"Kid, hurry up! Madara-sama is waiting for you up ahead, nya."
Scar kept urging Renya along the entire way, terrified that arriving late would make Madara-sama unhappy.
As a loyal ninja cat, there was absolutely no way he could allow his master to get angry.
Especially when his master was Uchiha Madara!
"I know, stop rushing me already," Renya replied helplessly.
It wasn't like he wanted to be late either, but buying ingredients and cooking utensils had wasted a lot of time. Who told them not to prepare anything beforehand?
Besides, he was even more anxious than Scar. After cooking for these two, he still had to rush back immediately to prepare lunch for Senju Tobirama.
He had already been late once before — there was no way he could afford to be late again this time.
Otherwise, if that old man started getting suspicious and decided to follow his tracks… what would he do then?
Especially since Senju Tobirama had marked him with a Flying Thunder God seal.
If Tobirama couldn't find him and decided to teleport over, only to see him cooking for Hashirama and Madara…
Renya didn't even dare to imagine that scene.
No matter what, Senju Tobirama absolutely couldn't know about this.
At least not yet!
Otherwise, with Tobirama's temperament, he would definitely try to stop Uchiha Madara. And at that point, whose side would Renya even take?
Even if he chose Tobirama's side, the two of them together still wouldn't necessarily be able to defeat Madara.
If Tobirama could actually beat Madara, he would've sent him to join Izuna a long time ago.
For the sake of Senju Tobirama's little life, Renya could only keep this matter hidden for now.
After all, Uchiha Madara had disliked Tobirama for ages. If Tobirama really dared to make a move, he'd probably end up joining Izuna in the afterlife instead.
"Old man, I'm doing this for your own good," Renya muttered under his breath.
"Kid, what are you mumbling back there? Hurry up and follow me!" Scar glanced back at him, urging impatiently.
"Coming, coming!"
...
"Kid, Madara-sama is right inside the cave, nya."
Carrying the heavy basket of ingredients on his back, Renya climbed up the winding mountain path and soon spotted a cave in the distance.
From afar, he could already see Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama standing at the cave entrance, watching him approach, so he quickened his pace.
Seriously… hiding out in such a remote place.
This area was pretty far from Konoha, and it had taken quite some time to get here.
It seemed like he'd have to rush back at full speed later, or else he wouldn't make it back in time for lunch.
After all, he still had to cook another meal for that old man and bring it over.
Hopefully, he wouldn't be late…
"Madara-sama, I've brought the kid to you," Scar reported as he trotted up to Madara's feet.
Uchiha Madara stood with his arms crossed and gave a slight nod. "Well done."
"Not at all! Serving you is my greatest honor," Scar said obsequiously, his previous arrogance nowhere to be seen.
Renya was speechless. This fat cat really knew how to read the room.
"Hahaha, Renya, you're finally here!" Senju Hashirama waved enthusiastically when he saw him.
After waiting half the day, their chef had finally arrived.
Sneaking away behind Tobirama's back came with a certain risk, and they'd been worried Renya wouldn't be able to get away.
"Madara-sama, Hashirama-san, sorry to keep you waiting." Renya quickened his pace and walked up to the two of them.
Uchiha Madara gave a faint "Mm" in response, his gaze sweeping over the basket on Renya's back.
"Did you bring all the ingredients?"
"Of course." Renya patted the bamboo basket. "Fresh salmon, wild mushrooms I just picked in the mountains, and some fresh vegetables."
The corner of Madara's mouth curved upward ever so slightly. He turned and walked into the cave.
"Come in."
"Hashirama-san, next time, remember to prepare the cooking utensils ahead of time," Renya whispered to him.
What kind of chef had to bring his own pots and pans for door-to-door service?
He only had one storage scroll with him today, and he'd used it to pack the desserts. There was no space left to store anything else.
He'd had no choice but to haul everything here in a bamboo basket…
"Hahaha, I get it, I get it," Hashirama laughed heartily.
Honestly, this was their oversight. They'd been so focused on eating delicious food that they'd completely forgotten the cave had no cooking equipment.
Renya followed them into the cave. To his surprise, the space inside was much larger than he had expected. Oil lamps hung on the stone walls, casting a warm yellow glow.
In the center stood a wooden table, and next to it were three simple wooden chairs —
Clearly, something Hashirama had whipped up on the spot using Wood Release.
"What's on the menu today?" Hashirama leaned over curiously, peeking into Renya's basket.
"Mushrooms! Madara, look! Matsutake mushrooms!"
Sitting on one of the chairs, Uchiha Madara glanced over and said lightly,
"If you don't control the heat properly, they'll turn bitter."
He'd eaten them before at famous restaurants, and they often ended up slightly bitter.
Renya confidently tied on his apron.
"Don't worry, Madara-sama. Mine won't be bitter."
He took out his knife and began handling the salmon.
To preserve maximum freshness, he hadn't let the shopkeeper process it beforehand.
He stunned the fish with a swift tap, deftly slit it open, and removed the innards. The back of his knife scraped gently against the scales, sending silvery flakes cascading down like snow.
"This fish is plump," Senju Hashirama crouched nearby at some point, poking the fish belly with a finger. "Now's the perfect season for salmon."
Uchiha Madara stared at the salmon expressionlessly, but his Adam's apple betrayed him with a slight movement.
Hashirama was right — cooked properly, this fish would taste amazing.
Especially with this kid in charge of the cooking.
Renya didn't respond, only smiled faintly as he cleaned the gills and scored three precise diagonal cuts along the fish's back.
The cuts were perfectly even — deep enough to sever the main bones, but shallow enough not to damage the flesh.
He pulled out some fresh ginger from the basket, sliced it, and stuffed it into the fish's belly, then drizzled a spoonful of sake over it.
The faint aroma of sake mingled with the fresh scent of fish, making Hashirama inhale deeply.
This was his first time watching Renya prepare ingredients up close, and he had to admit — the kid really had skill.
The firewood crackled in the earthen stove, but there was no need to worry about running out.
After all, wasn't Hashirama here? If they ran short, he could just whip up more on the spot with Wood Release.
Renya set the iron pan in place, waiting until the bottom turned slightly bluish before pouring in a spoonful of oil.
As soon as the surface began to smoke faintly, he grabbed the salmon by the tail and slid it into the pan along the edge.
Hot oil sizzled violently, and the skin curled up with a gorgeous golden edge.
"Good control over the heat," Uchiha Madara suddenly said.
At some point, he'd moved to the other side of the stove, watching the fish turn golden brown. His Adam's apple bobbed unconsciously.
He'd had Renya's pan-seared salmon before, and the taste had been unforgettable.
"Madara's been going on about it since this morning," Hashirama said with a grin. "If you hadn't shown up just now, he was about to go to Konoha himself to fetch you."
He knew it — once Madara tasted Renya's cooking, there was no way he'd settle for anyone else's food.
"Hashirama. Shut up," Madara snapped coldly.
Renya broke into a slight sweat, lowering his head as he focused on the pan-seared salmon.
Hashirama-san really…
Did he have to say everything out loud?
Didn't he realize Renya was standing right here?
This was way too embarrassing.
He never imagined that the legendary Shura of the Shinobi World would get so obsessed with food that he'd even consider going to Konoha just to find him.
Now Renya didn't even dare to lift his head, afraid of catching a glimpse of Madara's expression.
Although… a small part of him did kind of want to see it.
Driven by curiosity, he sneaked a glance upward — only to lock eyes with a pair of cold, impassive Sharingan.
Uchiha Madara was staring straight at him, expressionless.
Startled, Renya immediately ducked his head and focused intently on the fish.
Nope. Didn't see anything. Didn't see a thing.