The two walked along the forest path, one behind the other. Naruto led the way, glancing back from time to time to make sure Tsuki was keeping up. No helping it—he might only be three years old physically, but with over twenty years of memories from his previous life plus the past three in this body, taking care of a kid came naturally.
They pushed through the last cluster of bushes, and the view opened up.
A tranquil lake stretched before them, the fading twilight reflected in its still water. Gentle wind rustled the reeds along the shore, creating a soft whispering sound. In the distance, Konoha Village twinkled with scattered lights like fireflies coming alive.
They sat side by side on a wooden mooring by the water's edge. Naruto pulled a light brown bento box from his backpack.
Eating ramen from Ichiraku every day wasn't healthy. Even though Teuchi never discriminated against him, no matter how delicious ramen was, you'd get tired of it after months on end. As for other restaurants... under the Third Hokage's quiet orders, the owners sold to him, but their wary stares still made Naruto feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
So ever since little Naruto started cooking for himself, he'd specially asked the old man to deliver fresh ingredients from time to time.
The moment he opened the bento, a tempting aroma wafted out. Tsuki sat up straighter unconsciously, her obsidian eyes sneaking glances over.
"Don't stare like that," Naruto noticed her little movements with a grin. "I'm pretty confident in my cooking."
Neatly arranged inside were several simple dishes: golden fried shrimp, vibrant stir-fried greens, and two onigiri shaped like a frog and a fox.
But the star of the show was the large portion of red-and-yellow tomato scrambled eggs taking up most of the box.
Bright red tomato chunks nestled in fluffy golden egg ribbons, the sauce a rich orange-red. A sprinkle of chopped green onions added pops of color, glistening with oil in the sunset light.
Tsuki's pupils dilated instantly.
Tomatoes...!
As the daughter of the Uchiha clan head's family, her meals were always carefully prepared Japanese dishes by her mother—balanced, exquisite, but never like this: a straightforward, hearty stir-fry of tomatoes and eggs. Most importantly, tomatoes were her absolute favorite.
It looks so good! I really want to try it!
Her small hand unconsciously gripped the hem of her shirt, throat bobbing quietly. But Uchiha pride immediately rang alarm bells in her mind.
No! You can't just eat someone else's food—that's rude!
But... it smells amazing...
The internal battle made Tsuki's cheeks flush faintly. She stared at the dish, even holding her breath a little.
Even tsundere kids have direct desires. Tsuki tried to act indifferent, turning her face away, but her gaze kept drifting back, pink lips pursing unconsciously. Naruto caught every tiny reaction.
"Isn't this kind of dish common in Konoha?" Naruto gently poked the tomato-egg mix with his chopsticks. "Just stir-fry tomatoes and eggs together. Simple ingredients, but the flavor is something else."
Tsuki swallowed hard, leaning forward slightly but holding herself back from getting too close.
Watching her, Naruto recalled those short food videos from his past life. He cleared his throat and continued in an explanatory tone.
"First, pick fully ripe red tomatoes like these." He gestured. "Score the top with a cross, blanch in hot water, then peel."
"Why peel?" The question slipped out—curiosity and hunger winning over tsundere pride for a moment. Tsuki seemed to have forgotten about maintaining her composure.
"It's a little trick~" Naruto smiled. "Peeled tomatoes release their juices better when stir-fried, making the texture more delicate."
A night breeze swept across the lake, rustling the reeds. Naruto pointed with his chopsticks as he spoke.
"Once the tomatoes are prepped and green onions chopped, beat the eggs. Add a pinch of salt to the egg mixture... and a tiny bit of white vinegar to cut the eggy smell. Makes the fried eggs tighter and more fragrant."
Tsuki's eyes grew wider and wider. She'd never realized cooking could be so precise. Her mother's dishes were always flawless and elegant, so she'd taken it for granted. Now, hearing Naruto's detailed rundown, these everyday ingredients suddenly felt alive and magical.
So that's how cooking really works...
"Scramble the eggs first until they're golden and fluffy, then set aside. Stir-fry the tomatoes separately until they release their juice... Season simply with soy sauce, salt, and a touch of sugar to balance the natural acidity. Finally, add the eggs back in and let the flavors meld completely—"
Gulp.
A small sound escaped Tsuki. She hurriedly covered her stomach, but it was too late—clearly her stomach protesting. Her pale face turned bright red, even the tips of her ears dyed a sunset hue.
Oh no...
As the young lady of the Uchiha clan, even as a child she'd been taught to stay elegant, strong, and proud at all times. But now—not only was she staring longingly at someone else's bento, but she'd made such an embarrassing noise!
It wasn't just hunger. When humans watch or hear about ingredients transforming into something delicious through careful cooking, the brain starts imagining the taste. Especially with a favorite ingredient involved, the anticipation feels unbearable—like seeing your dream toy right there but not being able to touch it.
Naruto held back a laugh and slid the bento toward her. "So... want to try some?"
"Ah! This..."
Tsuki's fingers tightened on her clothes again. This wasn't her usual fake arrogance—it was genuine embarrassment.
Reason screamed no. She'd offered to keep him company, but now she'd be mooching off the lunch he'd carefully made. Too shameless.
But as the mingled egg aroma and sweet tomato scent filled her nose, her resolve crumbled bit by bit. She sneaked a glance at Naruto—his blue eyes held no mockery, only sincere warmth.
"Go ahead— I made plenty. It's no trouble."
Wow... he said that...
The scales in her heart tipped. Since he'd invited her, eating a little shouldn't be a big deal, right? Yeah—if he insists, I'll treat him to something next time.
"No need... it's too much trouble for you..."
The words were weak. Her eyes were glued to the bento, impossible to look away. She looked utterly greedy yet still tried to play it cool. The adorable contradiction nearly melted Naruto's heart.
I really want a daughter this cute someday...
He resisted the urge to ruffle her dark hair and pushed aside thoughts of teasing her further. He knew Uchiha pride well—if he took her refusal at face value, this stubborn little girl might starve herself and go home hungry.
"Just a bite," Naruto softened his voice. "No one usually eats with me. If someone actually likes my cooking... I'd be really happy."
Those words unlocked the final barrier in Tsuki's heart.
"...Fine then!" Her eyes lit up suddenly; she even forgot her signature tsundere lines. "Just... just a little!"
Almost eagerly, Tsuki took Naruto's spoon. The moment the first bite of tomato scrambled eggs hit her tongue, sour-sweet juices burst across her taste buds. She squinted in bliss, little legs kicking gently against the dock's edge.
Delicious!
In that instant, Uchiha pride and ladylike reserve flew out the window. The power of food was truly immense.