"I'm going to cook at Hashirama-san's place tonight. If you have time, come over directly. If not, I'll bring it to you later."
Renya had come all the way just to inform Senju Tobirama.
So that the old man wouldn't come home and not find him there...
"Big Brother asked you to cook for him?" Senju Tobirama looked up and asked.
"Yeah. I'm heading back to cook now." Renya turned and walked off.
Tobirama's mind was filled with the image of Renya's cooking.
He couldn't help but swallow, completely losing interest in reviewing the documents in front of him.
"That brat always makes such lavish meals when he's at Big Brother's place."
At home, Renya usually made simple everyday dishes. But at Hashirama's place, he always prepared a full table of gourmet dishes—never repeating anything.
Tobirama was starting to think the brat was playing favorites.
Why did Big Brother get all the good stuff, while he had to settle for basic home cooking?!
Thinking that, Tobirama picked up the pace with his paperwork.
The faster he finished, the sooner he could make it in time for dinner.
After all, eating fresh at the table wasn't the same as getting leftovers packed up. All the good stuff would definitely be gobbled up by Big Brother and Tsunade.
He'd be left with nothing but cold scraps...
...
At Hashirama's residence.
"Hahaha, Renya, you're here early," Hashirama greeted him with a hearty smile.
"Hashirama-san, I'm always punctual," Renya replied.
"Renya-san, you're finally here!"
Tsunade rushed over with her short little legs and grabbed onto Renya's pants, tugging him toward the kitchen.
"Renya-san, hurry and make me food!"
"Alright, alright. Don't be so impatient, little Tsunade." Renya patted her head.
This little girl was so soft and adorable.
He really couldn't imagine how she'd grow up to become such a violent woman...
"Tsunade, don't bother your Renya-san."
Uzumaki Mito came out of the kitchen after hearing the commotion.
"Oh." Tsunade reluctantly let go of Renya's pants.
Seeing this, Renya smiled and said, "It's alright, Mito-san."
"Thank you, Renya." Uzumaki Mito smiled gently. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Is Tobirama coming over tonight?"
"I'm not sure." Renya shook his head. "If he doesn't have time, I'll bring the food to him after it's done."
After all, he had already let that old guy know earlier.
If he could make it for dinner, great. If not, he'd just bring it over.
It wasn't like Renya would pig out here while Tobirama had to sit alone in his office chewing on military rations.
He wasn't that kind of person...
"You're so thoughtful, Renya." Uzumaki Mito covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
She had been worried Tobirama might be too busy to eat. But hearing Renya say he'd deliver it gave her peace of mind—such a filial child.
It seemed having Tobirama adopt this boy was truly the right decision.
In the future, Tobirama wouldn't need to worry about having no one to take care of him in his old age.
"Mito-san, are the ingredients all ready?" Renya asked.
Mito had said she'd prepare the ingredients, so he hadn't brought any.
"Everything's ready. We've just been waiting for you." Uzumaki Mito nodded.
"Renya-san, go cook already! I'm starving!" Tsunade tugged at Renya's hand.
"Haha, alright, I'll start now." Renya pinched her chubby little cheeks and then walked into the kitchen, completely at ease.
"You little glutton." Uzumaki Mito dotingly tapped Tsunade's nose before turning to help Renya in the kitchen.
Tsunade playfully stuck out her tongue, then ran over to Hashirama and whispered,
"Grandpa, while Grandma's helping in the kitchen, let's play a few rounds!"
Hashirama sneakily glanced toward the kitchen. Seeing that Mito hadn't come out, he carefully pulled a few dice from his robes.
"Come on, come on. Be careful—don't let your grandma find out."
"Mm-hmm! Got it!"
...
In the kitchen, the two busy cooks suddenly paused at the same time.
Uzumaki Mito heard the noise from outside and shook her head with a helpless sigh.
"Mito-san, aren't you going to stop them?" Renya asked curiously.
Even from the kitchen, they could hear the sound of dice rolling.
Renya sighed inwardly. Hashirama-san really had no fear—he was gambling again with Tsunade.
If he remembered correctly, didn't he just get scolded for this around noon?
It hadn't even been that long, and already he'd forgotten the pain after the wounds healed?!
"Let him be. Gambling is his only remaining hobby." Uzumaki Mito sighed and explained, "Ever since he got injured, he hasn't had much else to do besides gambling."
As for Hashirama's behavior, she could only turn a blind eye.
What made her angry was that he was gambling with their granddaughter!
The guy didn't even spare Tsunade's allowance.
What truly shocked Mito was that despite Hashirama's usual terrible luck, when gambling with Tsunade, he somehow never lost a single round.
It was just simple dice games—guessing high or low—but Tsunade hadn't guessed correctly even once...
She wasn't sure if it was that Hashirama's luck had suddenly turned, or Tsunade's was just abysmal.
"Hahaha! I win again! Tsunade, you have to accept your loss!"
"Hmph! Grandpa, one more round!"
Hearing the two of them bickering and playing in the yard, a gentle smile curved on Mito's lips.
To her, this kind of peaceful and heartwarming life was the true meaning of happiness.
But before long, the smile faded from her face, and a trace of sadness flickered in her eyes.
With Hashirama's current health, these blissful days probably wouldn't last much longer.
Though their marriage was initially arranged, over the years they had genuinely grown to love each other.
As his wife, watching her husband slowly slip toward death while being completely powerless to stop it...
It was agonizing.
More than once, seeing how weak Hashirama had become, she could only cry in secret.
Renya naturally noticed the sadness in Uzumaki Mito's expression, but he said nothing.
Life and death weren't things humans could control.
If he could, he wouldn't want Senju Hashirama to die either.
But there was nothing he could do—some things happened whether you wanted them to or not.
Since it couldn't be changed, the only choice was to accept it.
Renya thought, since Hashirama could still eat now, he should make him more of his favorite dishes.
Better that than regretting it later when Hashirama could no longer eat.
Seeing Renya start prepping the ingredients, Uzumaki Mito came out of her sorrowful daze and smiled.
"Renya, let me help you."
"Sure, Mito-san." Renya didn't turn her down, letting her assist him.
It wasn't their first time working together—they were used to coordinating and quickly finished prepping the ingredients.
Next came the cooking.
This part didn't require Mito's help.
She stood by and watched as Renya plated dish after dish of delicious food on the table. But the more she watched...
The more she noticed something.
These dishes all seemed to be Hashirama's favorites...
Looking at Renya, who was now stir-frying with such vigor that the ladle was almost smoking, Uzumaki Mito felt a warmth bloom in her heart.
This child...
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