Three days later, at dusk.
“So, tonight’s dinner is Kaito’s Malatang again?” Uncle Takumi sat in his chair, asking with a somewhat worried expression.
“It’s the child’s good intentions.
If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it,” Aunt Shu said in dissatisfaction.
“Besides, Kaito’s Malatang tastes pretty good, apart from being a bit spicy.”
That wasn’t just a bit spicy; it was as if mustard cost nothing.
Uncle Takumi sighed helplessly.
“The child’s good intentions might not even be meant for us.”
“Who else would it be for if not us?”
“Did you forget he’s chasing a girl?”
Aunt Shu paused, then realization dawned on her.
“That girl likes spicy food?
That’s wonderful, our little Kaito is amazing.”
“Could you focus on what’s important?
Aren’t you curious about whose daughter Kaito likes?”
“Didn’t you say Kaito ranked fifth in his exams and is a genius?
Our Kaito is so outstanding that he’d even be a match for the Hokage’s daughter.
As long as I get to hold a grandson, I’m happy.”
Uncle Takumi facepalmed.
“Since when does the Hokage have a daughter?
And you really…
your imagination is running wild.
Hold a grandson?
Kaito is only eight years old!”
“So what if he’s eight?” Aunt Shu retorted.
“Kaito is maturing early, haven’t you noticed?
These days, he’s growing taller by the day.
For the past month or so, he’s even started hiding from me when he takes a bath.
I’d say in three years at most, he’ll be a full-grown man!”
“Is that so?” Uncle Takumi was a bit surprised.
Leaving early and returning late every day, he really hadn’t noticed.
“Even so, there’s no need to rush.
The brat might not even manage to win the girl over.
Besides, who knows how old she is.”
“She’s probably his classmate.
Eight years old, or maybe seven and a half?” Aunt Shu guessed.
Just then, the kitchen door creaked open, and Kaito walked out holding a large bowl with both hands.
“Here we go, who wants to be the first to taste today’s delicious Malatang?”
“Oh, be careful not to burn yourself.” Aunt Shu quickly took the bowl, placed it on the table, and then hesitated for a moment.
“Little Kaito, tell your aunt, did you figure out this Malatang recipe because you want to make it for a little girl who likes spicy food?”
Kaito was stunned.
What was going on?
How could they possibly know about Azuki?
‘Did I talk in my sleep?’
Uncle Takumi and Aunt Shu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with amusement.
Aunt Shu grabbed Kaito’s wrist, pulled him close to measure his height against hers, and sighed emotionally.
“Before I even realized it, little Kaito has grown almost as tall as me.”
“I’ve been growing fast lately,” Kaito chuckled awkwardly.
Adding one point to Taijutsu every day had pushed his Taijutsu close to Level 2, and his physical strength had also increased by seven or eight points.
How could he not grow fast?
Kaito was now over 150 centimeters tall, likely the tallest in the Ninja Academy.
“Can you tell your aunt whose family that girl is from, what her name is, and how old she is?” Aunt Shu asked.
“How old?
Hmm…
I think she was born in October of Konoha Year 36.
Her name is Azuki, and she’s almost five years old now, in her first year at the academy.”
“F-Five years old?” Aunt Shu was dumbfounded.
If she wanted to hold a grandson, wouldn’t she have to wait at least seven or eight more years?
No, no, no, the main point was…
she was five.
Uncle Takumi also had a complicated expression, not knowing what to say.
This brat, she’s five!
In the ninja world, it was common for people to discuss marriage at thirteen or fourteen, so it was perfectly normal for an eight or nine-year-old to have a crush and chase after girls.
Parents were usually happy to see it, but five years old…
“Yeah, she’s five.
Uncle Takumi, Aunt Shu, let’s stop with the questions for now.
The Malatang is getting cold, I’ll go serve the rest.”
Uncle Takumi and Aunt Shu looked at each other, deeply worried.
Two minutes later, the family of three sat around the dining table, each with a bowl of Malatang.
Kaito carefully savored his less-spicy bowl, nodding as he tasted it.
The flavor this time was at least fifty percent better than yesterday’s, barely qualifying as delicious.
Reaching this presentable level in just three days was much faster than Kaito had anticipated.
With practice, his pre-transmigration culinary knowledge merged with the ingredients and seasonings of the ninja world.
Ever since his cooking skill was activated, it had been leveling up rapidly.
True Skill 1: Cooking Level 2 (81%)
‘But my True Skill…
True!’
Thinking about this gave Kaito a massive headache.
This stupid thing, couldn’t it have been clearer when the template upgraded?
Who the hell would have known that the rewarded True Skill was something you had to learn from scratch yourself?
Its limit was the Template Limit + 2, which was obviously meant for him to learn a trump card ninjutsu.
Now look at it, taken up by Cooking.
Kaito could only comfort himself.
The number 1 behind the True Skill proved that it definitely wasn’t a one-time reward.
There would probably be more when the template upgraded again, and he would have to plan carefully when that time came.
Besides, Cooking wasn’t too bad.
At the very least, Azuki wouldn’t be able to escape his grasp.
Consider it an early investment?
‘Stop thinking about it, it’s just making me angry.
Just eat the Malatang.’
“Hmm, it’s a pity there’s no sesame oil, so I had to use mustard as a substitute.
The flavor is still lacking a bit.”
As Kaito pondered this, he noticed Uncle Takumi and Aunt Shu looking rather preoccupied.
He asked curiously, “What’s wrong with you two?
Does it taste bad?”
“It’s…
it’s delicious.”
“As long as it’s delicious.
Then tomorrow at noon, I’ll make a portion of Malatang and deliver it to her!”
Uncle Takumi and Aunt Shu looked at each other in dismay.
Wouldn’t little Kaito get beaten out of the house by her parents?
Chasing after a five-year-old girl…
what a sin!
…
Azuki’s house was easy to find.
The Mitarai clan wasn’t very populous.
Adding ninjas and non-ninjas together, there were fewer than ten people.
But no matter how small, it was still a ninja clan, so he easily confirmed the location just by asking around.
Thus, at half-past ten the next morning, Kaito arrived in front of the large courtyard of the Mitarai clan, carrying a thermal food container.
After knocking, the door was opened by a young man in his twenties whose facial features somewhat resembled Azuki’s.
Kaito said politely, “Hello, sir.
Are you Azuki’s father?
I’m her classmate.”
“Azuki’s classmate?” The man looked him up and down, asking in surprise, “Are first-year students already this tall?
I’m Azuki’s uncle.
Wait a moment, I’ll go call her.”
“Oh, sorry to bother you, sir.” Kaito didn’t explain further and waited quietly.
Before long, Azuki came running over quickly.
Perhaps because she was at home, Azuki was dressed very lightly.
Her upper body wore the familiar off-the-shoulder mesh bodysuit, looking exactly like her anime counterpart.
“So it’s you.
You actually brought me the old master’s Malatang?
Come in.
Second Uncle, I won’t be eating at your place for lunch today.
Oh, right, remember this guy’s face.
If I get poisoned to death, he’s the one who did it.”
Her second uncle smiled and waved his hand, turning to enter a room.
Azuki led Kaito to another room.
Judging by the layout, it was her bedroom.
Placing the food container on the desk, Kaito adjusted his hair and asked, “Are your parents not home?”
“My dad is on a mission.
It’ll take half a month, and it’s only been ten days.
As for my mom…
I can’t even remember what she looks like anymore,” Azuki replied.
Was her mother gone?
The original story never mentioned anything about Azuki’s parents, so Kaito had unknowingly stepped on a landmine.
Fortunately, the carefree Azuki didn’t seem to mind much.
He didn’t say anything else and gestured for Azuki to open the food container.
Azuki reached out and opened the container.
A pungent, spicy aroma burst forth along with the hot steam.
She took a deep breath, choked, turned her head, and coughed twice before saying, “Smells decent enough.”
“Of course.”
“Tch.” Azuki looked closely.
“Bamboo shoots, tofu, chicken, fish balls, glass noodles…
My goodness, there’s so much stuff.”
With a quick count, she found no less than ten types of ingredients inside.
She couldn’t help but tilt her head and say, “Can you even eat this with so many things mixed together?
Did you hear I was going to pay for the ingredients and purposely throw everything in?”
“Why don’t you taste it and find out?”
Kaito was very confident.
Even though he felt his Malatang was lacking a bit of flavor, that was only in comparison to Yang Guofu Malatang from before he transmigrated.
Sure enough, Azuki tentatively picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.
As she chewed slightly, her large eyes lit up, and a flush of red appeared on her small face.
The smooth and tender tofu melted in her mouth.
Accompanied by the broth, it was rich but not greasy, spicy with a hint of numbness, leaving a lingering aftertaste and a fragrant aroma in her mouth!
“So spicy!
Wow, but so fragrant too!
I guess you aren’t completely useless after all!”
Kaito felt a strong urge to flip the table.