Chapter 146 – The Girl's Secret Recipe

"Waaah~ Little Chiri has turned into a selfish and stingy bad girl…"

The purple-haired woman bit into a handkerchief she had pulled out from who-knows-where, weeping as she pointed a trembling finger at the girl.

"Mother, please show some dignity!"

Uchiha Chiri reached out with practiced ease and pinched the forehead of the overly dramatic Uchiha Eimi. Her fair little hand was veined with strain.

"Wahhh…"

The woman wailed pitifully.

"Little Chiri, your family's way of interacting is… quite harmonious, huh?"

Uchiha Gin, watching nearby, gave a dry laugh. His eyes flickered, his tone unsure.

"Apologies for the embarrassment, Gin-san."

The girl lifted her head and offered Gin a gentle, apologetic smile. Then she casually tossed aside the now-foaming-at-the-mouth woman and patted her hands as if brushing off dirt.

"Let's get the hotpot ready! If it weren't for you, Gin-san, I might never have had the chance to eat something this delicious in my life."

Uchiha Chiri walked into the kitchen and soon returned carrying a copper pot—the same style as Gin's own. It was from the very first batch of hotpot vessels he'd crafted, and only a select few close to him had one.

"Excuse me, let me help too!"

As a habitual freeloader, Gin couldn't possibly let the girl prepare everything by herself. He rolled up his sleeves and joined her in the kitchen, ready to lend a hand.

"Uh?"

The girl glanced at Gin standing beside her, stealing a peek at his profile. Her heart thumped wildly, and the hand holding the knife began to tremble uncontrollably.

Gin, puzzled, looked at her. For some reason, Uchiha Chiri, who was focused on chopping, trembled ever so slightly. Her grip on the knife was shaky.

"Chiri? Are you feeling unwell? Let me handle this—go rest and wait to eat."

Thinking she might be ill, Gin was moved. She still insisted on cooking for him despite it—truly a good disciple. He'd have to teach her a ninjutsu that women loved sometime soon.

"I'm fine, Gin-san. This small temptation isn't enough to bring me down!"

Her voice held firm resolve, but the words left Gin confused. What temptation?

As the saying goes—men and women working together, twice the efficiency.

With Gin's help, the hotpot was quickly prepared. When the steaming dish hit the table, Uchiha Eimi, who had passed out, miraculously came back to life.

She laid sprawled on the table, her ample chest pressing against it to form a deep, seductive valley. She watched Chiri and Gin working in sync, her eyes gleaming with strange amusement.

Knock knock knock!!!

Just as the three of them were about to dig in, someone banged loudly on the front door. Chiri frowned ever so slightly—it could only be her best friend with that kind of knock.

Tch! Of all times to show up…

Finally a chance to be alone with Gin-san…

Uchiha Eimi: Am I invisible?

"I'll get the door."

Gin, seated closest to the door, stood up and volunteered. He walked over and opened it—only to be greeted by a very familiar face.

"Huh? What's a hentai gorilla like you doing here? Don't tell me… you finally lost your mind and made a move on Chiri-nee?"

It was none other than Senju Itama, the little brat Gin had tried and failed to discipline over six years. She gave him a wary look and took a step back, glaring with clear suspicion.

Duang!

Before she could say more, Gin's forehead twitched with irritation. Without giving her time to react, he hit her with a Uchiha taijutsu move—The Righteous Bonk of Justice™—making her yelp in pain.

"Ah! You're mad 'cause I exposed the truth?"

Holding her aching head, Itama continued to taunt him. If she didn't troll Gin at least once a day, she'd feel incomplete.

"Itama! Come on in~"

Uchiha Eimi, hearing the commotion, got up and greeted the teary-eyed girl with a beaming smile, pulling her inside.

"Itama, you haven't eaten yet, right? We're just starting."

Uchiha Chiri gave a polite smile and invited her in.

"Ooh, hotpot! I wanna eat!"

Though something felt off about Chiri's words, the delicious smell quickly distracted her. She grabbed a chair and sat down beside Gin.

Staring at the steaming hotpot and inhaling the spicy aroma, Itama eagerly bounced her chopsticks on the table, humming:

"Hotpot~ Hotpot~ Itama's favorite spicy hotpot~"

"Hey, show some manners. We're guests here."

Gin sighed in embarrassment, covering his face. He patted Itama's wobbly head to calm her down. After all, she was his responsibility.

"No worries. After all these years, I already see Itama as my second child."

Uchiha Eimi smiled warmly, her seductive eyes almost sucking Gin's soul out. Alarmed, he stared at the floating chili peppers instead, wondering how spicy the broth was.

"I'm digging in!" x4

With everyone familiar, no need for formalities. They dove in together, and the table buzzed with activity.

"You little brat! That's my lamb!"

Gin noticed that the lamb he just dipped had vanished—into Itama's stomach.

"Aww, big guys should be more generous. Here, take mine."

She had no remorse. Instead, she passed her fish slices to Gin's bowl with an innocent look.

"…"

Gin stared at the fish, now likely coated in her saliva. His fists clenched. He'd make her pay later.

"Gin-san, have mine instead."

Chiri, noticing his dilemma, calmly placed her own chicken slice into his bowl, smiling softly with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

"Ah? Well… thanks, Chiri."

Surprised but not wanting to offend her, Gin accepted it and ate the chicken without even looking.

"…Huh? Why's it kinda sticky?"

As he chewed what should've been tender chicken, the texture felt strange—but it carried a sweet, unfamiliar aroma.

Across the table, Chiri turned beet red, hiding her face in her bowl, her heart thumping like mad.

"Chiri, how'd you marinate this? The surface flavor is really nice."

Gin gave her a thumbs-up after swallowing it.

"Hehe~ That's our little Chiri's secret recipe~"

The purple-haired woman, who had seen everything, raised an eyebrow and gave her daughter a knowing look, making Chiri lower her head even more.

"Gin-kun will have plenty of chances to taste it again in the future~"

"That's true. We're basically family now."

Gin didn't overthink it. Since Chiri was his personal disciple, it wasn't wrong to consider her family.

!!!

Hotpot joy doesn't last forever. After they all ate to their heart's content, Gin stood up to start cleaning.

"I'll help!"

Even Itama, stuffed and slightly guilty, got up to assist.

"No need! Guests shouldn't clean up."

Seeing the two about to be alone again, Chiri quickly intervened.

"What are you saying? We're family now, don't be shy."

"Gin-san, I'll help too."

In the kitchen, Itama whispered something to Chiri, leaving the girl's face cycling through colors like a palette.

After cleaning, Gin noticed how late it had gotten and waved goodbye to Chiri's family, taking Itama along for the walk home.

On the way, Gin suddenly remembered something and turned to Chiri:

"Chiri, tomorrow I'm taking my cousins for special training by the Nanka River. You should come and observe."

"Yes, Gin-san."

She hadn't expected to start training so soon, and her heart swelled with anticipation. She hoped she wouldn't disappoint him.

Chatting idly with Itama, Gin soon arrived back at the big house. He slipped into stealth mode, peeking cautiously into the house. After a sweep, no sign of Hikari—he let out a breath.

"Brat, you know where Hikari went?"

He turned to Itama, the only one who had stayed home.

"Hmph! That old hag? She passed out."

Itama sneered when Hikari was mentioned, then explained what happened.

"Huh?"

Gin panicked. Had Hikari's dark personality taken over again?

"She insisted on cooking, got too confident, tasted her own food, and passed out foaming at the mouth."

Itama scoffed. Only an idiot like her could poison herself.

"Uh…"

This felt oddly familiar.

"Don't worry, I checked. She just poisoned herself—she'll sleep it off."

Seeing Gin's odd expression, Itama reassured him.

"I dragged her back to her room. She's as heavy as a dead pig…"

After hearing this, Gin relaxed and glanced at her closed bedroom door. He had no intention of waking her up—she'd only scold him for what happened earlier.

Suddenly remembering he hadn't used his daily skill, Gin told Itama he was heading out for a walk, then strolled into the backyard to wait for the cooldown.

After a while, lying on the bench, Gin sensed the air suddenly shift. Someone was coming.

He sat up as a rippling light curtain descended into the backyard.

From the glowing ripple emerged a pale, elegant arm… then a leg… then the full figure of a woman stepped through.

Gin stared, stunned.

Wait… even radish people can spawn now?

(End of Chapter)

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