Chapter 330: Fat Cat, Where Are Your Morals?
Masahiko was very lost.
At the entrance of the Konoha Ninja Academy, he didn't return to the Senju clan compound with Kushina and the others. Instead, he wandered around Konoha alone.
In his 120-plus years of life, especially the last 50 years, he had constantly been wrestling with the memories of his past life—participating in the plot, changing the plot, repairing the plot. That was all there was to it. On the surface, he seemed relaxed and happy, but his heart had long grown weary.
Having sent Naruto into the Ninja Academy this time, he didn't plan on interfering with much else. Naruto's friendships, setbacks, growth, and romances—Masahiko didn't want to deliberately arrange any of them anymore.
The only thing he needed to manage was making sure Naruto's 'orientation' didn't go awry.
Kushina had taken up permanent residence in Konoha, and the three children would be brought over in a few days. Actually, this was for the best; let Haku plague the boys of Konoha instead. The Land of Whirlpools couldn't handle the turmoil.
"Happiness, I want happiness!" Masahiko stood still and cheered himself on.
"My mood hasn't been right these past two days. Why am I feeling a bit world-weary? Have I truly lived too long?" Masahiko shook his head. "It seems I need to find some amusement..."
"You are Elder Masahiko Uzumaki, right? Would you like to come in for a bowl of noodles?"
Masahiko looked up, and Teuchi's chrysanthemum-like smiling face appeared before his eyes. He had unknowingly walked to the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen.
Pondering for a moment, Masahiko smiled and nodded, walking into the shop. "I'll have a bowl of Miso Chashu Ramen."
"Right away!" Teuchi smiled brightly.
Masahiko frowned slightly. Today's Teuchi seemed a bit different, but after taking a bite of the noodles, he threw these thoughts to the back of his mind.
"This flavor..." Masahiko's face was full of surprise. Eating Teuchi's Ichiraku Ramen again after six years gave him a pleasant surprise.
"Your skills have improved significantly, haven't they? No, this flavor tastes like someone else made it. To think I could taste the flavor of happiness from a mouthful of noodles! Are you Cooking Master Boy in disguise?"
Teuchi maintained his smiling face, a hint of bewilderment subtly appearing. "Elder Masahiko Uzumaki, what is a Cooking Master Boy?"
"I don't know either; I just heard he cooks exceptionally well." Masahiko ate his noodles in large mouthfuls.
Teuchi nodded and continued, "I saw you looked a bit troubled earlier. Is there something making you sad? Having lived to your age, what could you possibly not be able to let go of?"
Masahiko was stunned. He looked up and said, "Are you trying to comfort me? Oh, please. You will never understand my sorrow, just like the day doesn't understand the darkness of the night."
Teuchi: "..."
Masahiko finished the noodles in a few bites and chuckled. "Alright, at my age, I don't need you to comfort me. Focus on running your ramen shop. I'm off to find some amusement and enjoy myself!"
Teuchi watched Masahiko leave, his chrysanthemum face smiling brightly... even though Masahiko hadn't paid.
Masahiko didn't go far, turning into the building next door, the place originally called the 'Taobao Shop'. He was attracted by a massive notice.
"Hiring Chef, High Salary!"
The title consisted of these six characters, followed by a dense block of tiny words elaborately explaining the details, which Masahiko couldn't be bothered to read.
A weapon shop hiring a chef—Masahiko didn't even need to think to know what was going on. Tenten's family was probably about to enshrine that cat ancestor.
"You're living a free and easy life," Masahiko muttered.
Licking his lips, Masahiko was still savoring the exceptionally delicious ramen he just had. He looked at his attribute panel. "Chef, huh..."
...
Half an hour later, a black-haired, middle-aged man with a 'big head and thick neck'—Masahiko—walked into Tenten's family ninja tools shop, the Ninja Tool Shop.
It was still early, so there were no other customers in the shop. There was only a woman behind the counter with delicate features, bearing a sixty percent resemblance to Tenten. It should be Tenten's mother.
"Are you hiring a chef here?"
Tenten's mother was startled. "Oh? Are you here to apply?"
"Do I look like I'm here to buy weapons?"
Tenten's mother choked on her words, but didn't get angry. Instead, she revealed a gentle smile. "May I ask for your name?"
Masahiko's face stiffened. Why did these people always ask for names? Didn't they know coming up with names was hard work for him?
"Hagoromo, Hamura, Asura, I've used them all... Hmm, call me, who was that again?" Masahiko scratched his head. "Oh, right, call me Indra!"
Tenten's mother maintained her gentle but polite smile. "Mr. Indra, did you read the notice outside our shop clearly?"
"I read it clearly. High salary, isn't it?"
Tenten's mother: "..."
"The requirements for the chef we are hiring are a bit special. They need to have some specific expertise..."
Masahiko waved his hand. "Not to boast, but there is simply no dish I cannot cook. Never mind human food, I can even make cat food and dog food!"
"Cat food?" Tenten's mother was pondering how to appropriately reject this 'Indra' when she was drawn in by Masahiko's words.
"May I witness your culinary skills?"
"Of course." Masahiko smiled.
...
The system never disappointed Masahiko. With the expenditure of ten Witness Points, his Cooking skill became... level 9.
Cooking LV9 (100,000/1,000,000)
Masahiko rubbed his eyes repeatedly, confirming he wasn't seeing things. It was the first time he had encountered this situation. From the looks of it, jumping from level 9 to level 10 Cooking would be a qualitative leap, but he couldn't bear to spend 90 Witness Points on it right now.
Level 9 Cooking was enough. Facing a gentle commoner woman, Masahiko had no interest in playing the 'suppress first, elevate later' trope (making an ordinary-looking dish, making her doubt it, and then having her take a bite, exclaim in amazement, and bow in admiration)... That was very boring to Masahiko.
He directly demonstrated his knife skills and cooking techniques. What happened next naturally followed: Masahiko was hired as the fat cat's exclusive chef, responsible solely for making the fat cat's dinner.
"Fat cat, I want to see what exactly you're up to." Masahiko revealed a sinister smile.
That evening, Masahiko used various methods to cook dozens of fish in Tenten's kitchen, successfully earning an 'audience' with the fat cat. He brought the final plate of fish to the table himself.
Seeing the fish in his hands, the fat cat's eyes glowed green. With an "Awoo", it swallowed the fish whole in one bite.
Masahiko appropriately displayed a look of surprise and panic. Little Tenten beside him offered comfort: "Uncle Indra, don't be afraid. Chubby kitty is a good cat, it doesn't eat people."
"Meow~ Good skills, this cat appreciates you."
Masahiko looked with a half-smile at the fat cat, who had eaten its way back to eighty or ninety catties. His smile gradually vanished...
After chewing, the fat cat stuck a small paw into its mouth and pulled out the fishbone it had just swallowed. Suddenly, it let out a miserable "Meow~".
Then Masahiko watched helplessly as the fat cat discreetly used its claw to make a small cut on its paw, letting two drops of blood ooze out.
Tenten seemed accustomed to this. With a look of helplessness, she lifted its paw, blew on it gently, and popped the bleeding spot into her mouth.
"Chubby kitty, why are you so careless again?"
Masahiko wore a wooden expression, watching the practiced routine between this person and this cat...
"Fat cat, where are your morals?"
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