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JST Chapter 52: The Art of Soup and Deception
🕑 Added 2024-09-15 22:43:28 +0000 UTCSenju Tobirama unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth and couldn't hide his smile as he watched Kazuki prepare the food.
Uchiha Izuna's fire release and throwing techniques are quite amazing, so what?
That was used by Kazuki to cook!
From this point of view, Uchiha Izuna's chakra has little influence on Kazuki!
Senju Tobirama subconsciously forgot that his water release was also used to wash the hen just now...
The red light in Kazuki's eyes flashed, his hands trembled, and the seasonings were put in one by one in a very methodical manner. The fire in his hands seemed to come to life, spreading evenly across the bottom of the pot, maintaining the ideal temperature.
With such luxurious methods, in a short time a chicken soup was completed, the intoxicating aroma of which filled the air.
Asuma and Rin, unable to help themselves, gulped at the scent of the fragrance.
"Kazuki, this soup you made… not even my old man has ever tasted something so luxurious. The way you prepared it is a waste for anyone else…" Asuma commented, inhaling the aroma, completely forgetting about Tsunade in the distance. All he wished was to be able to help himself to a generous portion of Kazuki's creation.
Kazuki waved his hand. "What's luxury? Whether it's fire release, kenjutsu, pupil technique or other ninjutsu, these powers are the vassal of the shinobi, used to make the people close to them live comfortably."
"In my opinion, the three-tomoe Sharingan can kill the enemy and make a bowl of hen soup for friends. Both are equally important."
Asuma and Nohara Rin felt warm in their hearts.
Before they even ate the real soup, Kazuki's spiritual chicken soup made them feel comfortable...
"Okay, you can start eating."
Kazuki slowly lifted the lid of the pot. At this moment...
Asuma and Nohara Rin seemed to see dazzling golden light bursting out of the hen soup, but when they looked closely, the golden light disappeared.
Kazuki smiled on the side. If there were no special effects, how could the specifications of this hen soup be justified?
Kazuki exhaled slowly.
The gentle breeze wrapped in the fragrance blew to Tsunade's side.
Tsunade closed her eyes and twitched her nose unconsciously. She drank too much yesterday and had not eaten yet. Her stomach was already empty and needed some warm food to fill it.
Tsunade gradually sobered up, opened her eyes and looked at the blue sky and white clouds in front of her, and sighed.
She no longer had the heart to cook for herself. When she was sad, she would drink. If she drank too much, she would vomit. If she vomited and got hurt, she would use medical ninjutsu to heal her. This was the best cycle for people to forget the past.
"Hen soup... Ha, am I still dwelling on the past subconsciously? I am such a weak woman..."
Tsunade laughed at herself, sat up slowly, and began to look for Kazuki and others.
Her original plan had been to just lie there and let Kazuki, and the others come closer, quickly capture them, like Asuma had suggested.
After all, how could a kid from the ninja school resist such an opportunity?
But when Tsunade looked up, she saw Kazuki looking at her with a smile, waving at her. "Tsunade-sensei, the hen soup is just made, come and have a bowl..."
Tsunade stared at Kazuki blankly.
Staring at Kazuki's face in the sun, her vision seemed a little blurry...
Tsunade stared at Kazuki not far away.
She didn't know why, but the image of her second grandfather appeared in Tsunade's eyes, always calm, wise and extremely kind...
But it was just an illusion for a moment.
Kazuki's face, which was very characteristic of the Uchiha handsome man, broke Tsunade's strange sense of déjà vu.
She blinked, and looking at Kazuki, who was wearing the Uchiha clan uniform, she let out a light laugh.
In a trance, Tsunade remembered the story that Senju Tobirama told her in her childhood, about his nemesis Uchiha Izuna.
At this moment, Kazuki looked like the Uchiha Izuna described in the story...
Although Tsunade smiled, a slight sadness and loneliness filled her heart.
Who could she share these stories with?
All her loved ones had already left. Her grandmother, the only one left, would soon also reach the end of her life, and the last arrangements had to be made...
Tsunade walked slowly towards Kazuki, and the aroma of hen soup became more and more rich along the way, causing her empty stomach to churn.
Although Tsunade wanted to criticize Kazuki's boldness, this was a serious apprenticeship exam, but looking at the pot of hen soup, she could tell it was not ordinary. She swallowed her throat, nodded honestly, and said: “It’s okay to eat something before the test…”
Asuma and Nohara Rin held back their laughter. Although Tsunade looked very resistant, her slightly heavier breathing betrayed her inner feelings.
This amazing kunoichi must be very hungry now…
Kazuki smiled and picked up the big spoon, filled a bowl with ingredients for Tsunade, and handed it to her. "Eat it while it's hot, Tsunade-sensei."
Tsunade turned her head and stared at Kazuki's face.
For some reason, she felt that strange sense of familiarity again. It was as if Kazuki's face, typical of the Uchiha, hid Tobirama's features, and his aura increased that perception.
If Kazuki was not from the Uchiha clan, if someone told Tsunade that Kazuki and Senju Tobirama had some special relationship, she would even believe it a little bit...
Tsunade took the slightly hot bowl of soup, and these distracting thoughts in her mind flashed away with the aroma, and her appetite suddenly became strong.
She was really hungry.
Kazuki poured bowls for Asuma, Rin, and himself, one by one.
On that sunny morning, Tsunade's team, even though they hadn't passed the test, already seemed like a family, sharing a comforting meal.
A team of four people, at that moment, seemed like a harmonious team.
"Itadakimasu!" Kazuki picked up the bowl of soup and said with a smile.
"Itadakimasu!" Nohara Rin and Asuma responded very familiarly.
They had gone to Kazuki's house many times to receive free meals, so they were particularly familiar, which made the scene feel a little warm.
Tsunade took a deep breath. She hadn't seen such a scene for a long time.
Her last memories were of noisy bar tables and casinos filled with shouting and cursing.
But here, sitting quietly on a grassy field, sans alcohol and enjoying a bowl of hot soup...
Tsunade thought that perhaps, she would never have this experience again.
Tsunade slowly picked up the spoon and whispered: "Itadakimasu."
"Hmm..."
As soon as they tasted the soup, Tsunade, Rin and Asuma began to enjoy it, shaking their heads in satisfaction.
For a moment, the three of them were immersed in their food.
Senju Tobirama watched this scene silently, and the worried expression faded a little.
Seeing Tsunade drink the soup so enthusiastically, Tobirama felt comforted.
At this moment, he didn't want to blame Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyesight. Even if he was deceived by Kazuki a little, it didn't matter. Otherwise, how could Tsunade and Kazuki be arranged in the same team?
Moreover, Tobirama's heart filled with warmth. Seeing how the vulnerable Tsunade was treated with such tenderness... wasn't that a sign of respect for him?
Kazuki glanced at the bell on Tsunade's waist, smiled, and gave Asuma and Nohara Rin a look.
As Tsunade finished every last drop of soup her eyes drifted to the pot, wanting more but not daring to ask for it.
At this time, Asuma raised his eyebrows and muttered to himself: "Why is the old man here? I clearly told him not to come. It's so annoying..."
Nohara Rin also showed a proper expression of surprise, as well as the excitement that every Genin should have when seeing the Hokage...
Tsunade followed Asuma's gaze and looked back. "The old man is here too?"
But she didn't see Sarutobi Hiruzen.
When Tsunade turned her head, she already had a new bowl of soup in her hands.
But Kazuki's hand had already covered the bell she wore on her waist, and he held it in his palm.
Tsunade was stunned for a moment, and heard Kazuki say with a smile. "Tsunade-sensei, I've made my move."
Just as Tsunade said, the assessment started when Kazuki and others took the initiative to take action.
But this movement meant the end.
Tsunade's expression changed, and she was angry and amused.
"Little demon, can you really call this a ninja strategy?"
"Tsunade-sensei, this is a teamwork between me, Asuma, and Rin. Didn't we do a good job?"
Kazuki pointed at the somewhat shy Nohara Rin and the smug Asuma, and said softly: "Without their help, the soup would only have filled your stomach, but it wouldn't have made you turn your head..."
Tsunade snorted, what a group of cunning little devils!
With such a vicious mind, they actually used soup to deal with a drunk with a hangover!
"If it gets cold, it won't taste as good anymore..." Kazuki commented, raising his bowl and toasting with Asuma and Rin, celebrating their small victory. Ignoring Tsunade's complex expression, he clinked his bowl with hers as well.
"This bowl of delicious soup is also our teamwork, Tsunade-sensei, you must cherish the fruits of our labor."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, and after a moment, she sighed. "I reluctantly give them a pass."
Immediately, she raised the bowl in her hand and said generously: "I officially announce that Team Tsunade is formed!"
"Cheers!"
...
"Even though you all passed the test..." Tsunade said with a satisfied smile as she stretched, enjoying the warmth the food provided to her body. However, her gaze turned dangerous. "We're not done with the matter of tricking your sensei yet..."
"Team Tsunade's first training session is about to begin!"
"The content of the test is... to protect the bells in your hands well!"
Tsunade pointed at Kazuki and immediately raised a finger. “You have one minute to prepare. Shinobi must respond to emergencies anytime and anywhere!”
Asuma jumped up and complained viciously: "Isn't this a bit excessive?!"
But seeing Tsunade's gaze, Asuma immediately fell silent, scratching his head with a nervous smile.
He wasn't at home, where his father would perhaps punish him with a couple of spankings that would only hurt for a day. The next day, with some effort, he could get up as if nothing had happened.
But with Tsunade's explosive temper, which Asuma had heard about, things were different. After all, Jiraiya had suffered multiple rib fractures at the hands of Tsunade...
Tsunade shook her head and snorted. "Don't think I'm retaliating for what you did, brats."
"Your soup trick may have been effective, but it's nothing more than a bit of cleverness. The battlefield is a ruthless and cruel place. Only strength can protect yourself."
"The more adorable the little shinobi are, the crueler the blow they receive."
"Instead of being killed instantly by a powerful enemy, let me, your sensei, let you experience the huge gap between the jonin and the genin first!"
Tsunade's tone was very serious, with a hint of grief and sadness in her expression.
Although she was beginning to accept her team, her thoughts were filled with the tragic memories of her life.
Tsunade had decided that if she took these students in, then she would strictly teach them how to survive.
This is what Tsunade thinks now.
She cared for them. Being kind and lovable was fine, but in the cruel world of shinobi, those traits would only increase the pain of their loved ones when they died.
"There are still fifteen seconds, you have to prepare quickly!"
Tsunade, arms crossed, watched as Asuma and Rin whispered to each other, increasing the pressure on them.
