Chapter 193: The Young Girl's Secret Recipe

"Wuu wuu~ Little Chiri has become a selfish, stingy bad child..."

The purple-haired lady bit into a handkerchief she had pulled from who knows where, weeping sadly, and extended a finger to tremble as she pointed at the young girl.

"Mother, please have some self-respect!"

Uchiha Chiri reached out and skillfully pinched the head of Uchiha Eimi, who was putting on a dramatic performance, the veins on her fair little hand bulging.

"Ow, ow, ow..."

The young lady wailed.

"Little Chiri, the way your family gets along is really... harmonious, isn't it?"

Uchiha Gin, who was watching from the sidelines, could only offer a sheepish smile, his eyes drifting as he commented in an uncertain tone.

"I'm sorry, I've let you see something embarrassing, Mr. Gin."

The girl raised her head, gave Uchiha Gin an apologetic smile, and casually tossed aside the foaming lady, clapping her hands as if trying to brush off something dirty.

"Let's get ready to eat hot pot! If it weren't for Mr. Gin, I might never have had the chance to eat such delicious food in my life."

Uchiha Chiri walked into the kitchen and soon brought out a copper pot identical to Uchiha Gin's; it was from the first batch of hot pot containers he had made, and only a few people with whom he had a good relationship possessed one.

"Sorry to intrude, let me help too!"

As a person who was here to freeload, Uchiha Gin felt bad letting the girl prepare everything alone, so he rolled up his sleeves, walked into the kitchen, and stood beside her to help out.

"Eh?"

The girl glanced at Uchiha Gin standing beside her and secretly sized up his profile; her heart couldn't help but race, and the hand holding the knife began to tremble involuntarily.

Uchiha Gin looked curiously at the girl beside him; for some reason, Uchiha Chiri, who was bowing her head to process the ingredients, was trembling slightly, and the hand holding the knife was also shaking a bit.

"Little Chiri? Are you not feeling well? Let me do it, you go rest and just wait to eat."

Thinking the girl was unwell, Uchiha Gin felt a wave of emotion; to treat him to a meal, Uchiha Chiri had actually insisted on working while sick—she truly was a good disciple of her Master, and when he had time, he would definitely teach her a ninjutsu that all women liked.

"It's nothing, Mr. Gin, a mere temptation like this isn't enough to take me down!"

There was a hint of determination in the girl's tone, but her words left Uchiha Gin confused—what temptation?

As the saying goes, men and women working together makes the work twice as easy.

With Uchiha Gin's help, the preparation for the hot pot was finished quickly, and by the time the steaming hot pot was placed on the table, the unconscious Uchiha Eimi had been revived.

She was seen sprawled on the table, her two round breasts squeezed into a deep and charming cleavage, and as she watched Uchiha Gin and Uchiha Chiri working busily, her eyes were filled with a strange, knowing smile.

"Thump, thump, thump!!!"

Just as the three were about to start, the door to Uchiha Chiri's house was knocked on loudly; Uchiha Chiri frowned imperceptibly—this knocking style was definitely her best friend, no doubt about it.

Tsk! Couldn't have come earlier or later.

She had finally managed to catch a chance to be alone with Mr. Gin.

Uchiha Eimi: Am I not a person?

"I'll go open the door."

Uchiha Gin, who was sitting on the side near the door, stood up and volunteered, then walked to the door and opened it, only to see a figure he was more than familiar with.

"Ah? Why is this hentai gorilla here? Could it be... you finally lost your mind and made a move on Chiri-nee?"

The person who arrived was none other than Senju Itama, whom Uchiha Gin hadn't managed to "tame" even after six years of raising; after a brief moment of shock, the kid's eyes became very guarded, and she retreated a few steps, questioning Uchiha Gin, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, in an unhappy tone.

"Duang~"

Hearing this, a hashtag symbol popped up on Uchiha Gin's forehead; not giving the other party a chance to react, he delivered the Uchiha Taijutsu Secret Technique—The Fist of Justice—making the brat Senju Itama howl.

"Ah! Caught by me, so now you're acting out of shame?"

Senju Itama clutched her head and continued to clamor stubbornly; anyway, if she didn't roast Uchiha Gin for a day, she felt uncomfortable all over.

"It's Itama! Come in, come in~"

Uchiha Eimi heard the commotion, stood up to welcome her, and smilingly pulled Senju Itama, who was clutching her head with tears in her eyes, into the house.

"Itama, haven't eaten yet, right? Perfect, our family hasn't started eating yet."

Uchiha Chiri looked at the somewhat dazed Senju Itama, gave a formulaic smile, and invited her softly.

"Eh, hot pot! I want to eat!"

Although she subconsciously felt that Uchiha Chiri's words had a hidden meaning, she was attracted by the food and immediately threw her doubts to the back of her mind, grabbed a chair, and sat down next to Uchiha Gin's seat.

Looking at the steaming hot pot and smelling the spicy, alluring aroma in the air, Senju Itama couldn't help but feel her appetite stirred; she grabbed her chopsticks and rocked back and forth on the chair excitedly, humming happily.

"Hot pot~ hot pot~ Itama's favorite spicy hot pot~"

"Sigh~ We're at someone else's house now, show some manners!"

Uchiha Gin felt deeply embarrassed, sighed while covering his forehead, and reached out a large hand to press down on Senju Itama's swaying little head, speaking up to educate her.

After all, she was a brat he had raised himself, and now that she had become such a foolish-looking person, he bore an inescapable responsibility.

"It's fine, it's been so many years, I've long considered little Itama my second child."

Uchiha Eimi waved her hand with a smile, indicating she didn't mind; her beautiful eyes, filled with water and spring, seemed as if they could suck a person in, scaring Uchiha Gin into looking straight ahead, staring at the chili peppers floating in the hot pot and guessing the spice level of the broth.

"Let's eat!" *4

Since they were all acquaintances, there was no need to be constrained by those polite social rituals; the group picked up their chopsticks, and for a time, the dining table was a scene of bustling activity.

"Brat! That's my lamb!"

Uchiha Gin watched as the lamb he had just swished in the broth disappeared into Senju Itama's stomach the moment he turned his head, and he was furious.

"Oh my~ Can't a grown man have a bit of perspective? Here, I'll give you mine."

Senju Itama, who had stolen Uchiha Gin's lamb, didn't apologize; instead, she gave him a "why are you so petty" look, and after roasting him, she placed the fish slices from her bowl into Uchiha Gin's bowl.

"..."

Looking at the brat's saliva-covered chopsticks, Uchiha Gin's fists tightened; he would definitely have to discipline this kid properly when they got back.

"Mr. Gin, eat mine."

Just as Uchiha Gin was struggling while looking at the "dirty" fish slices in his bowl, Uchiha Chiri placed the chicken from her own bowl into his, a faint smile on her face, though her eyes held a hint of expectation.

"Ah? Then thank you, Little Chiri."

Uchiha Gin was stunned for a moment; if he refused, it would inevitably be a bit cold-hearted.

So he picked up his bowl, accepted the chicken Uchiha Chiri had placed in it, and stuffed it into his mouth without even looking—after all, he was truly hungry.

"Eh? Why is it sticky?"

While chewing the chicken that should have been tender and smooth, Uchiha Gin felt very puzzled; why did the texture of the chicken skin feel so strange? However, there was a sweet, fragrant taste on it that he had never eaten before.

And opposite him, Uchiha Chiri, seeing Uchiha Gin swallow the chicken she had placed for him in one bite, instantly turned red from her cheeks to her ears, burying her little head deep into her bowl, her heart beating violently, terrified that the other party would discover something.

"Little Chiri, how did you marinate this chicken? The fragrance on the skin is quite delicious."

After swallowing the chicken, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but give a thumbs up and praise Uchiha Chiri.

"Hehe, this is our little Chiri's sec~ret~ reci~pe~"

The purple-haired beauty, who had seen her daughter's little actions clearly from the side, arched her eyebrows and looked at her daughter with a very awkward expression, which made the girl's heart tighten and her head bury even lower; she then turned to explain to Uchiha Gin, who was waiting for an answer.

"Mr. Gin will have plenty of opportunities to taste it in the future~"

"That's true, we're all family now."

Uchiha Gin didn't think much of it; now that Uchiha Chiri had taken him as her master, it wasn't abrupt to consider her family as a direct disciple.

!!!

The happy time of hot pot was always very short; everyone was a bit stuffed, and after resting for a while, Uchiha Gin was the first to stand up and start cleaning up.

"I'll help!"

Senju Itama, who had eaten a wonderful meal, also felt a bit embarrassed and stood up to help clean.

"No need to trouble yourself, let me do it! Where is the logic in letting a guest clean up?"

Uchiha Chiri, seeing the two about to be alone again, hurriedly stopped them.

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

"Mr. Gin, I'm coming too."

In the kitchen, Senju Itama took the opportunity to whisper to Uchiha Chiri for a while; when she finished, her expression was as colorful as a palette.

After finishing the cleanup, Uchiha Gin saw that it was getting late, waved goodbye to Uchiha Chiri's family, and took the Senju brat on the road home.

As he was leaving, Uchiha Gin suddenly remembered tomorrow's plans, so he turned and said to Uchiha Chiri, who had come to see them off,

"Little Chiri, tomorrow my cousins and I are going to the Nanhechuanhe for special training; you should come and observe and learn then!"

"Okay, Mr. Gin."

Not expecting to receive Uchiha Gin's guidance so soon, the girl felt a slight sense of anticipation in her heart, hoping her performance wouldn't disappoint Mr. Gin.

Chatting idly with the Senju brat, they soon returned to the big mansion; Uchiha Gin instantly transformed into a "Voldemort," stealthily poking his head out to observe the interior of the house, scanning it several times, and not finding any trace of Uchiha Hikari, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Brat, do you know where Hikari went?"

He turned his head to ask Senju Itama, who was trailing behind him; since it was just the two of them in the house when he left, this brat should know Hikari's whereabouts.

"Hmph! You're asking about that old woman? She passed out."

Hearing Uchiha Gin ask about that annoying old woman, Senju Itama snorted coldly and revealed the clue about Uchiha Hikari.

"Huh?"

Uchiha Gin's heart tightened; could it be that Hikari had fought with her dark personality again?

"That old woman who didn't know her own limits insisted on cooking, and as a result, she confidently ate the food she made and immediately foamed at the mouth and passed out."

Senju Itama explained with disdain; such a stupid operation could only be done by that idiot-like old woman.

"Eh..."

Why does this segment feel like I've seen it somewhere before?

"I checked, that old woman was just simply poisoned unconscious by herself; she'll be fine after a sleep."

Looking at Uchiha Gin's strange expression, Senju Itama subconsciously thought he was worried about Uchiha Hikari, so she spoke up.

"Don't panic, I've already carried her back to her room; that girl is as heavy as a dead pig..."

After listening to the account from Senju Itama, Uchiha Gin finally set his mind at ease; he looked up at the tightly shut door upstairs but chose not to go up and treat Uchiha Hikari.

If he were to wake her up and she started settling scores for what happened this morning on the spot, wouldn't he be asking for trouble?

At this moment, he remembered he hadn't refreshed his skills for the day, so he told Senju Itama he was going out for a stroll to digest his food, then paced to the backyard to wait for the skill refresh.

After a while, Uchiha Gin, who was lying on a long bench, felt the air suddenly stagnate and sensed someone had arrived, so he sat up straight and watched as a light curtain with ripples like water slowly descended in the backyard.

He saw a fair, lotus-root-like arm reach out from the light curtain, followed by a fair, clean thigh, then the body and head; by the time this figure had completely stepped out of the light curtain and sat there blankly, only deep shock remained in Uchiha Gin's eyes.

No way, can a radish-person even be summoned?

(End of chapter)