To verify his own ideas, Mokgetsu used an excuse to shift the balance between investigation and cultivation time.
Starting from the third day, they cultivated all day long, and then conducted investigations at night.
No one objected; Mokgetsu's disciples, Naruto, and Yamato all followed Mokgetsu's arrangements.
With the intelligence they had gathered, they could already complete their respective tasks. The further investigation was merely to end the mission more reliably and reduce the impact of the An Lushan incident on Loulan.
So, reducing the investigation time was entirely reasonable.
"Everyone is probably exhausted after so much cultivation, how about having a late-night snack?" Mokgetsu glanced at the tired crowd and suggested.
"A late-night snack, are we going to have ramen?" Naruto's tired expression vanished, replaced by an excited look as he asked.
If he could have a hot bowl of Ichiraku Ramen after an exhausting training session, that would be pure bliss.
Actually, Naruto wouldn't mind instant noodles, but eating instant noodles alone meant a boring three-minute wait, while going out for ramen meant everyone could chat together while waiting.
Yamato looked up at the sky; it was already late at night, and the stars were bright and fresh.
"At this hour, only izakayas are likely open," Yamato said honestly, withdrawing his gaze and looking at Naruto.
Although it seemed inappropriate, it was true—the ordinary ramen shops wouldn't stay open past midnight.
Yamato would have happily gone to an izakaya with Mokgetsu. Still, after some thought, it didn't seem appropriate, as even Naruto wasn't of age yet, and Kakashi and the others were even less so—not the right age for an izakaya.
"Looks like you guys are in luck tonight, Naruto," Obito immediately thought that Mokgetsu would personally prepare a snack for them.
After all, with Sage Mokgetsu, it's impossible he hadn't thought of what even Yamato considered.
"We're not eating out; I'll cook for you," Mokgetsu explained.
Mokgetsu had completed all the preparations before starting the training.
Obito gave a knowing smile, while Kakashi and Nohara Rin began to look forward to tonight's snack.
Mokgetsu was their teacher, not their chef, and they hadn't tasted Mokgetsu's cooking in a while.
As they watched Kakashi and the others eagerly anticipate, Yamato asked curiously, "Is Senior Mokgetsu very good at cooking?"
He had initially thought of helping Mokgetsu in the kitchen; after all, he was learning Ninjutsu from Mokgetsu and felt it was wrong to simply freeload.
But Mokgetsu refused, saying Yamato could help clean up the dishes afterward, and he could handle the cooking himself.
"It's not just good; Teacher Mokgetsu's cooking is like a high-level Ninjutsu, incomparable to any other in the Ninja World," Obito replied exaggeratedly.
Although he also loved his grandma's cooking, Mokgetsu's culinary skills were indeed unrivaled.
Yamato hesitated slightly. If Obito had said it was just delicious, Yamato would have believed it immediately. But Obito's exaggeration reduced its credibility.
It wasn't that he thought Obito was lying; it was just that there might be some idol worship involved due to the cook's personality.
"Teacher Mokgetsu's cooking skills are on par with his Ninja abilities," Kakashi said seriously.
Kakashi even thought Mokgetsu could earn money faster as a chef than as a ninja.
After all, Mokgetsu's cooking was so good it felt like an illusion, and those Daimyo would surely pay a lot to taste such unique cuisine in the Ninja World.
Yamato looked a bit surprised; if Kakashi said so, then it must be reliable. Kakashi was not one to exaggerate and was quite rational.
"I really look forward to it," Naruto said, peering into the kitchen in curiosity after hearing Kakashi and the others praise Mokgetsu's cooking, eagerly anticipating the upcoming snack time.
"By the way, who is the Fifth Hokage?" Obito asked curiously.
Obito wanted to become Hokage, but given his age, aiming for the Fourth Hokage was unlikely, so he set his sights on the Fifth Hokage, naturally making historical peers his competitors.
"It's Tsunade Granny," Naruto replied.
"Ah, Lady Tsunade actually became the Fifth Hokage?" Nohara Rin's mouth slightly agape, found it somewhat unbelievable.
Nohara Rin didn't doubt Tsunade's ability to become Hokage. In fact, during that period, the Sannin were all popular candidates for the Fourth Hokage. Any one of them becoming Hokage wouldn't have felt wrong to the Konoha Ninja.
Now a half-disciple of Tsunade, Nohara Rin had spent considerable time with her and understood that Tsunade didn't want to become Hokage at all.
Tsunade was even reluctant to research medical Ninjutsu, let alone handle the various affairs of Konoha as Hokage.
Nohara Rin couldn't imagine what Tsunade as Hokage would be like—could she work on time, or would there simply be no Hokage in the office before noon?
A look of concern uncontrollably appeared on Nohara Rin's face, hoping the future of Konoha would be fine and that Tsunade could withstand the heavy workload.
"Tsunade Granny? Isn't that Little Rin's Medical Ninjutsu teacher? To think the Fifth would be her," Obito scratched his head. He remembered Tsunade seemed to be of the same generation as the Toad Sage, wasn't she a bit old for the Fifth?