Time always passes quickly.
Over the past six months, Nohara Moku lived a fulfilling and busy life.
Every morning, he joined his sister to undergo special training in Medical Ninjutsu with Tsunade. In the afternoon, he went to the Ninja Academy to cope with those basic courses, and in the evening, he had to scramble to cook dinner—after all, this was the golden hour for farming favorability.
[ Received favorability from Tsunade + 1 ]
[ Received favorability from Tsunade + 1 ]
[ Received favorability from Tsunade + 1 ]
[ Received: Primary Medical Ninjutsu Mastery X1 ]
[ Received: Mystical Palm Technique · Advanced Chapter ]
[ Multiple duplicate abilities detected, synthesizing... ]
[ Received: Advanced Medical Ninjutsu Mastery X1 ]
Nohara Moku looked at the system panel, the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably.
Six months! A full six months! He had finally farmed Medical Ninjutsu up to the Advanced level!
What did this mean?
It meant that in terms of theory and technique for Medical Ninjutsu alone, he could be said to have few rivals.
He could draw inferences about everything Tsunade taught, and he could replicate seven or eight out of ten techniques she demonstrated after watching them just once.
Although his Chakra levels were still roughly at the Genin level, no matter how much he scraped by on the meager rewards from the system, in terms of technique, he already stood at the pinnacle among his peers.
"Moku-kun."
Just then, a faint voice came from behind him.
Nohara Moku turned around and met Shizune's complex eyes.
"Sister Shizune? What's wrong?"
Shizune didn't speak; she just looked at him.
That look was hard to describe—it held vigilance, scrutiny, grievance, and a hint of imperceptible... hostility?
Nohara Moku's heart skipped a beat.
He was too familiar with that look.
Back in his past life, when watching palace intrigue dramas, that was exactly the look concubines gave their rivals.
"Sister Shizune, listen to me..."
"I didn't say anything." Shizune interrupted him, forcing a slightly stiff smile. "Moku-kun, continue with your work."
After saying this, she turned and left.
Nohara Moku: "..."
It's over, the misunderstanding is huge.
Actually, one couldn't blame Shizune for overthinking.
Over the past six months, Nohara Moku's behavior had been truly too "proactive."
Every morning, he was the first to wake up, scrambling to clean the Senju Ancestral Home. When Tsunade lectured, he served tea, poured water, and handed over towels, as attentive as a servant. After training, he would rush into the kitchen to whip up various delicious meals for Tsunade. At night, when Tsunade took a bath, he would even prepare the bath salts in advance.
What was even more terrifying was that he was exceptionally good with words.
"Teacher, you've worked hard today. This is the soup I stewed for you; it's good for your health."
"Teacher, this technique of yours is amazing. I practiced it a hundred times before I barely mastered it."
"Teacher, your skin is so good. Is there some secret to it?"
Shizune stood by, watching helplessly as Tsunade was coaxed into beaming with joy, her favorability rising steadily.
And as for herself? She was clumsy with words; besides nodding and saying "Yes," all she did was bury her head in work.
Over these six months, her presence by Tsunade's side had become weaker and weaker.
It used to be her serving tea and water, but now Moku had snatched that away. It used to be her cooking, but now Moku had snatched that away too. Even when Tsunade praised people, she used to say "Shizune is really attentive," but now she said, "Moku, this kid is really sensible."
Shizune felt like an old employee about to be replaced, watching a newcomer climb the ladder right before her eyes.
After the sun reaches its zenith, it sets; how could it compare to the rising sun?
No! This won't do! It can't go on like this! If it continues like this, she's really going to be unemployed!
That night, Shizune lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She stared at the ceiling, her brain running frantically.
How about... tomorrow, I scramble to cook breakfast before Moku? But Moku's cooking is indeed delicious; she can't compare.
How about... talking more with Tsunade? But she wasn't good with words to begin with; what if she said the wrong thing and made it worse?
How about...
Thinking and thinking, Shizune drifted into a hazy sleep.
In her dream, she saw Nohara Moku wearing a chef's uniform, standing at the entrance of the Senju Ancestral Home, waving at her with a smile.
"Sister Shizune, you are no longer needed here. Goodbye."
Then the gate slammed shut with a "bang."
Shizune woke up with a start. Outside the window, the sky was already beginning to brighten. She sat up and clenched her fists.
No! Absolutely cannot admit defeat!
Early the next morning. Nohara Moku walked out of his room, yawning, preparing to go to the kitchen to make breakfast. Then, he froze.
In the kitchen, Shizune was wearing an apron, chopping vegetables. Her movements were clumsy, and her knife skills were rough, but her expression was as serious as if she were executing some major mission.
"Sister Shizune?" Moku asked tentatively, "Why are you the one cooking today..."
"I'll do it." Shizune didn't even turn her head, her tone firm.
Moku blinked and silently backed out. Fine, it's rare for Sister Shizune to take the initiative.
Ten minutes later. At the dining table. Tsunade picked up a chopstick of the stir-fried greens Shizune had made, her expression subtle.
"Shizune, you today..."
"Lady Tsunade, please eat." Shizune served her another chopstick, "I prepared this specially after getting up early. Please have some more."
Tsunade paused, then glanced at Moku beside her. Moku was bowing his head, shoveling rice, pretending he hadn't seen anything.
Tsunade looked at Shizune again. Shizune had a slightly stiff smile on her face, but her eyes revealed a stubbornness that said, "I cannot lose."
Tsunade: "..." What is this situation?
She looked at Rin, trying to get some explanation from her eldest disciple.
Rin returned a gentle smile, a smile that carried a sense of "I know, but I can't say" evasiveness.
Tsunade silently lowered her head to eat. Forget it. Whatever.
But in the following days, the atmosphere at the Senju Ancestral Home began to become strange.
Every morning, Moku and Shizune would scramble to wake up early. If Moku got up at five, Shizune would get up at four-thirty; if Shizune got up at four-thirty, Moku would get up at four.
Eventually, the two of them would meet at the kitchen door with dark circles under their eyes.
"Sister Shizune, let me do it." "No need, I'll do it." "Let me do it, you rest." "I'm not tired."
The two reached out at the same time to grab the kitchen knife, then stopped simultaneously in mid-air. Finally, they decided—do it together!
Thus, a strange scene appeared in the kitchen—Moku chopped vegetables while Shizune stared; Shizune stir-fried dishes while Moku stared; both reached out for the salt at the same time, their hands collided in mid-air, and they both pulled back simultaneously.
"You first." "No, you go first."
Silence. Then they silently went their separate ways to act.
Tsunade sat in the living room, watching the breakfast the two brought up—one plate was the exquisite side dish Moku made, one plate was the slightly rough but full-of-sincerity scrambled eggs Shizune made, and there was a bowl of miso soup they had cooked together, the saltiness just right.
She picked up a chopstick, looked at Shizune who was staring eagerly on the left, then looked at Moku who was smiling on the right. "Hmm, both are quite good."
Shizune heaved a sigh of relief. Moku continued to smile.
Tsunade silently sighed in her heart. When did this house become like this?
All these things were just the helplessness within the Senju Ancestral Home.