"Phew, thankfully it didn't burn to a crisp, just got a little scorched,"
Natsuho Hoshi patted her chest, letting out a sigh of relief, then turned on the range hood to clear the smell of burnt food from the room.
Lin Yu surveyed the apartment's decor, predominantly white and quite minimalist. Many of the furnishings were brand new, indicating that Natsuho Hoshi hadn't lived there for more than three days.
Lin Yu harbored a question: why the coincidence that Natsuho Hoshi's residence was right behind his own home, separated only by a road?
Wasn't that too coincidental?
Was this woman doing it on purpose?
Just then, Natsuho Hoshi, wearing gloves, emerged with a pot of steaming curry.
"Um... Lin Yu, have you eaten?"
As if flushed by the steam, Natsuho Hoshi's face turned rosy, and she whispered, "Why don't you stay for lunch? I still haven't properly thanked you for what happened last time."
"As the chief examiner, maintaining order in the Chunin Exam arena is my responsibility."
Lin Yu took the curry and placed it on the table, signaling his acceptance of Natsuho Hoshi's gratitude. Besides, he hadn't had lunch yet, so a free meal was a free meal.
"Mmm, it smells so good!"
Despite the slight burnt aroma, Lin Yu could tell that Natsuho Hoshi's cooking was a hundred times better than Kushina's. At least the food she made wasn't purple and black.
Natsuho Hoshi smiled softly and said, "I used to always be focused on training and avoiding pursuit. Now that I've settled down, I want to learn more about cooking and live a more ordinary life."
Lin Yu nodded, picked up a spoon, and ladled some curry into a bowl. "You're right, I'm the kind of person who hates fighting the most. I just like living an ordinary life with three meals a day and occasional late-night snacks!"
Natsuho Hoshi pursed her lips and smiled. She didn't believe Lin Yu's words. How could someone so powerful be content with an ordinary life? Roaming the ninja world was their pursuit.
Thinking this, Natsuho Hoshi sighed inwardly, slightly dispelling a flicker of longing in her heart. She should be content with this peaceful life.
"Well, if you have time in the future, Lin Yu, you can often come here for late-night snacks. It'll give me a chance to practice my cooking," Natsuho Hoshi said, sitting opposite Lin Yu, her delicate hand cupping her chin.
"Ah, this... definitely, definitely!"
Lin Yu felt a bead of sweat on his forehead. This late-night snack wasn't that kind of late-night snack. However, since Natsuho Hoshi had put it that way, he could indeed visit more often in the future.
"Mmm, it tastes really good!"
"Really? That's great!" Natsuho Hoshi's eyes curved into crescents, her lips turned upwards. Watching Lin Yu devour the food, a look of happiness bloomed on her face. This was the ordinary life she yearned for.
Having someone by her side, simple, happy, and carefree for half a lifetime.
"By the way, I didn't expect us to be neighbors. What a coincidence."
Natsuho Hoshi chuckled lightly. "I didn't expect it to be so coincidental either. I didn't know where to live at first, but when I was applying for my residency permit, the Hokage recommended that I rent the house at 602 street."
"I took a look yesterday, and the environment seemed good, so I spent all my savings to buy it."
So it was that little rascal Minato Namikaze. Was he comfortable leaving ninjas from other villages near him?
However, it might also be a gift to him, to keep him from harming the brats of Konoha for a while.
Lin Yu was speechless. He was a decent person, wasn't he? He wouldn't do anything to Natsuho Hoshi... Alright, thanks, Minato! I'll treat you to ramen sometime!
It was his first visit, so he needed to leave a good impression. Lin Yu praised Natsuho Hoshi's cooking again, chatted briefly, and then took his leave.
Neighbors, after all. There would be plenty of time in the future. He'd go for a late-night snack another day.
However, there was another reason for Lin Yu's hasty departure.
...
Lin Yu looked at the beautiful woman floating around his house and couldn't help but ask, "Kaguya, you're here again?"
"Hmph? Can this Empress not come?"
With Kushina not at home, Kaguya was too embarrassed to directly tell Lin Yu that she was broke and needed his help to earn money.
Such a thing! How could she, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, say it? Unless she was forced to!
Alright, Kaguya-baby was being tsundere again.
Lin Yu spread his hands helplessly and asked, "Fine, do you want to absorb money again this time?"
"Do you think this Empress is that kind of person?"
Kaguya floated to Lin Yu's side, her icy small hand slipping into Lin Yu's palm, her pretty face tilting up slightly. "Since you've said so, this Empress will absorb some then!"
"..."
Lin Yu sighed and asked, "How much money do you need?"
"This Empress will earn it herself! I won't take it for free!"
"Really? Then, shall we..."
"No!"
Kaguya's face turned red, and she said firmly, "This Empress will not do that kind of thing again!"
*Slap!*
A rather crisp sound echoed, and Kaguya's earlobes turned red. The meridians around her Byakugan began to bulge, and she said coldly, "How dare you spank this Empress's butt..."
"You don't want it for free, and you don't want to earn it. Then I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
Kaguya snorted. She knew she was in the wrong, but for her to bow her head to Lin Yu? Absolutely impossible!
Seeing Lin Yu pulling her outside, Kaguya asked, "Where are we going?"
"To eat ramen. Consider it compensation for that little tap just now!"
"Ramen?"
Kaguya tilted her head in a dazed, cute manner. Is ramen eaten as compensation for a spanking?
Humans are truly strange.
...
On the coast, a massive mobile fortress landed from the sea. Then, a group of puppets clad in armor leaped from the deck and swarmed into the surrounding jungle.
In the control room of the mobile fortress, a noble man wearing a monocle and a top hat was poring over an ancient book.
"The Greil Stone, royal bloodline... the Greil Mine. Once I control this power, the ideal nation will be within reach."
"Timothy!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"To achieve an ideal nation without conflict, go and search for the legendary Greil Mine!"
Timothy, clad in silver-white knight's armor, knelt on one knee. His crimson pupils, hidden within his knight's helmet, flickered as he respectfully replied, "Yes, Lord Hyde!"
After Timothy left, three alluring female knights emerged from the darkness. Their knight's armor accentuated their curvaceous figures.
"My Lord, do you need us to occupy a ninja village and recruit more personnel?"
Hyde touched the Greil Stone glowing green on his right hand and said softly, "Camilla, there's no need to rush. Once Timothy finds news of the mine, this continent will fall into our hands sooner or later."
"Timothy, can he really do it?"
"He can. After all, he is the only surviving royal, hehe."
Hyde let out two light chuckles and said again, "However, building an ideal nation does require more sacrifices."
"Camilla, Rank, Fū, go scout the surrounding villages and recruit loyal talents for our ideal nation."
"Yes!"
A savage glint appeared in the eyes of the three women. Coupled with their beautiful faces, it gave one an unnerving feeling.