The Cunning Old Man and Little One Who Came to Mooch a Meal

Ever since Akimichi Torifu witnessed Kagura culinary skills that day, he had been frequenting her shop around mealtimes. Sometimes he would have dumplings, other times rice bowls, braised pork ribs, or shrimp in tomato sauce.

Not to mention the soup dumplings, shaomai, and crispy pancakes, which completely redefined his understanding of food.

Because he always managed to snag something delicious, in his mind, Kagura was nothing short of a culinary goddess.

Thanks to Akimichi Torifu, who was like a walking loudspeaker, Kagura reputation as a "culinary goddess" spread throughout Konoha.

Almost everyone in the village knew that Kagura, the shop owner who could divine fortunes, was not only a beautiful and intelligent young woman but also an exceptional cook.

The village most discerning eater—Akimichi Torifu—had personally vouched for her.

However, Kagura herself was unaware of this until one summer afternoon when Tobirama Senju appeared at her shop, holding the toddling Tsunade by the hand.

After hesitating for a while, Tobirama pushed Tsunade forward and said stiffly.

"There's no one at home, so I'm looking after her. She's hungry and needs something to eat. Since you're the 'culinary goddess,' why don't you whip something up to fill her up?"

This was the first time Kagura heard about her "culinary goddess" title, and she quickly figured out the reason behind it.

"You think I'll just cook because you told me to? Acting Hokage or not, you're not that special" Kagura retorted, picking up little Tsunade.

The one-year-old, with six tiny teeth, would giggle when her soft cheeks were poked. Human babies really were adorable.

"Mommy, mommy~" Tsunade opened her chubby little hands and clung to Kagura, nuzzling her.

Kagura was mortified.

"Little one, I'm not your mommy. Don't ruin my reputation!" Kagura said with a laugh, pinching Tsunade cheeks.

"Hmph" Tobirama clearly mocked her, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"When it comes to ruining reputations, she's nothing compared to certain people."

It was obvious who he was referring to.

Kagura eyebrow twitched, but she held back her anger.

She couldn't lose her temper in front of such a little one—it would scare her.

She had to endure it.

"Mommy, mommy!" Tsunade kept calling, clearly hungry, as she burrowed into Kagura arms like a little lamb.

"Hey now…" Kagura face turned red. She knew exactly what Tsunade was doing.

Seeing the woman flushed face, Tobirama felt a sense of vindication but didn't want to push her too far.

After all, she was still unmarried, a young maiden. If he went too far, he might end up getting beaten by her.

"Well… Tsunade only knows how to say 'mommy.' She calls everyone 'mommy' and hasn't learned other words yet."

"..."

"She's really hungry. Aren't you going to make something for her?" As he spoke, Tobirama turned his face toward the wall, leaving only his profile visible to Kagura.

He added somewhat awkwardly "Dumplings, crispy pancakes, shaomai—anything will do."

"For such a little child, isn't that a bit too heavy?" Kagura stared at Tsunade soft, mochi-like cheeks.

She felt a bit melancholic.

She had never learned how to care for a baby, and she had no idea what such a young child could or couldn't eat. But to be safe, steaming an egg custard was always a safe bet.

She couldn't count how many times, after hearing about how picky the children of relatives were, her mother would grumble to Kagura.

"I think kids these days are just spoiled by having too many good things to eat!"

Hmm, it was clear that egg custard was the most reliable choice.

She cracked two eggs into a bowl, whisked them, added a few spoonfuls of water, a pinch of salt, and a drop of sesame oil, then steamed it over water.

It was the quickest method, ready in just over ten minutes.

Tobirama stood with his arms crossed, pacing back and forth in front of the stove.

After confirming that there was indeed only one bowl of steamed egg in the pot, his expression completely fell, a mix of annoyance and grievance.

"Why are you swaying back and forth like a pendulum?" Kagura felt dizzy just watching him and couldn't help but scold him.

"You're only making it for Tsunade? What about me?"

"You?" Kagura was baffled. "You're a grown man, and you want to eat steamed egg custard too?"

*Thud*

Tobirama froze on the spot.

He really wanted to pry open this woman head and see what was inside. Sometimes she was incredibly sharp, and other times she was as dense as a block of wood, completely oblivious to others' feelings.

He couldn't tell if she was smart or just a fool!

She's a fool, a fool, a fool!

"Can't I eat something else? You're going to eat too, right? I'll just eat whatever you're having. I'm not picky."

Ah, so he was here to mooch a meal.

Kagura narrowed her eyes as she scrutinized Tobirama, feeling a bit puzzled. She couldn't help but ask.

"Are the higher-ups in your village really that destitute now? Can't even feed yourselves, always coming here to mooch meals? I can understand your disciple doing it, but now even you, Lord Tobirama? Has the village's finances really gotten that tight?"

Tobirama stared at Kagura. She was serious, especially with that last sentence, looking at him with genuine concern.

"Well, uh…"

"Torifu Akimichi told me that no one in his family is home because of missions. When he gets back, there's not even a meal waiting for him, not even a glass of water. Isn't that pitiful? So I told him to come here for food when he's hungry. A while ago, Kagami said his family was in debt from renovating their house, and all he could eat at home was plain rice. I felt sorry for him, so I let him and Torifu come here to eat. Later, they brought along Hiruzen. Hiruzen said his mother works in my explosive tag factory, so there's no one at home to cook, and he's not good at it himself, so he just tagged along. Just last week, how many people showed up? Torifu, Kagami, Hiruzen, Koharu, Homura…" She held Tsunade with one hand while counting the people who had come that day with the other.

At this point, Tobirama face darkened as if it could drip with water.

Those little brats!

Behind his back, they've been coming here every day to mooch meals. It's just… just…!

"Well, now add…"

"Last time you were here, there was…" Kagura winced in pain, lowered her head to pull her hair away from Tsunade grasp, and pretended to be angry as she said.

"And you, little one!" She reached out and poked Tsunade round little nose.

"If they can crash here for a meal, why can't I? I'm all alone, and when I go home, there's no food or water. I've been having stomach pains lately because my eating schedule is all over the place. Just because I don't like to play the victim doesn't mean I'm not one. How can those little brats compare to my suffering!"

What's this about not playing the victim?

Kagura rolled her eyes, she found Tobirama childish behavior somewhat amusing.

With one hand on her back and the other supporting her little behind, Kagura shoved Tsunade back into Tobirama arms and turned to walk outside.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"…"

Kagura ignored him.

"Hey, where exactly are you going?"

After holding it in for a while, Kagura finally snapped.

Without turning back, she shouted.

"To buy groceries!"

This time, Tobirama was finally happy.

He wasn't very expressive, so even if he was overjoyed inside, his face didn't show much reaction. However, the clouds of displeasure had lifted, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

He poked Tsunade little face, which resembled a peeled egg, and spoke in a light-hearted tone.

"Little Tsunade, we won!"

The alarm clock on the stove rang, signaling that fifteen minutes had passed, and a bowl of fragrant, tender steamed egg custard was ready.

Tobirama carefully seated Tsunade on a small stool, walked over to lift the pot lid, and immediately, the aroma of the steamed egg custard mixed with steam rushed toward him.

The delicious smell made mouths water and stomachs rumble.

Ah, he was so hungry.

"Mommy, I'm hungry, Mommy~"

Tobirama finally managed to get the steamed egg custard out of the pot, burning his hand in the process.

He touched his earlobe to cool his fingers and looked at Tsunade with a hint of softness, though his tone remained as cold as ever.

"Little Tsunade, call me Uncle!"

Tsunade: "Mommy, Mommy~"

Tobirama: (ノへ￣,)

****

At the Senju residence.

At the dining table, Tsunade father looked at Mito with a puzzled expression and asked.

"Mother, where did Uncle take little Tsunade?"

Mito was also confused and shook her head.

"Who knows? I told him it was almost mealtime, but he insisted on leaving. He usually loves grilled fish, yet today he doesn't want any. It's quite strange."

"I wonder if Uncle will think to get something for little Tsunade to eat…"

Mito fell silent.

Would that ironclad man take care of a child?

Probably, he was much better than Hashirama.

Thinking of her husband, who hadn't returned to the village in two months, Mito suddenly lost her appetite.

Watching her chopsticks break in her hands, Tsunade father was startled, his expression turning into a meme.

"Mother… (⊙﹏⊙)!"

Mito forced a smile.

"It's… it's fine, keep eating."

"Hai~"