Chapter 11: Hot-blooded fool (Ch 11)

“Shino, you have indeed mastered the one-handed seal. Just practice hard in the future. By the way, you should be proficient with both hands. Also, try to switch to one-handed seals for other ninjutsu to get familiar with them. You will definitely need them in future battles.”

Xia Mu gave a few instructions and then stewed the processed pig’s trotters, not forgetting to add the orange peel and prepare the soybeans.

In fact, it would be better if we had lotus root, but lotus root is so damn expensive that you can’t buy much even if you buy it. And since Shikamaru is also attending the dinner party this time, it will definitely not be enough, so it is better to use soybeans.

Seeing this, Shino decisively helped to wash the vegetables.

Not long after, Shikamaru came with a large piece of venison, as well as a barbecue grill and seasonings, which was a great help.

Although Choji didn’t bring many snacks, he did bring a large piece of beef. He drooled and said, “I told my parents that we were going to have dinner at a friend’s house, and they insisted that I bring beef. Hey, Shikamaru, you brought a grill, so let’s grill it together.”

“What a hassle! Let me bake it.”

Shikamaru was like that, always talking about trouble but being unambiguous when it came to his friends.

Xia Mu quickly said, “Give me some of the beef, I’ll make you some other flavors.”

Naturally, Shikamaru and Choji agreed. After all, it was Natsuki who was treating them, so Natsuki could do whatever he wanted. They just had to help and wait for the meal.

At this time, Natsuki was busy in the kitchen alone, while Shino, Shikamaru and Choji were grilling.

Shikamaru said casually: “Shino, this is not your first time as a guest at Natsuki’s house, right?”

Shino nodded, his tone still a little proud: “Natsuki invited me once before, the food he cooked was delicious, and I was the first friend to taste his food.”

“Is it delicious? Then let’s eat as much as we can today!”

Shikamaru’s stomach was already growling, especially the waves of delicious food that made his mouth water.

Fortunately, Xia Mu worked efficiently and soon the meals were served on the table. He also prepared a few bottles of juice.

Looking at the dishes on the table: pig’s trotters stewed with soybeans, bacon fried with garlic sprouts, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, spicy fried chicken, spicy beef, boiled chicken, stir-fried vegetables, pork and vegetable soup, roast venison, roast beef, and a big pot of rice next to it.

Shikamaru’s eye twitched: “This, this much, can we finish it?”

Shikamaru vowed: “I will definitely finish it! And it looks so delicious, I won’t leave any!”

Shino was also a little greedy. He had been thinking about it since he had eaten it last time. Now there are more varieties of dishes, and they are all delicious, so he thought they would taste good too.

Natsuki served a bowl of rice to everyone, a large bowl to Choji, and placed a special pot of rice next to Choji.

In addition, each person was given an empty bowl and serving chopsticks and spoons. After all, this world is accustomed to separate meals, and Xia Mu had to adapt to the local customs.

“Okay, you’re welcome, let’s eat!”

As the host, Xia Mu was the first to start eating after the meal was announced, and the others couldn’t wait any longer.

Soon, no one was talking at the table. Everyone was busy eating, fearing that if they were slow others would eat first. The food that was thought to be unfinished was soon cleared out. Shikamaru didn’t even leave any pig’s trotter soup.

When it was just getting dark, the four of them all slumped in their chairs, and the table was a mess.

“Burp – I’m so full! It’s so delicious, I want to eat more!” It was obvious that Shikamaru was still not satisfied.

“Natsuki, you’re a really good cook.” Shikamaru praised sincerely.

Shino didn’t say anything, but just nodded repeatedly, as if he wanted to give ten thumbs up, and he was obviously very satisfied.

Xia Mu was also very satisfied. Not to mention that he deliberately made friends with these few people, just having dinner with friends made him much happier than being alone on weekdays.

Sure enough, people don’t like being alone, they still need friends.

“Okay, don’t sit down if you’re too full. Get up and walk around to digest the food, or you’ll have a stomachache at night.”

Xia Mu urged the three of them to get up, and they strolled around the neighborhood together. Soon they were on the street and could smell the fragrance of food from the stalls.

Shikamaru wanted to eat more but was stopped by everyone.

When passing by Ichiraku Ramen Restaurant, he saw Iruka-sensei eating noodles with Naruto. Naruto had a smile on his face and it was obvious that he was very happy to have Iruka accompanying him for dinner.

This pair of people, who are not father and son but will be better than father and son in the future, probably began to develop feelings at this time.

Shikamaru glanced at Naruto’s back and asked casually, “Natsuki, what do you think of Naruto?”

I see with my eyes!

Xia Mu was a little speechless, but he could probably understand Shikamaru’s thoughts. After all, Shikamaru was born in a big ninja family, and he was smart and knew a lot. He probably had mixed feelings towards Naruto. At present, Shikamaru and Choji have not become friends with Naruto, nor have they skipped classes together. Perhaps Shikamaru is not sure how to interact with Naruto.

As the eldest son of the head of the Nara clan, who was affiliated with the Sarutobi clan, it was difficult enough to decide whether it was acceptable for him to interact with the Jinchūriki without permission.

“Just a hot-blooded fool.”

Xia Mu gave his own answer.

Yes, for a child, if you ignore the villagers’ fox demon opinions, Naruto is not a Jinchuriki, but just a hot-blooded idiot.

After all, Shikamaru is a descendant of a large family and a member of the Hokage family, so he doesn’t need to worry too much.

If Shikamaru was not allowed to make friends with Naruto, the elders in the family would have told him so long ago. There was no need for Shikamaru to let his imagination run wild. Shikamaru was just too smart and fell into this misunderstanding.

“A hot-blooded idiot?”

Shikamaru chewed on this and smiled, “Haha, indeed, this evaluation is very appropriate. Everyone says that I am very smart, but in fact, Xia Mu, you are not stupid either, maybe your IQ is higher than mine.”

Xia Mu waved his hand: “I don’t believe in IQ data. As the saying goes, a wise man will make mistakes in a thousand considerations, and a fool will gain something in a thousand considerations. I only know that I need to think more. And you, Shikamaru, are really smart. Sometimes you don’t need to think too much, and you don’t need to think too complicatedly. Instead, you should try to find the essence of things.”

Shikamaru was even more surprised when he heard this, as if he was meeting Natsuki for the first time: “The essence of things? What is it?”

Xia Mu pointed at Shikamaru and smiled, “This is hard to explain, but I can give you an example. For example, you, Nara Shikamaru, are the eldest son of the head of the Nara family and are recognized by everyone as a smart person, but in essence you are just a salted fish with some brains. Salted fish find it troublesome and are too lazy to turn over, but they are forced to turn over and bask in the sun until one day they are completely dried out.”

Shikamaru patted his forehead and couldn’t help laughing: “Your description of me is very appropriate. I may really be a salted fish. However, I understand the essence of things.”

Essence is not a superficial adjective, but the real truth.

Just like Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage, the Jinchūriki, and Sakura’s bootlicker, all of these are superficial. In essence, he is just a hot-blooded idiot.

PS: The contract has been signed successfully, please feel free to read.