In the kitchen, Renye’s gaze swept over the ingredients Senju Tobirama had bought back last night—fresh salmon, tender tofu, crisp asparagus, and a box of premium beef.
Since Uncle Hashirama hadn't tasted his cooking in a long time, he decided to make some of his favorite dishes.
He first took out the salmon, slicing it diagonally with the knife. The fish skin sizzled in the hot pan, oil seeped out, and the aroma instantly filled the air.
A sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper, the fish skin fried until golden and crispy, while the fish meat remained tender and smooth.
Renye skillfully flipped it over, and the scent of fish, mixed with a faint lemon fragrance, wafted into the living room.
Next was the premium beef.
He took out a beautifully marbled piece of beef, lightly scoring it with the knife to allow the marinade to penetrate the muscle fibers.
The hot pan was heated until it was slightly smoking. The moment the beef hit the pan, the meaty aroma exploded, and the fat released a rich, charred scent under the high heat.
With a flick of his wrist, the beef in the pan was flipped, its surface a perfect golden-brown, while the inside remained an enticing pink.
“Grrr—”
In the living room, Senju Hashirama’s stomach grumbled uncontrollably as he caught the aroma.
He chuckled, looking at Madara, “How about it? Didn’t I tell you Renye’s cooking is good?”
The dishes hadn't even been served yet, but the rich aroma was already drifting over.
Uchiha Madara stood with his arms crossed, his expression still stern, but his Adam’s apple subtly bobbed.
The smell was indeed quite fragrant.
He didn't refute Hashirama, merely letting out a faint “Hmph,” and his gaze involuntarily darted towards the kitchen.
He hadn’t eaten all day yesterday, and now, smelling the aroma, he indeed felt a bit hungry.
It seemed Hashirama hadn't lied to him; this kid really had some cooking skills.
As for whether it was as exaggerated as Hashirama claimed, that would only be revealed after tasting it…
Senju Hashirama smiled without a word; he was already looking forward to Lord Madara’s expression when he tasted the delicious food later.
He was sure Lord Madara would love Renye’s cooking.
…
Renye didn't notice the commotion outside, focusing on the last dish—tofu miso soup.
He used a broth made from bonito flakes as the base, added tender tofu and thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms, and finally drizzled in a spoonful of homemade red miso.
The subtle flavor immediately emerged.
The soup surface gently simmered, releasing a fresh, savory aroma, with the steam carrying a rich soybean fragrance.
Senju Hashirama took a deep breath and couldn't help but exclaim, “Renye’s cooking is as good as ever; I can smell the aroma before even eating it.”
This time, Lord Madara nodded slightly.
Indeed, he somewhat wanted to try it. This kid really did have some skills…
He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the kitchen doorway.
…
Renye wiped the sweat from his brow and plated the last dish, stir-fried asparagus. The vibrant green asparagus was garnished with a few snow-white garlic slices, its refreshing aroma neutralizing the richness of the meat.
“You two, dinner is ready.” He carried the dishes out of the kitchen, meeting Lord Madara’s dark eyes directly.
Lord Madara’s gaze swept over the dishes on the table, finally settling on the perfectly pan-fried salmon.
Hashirama already couldn’t wait, picking up his chopsticks: “Then I won’t be polite.”
He had been craving this for a long time.
Madara was silent for a moment, then slowly reached out and picked up his chopsticks as well.
He wanted to see if Renye’s cooking was as exaggerated as Hashirama claimed.
Uchiha Madara gently prodded the salmon with his chopsticks, and the fish meat separated like silk, revealing its tender, pink texture inside.
He expressionlessly brought the fish to his mouth, but the moment his tongue touched the fish, his pupils subtly contracted.
…What was this taste?
The fish skin was crispy, yet the inside was so tender it melted in his mouth. The taste of sea salt and the slight spiciness of black pepper intertwined on his tongue, finally lifted by the light fragrance of lemon, creating an unbelievably perfect flavor.
Lord Madara’s chopsticks paused for a moment, then reached for another piece of fish.
Hmm, he’d try another bite to see.
…
Hashirama was busy eating his rice. When he looked up, he found that half of the salmon on the plate was gone, and Lord Madara’s chopsticks were precisely aiming for the last piece of fish belly.
The fish meat in that spot was the most delicious!
“Madara, leave some for me!” Hashirama quickly extended his chopsticks to intercept.
Lord Madara’s chopsticks paused in mid-air, then he coldly glared at him: “Who told you to eat so slowly?”
Hashirama: “…”
He thought eating slowly would allow him to savor the freshness of the ingredients, but when he looked up, Lord Madara had almost finished the salmon.
Renye watched this scene, his mouth twitching slightly.
Are these two really the legendary Shura of the Shinobi World and Ninja God?
Why do they act like starving ghosts reborn…
Lord Madara’s movements appeared elegant and composed, yet his chopsticks never stopped picking up food.
In the blink of an eye, more than half of the beef was gone.
Hashirama finally reacted and quickly joined the food-Snatch Food, their chopsticks clashing, almost creating afterimages on the table.
Renye’s chopsticks hovered in mid-air, not choosing a dish for a long time.
Never mind, you two eat first.
“Madara, I saw this piece of meat first!” Hashirama exclaimed, seeing Lord Madara take the largest piece of beef.
“First come, first served.” Lord Madara scoffed disdainfully, “Only the weak need to make excuses.”
“Hey, did you just use Chakra?!” Hashirama realized why Lord Madara’s movements were so fast.
Madara silently chewed the beef, offering no comment.
“Damn it, you cheated!” Hashirama angrily picked up a small piece of beef.
Renye watched the two almost come to blows over a meal, silently got up and went to the kitchen, bringing out another backup plate of fried fish.
This portion was originally meant for Senju Tobirama’s lunch, but now it could only be given to the two of them first.
He would buy ingredients later and make a fresh batch.
Uchiha Madara’s gaze immediately locked onto the newly brought salmon. On the surface, he maintained a stern expression, but his chopsticks had already quietly reached out.
Renye, understanding the hint, placed the fried fish in front of Lord Madara. If he didn't, Lord Madara’s chopsticks would have already taken it.
Seeing this, Lord Madara’s eyes showed an appreciative expression. This kid was good; he was indeed one of his clansmen.
…
The last piece of beef was picked up by Lord Madara and placed into his mouth.
The meat was tender, the fat melted on his tongue, and the spicy aroma of black pepper perfectly blended with the sweetness of the special sauce.
Lord Madara slowly put down his chopsticks, silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “The taste is good.”
Hashirama, holding a bowl of miso soup, almost choked when he heard this. “Madara, you just… praised Renye?”
He knew Lord Madara would like Renye’s cooking, but he hadn't expected Lord Madara to actually praise him.
Someone as arrogant as Lord Madara rarely praised others.
Unless he had gained his approval…
Lord Madara coldly glanced at Hashirama, but when his gaze turned to Renye, it was unusually devoid of its usual sharpness, instead carrying a trace of imperceptible approval.
Hashirama indeed hadn't deceived him; the food this kid made was truly delicious.
“I really like the food you make.”
This was the first time in all these years that he had eaten such delicious food.
Renye was stunned, saying with a hint of flattery.
“Uh, thank you, Lord Madara…”
PS: Hehehe, typing is so happy, hehehe, 嘤嘤嘤… (Translator’s note: This is a common Chinese internet meme expressing happiness and cuteness, often with a slight whine.)
