Chapter 731: Banban, my shoulders are sore too

"Chu Zi, can you hurry up!"

A group of Bai Jue surrounded the kitchen, urging him anxiously.

"Your cooking speed is way too slow!"

The mothers were waiting outside for the delicious food, but the cook was dawdling.

"Shut up!"

Lian Ye scolded the Bai Jue irritably.

"You guys stand around talking without feeling the strain—I've already swapped the pot for the biggest iron cauldron."

Ever since he became a part-time cook, he had to make a huge pot of food every day.

He could no longer bask in the sun all day like he used to.

"Then hurry up, Mother is getting impatient."

Hearing this, the Bai Jue couldn't help but soften their tone, seeing that the cook had done his best.

"You guys should have just stuck to tricking people into carrying out the 'Moon's Eye' plan, saving Kaguya Otsutsuki, and then getting sealed away!"

Lian Ye was full of resentment toward these troublemaking Bai Jue.

If they hadn't deviated from the script, he wouldn't need to cook for a group of Kaguya!

"Haha, your appearance reminded us."

The Bai Jue weren't angry at the cook's complaints; instead, they felt somewhat relieved.

If the cook hadn't used the Dragon Vein to travel to other times and spaces, they probably still wouldn't have rescued their sealed mother!

Even if they did manage to rescue Mother, she would be sealed again by Naruto and Sasuke.

Lian Ye: "..."

He felt like he had shot himself in the foot.

Next life, he wouldn't mess around recklessly anymore.

Back then, he had just traveled through time and space to stir up trouble, never expecting the boomerang to hit himself!

If he could do it over again, he would absolutely never use the Dragon Vein.

Unfortunately, life can't be redone, and regret is useless.

In the courtyard.

Twenty Kaguya Otsutsuki sat around a long table, staring fixedly toward the kitchen.

Smelling the aroma wafting from inside, they unconsciously swallowed their saliva.

The Bai Jue hadn't deceived them—the cook's skill was indeed excellent!

Their original plan was to use the Dragon Vein to travel to various times and spaces, rescue the sealed Kaguya Otsutsuki, and then gather them all in one timeline.

That way, they wouldn't have to worry about their clansmen coming to the Ninja World to cause them trouble.

But now that they had witnessed Lian Ye's cooking skills, they decided to put the plan on hold for a while.

After enjoying all the delicious food, it wouldn't be too late to leave...

"Mothers, the food is here!"

At the Bai Jue's signal, the Bai Jue brought out the prepared dishes.

The group of Kaguya Otsutsuki immediately began to feast.

Compared to the lively courtyard, the neighboring Hashirama Residence was very quiet.

"We haven't eaten Lian Ye's cooking for several days."

Senju Hashirama lay in his chair, smelling the aroma from the next courtyard, and unconsciously swallowed his saliva.

Madara Uchiha said nothing—wasn't he the same?

If he weren't confident he couldn't defeat twenty Kaguya Otsutsuki, he would have already rushed over to snatch the cook back.

"Qianshou Feijian, can you get Lian Yejun to cook a meal for us?"

Yuzhibo Quannai gently tugged at Feijian's sleeve, looking pitiful.

"That kid only knows how to sunbathe when he comes back—if you want to eat, go ask him yourself!"

Qianshou Feijian turned his face away, not wanting to see his archrival acting pitiful.

That kid was lazy to death; asking him to cook during his break time was pure wishful thinking.

Just stick to gnawing on Soldier's Ration Pills!

The Kaguya Otsutsuki's courtyard was right next to theirs.

Lian Ye would come back to sunbathe after cooking, his daily routine unchanged.

If anything, he had gone from cooking for six people to cooking for twenty...

"Quan Nai, if you're really hungry, I can make you a meal."

Senju Hashirama rested his hands behind his head, turning sideways and saying cheerfully.

"Shut up!"

Qianshou Feijian and Madara Uchiha said in unison.

Rather than eating Hashirama's disgustingly nauseating food, it was better to eat some Soldier's Ration Pills to fill their stomachs.

Yuzhibo Quannai had been somewhat hopeful, but seeing their expressions, he knew something was off.

Could it be that the inherently evil Senju Hashirama had poisoned the food?

Otherwise, why would his brother and archrival react so strongly?

This guy looked honest and simple, but who would have thought he was so scheming!

"Fine, fine, no need to react so strongly, right?"

Senju Hashirama gave an awkward smile, regretting the missed opportunity to cook.

Although his cooking is indeed a bit unpalatable, you have to keep trying to improve, right?

Unfortunately, none of the few people give him a chance to try.

If he keeps persisting in learning to cook, perhaps his skill will one day match Lian Ye's.

If Qianshou Feijian and Madara Uchiha learned of his thoughts, they'd surely sneer at it…

"Meal's ready."

Zhi Cun Tuan Cang stepped out of the kitchen and called out to the few people in the courtyard.

Since his good brother became a chef for others, the cooking at home fell to him.

Fortunately, having been used to serving someone before, looking after a group of elders isn't a big problem.

"Here."

The few people in the courtyard rose and came to the dining table.

Just as they began to eat, Lian Ye returned, looking listless.

"I'm exhausted!"

Kaguya Otsutsuki actually doesn't need to eat; they simply want to experience gourmet food.

So they demand that Lian Ye prepare several dishes each day.

What used to take an hour to cook at home now takes two or three hours to cook for the Kaguya's.

The workload has tripled, and for him, who loves to slack off, it's practically torture!

"Hurry and eat."

Zhi Cun Tuan Cang habitually scooped a bowl of rice for him.

Lian Ye didn't decline, pulled out a chair, sat down and began to devour the food.

"Kaguya Otsutsuki doesn't leave you any food?"

Qianshou Feijian, seeing his famished look, asked puzzledly.

"They don't even have enough for themselves; how could they possibly leave me any?"

If he hadn't run so fast earlier, he might have been asked to make another pot.

Qianshou Feijian showed sympathy; it was also hard on the kid.

After the meal, Lian Ye lay on the chair, basking in the sun, enjoying a rare moment of ease.

Two hours later, he'd have to run again to cook for the Kaguya's.

Now he wants to do nothing but lie down and rest properly.

Zhi Cun Tuan Cang, watching his good brother's gloomy demeanor, felt an inexplicable heaviness in his heart.

The good brother who can't slack off seemed not happy at all.

But he does nothing; he can only hope these days end soon.

"Tuan Tuan, my arm is sore from swinging the wok and spatula…"

"Then I'll press it for you."

Zhi Cun Tuan Cang stood behind Lian Ye and massaged him earnestly.

The neighboring Hashirama saw the scene, his eyes instantly brightened, as if he'd found a way to put his close friend to use.

"Banban, my shoulders are sore too…"

Saying that, he pretended to look pitiful.

Madara Uchiha didn't even glance at him, and in a cold, expressionless voice said,

"Get out."

"If you dare use that disgusting address again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Hashirama: "……"

The script shouldn't be like this!

He clearly followed Lian Ye's method, yet it's of no use to Madara at all?