Chapter 186: Got Pinched

"Lord Hokage, the camp has a dedicated Catering Squad responsible for daily meals."

Although the Nara Commander didn't understand the meaning of the words, he still explained honestly.

Qianshou Feijian nodded knowingly; since there's a Catering Squad there must be cooking tools, and later he could have that kid cook for him.

He was pondering how to ask so that Lian Ye would give him a special meal?

……

Outside the Catering Squad's tent, Konoha ninjas sat in small groups eating.

Lian Ye sat cross‑legged on the ground, cradling his bowl and shoveling rice with big bites, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

Although the Catering Squad's food tasted average, he was truly hungry now.

Yuanfei Rizhan, Zhi Cun Tuan Cang and the others felt the same.

They had expended a great amount in today's battle and urgently needed food to restore their strength.

Just as everyone was feasting, the Nara Commander arrived near the Catering Squad, leading Qianshou Feijian.

"Lord Hokage, I'll go fetch you a meal!"

The Nara Commander said very subserviently.

Those lining up nearby, seeing this, quickly made way.

Qianshou Feijian carried the dinner the Nara Commander had brought, his brows faintly furrowing.

He looked toward Lian Ye, who was hungrily eating far away, and then walked over with the dinner.

"Lord Hokage!"

Those around stood up to greet, and Qianshou Feijian nodded in response.

"Teacher!"

Yuanfei Rizhan, Uchiha Jing, and Shuihu Menyan immediately set down their chopsticks and rose together, saluting.

Zhi Cun Tuan Cang and Zhuan Qin Xiaochun also rose promptly, respectfully greeting Teacher Feijian.

Only Lian Ye remained seated on the ground, cradling his bowl and devouring the rice with focus, as if he hadn't noticed the Hokage's arrival.

The others were shocked, glancing at Lian Ye, who kept his head down eating, and then at the Hokage, whose expression remained unchanged.

The atmosphere began to turn eerie.

Lian Ye frantically shovelled rice, his cheeks fully puffed out.

At that moment he was shouting wildly in his mind:

Pretend not to see… pretend not to see…

Finish eating and run away; don't think you can make me cook!

No need to guess; it's obvious this old kid came over just to make me cook!

After all, the Catering Squad's meals are truly hard to describe.

But that's not a reason for Qianshou Feijian to order me to cook!

Considering he's the famed "Konoha Deadly Poison Master," if the enemy learned he ran to cook for the Hokage—

—how could he survive on the Battlefield afterward?!

He decided to simply pretend not to see the old kid, finish his meal, and return to the tent to rest, eliminating any chance of being ordered around.

Qianshou Feijian glanced at Lian Ye and said lightly, "Keep eating."

"Yes!"

Only then did everyone sit down again, though their movements were noticeably restrained. Yuanfei Rizhan quietly nudged Lian Ye with his elbow and whispered, "Lian Ye, Teacher Feijian is here…"

Lian Ye gave him a displeased stare, didn't lift his head, his mouth full of rice, and mumbled an indistinct reply.

Rizhan, that guy really meddles in others' business!

Qianshou Feijian watched Lian Ye's disrespectful demeanor, his mouth corner twitching slightly.

He carried the rice bowl and sat directly beside Lian Ye.

Everyone: "…"

Teacher Feijian actually just sat down like that?!

Isn't he usually the most rule‑obsessed?!

The atmosphere momentarily solidified.

Seeing Qianshou Feijian beside him, Lian Ye accelerated his rice‑eating.

Deadly Poison Master, hurry up!

He now just wanted to finish his meal and run, not stay with that old kid.

Qianshou Feijian leisurely picked up a piece of grilled fish, took a bite, and his brows faintly furrowed.

This fish… is burnt.

He set down his chopsticks after one bite, turned toward Lian Ye, who was still devouring, and suddenly said:

"Is it tasty?"

Lian Ye paused, his puffed cheeks like a hamster's, lifted his head and blinked, "Hmm hmm!"

As long as he pretends to be clueless and stays silent, this old kid won't have a chance to order him to cook!

Hehe, I'm so clever.

Qianshou Feijian's face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead; this kid was definitely doing it on purpose!

Yuanfei Rizhan and the others silently kept their heads down, eating, trying to lower their presence.

Teacher Feijian's expression was terrifying…

Lian Ye, this guy's courage is way too much!

Qianshou Feijian took a deep breath, deciding to give the kid another chance.

He squinted his eyes and asked obliquely:

"Is yours tastier, or the Catering Squad's?"

Both the words and the subtext were reminding Lian Ye not to forget his role as a cook.

Lian Ye pretended not to understand, shoving a huge bite of charred Grilled Fish into his mouth, and mumbled:

"Both... both are delicious!"

Hmph, you think you can trick me into cooking? No way!

Fighting is so hard, we have no time to rest, and you still want us to cook—what a joke?!

Qianshou Feijian's face grew grim, and the pressure around him began to drop. He seemed to understand: the kid simply didn't want to cook.

Yuanfei Rizhan's chopsticks suddenly trembled, nearly spilling the miso soup onto his pants.

Lian Ye, that guy... actually dares to play dumb!

Qianshou Feijian stared at Lian Ye for a few seconds, then abruptly dropped the bowl and chopsticks onto the floor.

"Bang!"

Everyone was startled into a sudden shiver.

"I just remembered..." Qianshou Feijian said expressionlessly as he stood, "We need to hold a War Meeting tonight."

He turned his head toward Lian Ye: "You, take the meeting minutes."

Lian Ye: "???"

Damn it, that old guy is definitely doing it on purpose!

Revenge, naked revenge!

Goddamn, taking minutes is clearly a ploy to send me off alone to be the cook.

But in front of everyone, he could only curse inwardly while smiling outwardly:

"Alright, sir."

A few people watched the Hokage's departing back, then glanced at the despondent Lian Ye, silently bowed their heads and kept eating.

The Nara Commander, who was eating, looked bewildered, "We have a War Meeting today?!"

Five minutes later—

Commander Camp, Qianshou Feijian lounged on the main seat, watching Lian Ye reluctantly tie on an apron.

"I want Green Tea Rice."

Lian Ye: "..."

"And Grilled Fish as well."

Lian Ye: "..."

"By the way, don't over‑char the fish."

Lian Ye finally erupted, "You old fool, you're abusing your authority!"

Qianshou Feijian lifted his teacup, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth:

"Oh? So you intend to set up a stove in the middle of the camp and cook in front of everyone?"

Hearing that, Lian Ye felt his vision go black, clenching his fists in resentment.

Damn, I've been cornered!

My weakness has been discovered...

That old guy even had the Nara Commander set up a makeshift kitchen inside the Commander's Tent.

Half an hour later, Qianshou Feijian looked at the dinner Lian Ye brought out, and a satisfied smile appeared.

Outside the camp, the Nara Commander, who had been eavesdropping for a while, furtively pulled the Konoha Secret Records from his chest and began noting.

【"Konoha's Deadly Chu Zi... Poison Master", the dishes are greatly favored by the Second Hokage...】

ps: Thanks to South Breeze Gently Evening and Cold Noodles with Vinegar for the huge gifts, and to everyone else for the massive power-ups, love you all!

So how many chapters do I still owe?