During the meal, the three of them sat in silence.
Sasuke couldn't stand Naruto, yet he made no overt moves to show it.
As for Naruto… he was starving.
For him, a simple home-cooked meal like this was an entirely novel experience. He couldn't cook for himself, and no one at home ever helped him.
Moreover… without using a transformation jutsu, no one would sell him food either!
In Konoha, Naruto was essentially a walking curse. Everyone avoided him. Aside from a handful of people sanctioned by Hiruzen Sarutobi, hardly anyone could get near him.
Shunichi was curious why Sarutobi allowed Naruto near him, but he wasn't about to pass up this opportunity.
Sasuke's tissues and blood were easy to obtain, and he had no defenses against Shunichi. The lab already contained cultivated samples of Sasuke's tissues.
Now was a perfect chance to obtain Naruto's biological materials as well.
But there was one rule: no trace could be left behind…
As he ate, Shunichi carefully executed his plan. He needed to control his power, so every move was deliberate and cautious.
"Shunichi, this food is amazing!"
Naruto, oblivious to Shunichi's subtle actions, ate with gusto.
As he ate, he felt a sudden urge to cry—but he forced the weakness down, burying it deep inside.
"Of course. With only the two of us at home, it's natural to learn some cooking skills. You should try learning too," Shunichi said quietly, hiding a glass vial in his sleeve as he spoke.
Naruto paused for a moment, then feigned nonchalance. "I can't. No one can teach me."
"Easy. I'll give you a recipe later. Anyone who isn't an idiot can manage it," Shunichi replied calmly.
At that moment, Sasuke interjected, "With his intelligence? I don't think so!"
"What did you say?!"
Naruto's anger flared instantly, but he noticed he was eating at someone else's house and reluctantly sat back down.
"Am I wrong, dead last?" Sasuke said smugly, having finished his meal, glaring at Naruto.
"Tch! I won't stoop to your level," Naruto muttered, turning his nose up in defiance.
"Idiot…"
The uneasy truce lasted until the meal ended. After clearing the table, Sasuke, still irritated, escorted Naruto out.
The Uchiha estate was still fairly large, though now emptier than before.
...
Once Naruto left, Shunichi did not rush to the lab. The cultivation process didn't require immediate attention, as long as the extracted tissues and blood remained viable.
For now, everything had to appear normal.
Though Shunichi had mastered sensory ninjutsu, he still couldn't be certain whether he was under surveillance.
So every action he took was executed under the assumption of observation. He didn't fear discovery of his small maneuvers—but he wouldn't jeopardize his plan either.
Half an hour later, Sasuke returned.
There was a faint, almost imperceptible wound on him.
"Fought with Naruto?" Shunichi lifted his gaze from his book and glanced at Sasuke before closing his eyes again.
"Yeah! That dead last got his ass handed to him," Sasuke said, slightly blushing.
"That kid is strong, but he can't fully unleash his inner power. No one is guiding him. Under equal conditions, he wouldn't stand a chance against you," Shunichi shook his head.
"No way! That… I absolutely refuse to believe it!" Sasuke's pupils dilated, his entire body radiating incredulous anger.
His own furious intensity startled him slightly.
"Find time to teach him. Pass on what I've taught you. He'll become a good whetstone, sharpening your skills even faster," Shunichi said after a brief hesitation.
Shunichi felt that no one in the village had ever told him anything about Naruto, nor had anyone warned him to be cautious. Therefore, he saw no reason to be overly wary.
A little interaction would also help demonstrate his own status.
"Impossible! That dead last…" Sasuke complained to Shunichi, but he didn't care.
Whether Sasuke chose to teach him or not made no difference. Before he had secured the ability to protect himself, Shunichi would never provoke Naruto.
Of course, if Naruto came knocking of his own accord, that was another matter.
"Do as you wish. I'm only giving you the method. Whether you use it is your choice. Sometimes, teaching others can even strengthen your own abilities," Shunichi said as he rose and headed toward the lab.
Sasuke's expression darkened behind him.
Once in the lab, Shunichi checked the surrounding experimental equipment, then began cultivating the small sample of blood and tissue he had taken from Naruto.
He wasn't yet sure how far this could go, but once cultivated, it might prove useful later.
Chakra in this world had many applications, but some knowledge was required to make proper use of it.
For now, Shunichi still had much to learn. The most important issue: there was no teacher figure to guide him.
After examining the specimen again and finding nothing notable, Shunichi completed the preparations for Naruto's blood and tissue and left the lab.
Back in his room, he noticed Sasuke still sulking nearby. He found it amusing but ignored him.
Pulling out some medical-ninjutsu books, Shunichi began reading.
Seeing that Shunichi ignored him, Sasuke felt a pang of dissatisfaction—but it faded as quickly as it appeared.
Though they were the same age, being around Shunichi made Sasuke feel like a child.
Feeling slightly disheartened, he retreated to his room, lying on the bed with a vacant gaze.