The two of them walked one behind the other along a narrow forest path. Naruto led the way, glancing back from time to time to make sure Tsuki was still following. He couldn't help it—though he was technically only three years old, the memories inside him spanned over twenty years. Taking care of a kid like this came almost instinctively to him now.
Pushing past the last stretch of bushes, the forest suddenly opened up before them.
A tranquil lake shimmered under the deepening twilight. The surface of the water mirrored the fading glow of the sunset, and the reeds swaying along the shore whispered softly in the evening breeze. In the distance, the faint, scattered lights of Konoha began to flicker to life, like clusters of fireflies scattered across the horizon.
The two of them sat side by side on a small wooden pier that extended into the lake. Naruto set his pack down and pulled out a light-brown bento box.
Instant ramen every day wasn't exactly healthy. Teuchi at Ichiraku Ramen never turned him away, but even the best ramen in the world became tiring after eating it nonstop for months. As for other restaurants—well, the shopkeepers might follow the Third Hokage's orders and sell him food now, but the looks they gave him still made Naruto's skin crawl.
That was why, ever since he learned to cook for himself, Naruto had asked the old man to send fresh ingredients to his apartment from time to time.
The moment he opened the bento box, a delicious aroma drifted through the air. Tsuki unconsciously straightened her posture, her obsidian-like eyes flicking curiously toward it.
"Don't look at me like that," Naruto said with a grin, noticing her small, sneaky glance. "I'll have you know I'm pretty confident in my cooking skills."
Inside the bento, everything was neatly arranged—golden tempura shrimp, bright green boiled vegetables, and two rice balls shaped like a frog and a fox.
But the star of the meal—the dish that immediately drew Tsuki's eyes—was a vibrant red-and-yellow medley that took up nearly half the box: stir-fried tomatoes and eggs.
The bright red tomato chunks were coated with fluffy golden egg, their juices glistening orange-red under the fading sunlight. Sprinkled scallions dotted the top, and the faint sheen of oil made the dish look all the more inviting.
Tsuki's pupils widened in awe.
Tomatoes!
As the daughter of the Uchiha clan head, she was used to perfectly plated, carefully balanced meals prepared by her mother. They were beautiful and nutritious—but this simple, rustic combination of tomato and egg was something she had never seen before. And more importantly, tomatoes just so happened to be her absolute favorite food.
It looks so good… I really want to try it…
Her small hands tightened on her clothes, and she swallowed hard, trying to hide the sound. But her Uchiha pride immediately screamed in protest.
No! You can't just eat someone else's cooking! That would be completely improper!
Still… it smells so good…
Her face flushed pink as her pride and her stomach waged war inside her. She tried to look away, pretending not to care, but her gaze kept wandering back to the bento box, and her soft lips pressed together unconsciously. Every tiny, fidgeting gesture of hers did not escape Naruto's notice.
"This kind of dish isn't common in Konoha," Naruto said casually, tapping his chopsticks against the red-and-yellow mix. "It's just stir-fried tomatoes and eggs. The ingredients are simple, but the taste? Definitely not ordinary."
Tsuki swallowed again, leaning forward just a little—but not too much.
Seeing her reaction, Naruto remembered those cooking videos he'd watched in his past life. He cleared his throat and adopted a mock-serious "chef's explanation" tone.
"First, you've got to pick the right tomatoes—fully ripe and bright red. Cut a little cross at the top, soak them in hot water, then peel off the skin."
"Why peel them?"
The question slipped out before she could stop herself. Curiosity and appetite had completely overpowered her Uchiha pride.
"That's a little trick," Naruto said with a playful wink. "Without the skin, the tomatoes release their juices better when you cook them, and the texture comes out smoother."
The night breeze rippled across the lake, rustling through the reeds as Naruto continued his animated explanation, gesturing with his chopsticks.
"Next, you chop up the scallions, crack a few eggs into a bowl, add a pinch of salt—and just a dash of vinegar. That helps get rid of the eggy smell and makes the eggs fluffier."
Tsuki's eyes grew wider and wider as she listened. She had never realized cooking involved so many little details. Her mother's dishes were always perfect, so she'd assumed food simply appeared that way. But hearing Naruto talk about the process—the care, the rhythm—it made the ingredients come alive in her imagination.
So this is how food is made…
"Then you fry the eggs first—just until they're golden and fluffy—take them out, and cook the tomatoes separately. Once they start releasing their juice…"
"Season with just a bit of soy sauce and salt, plus a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity. Finally, put the eggs back in, let the flavors blend—"
Gurgle.
A faint sound came from Tsuki's direction.
She froze, face burning red as she clapped her hands over her stomach—but it was too late. Her body had betrayed her. Even her ears flushed pink, glowing like the sunset itself.
No… no way…
As the daughter of the Uchiha clan, she had been raised to maintain elegance and pride at all times—even as a child. Yet here she was, not only staring at someone else's food but also letting her stomach make such an embarrassing sound.
But it wasn't just hunger. When someone watched food being lovingly prepared, their brain began to taste it in their imagination—and if that food happened to feature their favorite ingredient, that anticipation became almost unbearable, like watching your favorite toy sitting right in front of you but being told you couldn't touch it.
Naruto stifled a chuckle and gently pushed the bento toward her. "Well? Want to try some?"
"Ah—uh, this…"
Tsuki's fingers twisted nervously at her clothes. This wasn't her usual fake pride—it was genuine embarrassment.
Her rational mind told her she shouldn't accept. She'd said she was only keeping him company, and now she'd be mooching off his food? How shameless would that be?
But as the aroma of tomato and egg filled the air, all her logical resistance melted away. She risked a peek at Naruto. His blue eyes were calm—no mockery, only gentle sincerity.
"Go ahead," he said warmly. "I made plenty. Don't worry about it."
Ugh… he said it like that…
The balance inside her heart tipped instantly. If he was offering, then it wasn't rude, right? And if she really felt bad… she could just treat him to something next time!
"N-no, it's fine… I don't want to trouble you…"
Her words lacked conviction, especially since her gaze refused to leave the bento box. She looked so adorably conflicted that Naruto's chest tightened with affection.
Man… if I ever have a daughter like this someday, I'll die happy.
He resisted the urge to ruffle her hair. The teasing comment he'd wanted to make faded away. He knew the Uchiha pride all too well—if he pressed too hard, she really might stubbornly go hungry just to save face.
"Please," he said softly. "Usually, I eat alone. But if someone could taste my cooking… and actually enjoy it… I'd be really happy."
That gentle sentence unlocked the last door in her heart.
"...I see!" Her eyes lit up, and for once she forgot to sound haughty. "Then—then I'll have a little taste!"
Almost eagerly, Tsuki accepted the spoon Naruto handed her. The moment the tomato-and-egg mixture touched her tongue, the sweet-and-sour burst of flavor made her eyes flutter shut in bliss. Her legs kicked lightly against the edge of the dock.
So good!
For that one perfect moment, the Uchiha pride, the proper upbringing, the dignified restraint—everything vanished. All that remained was the simple, innocent joy of a little girl savoring something delicious.
The power of good food, after all, was nothing short of miraculous.