"Hokage-sama, the camp has a dedicated cooking unit in charge of daily meals."
Although Nara commander didn't quite understand the implication behind those words, he still gave an honest explanation.
Senju Tobirama nodded in understanding. Since there was a cooking unit, then there had to be kitchen tools available. That meant he could make that brat cook for him later.
He was now thinking about how to bring it up—how could he get Renya to prepare a special meal just for him?
...
Outside the cooking unit's tent, the Konoha shinobi sat around in small groups, eating their meals.
Renya sat cross-legged on the ground, holding a bowl and stuffing his face with rice, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster.
The food from the cooking unit wasn't anything special, but right now, he was truly starving.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and the others were in the same state.
They had used up a huge amount of energy in battle today and urgently needed food to recover their strength.
Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, Nara commander arrived near the cooking unit, leading Senju Tobirama.
"Hokage-sama, I'll get your dinner!"
Nara commander said with obvious flattery.
The people lining up around them quickly made way.
Senju Tobirama took the dinner Nara commander handed him and frowned ever so slightly.
He looked over at Renya, who was burying his head in his food, and then walked over with the dinner tray.
"Hokage-sama!"
The surrounding people immediately stood up and greeted him. Senju Tobirama nodded in response.
"Sensei!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Kagami, and Mitokado Homura all quickly set down their chopsticks and stood up in unison to bow.
Shimura Danzō and Koharu Utatane also quickly stood up, respectfully greeting their sensei.
Only Renya remained sitting on the ground, completely focused on shoveling rice into his mouth, as if he hadn't noticed the Hokage's arrival at all.
Everyone was shocked by the scene. They glanced at Renya, still devouring his food, then looked at the unbothered Hokage.
The atmosphere grew increasingly strange.
Renya kept shoveling rice into his mouth like mad, his cheeks now fully puffed.
At this moment, he was screaming in his head:
Pretend you didn't see him… pretend you didn't see him…
Eat and run! No way I'm cooking!
He didn't even need to guess—this old man had definitely come over to make him cook!
Granted, the cooking unit's food was hard to swallow, but that still wasn't a good enough reason for Senju Tobirama to order him to cook!
He, the mighty "Konoha's Deadly Poison Master," if the enemy ever found out he was moonlighting as the Hokage's chef...
How could he ever show his face on the battlefield again?!
Better to pretend he hadn't seen this old guy. Just eat, then go back to the tent and rest. That way, there'd be no opportunity to boss him around.
Senju Tobirama glanced at Renya and said flatly:
"Keep eating."
"Yes!"
Everyone finally sat back down, though clearly much more tense. Sarutobi Hiruzen elbowed Renya quietly and whispered:
"Renya, sensei is here…"
Renya shot him a glare, not even raising his head, his mouth stuffed full of rice as he mumbled a reply.
Busybody...
Senju Tobirama looked at Renya's insolent behavior, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
He carried his dinner bowl and sat down directly next to Renya.
Everyone: "…"
The teacher just… sat down?!
Isn't he normally the one who follows the rules the most?!
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Renya noticed Senju Tobirama sitting next to him and started shoveling food even faster.
Move those hands, come on!
All he wanted now was to eat and run. He did not want to stay near this old man.
Senju Tobirama slowly picked up a piece of grilled fish and took a bite. His brow twitched imperceptibly.
This fish... is burnt.
After just one bite, he set his chopsticks down, turned to the still-devouring Renya, and suddenly asked:
"Is it good?"
Renya's movements halted. His cheeks puffed out as he looked up like a hamster and blinked.
"Mmhmm!"
As long as he played dumb and didn't speak, the old man wouldn't get a chance to make him cook!
Heh, I'm a genius.
Senju Tobirama's face darkened. A vein popped on his forehead.
This brat was definitely doing it on purpose!
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others silently lowered their heads, focusing on their meals, trying to minimize their presence.
Sensei's face is terrifying…
Renya's guts are way too big!
Senju Tobirama took a deep breath, deciding to give the brat one more chance.
He narrowed his eyes and asked in a roundabout way:
"Whose food tastes better—yours or the cooking unit's?"
There was an obvious implication in his tone—reminding Renya of his identity as a cook.
Renya pretended not to understand, stuffing another big bite of charred fish into his mouth and mumbling:
"Both are tasty!"
Hmph! Trying to trick me into cooking? No way!
We're in the middle of a war—I barely have time to rest, and you want me to cook?! Get outta here!
Senju Tobirama's face grew darker, and the air pressure around him dropped.
He got it now. This brat simply did not want to cook.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's chopsticks suddenly shook, almost spilling his miso soup on his pants.
Renya… is really pretending not to get it?!
Senju Tobirama stared at Renya for a few seconds, then suddenly put his bowl and chopsticks down on the ground.
Clack!
Everyone jolted in fright.
"I suddenly remembered..." Senju Tobirama stood up expressionlessly. "We're holding a battle strategy meeting tonight."
He turned to Renya.
"You. You'll be taking the meeting notes."
Renya: "???"
Damn it! That old man is doing this on purpose!
Revenge! This is blatant revenge!
"Take notes," my ass—it's just a cover to make me come cook alone!
But in front of everyone, he could only curse internally, forcing a cheerful smile on his face:
"Okay, old man."
The others silently watched the Hokage's retreating back, then glanced at Renya's dead-inside expression and quietly resumed eating.
Nara commander, still eating, looked completely confused.
"Wait… there's a strategy meeting tonight?!"
...
Five minutes later—
Inside the commander's tent, Senju Tobirama sat leisurely in the main seat, watching as Renya reluctantly tied on an apron.
"I want rice."
Renya: "..."
"And grilled fish."
Renya: "..."
"Oh, and don't burn the fish this time."
Renya finally exploded.
"You old bastard, this is abuse of power!"
Senju Tobirama picked up a teacup, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk:
"Oh? Then would you rather I set up a stove in the center of camp so you can cook in front of everyone?"
Upon hearing this, Renya's vision went dark. He clenched his fists in frustration.
Damn it, I've been played!
He's figured out my weakness...
That old man even had Nara commander set up a makeshift kitchen inside the tent just for this!
Half an hour later, Senju Tobirama looked at the dinner Renya brought over and revealed a satisfied smile.
Meanwhile, outside the tent, Nara commander, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, sneakily pulled out the Konoha Chronicles and began taking notes.
["Konoha's Deadly Chef... no, Poison Master," whose meals are highly favored by the Second Hokage...]
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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