"Of course not!" ×2
Obito and Kakashi denied in unison with perfect synchronization.
"Don't copy me!" ×2
"Hmph!" ×2
The synchronized triple denial added a cheerful atmosphere to the air.
"It's as precise as if movements were copied using the Sharingan," the Sharingan expert Shisui commented.
"As expected of close friends!" exclaimed Might Guy, inexplicably pumped up, giving Kakashi a thumbs up.
"How could you use the Sharingan for something like this?"
"This isn't something worth praising, is it?"
Amidst the laughter and joy, the fragrant aroma from the first floor grew stronger, causing a change in the atmosphere on the second floor.
"I'm really looking forward to it, a super feast!" Obito licked his somewhat dry lips, his eyes shining with anticipation.
During the two months of fighting alongside Mokgetsu, she would occasionally cook something herself.
But the conditions on the battlefield couldn't compare to Konoha, so he was very much looking forward to the upcoming feast.
The disciples all nodded in agreement, and Might Guy even declared boldly, "You mustn't miss out on youth and a feast by Teacher Mokgetsu!"
"This aroma, it's Squirrel Mandarin Fish!"
"I can sense the aura of Sweet and Sour Pork."
The more Obito sniffed, the more excited he became. Based on these scents, he could already identify the dishes.
"Come down for dinner."
Resisting the urge to use Kamui to directly phase through the floor, Obito dashed downstairs at lightning speed.
The other disciples also restrained their power; with their current strengths, if they weren't careful, they could demolish Mokgetsu's house.
"Wood Release: Furniture Jutsu!"
Since the original table wasn't large enough, Mokgetsu straightforwardly used Wood Release Chakra to create a new set of tables and chairs.
"What a convenient Kekkei Genkai," Obito exclaimed.
No wonder back then Uchiha Madara couldn't defeat Senju Hashirama. This Wood Release is indeed powerful; not only can it create giants, but it also has huge advantages in daily life.
Then everyone sprang into action, some serving dishes, others scooping rice into bowls.
"Everyone, don't be shy, dig in," Mokgetsu smiled as she took the first piece of Sweet and Sour Pork.
No need to say more, Namikaze Minato fully utilized his exemplary reaction skills, quickly snatching two pieces of braised pork into his bowl.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and those who've tasted Mokgetsu's cooking went all out, eating voraciously.
"What are they doing? Isn't this too exaggerated?" Orochimaru wondered, looking at the blurred shadows of chopsticks on the table, feeling puzzled.
This dish certainly smells fragrant and looks appealing, but in the end, they're just dishes, not some miraculous Secret Medicine.
Maintaining a calm demeanor, Orochimaru reached for the nearest Squirrel Mandarin Fish with his chopsticks, lifting a piece of fish into his mouth, his expression changing instantly.
As soon as the fish entered his mouth, the sweet and sour flavor burst forth, followed by the crispy yet tender texture. As he chewed, the pervasive sweet and sour flavor offered Orochimaru another level of experience.
The excellent texture and perfect sweet and sour balance of the fish was an experience Orochimaru had never had before, just from a small piece.
In a daze, Orochimaru felt as though he had transformed into a fish swimming freely in a cool river, his whole body enveloped in refreshing clarity, happily swimming all day long.
Coming back to his senses, Orochimaru looked at Mokgetsu with incredulous eyes.
As a master of Genjutsu, he knew he hadn't fallen under any illusion, so what was the deal with that genuine feeling of exhilaration?
"Mokgetsu, no wonder your cooking is so popular," Orochimaru sighed.
If there are realms in cooking, then Mokgetsu must be the God of Cooking, the Senju Hashirama of the Culinary World, leagues ahead of other chefs.
He had never imagined a dish could provide such an experience.
"If you like it, eat more," Mokgetsu reminded with a smile.
Orochimaru still looked like a newcomer here; the veterans knew that during a meal, no talking was allowed, as every bite counted.
It was only then that Orochimaru noticed the dishes on the table were rapidly diminishing, with some popular dishes already empty.
As he quickly grabbed more food, Orochimaru couldn't help but regret; he had planned to taste each dish.
After the meal, Orochimaru pondered a bit before asking,
"Mokgetsu, have you perhaps developed some Ninjutsu related to cooking?"
The gap between Mokgetsu's cooking and ordinary dishes was too significant; Orochimaru believed there must be some reason, not just a difference in experience.
"Everyone who's eaten Mokgetsu's cooking has thought so, but unfortunately not; once you've seen him cook, you'd understand. It's the pinnacle of skill," Jiraiya patted Orochimaru's shoulder and said.
He curiously watched the whole process of Mokgetsu cooking; aside from being seemingly skilled, there was nothing special, but the taste was just different.
Jiraiya believed that mastering each step to perfection resulted in godlike cuisine.
"Next time, I'll bring some of the dishes to the lab to study," Orochimaru thought.
As for probing Mokgetsu, now wasn't appropriate with so many people around.
If his secrets were exposed, Konoha might no longer be a place he could stay, possibly losing the only two friendships he valued.
After some chatting, everyone returned home, while Mokgetsu went to the study to research Fuinjutsu.
At around eleven, Mokgetsu was getting ready to sleep when he suddenly felt a strange sensation in his eyes.
Without hesitation, Mokgetsu used the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to teleport to a mountain outside Konoha.
The Chakra within his body uncontrollably surged towards his eyes, intensifying the unusual feeling in Mokgetsu's eyes.
Mokgetsu sharply noticed something—the Chakra flowing into his right eye seemed to be more.
As the strange sensation in Mokgetsu's eyes peaked, his aura suddenly surged, and a massive amount of Chakra erupted from his eyes, flowing throughout his entire body.
His right eye, originally pure white, turned golden, with eight triangular patterns surrounding the pupil.