Whoa!!
Amidst bursts of cheers, the first-year academy students scattered like wild horses slipping their reins.
Summer vacation was here!
Five-year-old Azuki, wearing a slightly childish smile, ran over to the third-year lineup.
“Big Sis Kurenai, is it almost your turn?”
“Yeah.” Kurenai was a little nervous.
“Three more groups.”
“You can do it!” Azuki cheered her on.
Suddenly noticing Kaito staring at her from the side, she turned and glared.
“What do you want!”
Kaito raised a hand, slicked his hair into a wolfish style, and smiled faintly.
“I heard you telling Kurenai earlier that you don’t like sweets?”
“Wipe that smirk off your face, you look like you’re up to no good.
Big Sis Kurenai told me you’re super mean.
Don’t treat me like that idiot Obito Uchiha!”
Kaito was speechless.
Kurenai smiled awkwardly.
“Azuki.”
Azuki glanced at Kurenai, turned her head away, and huffed.
“Is there a problem with not liking sweets?”
Kaito let out a soft breath.
Azuki had always had a fiery personality, and right now, she was just a five-year-old brat.
*’For the sake of attribute points, I’ll endure this.’*
“Pudding, dango, sakura mochi—such sweet and delicious foods, and you don’t like any of them?”
“They’re sickeningly sweet and completely tasteless.
Is it a crime to dislike them?” Azuki retorted.
“I like spicy food.
The kind of spice that makes you feel like you’re burning up after one bite.
It’s super satisfying.”
Kaito blinked.
It was confirmed—this was a brat whose tastes desperately needed correcting.
He pondered for a couple of seconds and glanced at Kurenai, noticing her slightly bitter expression.
It was obvious Kurenai didn’t particularly enjoy spicy food but couldn’t say no to her little friend, so she just accommodated her.
It made sense.
Having been in this world for a month, Kaito hadn’t found a single shop in Konoha famous for spicy food.
Most dishes were generally mild, as if the cooks were stingy with seasonings, and chili peppers were even rarer.
He had no idea what caused Azuki’s tastes to deviate so drastically.
Liking spicy food wasn’t good; it was bad for the hair.
“I like spicy food too,” Kaito said.
“Then eat it,” Azuki replied dismissively.
Kaito choked on his words.
This brat was harder to win over than Kakashi.
Shouldn’t a normal person politely say ‘Really?’ or ‘What a coincidence?’
“Heh.” Asuma, who was watching from the sidelines, let out a faint snort of amusement.
Kaito shot him a glance and continued, “I remember Kurenai likes sweets.
I paid special attention; most of the lunches Kurenai brings are desserts.”
Asuma immediately glared at him.
*’This bastard really is scheming after Kurenai!’*
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Azuki shook her head carelessly.
“Big Sis Kurenai…”
Halfway through her sentence, she saw Kurenai’s slightly embarrassed expression and suddenly realized the truth.
“Big Sis Kurenai, did you only eat that to accommodate my tastes…?”
“No, I like both sweet and spicy.”
“Speaking of eating spicy food, it reminds me of my days in Komakiyama Village.” Kaito suddenly interrupted them with a sigh of nostalgia.
“I was only brought to Konoha at the age of four because of the war, you know?”
“I’ve heard,” Kurenai nodded.
Azuki, however, was intrigued.
“You’re actually from outside the village?
What was Komakiyama Village like?”
“It was a small village, not even a tenth the size of Konoha.
The strongest person there was only a Chunin.” Kaito sighed emotionally.
“I was too young back then, so a lot of my memories are blurry.
But I clearly remember an old master named Yang Guofu.”
“Yang Guofu?
What a weird name.” Azuki and Kurenai exchanged confused looks.
“Yeah, Old Master Yang Guofu came from a faraway place, not even from our Land of Fire.” Kaito nodded.
“So his name was indeed a bit strange.
Don’t worry about the details.”
“Outside the Land of Fire?” Azuki, who had never even left Konoha, felt a sense of longing.
Forgetting to bicker with Kaito, she leaned in to listen.
“In Old Master Yang Guofu’s hometown, people loved spicy food the most.
Spicy tofu, spicy duck heads, and the most delicious of all—Malatang!” Kaito pursed his lips, holding back a laugh.
“Mala…
tang?”
“Yes, Malatang.
When I was little, the thing I looked forward to the most was eating a bowl of Malatang made by Old Master Yang Guofu.
Just thinking about the bright red chili oil in that bowl makes my mouth water.
You could say the first bite numbs your lips, the second makes you sweat, and the third sends you straight to heaven.
It’s a hundred times better than those tasteless sweets!”
Azuki quietly swallowed.
“Is it really that good?
How is it made?”
“It’s even better than I described.
What a pity.
Old Master Yang Guofu went missing during the Second Great Ninja War and didn’t come to Konoha with us.
I’ve been craving that taste for years.”
“That…
that is a pity,” Azuki nodded subconsciously, then suddenly frowned.
“You…
you’re not playing some trick to fool us, are you?”
“How could I?” Kaito looked heartbroken.
“For the past few years, I’ve been trying hard to recreate Old Master Yang Guofu’s recipe.
Although it’s not even half as good as his, it’s still pretty decent.
If you don’t believe me, I’ll make some for you in a few days.
It’ll be so spicy it might kill you!”
“Spicy enough to kill me?
I’m more worried you’ll poison me,” Azuki scoffed.
Kaito looked displeased.
“You can insult me, but you cannot insult Master Yang Guofu.
Just you wait.
When the time comes, you’ll definitely be begging for more!”
“Hmph!”
“Next sparring group: Kurenai Yuhi versus Asuma Sarutobi.
Both students, step forward.” At that moment, Daiki’s voice rang out.
Five or six matches had already concluded without them noticing.
Hearing this, Azuki stopped arguing with Kaito.
“Big Sis Kurenai, do your best!
Beat Asuma to the ground!”
Asuma was completely helpless against Kurenai’s little friend.
He flashed Kurenai a handsome smile and stepped forward with her.
Kurenai was no longer nervous, but she kept looking back at Azuki and Kaito, afraid they would start arguing again.
Azuki gave her a bright smile to reassure her, then muttered under her breath, “I bet you wouldn’t dare poison me anyway.
Let me try that Malatang in a few days.
I’ll pay for it.”
“Just covering the cost of ingredients is fine.” Kaito chuckled, not refusing the offer.
Then he suddenly asked, “Azuki, can I ask you a presumptuous question?”
“Ask.”
“Is your father’s name Shisou Mitarai?”
“Huh?” Azuki paused, turning to look at Kaito strangely.
“Who told you that?
That’s a rumor.
My father’s name is Yotsuba Mitarai.”
“Ahem, got it.”
Kaito cursed inwardly.
As a ‘corrector’, how could he be led astray by fanfiction?
But some fanfiction concepts were so classic that he couldn’t tell what was real and what was fake anymore.
He had to investigate.
The Eight Colors of Konoha didn’t exist.
He would have to find another way later to figure out who the Uzumaki Grand Elder was…
…
Meanwhile, amidst a vast expanse of yellow sand, a hoarse male voice echoed.
“Where is Yotsuba?”
“Captain Yotsuba…
he was hit by a poisoned needle and stayed behind to cover our retreat…
This is the intel!”
A man dressed in Anbu gear respectfully handed a scroll to the pale-faced, gloomy man with golden snake-like eyes standing before him—Orochimaru!
“Dead?
How fragile.” Orochimaru licked his lips, his tongue extending half a meter in an inhuman fashion, and pulled the scroll into his mouth.
“You picked up a tail.
The Puppet Brigade?
Interesting.
It seems the Sand Village is hiding quite a big secret.”
“Lord Orochimaru, the intel…”
“I will keep it safe for now.” Orochimaru’s snake-like eyes locked onto the Anbu.
“Return to the village and tell my teacher that Sand Village ninjas are attacking the border, and I am intercepting them here.”
“But Lord Orochimaru, we are still some distance from the border.
Engaging the Sand Village ninjas in direct combat here could easily spark a conflict…
Ah, yes, understood!” Seeing Orochimaru’s expression turn hostile, the Anbu didn’t dare say another word and quickly vanished.
Orochimaru stood in silence for two seconds.
“Teacher really is getting more timid with age.
He lacks his former drive and only dares to have me provide support at the border.
I wonder if you’ll feel guilty when you hear about Yotsuba’s death?”
His snake-like eyes narrowed.
Throwing his hands back, he actively charged toward the Sand Village’s pursuing squad.