Chapter 38: Face Me!
Perhaps because this was a rare 'family reunion' dinner, the spread on the Chiyo family's table was much more extravagant than usual.
Considering Hiiro Rinko had just walked in, and the excellent presentation of the food, there was only one possible answer—
"You have this kind of skill, Oyaji?"
He peeked toward the kitchen. Sure enough, Matasaburō and Yūsa, father and son, were busy working. It was a truly heart-warming scene of paternal love and filial piety.
Literally. No dark, ulterior motives.
"Hmph. Your old man has traveled the world, known as the 'Wanderer of the Wind.' Of course I have a few secret skills to be proud of~"
Hearing Rinko's remark, Matasaburō's nose just about lifted to the ceiling.
Clearly, he was extremely proud of his cooking. As for his Wind Release? That was just something he'd mastered without trying. Whatever.
Those who are favored are always fearless. That saying was absolutely correct.
"Right, right, you're right. As long as you don't make me cook, you're right about everything."
Rinko, pulling his head back to go change, had no intention of arguing. He just sat at the table, ready to eat.
As a Jōnin's family, they certainly didn't lack for good ingredients, but the desert only produced so many things. After cooking for three years, he was running out of ideas.
Beef and lamb, then more beef and lamb. Onions and potatoes, then more onions and potatoes.
There was a reason barbecue was so popular in desert regions; the variety of vegetables was just too scarce. And these were the "desert-hardy" strains that the Land of Wind had spent generations cross-breeding.
The fruit quality here was excellent, but you couldn't make a meal out of it.
This huge feast was likely thanks to the ingredients in the bags Matasaburō had brought back.
Ah, speaking of which, isn't his 'wandering' not just a personal hobby and an intel mission, but also a quest to find crops that can be widely planted in the Land of Wind... That huge patch of sea buckthorn I saw... wasn't that grown from seedlings he brought back...
Leaning back in his chair and staring at the sandy-yellow ceiling, this thought suddenly surfaced in Hiiro Rinko's quad-core brain.
It's a tough life, being a child of the desert.
"By the way, I heard that besides Rasa, a few other people are graduating the Academy early to be taught by a Jōnin. Are Jōnin all so free these days?"
Before long, the last dish was served. The family of four gathered around the table in a harmonious atmosphere.
After a while, when the meal was mostly finished, Rinko nonchalantly brought up the topic.
"Oh, that. munch, munch—Mhm. We're imitating Konoha's Jōnin-led squad system. chew, chew… We're starting a pilot program with a few of the more talented students. Next summer, we'll try it with another batch of graduates."
Chiyo, eating like a hamster, swallowed her food, but before she could say two sentences, she stuffed her mouth again, explaining intermittently. "If it works well, Jōnin will rotate to lead squads in the future. Mhm—no dangerous missions and you get a teaching stipend. It's a great deal."
"Hah… Konoha's system, huh."
Rinko wasn't surprised that the Hidden Villages had spies in each other's territory. It would be weirder if these competing mercenary organizations didn't have spies.
What made Rinko sigh was Konoha's deep foundation. The Hidden Village system, the squad system... it seemed all major changes in the Shinobi World started from that fertile land.
No, it's because the two men who founded Konoha had the power to suppress the entire world that they were able to claim that land in the first place, allowing them to keep steamrolling.
Back in the day, the First Kazekage, Reto, had to practically throw a tantrum on the floor to get the land for Sunagakure, and was almost beaten up by the other three Kage. The only reason he got away with it, and actually got the land, was partly due to Senju Hashirama's mediation, and partly because the Land of Wind was just a worthless piece of rock. Invading it wouldn't just bring no profit; it would probably be a net loss.
Wasn't there another nation, built on frozen tundra, that used its harsh climate to drag a massive invasion into a quagmire and destroyed it?
It was a kind of natural defense.
Of course, if they had a choice, who would want to live in a desert?
We'd gladly fight all the other Hidden Villages if it meant we could build our village in a place like Konoha.
"But I'm surprised you'd proactively ask about this, you brat..."
At this, Chiyo suddenly flashed a sly grin. "Let me guess... is it because of Pakura-chan~?"
"Ugh—You sound disgusting, Old Hag!"
Rinko's eyes instantly became dead. The singsong quality in Chiyo's voice gave him goosebumps.
He didn't deny it, though. This Old Hag had been trying to set him up with the girls for ages. She definitely knew about Pakura's situation before he did.
"Ehh… How about you graduate early too, brat?"
"No. If I graduate, I'll have to take missions all the time. It's way more comfortable at the Academy. I can skip class to research whatever I want, and if I want to fight, I can just ask a Sensei for a spar. The village is paying for everything. What's my hurry?"
Rinko was completely unmoved. As he said, only after you get a real job do you realize how good school was. Since he wasn't lacking for money, he was going to keep learning.
Not only would he stay until normal graduation, he was going to stay for his Master's, his PhD, and keep getting more degrees!
"Haha, you think you can just not graduate? I'm telling you, brat, it's too late! I've already submitted your graduation application! You'll be assigned to my squad! Hahahaha!"
Chiyo slammed the table and let out a wild laugh, giving Rinko no choice in the matter.
"I even signed you up for the Chūnin Exams next summer! Get ready to come work for me!"
My own (adoptive) family is destroying my research dreams!
"You! You despicable Old Hag! Face me!"
Hearing this, Rinko couldn't take it anymore. He also slammed the table, unsealed a gauntlet-like mechanical ninja tool from the scroll on his wrist, and lunged across the table to punch Chiyo.
But how could an elite Jōnin of her stature be hit by such a simple attack? Chakra threads shot out, instantly binding Rinko, and she yanked him straight out the front door.
"Ah, I'll go check on my little brother and Mom!"
Seeing this, Yūsa also put down his bowl, left that one excuse, and chased after them.
"?"
Matasaburō looked down at the table, which was now completely empty, just a pile of dishes waiting to be washed. He felt like he'd just been played.