"Wait, the place this guy is heading to…"
Early the next morning, Black Zetsu hid its presence as it followed behind Renya and Scar.
At first, it didn't know where the two were going, but as time passed, it gradually realized their ultimate destination.
"The cook seems to be looking for Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama!"
Black Zetsu knew where Hashirama and Madara were hiding. Judging from Renya's route, it could easily deduce the destination.
It hadn't expected Renya to leave the village and run such a long distance just to find the two of them.
And as for the reason? Did it even need to think?
Of course, the cook was going to make them food.
Black Zetsu was genuinely shaken by Renya's professionalism. Only such a dedicated cook would go out of his way to prepare three meals a day for its mother.
Surely, Mother would be pleased with the cook it had found for her…
After all, what employer wouldn't appreciate an outstanding and dedicated employee?
The only pity was that until Mother broke free of her seal, Renya could only be exploited by Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara, and Senju Tobirama.
Once Mother was released, it would make sure she killed every last one of those people!
For now, though, it still had to use Uchiha Madara as a piece on the board to free Mother. It could only watch helplessly as he exploited the cook it had already earmarked for Mother.
Renya, hurrying along, had no idea that someone had already planned out his future.
After a night's rest, both man and cat had recovered to peak condition.
If they kept moving without pause, they could definitely reach their destination before nightfall.
By noon, however, Scar decided to strike again.
"Kid, I want to eat grilled fish again, meow."
Scar padded over to the riverbank, looking ingratiating, none of its earlier arrogance left.
After tasting Renya's grilled fish last night, it had completely fallen in love with it.
Cats already had no resistance to fish, and the flavor of Renya's grilled fish was simply out of this world.
It had woken up this morning already craving more grilled fish, but pride had kept it from asking.
Now that they were by the river, watching fish occasionally leap from the surface, it could no longer hold back.
As for pride?
Compared to delicious grilled fish, that wasn't worth a thing!
Renya looked at the fat black cat's fawning expression and felt his lips twitch.
Cooking for Senju Tobirama and the others was one thing, but now he even had to make lunch for a cat.
Still, there was no helping it. This cat was Uchiha Madara's summoning beast, and soon enough they'd need it to lead the way. Refusing wasn't an option.
How had Uchiha Madara ended up with a summoning beast like this? It had no combat ability whatsoever.
Maybe that was just one of the quirks of being overwhelmingly strong?
Renya glanced at Scar's plump body and grumbled inwardly. With that figure, and still called Scar? It should just change its name to Fat Cat.
"Kid, is that okay?" Scar looked at Renya expectantly, drool practically dripping from its mouth.
"Fine. You catch the fish, I'll make the fire and grill it." Renya nodded in agreement. He was hungry too—no harm in eating before they got back on the road.
"No problem, meow!" Scar said, diving headfirst into the water. Before long, it swam back up with a fat fish clamped in its mouth.
Renya had already prepared the firewood and now formed seals, using Fire Release to ignite the campfire.
"Kid, you process this one first. I'll go catch another." Scar dropped the fish on the bank before leaping back into the water.
Renya pulled out his cooking tools from a scroll and began scaling and gutting the fish. Of course a proper cook carried his utensils with him.
If not for the rush, he'd have taken the chance to show off a little in front of the fat cat.
Back when Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama traveled, they never bothered preparing cooking tools. He'd had to bring along his own pots, pans, oil, salt, and seasoning.
They were always kept sealed away in his storage scroll, ready to be pulled out when needed.
Who would have thought—inside a scroll belonging to a Kage-level powerhouse, instead of weapons, was a full set of cooking utensils?
If anyone else knew, what would they even think?
From afar, Black Zetsu saw Renya's scroll filled with kitchenware, and its eyes glinted with approval.
As expected of the cook it had chosen—his professionalism was beyond reproach!
No matter where Mother might be in the future, the cook would always be able to prepare her meals.
If only it could reveal itself now—but for the time being, it could only watch in secret.
Truly, that fat cat didn't know how good it had it!
Once Mother was freed, it would chop the cat to pieces and feed it to the dogs.
...
"This is way too delicious, meow!"
Scar devoured the grilled fish, its cat face brimming with satisfaction.
In all its years alive, this was only the second time it had eaten such delicious fish.
And of course, the first time was last night's grilled fish.
"Kid, can you make me another?" Scar had finished the fish in no time.
It stared at Renya with wide, pleading eyes, hoping he'd grill another.
One look at Scar's fat body said it all—one grilled fish would never be enough.
To have found such delicacies, of course it wanted to eat its fill!
Renya had been about to refuse, but the fat black cat's pitiful expression made him relent.
Sure, Scar was a little chubby, but it wasn't bad-looking at all—far better than that ugly cat Uncle Hashirama had adopted.
Yes, Renya admitted it—he did have a bit of a weakness for good looks…
"This damn cat is pushing its luck!" Black Zetsu watched and almost burst with rage. It wanted nothing more than to cut Scar into pieces right then.
How dare a fat cat order around the cook prepared for Mother? Absolutely unforgivable!
If not for Renya being there, it would have killed the cat already.
All it could do was glare, furious and helpless, as Renya grilled more fish for the black cat.
Anyone who had ever tasted Renya's cooking was now on its kill list.
In its eyes, Renya's food was for Mother alone. Everyone else had to pay the price!
"Kid, I approve of you." Scar reached out a greasy paw and patted Renya on the shoulder. "From now on, stick with me. I'll have Madara-sama look out for you!"
Renya: "…"
Even this fat cat knew how to use Uchiha Madara's name to bluff.
Clearly, it had done this more than once before.
"Scar, let me pet you and I'll make you grilled fish." Renya squeezed the fat cat's chubby cheeks. "Well? Think about it."
Chubby cats were the most satisfying to pet. He'd wanted to try for a while now.
Scar froze for a moment. Actually… it wasn't impossible.
Sure, it was a little embarrassing—but nobody else would know.
While it hesitated, Renya had already stretched out his sinful hands.
"Bastard! Let go of Scar-san, meow!"
No matter how hard Scar struggled, it couldn't escape Renya's grasp.
"Uuugh… Madara-sama, I've been defiled…"
When resistance proved useless, Scar gave up and let Renya have his way, petting and squeezing as much as he liked.
Nobody knew how long it lasted, but eventually Renya released the fat cat, looking thoroughly satisfied. The feel was simply too good.
"Kid, you've petted Scar-san. Don't forget your promise of grilled fish!" Scar glared resentfully at Renya.
At this point, all it could do was hold back tears and eat its grilled fish.