"See you tomorrow!"
Naruto Uzumaki said goodbye to Shihui Aburame and the others, then skipped home.
Ever since starting school, he felt he had been happy all the time.
Because he had so many friends who didn't hate him.
Even Sasuke Uchiha had never shown him any malice. At most, he simply didn't want to talk to him.
Naruto Uzumaki opened the door.
The room was rather messy.
Instant noodles, milk, and all sorts of odds and ends were scattered everywhere.
Naruto Uzumaki remembered what Shihui Aburame had said about expired milk.
He opened the refrigerator and checked everything, discovering that half of it was already past its expiration date.
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head.
It hurt a little.
Because it had all cost money.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Naruto Uzumaki immediately smiled.
Because the only person who ever visited him was the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Grandpa Third!"
Naruto Uzumaki opened the door and greeted him happily.
"Looks like the grilled fish was delicious."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with a smile.
Naruto Uzumaki never even wondered how he knew about the grilled fish.
He flashed a row of gleaming teeth and said, "Of course! It tasted of youth!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi almost failed to keep his expression under control.
With that bright green bodysuit and that familiar smile, Naruto Uzumaki practically looked possessed by Might Guy.
His upbringing had gone off track.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced around, then suddenly paused.
He stepped forward and picked up the cookbook on the table.
When he saw the name Minato Namikaze, his expression abruptly darkened.
Who was it?
He had repeatedly stressed that Naruto Uzumaki's parentage must not be revealed.
There was clearly something wrong with this cookbook.
Could it be Shimura Danzō?
Oh, my old friend, I'm going to kick your ass!
"Naruto."
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, a smile appearing on his face as he asked, "Who gave you this cookbook?"
"Shiki did."
Naruto Uzumaki said happily, "He even said he'd teach me to cook!"
Shiki?
He certainly wouldn't have Minato Namikaze's cookbook.
But his teacher, Tsunade, would.
Then there was no problem.
Hiruzen Sarutobi relaxed.
He had only been worried that Shimura Danzō still hadn't given up his designs on the Jinchūriki.
"Grandpa Third, have you ever eaten the Fourth Hokage's cooking?"
Naruto Uzumaki suddenly asked.
"Why do you ask?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened, and his tone grew somewhat stern.
"I want to make food even tastier than the Fourth Hokage's!"
Naruto Uzumaki clenched his fists as he spoke.
"Oh, so that's it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help smiling.
He was a child, after all.
He wanted to compete at everything.
"Minato's cooking was delicious. You'll have to work hard."
Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and patted his golden hair.
He seemed to see Minato Namikaze's figure before his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly.
The Fourth Hokage should originally have been chosen from among Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.
That Minato Namikaze had emerged above the rest naturally spoke to his excellence.
And his Will of Fire had earned full marks.
That was precisely why he had been chosen back then instead of Orochimaru.
Unfortunately, heaven envied the gifted.
"I'll work hard!"
Naruto Uzumaki spoke with boundless enthusiasm.
"That's good."
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew how hardworking and tenacious he was.
He had thought Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't be able to endure Might Guy's hellish training.
"Grandpa Third."
Looking curious, Naruto Uzumaki asked, "Could you tell me stories about the Fourth Hokage?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately fell silent.
Only after several seconds did he slowly nod.
The old Senju residence.
Shihui Aburame pushed open the door.
The welcome home he had expected never came.
He took off his shoes and entered the living room. Tsunade was sprawled unceremoniously across the sofa.
Her head rested on the armrest, her body naturally sinking down, her full bottom pressed snugly against the sofa.
Her long, beautiful legs were slightly parted, and her fair feet swayed from time to time.
"Where's Shizune?"
Shihui Aburame walked over and stood opposite her.
From above, he could see the deep cleavage where her clothing had slipped naturally downward but was still held in place.
"She went to Konoha Hospital to perform surgery."
Tsunade said casually, "She spends all day keeping me company with nothing to do. She might as well go improve her Medical Ninjutsu."
That was true enough.
Looking at her beautiful face, Shihui Aburame asked, "Teacher, are you tired?"
"Mentally exhausted."
Tsunade yawned as she spoke.
"Did you lose again?"
Shihui Aburame asked knowingly.
"What do you mean, lose again?"
Tsunade opened her eyes and glared at him in displeasure. "Watch how you speak to your teacher!"
"I'm going to practice."
Shihui Aburame spoke calmly.
"You little brat!"
Tsunade gave a soft snort and said, "Stop right there!"
"What is it?"
Shihui Aburame asked.
"Since you know your teacher is tired, you ought to do something about it."
Tsunade rolled her eyes as she spoke.
Every time she saw Shihui Aburame looking far too composed, she wanted to give him a thorough roughing-up.
"Do something?"
Shihui Aburame paused briefly and blurted out, "A massage?"
"That sounds good."
The corners of Tsunade's lips lifted slightly. She patted her thigh, making its flesh ripple, and said, "Come on."
"This is child labor."
Shihui Aburame lowered his gaze to her rounded, polished toes.
"Just tell me, are you doing it or not?"
Tsunade's gaze turned dangerous as she clenched her fist.
"I'll do it."
Shihui Aburame wisely yielded.
He walked forward, reached out with both hands, and placed them on Tsunade's calf.
The flesh felt firm beneath his hands.
As a ninja who trained all year round, she had no excess flab.
"Nice pressure."
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
In her view, Shihui Aburame's innate strength and decent control made him perfectly suited to giving massages.
Oh, no, to learning Superhuman Strength.
Tsunade's body tensed slightly, and her ten rounded toes curled in pleasure.
Shihui Aburame glanced at her, sliding his palms over her fair skin before stopping and pressing down.
He had never learned massage, so he went by feel.
It seemed to be working reasonably well.
A few minutes later, Shihui Aburame moved to a new area.
He held Tsunade's fair feet in both hands, his fingers squeezing her soles and the tops of her feet.
"Mmm."
Tsunade let out an alluring hum.
A tingling sensation spread throughout her body.
"Have you bathed?"
Shihui Aburame suddenly asked.
"Of course."
Tsunade answered instinctively.
But she quickly realized the problem.
She opened her eyes and planted a foot against his chest, though she applied no force.
"What do you mean by that?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"No wonder I smelled shower gel."
Shihui Aburame spoke with a perfectly serious expression.
Tsunade froze for a moment, realizing she had misunderstood.
She gave a light cough and said, "Go practice your Medical Ninjutsu."
Shihui Aburame nodded.
He got up and headed to the kitchen.
[Achievement "Porridge-proper" completed. Reward obtained: Liquor Worm.] [Liquor Worm: A Rank One Gu that helps a Gu Master refine Green Copper Primeval Essence, raising it by one minor stage.]
Shihui Aburame had never dreamed he would obtain the Liquor Worm this way.
System, you have a problem. A very big problem.
(End of chapter)