Scallops stir-fried with tomatoes, pea shoot omelet rolls, fried pumpkin, and pork bone and vegetable miso soup.
That was tonight's dinner at Jiraiya's home.
Rin Nohara was a good girl. Whenever she was home, she always took cooking seriously.
She did well in school and was also good at housework and cooking. Judging by those qualities, she would one day become a well-educated wife and mother who could keep her household running smoothly.
Jiraiya had always taken pride in that. But today...
"What did you say? You want me to ask for leave again so you can skip the school's graduation retreat?"
Jiraiya sat across from his daughter, holding his rice bowl.
His brows knitted together as he looked at the child earnestly making her request.
The graduation retreat was an important event the Hokage had personally established for the village's children when the Konoha Ninja Academy was first founded.
Graduating students took part after three years of kindergarten, six years of elementary school, and three years of middle school. It was a trip to commemorate their youth.
Back when the Third Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was still alive, he had given a specific explanation of the retreat.
The graduation retreat helped children relieve stress, adjust their mindsets, broaden their horizons, and learn to work together, help one another, and encourage each other to face the difficulties ahead.
An event held only at graduation was a rare opportunity.
Yet Rin Nohara had already missed two graduation retreats since kindergarten.
Jiraiya had not thought much of it at the time. He was very lenient with Rin and never forced her to take part in any activity.
Until today, when Yanbai had suddenly pointed out, "Your child should communicate more with her peers. She should spend more time around children her own age."