"Hmph, this kid is getting bolder and bolder."
Uchiha Madara crossed his arms, looking down at Renya from above with a sharp gaze.
He pondered how he could possibly convince this kid to follow him.
As long as Renya was willing to stick by his side, they’d never have to wait so long for a decent al again.
This kid... he genuinely appreciated him. He had to figure out a way to lure him over — there was no way he could just let Senju Tobirama benefit from him.
That guy... what qualifications did he have to make an Uchiha kid take care of him in his old age?
If anyone was going to be looked after by Renya, it should be him, Uchiha Madara!
As for Tobirama?
He could just go adopt another kid.
...
Renya, of course, had no idea Madara was scheming about him. He was carefully pressing a spatula over the fish, keeping the salmon fillet from curling.
Once one side was perfectly golden, he flipped his wrist—
The whole fish spun gracefully through the air and landed back in the pan without so much as a scratch.
"Beautiful technique," Hashirama praised as the rich aroma of fish drifted over.
It had been a while since he last tasted Renya’s cooking, but the flavor was just as mouthwatering as ever.
Taking advantage of the mont, Renya pulled out the matsutake mushrooms he’d picked along the way.
The caps hadn’t fully opened yet, the dark-brown tops hiding delicate white gills beneath. A light touch released a deep, woody fragrance.
"These will make an incredible soup," Senju Hashirama leaned in so close his nose almost brushed the mushroom. He looked like he could hardly resist taking a bite right now.
Uchiha Madara didn’t say a word, but his sharp gaze was fixed firmly on the matsutake in Renya’s hands.
Renya gently wiped the dirt off the stems with a damp cloth, careful not to bruise them.
On the clay stove, a pot of spring water was already starting to form fish-eye bubbles.
Renya picked up a small knife and sliced the matsutake into thin, delicate pieces.
The blade made a soft "shaa-shaa" sound as it slid through the flesh. Drops of clear juice beaded along the milky-white cuts.
Each slice fluttered like feathers as it fell into the ceramic pot.
The mont they touched the hot water, a burst of crisp, refreshing fragrance — like morning dew over a pine forest — filled the air.
Renya added in the prepared chicken pieces, planning to make a hearty pot of chicken-and-matsutake stew.
While that simred, he finished searing the salmon, plating the golden fillets neatly on a porcelain dish and drizzling them with a rich sauce he’d prepared earlier.
The dark glaze slid into the knife cuts on the fish, tracing out enticing patterns over the snow-white flesh.
Lastly, he turned to the vegetables.
The wok was blazing hot, glowing faintly red.
The instant garlic slices hit the oil, the sharp aroma burst out, and Renya tossed in a handful of tender greens.
The leaves sizzled, curling instantly at the heat, and with just two quick flicks of the spatula, the stir-fried vegetables were done.
"Madara-sama, Hashirama-san, the dishes are ready," Renya said, setting the salmon and vegetables on the wooden table.
"The chicken-and-matsutake stew still needs so ti, so please start with the fish and greens."
"No rice?" Uchiha Madara frowned.
Just these small plates of fish and vegetables? Without rice, there was no way he’d get full.
Hearing that, Renya froze. He really hadn’t thought about rice at all before coming here.
Who would’ve guessed these two only knew how to eat but hadn’t prepared anything themselves?
These lazy gluttons were even worse than Senju Tobirama!
But... what could he do? He couldn’t exactly scold them — they were both way out of his league.
Going out to buy rice now was obviously impossible.
If he delayed any longer, lunchti would be over.
By then, if Senju Tobirama didn’t get his al on ti and couldn’t find Renya anywhere in the village, he’d probably teleport straight here using Flying Thunder God!
"Madara-sama, my apologies," Renya scratched his head awkwardly. "I’ll rember for next ti. For now, please make do with this."
Madara’s frown slowly eased. He couldn’t exactly bla the kid for this one.
After all, they were the ones who hadn’t prepared anything.
It seed they’d need to stock the cave properly later —
Rice, oil, salt, vinegar, tea... pots, pans, bowls, even dish soap.
That way, when this kid ca to cook next ti, they wouldn’t run into the sa problem.
Yes... Madara had already decided.
He was staying in this cave for a while, and Renya was coming here every day to cook.
"Crunch—"
While Madara was deep in thought, Hashirama had already snatched up the crispiest piece of fish tail and bitten straight through it.
Feeling Madara’s glare, Hashirama quickly shoved the entire tail into his mouth, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk as he chewed. A few sesa seeds stuck to his lips.
"Hashirama! You’re stealing bites!" Madara snapped, imdiately grabbing his chopsticks to secure his own share.
With a swift twist, he pried off a perfect chunk of tender white flesh, the golden skin still clinging to a thin layer of glistening fat that glead honey-gold in the firelight.
...
"These greens are amazing!" Hashirama’s eyes lit up after the first bite. He quickly scooped up another chopstickful.
Seeing that, Madara also tasted the vegetables — and, indeed, they were delicious.
As expected of this kid’s cooking!
Renya, however, knew these two dishes would never be enough to satisfy their monstrous appetites. His eyes drifted toward the simring pot of chicken-and-matsutake stew.
If they weren’t full after this, they’d just have to wait until next ti.
He still had to hurry back and make lunch for Senju Tobirama — there was no ti to make another round for these two.
Sure enough, the mont the salmon and vegetables were cleared from the table, the two pairs of eyes turned toward the ceramic pot in unison.
As expected... nowhere near enough food.
Finally, the chicken-and-matsutake stew finished cooking.
Renya gently stirred the thick broth with a wooden spoon as steam rolled out, carrying the rich fragrance with it.
Scooping up a ladleful, he poured it into a bowl.
The broth was a beautiful amber, its surface shimring with golden oil droplets. A tender piece of chicken thigh trembled in the spoon, accompanied by several matsutake slices soaked through with flavor.
"Madara-sama," Renya said, handing the first bowl to him.
"Renya, why aren’t you giving one first?" Hashirama’s aggrieved voice ca imdiately after.
Compared to Madara, he was obviously the one who’d spent more ti with Renya. So why was his bowl coming second?
No love here at all...
Madara accepted the bowl with a faint, satisfied smile.
As expected of an Uchiha — the kid knew to serve his clan’s forr leader first.
Good. That ant he wasn’t completely brainwashed by Senju Tobirama after all.
Perhaps there really was hope of pulling Renya over to his side.
He tasted the broth, and instantly, the rich flavors blood on his tongue — the deep umami of chicken fat mingling perfectly with the crisp fragrance of matsutake.
"Mmm... this is incredible." Madara gave Hashirama a smug look, lips curling upward.
"Renya, give a bowl too!" Hashirama panicked, afraid his friend would drink it all first.
"Right away, Hashirama-san," Renya said, quickly ladling him a bowl.
Honestly, he hadn’t thought much about it earlier — he’d just seen Madara first and instinctively handed him the bowl.
...
"Madara-sama, Hashirama-san, it’s getting late. I need to head back to the village," Renya said, standing up.
If he didn’t get back soon, it would be lunchti, and that old man Tobirama would be impatiently waiting.
To keep his little cooking arrangent here a secret, he had to hurry back and prepare Tobirama’s lunch before the man got suspicious.
"Co back again tomorrow at noon," Uchiha Madara said calmly, setting his bowl down.
Renya: "???"
Wait... what?!
He had to co again tomorrow?!
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no..."
If this kept up every day, he was bound to get caught eventually.
And if Senju Tobirama found out... how was he even supposed to explain this?
It’s not like he could just tell him he was being forced into it.
Who would believe that?
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