thunder Sword swept swiftly across the cutting board.

After a few flashes of sword light, the meat, scallions, and vegetables were all neatly sliced.

Before long, delicious aromas filled the kitchen.

Cangyue had just brought the food to the table when footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Ajisai came down carrying an empty basket.

She visibly froze when she saw someone in the kitchen.

"Huh? You know how to cook?"

Cangyue set out the bowls and chopsticks, then waved her over.

"Good morning."

"Have you eaten?"

Ajisai glanced at the sky outside.

It was already almost noon.

But the food on the table soon drew her attention.

There were golden fried eggs, steaming meat porridge, and a plate of brightly colored stir-fried vegetables.

She had come to find ingredients to cook with herself.

Now, drawn by the aroma, she found herself drifting toward the table.

"Could I try a little?"

"Take a seat. Help yourself. I did say yesterday that I'd treat you to a meal."

Cangyue ladled out another bowl of porridge.

Ajisai cautiously tasted a small spoonful.

Then her eyes visibly lit up.

The meat porridge was tender and flavorful, the rice soaked with broth, yet it wasn't greasy in the slightest.

She picked up a piece of vegetable next.

It was crisp and refreshing, cooked to perfection.

"It's delicious!"

"Much better than the soldier pills at the base."

Cangyue picked up a piece of fried egg, his expression calm.

"Don't compare food to soldier pills."

"That's an insult to food."

Ajisai nodded repeatedly and helped herself to another half bowl of porridge.

[Valor Points +10]

The corners of Cangyue's mouth lifted slightly.

His cooking really did hold its own.

Even if he gave up being a swordsman someday, he could open a restaurant and wouldn't starve.

"By the way, Ajisai, I heard you have a special summon."

"Could I borrow him in exchange for two jin of beef?" Cangyue suddenly asked in all seriousness.

"Ah, well... I'm not sure that's a good idea. I'd have to discuss it with Panda."

"No worries. I was just throwing it out there," Cangyue said with a smile.

Who wouldn't want a panda as a summon?

Did she understand what a bargaining chip was?

As the two enjoyed their meal, the floor beside the table suddenly bulged.

A broad green leaf emerged first.

Then came a face, half black and half white.

Zetsu slowly rose from the floor, his two outer leaves opening like a giant pitcher plant that had suddenly sprouted in the kitchen.

Ajisai's hand froze in midair, chopsticks still in her grip.

Once she recognized the newcomer's clothes, she immediately stood respectfully to one side.

This was a major figure in the Akatsuki.

She also gave Cangyue a discreet tug and shot him several meaningful looks.

But Cangyue merely glanced over and continued drinking his porridge.

Black Tortoise, Zetsu.

With White Zetsu's body and Black Zetsu attached to him, he was the Akatsuki's foremost expert in reconnaissance and stealth.

Zetsu looked at the lavish meal on the table, then at Cangyue.

"Everyone's waiting for you."

"And you're here eating?"

"What kind of nonsense is that? Meeting or no meeting, I still have to eat."

Cangyue asked in return, "Have you eaten?"

White Zetsu gave it some serious thought.

"I don't need to eat normal food."

"No wonder you look like a potted plant."

White Zetsu looked down at his leaves.

The black half of his face fell silent.

[Valor Points +20]

"The meeting has already been delayed for quite some time."

"Pain sent me to bring you over," Zetsu urged.

"Is it that urgent?"

"What do you think?"

Cangyue looked at his half-finished breakfast and sighed.

It was his first day on the job. He ought to show the boss some respect.

He took out a lunch box and packed up some of the food.

"All right."

Ajisai stared at Cangyue in shock. Judging by Zetsu's tone, this boy who looked about her age was actually a full member of the Akatsuki too?

Once she recovered, Ajisai hurriedly said in a quiet voice, "I'll clean up here."

"Sorry for the trouble."

Cangyue snapped his fingers.

The Flame and Thunder Swords rose on their own and carried him out of the kitchen.

Zetsu looked at the lunch box filled with breakfast.

"You're planning to take that into the meeting room and eat it?"

"What else?"

Zetsu fell silent once again.

He had infiltrated many ninja villages and encountered plenty of eccentric ninja.

But Cangyue was the first person to make the leader and every member of the Akatsuki wait for him to finish breakfast on his very first day.

The doors to the meeting hall slowly opened.

Both sides of the long table were already full.

The members who had appeared only through Holographic Projection yesterday were all there in person today.

Pain sat at the head of the table.

Konan stood to one side.

Kakuzu had his arms folded, while Hidan looked thoroughly irritated.

Deidara, Sasori, Kisame, and Itachi all turned their gazes toward the doors as they opened.

Cangyue entered the hall on his Flying Sword.

He still had the lunch box in his hand.

Everyone had already been waiting for a long time.

Yet he looked as though he was merely late to an ordinary group meal.

[Valor Points +50]

Hidan was the first to slam the table and spring to his feet.

"Hey!"

"You bastard! How dare you keep me waiting this long!"

Cangyue found an empty seat and left the purple Flame Sword hovering beside the table.

"Deal with it."

A vein bulged at Hidan's temple.

"What did you say?"

"If you didn't hear me, listen a few more times."

Cangyue opened his lunch box, and its aroma soon wafted out.

Hidan finally lost his patience.

"I'm gonna-"

He had barely taken a step when the Thunder Sword shot out of its sheath.

Blue sword light flashed across the hall.

Before Hidan could even make out its path, the Thunder Sword pierced the hem of his Red Cloud Cloak and pinned him to the floor.

He lunged forward with all his strength.

His cloak pulled taut in an instant.

He didn't dare tear his Akatsuki uniform in front of Pain, so he could only glare resentfully at Cangyue and stay where he was.

Cangyue leisurely sat down and picked up a piece of fried egg with his chopsticks.

"See?"

"Getting worked up again."

Hidan looked down at the Thunder Sword pinning his cloak, his face growing redder by the second.

Kakuzu silently turned his head away.

He was already considering how much to raise his repair fee if Hidan tore his arm off again.

Kisame grinned.

Deidara struggled to hold back his laughter.

Even Konan averted her gaze.

[Valor Points +20]

Cangyue looked around the table at the Akatsuki members, then turned to Pain at its head.

"All right, boss. Everyone's here."

"Let's start the meeting."

Pain fell silent for a moment.

That was supposed to be his line.