"The story takes place in a small ninja village on the border of the Land of Fire, and the protagonist is a young ninja named Guo Jing."
"He was naturally slow-witted, but he possessed a heart of pure, unadulterated sincerity."
"During his very first mission, he stumbled his way into saving a female ninja named Huang Rong..."
As he spoke, Saiki deliberately paused to observe Kushina's reaction.
He saw her chin resting on her knees; although traces of her earlier shame remained, her defenses had quietly lowered as she listened intently.
Saiki continued, "Huang Rong was brilliant beyond measure, a master of complex sealing jutsus and mystical formations, yet she was completely helpless against Guo Jing's clumsy nature."
"When they performed missions together, Guo Jing would always mess up the small details, like sticking an explosive tag on backward and nearly blowing himself up."
"It made Huang Rong stomp her feet in fury, screaming at him, 'You idiot! You moron!'..."
As he reached this part, Saiki mimicked Kushina's own tone, adding a touch of exaggerated anger.
Kushina let out a sudden "pfft" and burst into laughter; though she immediately covered her mouth, her shaking shoulders betrayed her amusement.
She finally lifted her head, her cheeks still flushed with a rosy glow, but she no longer avoided Saiki's gaze.
She shot him a coquettish, scolding glare: "Hey! Who exactly are you trying to mock?"
Her voice lacked its earlier sharp edge, replaced by a hint of curiosity and playful chiding.
Saiki held up his hands in feigned innocence: "I'm not mocking anyone, I'm just telling a story."
"Later on, despite his stupidity, Guo Jing won Huang Rong's absolute trust through his sheer tenacity and honesty."
"Throughout their many missions, he risked his life countless times to protect her..."
The story gradually unfolded as Saiki replaced the original martial arts setting with elements of the Shinobi world.
The Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms became the "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Seals," and the Mount Hua duel became the "Hokage Peak Tournament."
Kushina was completely enthralled, her body unconsciously straightening from its curled position.
Her emerald eyes sparkled with light, as if she had been transported directly into that fantasy world of ninjas.
When Saiki reached the part where Guo Jing stood alone to draw away powerful enemies to save a village, Kushina whispered softly.
"He... he is so foolish, but he is also incredibly brave."
Her tone carried a deep resonance; the hard shell of her embarrassment was finally being peeled away by the gentle narrative.
It exposed the soft, vulnerable emotions hidden beneath her "Red Hot Habanero" exterior.
The previous awkwardness in the room was entirely replaced by the sound of the narrative.
Kushina occasionally interrupted to ask for details, giggling at Guo Jing's blunders and admiring Huang Rong's intellect.
Saiki watched her changes while he spoke: despite her claim that she didn't need stories, she was acting exactly like a little girl.
She had completely forgotten the previous incident, and Saiki let out a long breath of relief.
Genjutsu-like memory manipulation was a powerful tool; Saiki might forget some details, but his soul remembered the plot perfectly.
By using his spiritual energy to recall the story of the Condor Heroes, he successfully adapted it into a Naruto-themed epic.
Before they knew it, noon had arrived, and a loud "grumble" erupted from her stomach in protest.
The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet room, interrupting Saiki right as he reached a tense mission plot in the Hidden Rain Village.
Kushina, who had been completely engrossed, instinctively rubbed her belly before realizing what had happened.
Her face instantly flared with a violent, burning red blush.
She violently ducked her head, trying to bury her face back in her knees to hide her mortification.
However, that untimely "grumble" had undeniably originated from her direction.
"Ahem..." Saiki coughed lightly, stopping his narration at the perfect moment.
He had certainly heard it, and he had seen the instantaneous wave of embarrassment wash over Kushina.
He pretended not to notice the source of the noise, proposing naturally, "It seems to be noon, Sensei Kushina."
"I've been talking all morning, and my throat is getting a bit dry."
"How about... we get something to eat first? Repairing that seal consumed a massive amount of physical energy and chakra."
"You must be starving as well, right, Sensei?"
Kushina's face burned; her stomach's betrayal had shattered the relaxed atmosphere the story had built.
It was replaced by that familiar, agonizing shame—why does she always lose her dignity in front of this brat?!
She let out a muffled "Mm," her voice so small it was almost a whisper, signifying her agreement.
Kushina had just suffered a near-rampage, so there was no way Saiki would let her cook.
Although he was naturally lazy, Saiki stood up and stretched his legs, which had gone slightly numb from sitting cross-legged.
"What would you like to eat, Sensei? I'll go prepare it."
He made his voice sound as casual as possible, as if the stomach-growling incident had never occurred.
Kushina sat up straight, trying to look as though nothing had happened, her face still red.
"Whatever... anything is fine... Just hurry up, the story isn't finished yet!"
Saiki looked at her: she was clearly starving yet still acting tough, eager for the story but trying to maintain her teacher's status.
He found her behavior incredibly amusing.
He nodded, a faint, barely-visible smirk touching his lips: "Got it, Sensei. It'll be ready soon."
"I promise it won't delay the next part of 'Guo Jing the Idiot Ninja'."
He deliberately emphasized "Idiot Ninja," and sure enough, he saw the tips of Kushina's ears turn a darker shade of crimson.
This time she didn't argue; she just let out a soft "Hmph" and turned away.
However, her eyes couldn't resist stealing glances toward the kitchen door.
Watching Saiki's retreating back as he walked into the kitchen, Kushina finally truly relaxed and let out a soft breath.
The awkwardness of her stomach growling seemed to dissipate along with that breath.
She rubbed her genuinely empty stomach, feeling the hollow exhaustion left behind by the seal repair.
A long-lost sensation of being cared for and looked after quietly rose within her heart.
She leaned against the back of the sofa, her eyes fixed on the kitchen entrance.
Listening to the light, efficient clatter coming from inside, her emerald eyes flickered with anticipation.
She was looking forward to both the continuation of the Condor Heroes and the impending lunch.
Of course, she would never admit it was because Saiki's cooking was actually her favorite.
She told herself it was purely because she was just that hungry right now!
Saiki efficiently tied on an apron and scanned the limited ingredients in the kitchen.
Kushina was indeed a bit of a klutz and was terrible at cooking.
The pantry only held the most basic items: a few cuts of pork, half a chicken, several eggs, and a small carton of milk.
The vegetables were limited to chili peppers, tomatoes, a head of cabbage, some greens, and a few potatoes.
The variety was simple and the quantity was small, which truly tested a chef's skill to make it both plentiful and delicious.
Fortunately, the culinary foundation Saiki brought from his previous life, combined with the "training" of serving Tsunade, meant this was easy.
He quickly drafted a menu in his mind: Sweet and Sour Pork using the tenderloin, and the existing pork could be marinated in strips.
Tomatoes and eggs were a perfect match, so a classic stir-fry was a must.
He would use the cabbage and greens for a simple, crisp vegetable dish.
As for the milk... he could make a simple steamed egg custard to help Kushina recover her strength.
After all, her consumption during the seal repair had been enormous.
With his mind made up, Saiki immediately began his work.
He sliced the pork into strips, mixing them thoroughly with soy sauce, a pinch of salt, and sugar to marinate.
He washed the greens and cabbage, chopping them into even sections.
He blanched the tomatoes to remove the skin before dicing them, then cracked the eggs into a bowl and beat them smoothly.
His movements were quick and orderly; soon, the rhythmic sound of chopping and flowing water filled the kitchen.
Kushina sat on the sofa, hugging her knees, her gaze constantly drifting toward the kitchen door.
Hearing the rhythmic chopping and the occasional clink of cookware from inside, a strange sense of security enveloped her.
She had never heard such "lively" sounds in her own home before.
Usually, there was only the dead silence of being alone, or the chaotic noise of her own cooking, which was usually accompanied by the smell of burning.
Saiki seems to be really skilled... she muttered to herself, while her stomach let out another disloyal, quiet rumble.
She quickly clamped her hand over her stomach, cursing herself for being so undisciplined.
Yet her eyes remained glued to the busy silhouette in the kitchen doorway, like a magnet.
He manifested two Shadow Clones to assist him; in just thirty minutes, Saiki had everything ready.
The aroma of the food acted like invisible tentacles, drifting through the gaps in the kitchen door and permeating the living room.
It was a tantalizing scent: a mix of sweet and sour caramel, the savory fragrance of fried oil, and the fresh aroma of stir-fried vegetables.
The smell aggressively invaded Kushina's nose, making her empty stomach contract in anticipation once again.
She tried her hardest to maintain an air of calm on the sofa, but her gaze was out of control.
She found herself peeking at the kitchen door again and again.
Soon, Saiki's two clones walked out carrying several steaming dishes.
They were expressionless as they placed the hot meals on the dining table one by one.
With a "poof," they dissolved into clouds of white smoke and vanished.
Saiki himself walked out, untying his apron.
He looked toward the table and gestured with his chin: "Sensei, it's time to eat."
Kushina finally stood up slowly and walked over to the dining table.
Her gaze was instantly and firmly captured by the vibrant colors and the mouth-watering fragrance of the meal.
The most prominent dish was the Sweet and Sour Pork.
The evenly sliced pork strips were coated in a translucent, glistening sauce, presenting an irresistible golden-red hue.
Topped with a sprinkling of white sesame seeds and emitting tendrils of steam, its sweet and tangy aroma was overwhelming.
The Tomato and Egg stir-fry, the cabbage, and the greens all looked remarkably appetizing.
And in the small bowl of steamed egg custard, the soy sauce had been used to draw a simple, small smiley face on the surface.
It could be described as heartwarming.
Looking at these dishes, a strange emotion welled up in Kushina's chest.
It felt sour and tight, carrying a trace of unfamiliar warmth.
She took a deep breath, forcing down the sudden, inexplicable sting in her eyes, and sat at the table with feigned composure.
"Hmph, you're quite fast."
She picked up her chopsticks, her gaze sweeping over the dishes and finally landing on the tempting pork.
She tried to keep her voice as critical as usual: "It looks... just okay, I guess."
Saiki didn't expose her lie; he simply sat opposite her and picked up his own chopsticks.
"Try it, Sensei. See if it suits your taste. Don't starve yourself."
Faced with this image of him "taking care of a child," Kushina's face flushed red once more.