Chapter 127: This is a Zhili Sister
Honestly, Senju Wakama truly didn't know if insects were delicious; he had never eaten them.
But that didn't stop him from making a sale, did it?
When faced with Aburame Aoi's question, Senju Wakama nodded. "Of course, they're incredibly delicious."
Aburame Aoi was silent for a long while before carefully asking, "May I try some?"
Senju Wakama's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Please wait a moment. I'll ask if there are any ingredients available within the clan."
"Okay." Aburame Aoi believed him.
Senju Wakama quickly wrote a message and asked a crow watching the commotion from under the eaves to deliver it to Tsukuyo.
He briefly summarized Aburame Aoi's words to inform Tsukuyo.
As for how Tsukuyo would respond, Senju Wakama truly couldn't say for certain.
Then…
After only a short wait.
Murien scurried over, carrying a food box on her back. She handed the item to Senju Wakama and produced a form for him to sign.
Senju Wakama hadn't expected Tsukuyo to actually send him something.
With the item in hand, he still had to keep up the facade, right?
So, after dismissing Murien, the courier rat, Senju Wakama put on a professional smile. "Hello, my sister has already provided a reply."
Senju Wakama opened the food box while looking at the letter Tsukuyo had sent him.
The moment he saw what was inside the food box, Senju Wakama read out the words from the letter.
However, because the food box revealed a heap of dark, cockroach-like insect bodies, Senju Wakama's voice still trembled for a moment.
The instant the food box opened.
A savory aroma, a blend of spices, subtly diffused. Even without seeing the food, the scent alone sparked imagination.
However…
When his gaze shifted to the ingredients themselves…
"Uh… this… this is called 'Osmanthus Cicada'."
Fearing he couldn't maintain his expression, Senju Wakama quickly moved his gaze to the letter, finally regaining his voice. He recited the text from the letter with great feeling, "'Although this 'Osmanthus Cicada' is called a cicada, it is different from an autumn cicada; it does not belong to the Cicadidae family."'
"'It's found in the muddy fields within our Senju Clan's territory. They live in the mud, feeding on small tadpoles, fish, and shrimp. Their meat is fresh, succulent, and sweet.'
"'Its appearance is somewhat similar to a cockroach. Due to limited time, what we're serving you today is the simplest 'Salt-Baked Osmanthus Cicada'. Also, because this ingredient is extremely rare and not artificially cultivated, it's a serendipitous find. So, we've only made five for you.'"
Finally finishing the lengthy explanation, Senju Wakama pushed the food box towards Aburame Aoi. "Please, help yourself…"
From under Aburame Aoi's cloak, a pair of pale, yet scarred, small hands emerged.
At the same time, under Senju Wakama's gaze, those small hands slowly moved upward, revealing the hooded cloak.
Immediately, a tender, delicate young face was revealed beneath the cloak.
The outdoor light shone obliquely into the inner room, illuminating that jade-like little face.
It was a rosy, peach-like cheek, with a layer of fine downy hair, looking exactly like a delicate, living peach. Her lips were vibrant red, as if painted with fresh blood.
A pair of large, distinctly black and white eyes stared blankly ahead, with a dark crescent moon pattern beneath her left eye.
This… was clearly a child.
And at the same time, Brother Zetsu's whispered warning sounded in Senju Wakama's ear: "Be careful, she's very dangerous…"
Senju Wakama noted Brother Zetsu's choice of words.
Brother Zetsu said "she".
Before him was a girl, and one who appeared to be no older than seven.
She was very cute, with big eyes, long eyelashes, and full, luminous cheeks, not at all like a shinobi who played with insects.
But her blank eyes and enigmatic smile sent shivers down his spine.
With Tamayo Nara as a prior lesson, Senju Wakama dared not underestimate any shinobi sent by other clans to the Senju Clan, not even this seemingly harmless little girl in front of him.
Then he heard Brother Zetsu whisper in his ear, "She's older than you…"
Well, what do you know…
Senju Wakama didn't know how Brother Zetsu obtained such information.
But for this loli sister to look so small yet be older than him, that in itself was terrifying.
To avoid betraying his emotions, Senju Wakama continued softly, "Our Senju Clan often makes salt-baked dishes, using a combination of sea salt and spices to cook ingredients. This dish took about fifteen minutes to prepare."
Aburame Aoi seemed to have no psychological burden. She picked up a steaming, cockroach-like insect and asked, "How do you eat this?"
"Peel the shell and eat the inside." Senju Wakama couldn't help but glance at the letter; Tsukuyo had written to eat the meat and roe inside.
Aburame Aoi didn't stand on ceremony. She peeled the insect in her hands with both hands and began to taste it.
With the first bite, a look of surprise appeared in her blank eyes.
"Ah~ truly delicious…"
As she spoke, her eating speed increased. She ate and commented, "The taste is somewhat like crab, but even more delicious than the river crabs I've eaten. It has a very dry and fragrant taste, and there seem to be insect eggs inside, mm… the taste is very aromatic."
She bit off the forelegs of an Osmanthus Cicada like she was cracking melon seeds, a constant crunching sound filling the air, truly eating with gusto.
Senju Wakama stared at her, secretly swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
The way this little girl ate was truly so appetizing. If he hadn't seen her gnawing on a horrifying insect, Senju Wakama would definitely have wanted a bite himself.
"Crunch… crunch… crunch…"
"Hmm? Aren't you eating?"
"Crunch… crunch… crunch…"
"Uh, Miss Aoi, please just eat. While this ingredient is very rare, it is, after all, produced from our own clan's farmland. My sister should keep some for breeding. Although it's not something we can eat every day, we can always get some. Since you are not from the Senju Clan, this is a rare opportunity, please eat more." Senju Wakama, watching the little girl who invited him to eat but was devouring the food quickly, offered a grand excuse.
Though it smelled quite fragrant, Senju Wakama couldn't stand its appearance.
"Then I won't be shy."
Aburame Aoi's eating speed escalated again.
In a short while, all the 'Osmanthus Cicadas' were gone.
Originally, Senju Wakama had said to peel the shells and eat.
But Aburame Aoi ate the shells clean as well. Only sea salt and spice fragments remained in the food box.
"Thank you for the meal." Aburame Aoi lowered her head in gratitude, murmuring, "This is just one type of edible insect, and it's left me wanting more. It seems the other insect swarms requested in your order must be just as delicious, right?"
Senju Wakama's lip twitched. "Uh, the texture and flavor will certainly differ with appearance, but undoubtedly, they should all be uniquely delicious."
Aburame Aoi looked seriously at Senju Wakama. "Then… I wish us pleasant cooperation in the future…"
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