Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

"Manager! Manager! Something terrible has happened! Another customer has come to complain about our chicken burger, saying that they felt nauseous all day after eating it."

Just as the store manager was instructing Fugaku to carefully control the temperature of the oil, a small, thin figure in a cute work uniform rushed into the kitchen.

"Nonou, how many is this today?"

Upon hearing this, the store manager's face fell; it seemed that Hualai's newly established reputation was in jeopardy.

"I've counted, this is the eighteenth one already."

At a part-time job in Hualai, Nonoyu tapped her chin and reported the number of customers suffering from food poisoning in just one second.

As she spoke, she glanced at the mountain of fried chicken piled up in the kitchen, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.
Looks like I won't be able to sneak some fried chicken back to the orphanage to share these next few days.

"I'm sorry, manager, it's all my fault. I will take responsibility for the losses caused to the store during this period."

Fugaku lowered his head, his expression one of deep self-reproach and dejection.
If it weren't for my inability to control the output power of Chidori, I wouldn't have made so much fried chicken that made people sick.
“I also bear responsibility. It was my poor quality control. You continue working, and I will go and explain to the customer.”

The shop manager shook his head, gave Fugaku a reassuring look, and turned to leave.

"Damn it! I'm a complete waste!"

However, Fugaku's heart was filled with self-reproach. Looking down at the still, mirror-like oil pan in front of him, he clenched his fists, his face filled with resentment.

"How can we possibly beat that idiot Rope Tree at this rate?"

"Don't worry, little brother Rope Tree isn't much better than you~"

"what?"

Hearing Nonou's teasing voice, Fugaku looked up in surprise.
"Why haven't you left yet?"

There stood Nono in the finished product area, holding a small bundle she'd pulled out from somewhere, looking conflicted as she carefully selected items.

"Can't I pack up some kitchen waste?"

Sensing Fugaku's gaze, she calmly turned her head, holding up the special tongs for picking up food, and explained confidently,
"What did you mean by that? What happened to that idiot Nawaki?"

As if he was already used to Nonou's behavior, Fugaku merely rolled his eyes before inquiring about the competition.

Nonou didn't answer immediately. Instead, she lingered in the snack area for a moment, ignoring the fried chicken that was probably from Fugaku, and stuffed all the cold fries into her own bag.
I can only eat vegetarian food today.

Disappointed, she tied her bundle, packed her takeout snacks for the day, and only then did she begin to answer Fugaku's question.

"Songshu made a mess of the kitchen at the Honey Ice Cream shop across the street, forcing the entire shop to close for cleaning. He's probably getting a scolding from Grandma Yongmei right now."

"Haha! That idiot, he only does stupid things that cause trouble for others."

Upon hearing that his competitor was in dire straits, Fugaku's gloom vanished, and he smiled broadly.
How dare you talk about someone like that?

Seeing Fugaku regain his spirits, Nonou, who hadn't been able to bring back any delicious fried chicken for the orphanage children, pouted indignantly and pointed at the pile of poorly made fried chicken.

"It's only because the store manager is kind-hearted. If it were me, I would have thrown you, you food-wasting bastard, into the oil and made you swim on your back!"

Faced with Nonou's accusation, Fugaku, knowing he was in the wrong, shrank back and whispered a promise.
"I will compensate you double."

"You'd better keep your word."

Nono nodded, and before leaving, she took two not-so-good-looking oranges and put them in her pocket before leaving the kitchen satisfied.

"Alright! Cheer up, today is the last day of training!"

Once he was alone in the kitchen, the smile on Fugaku's face slowly faded. Looking down at his small hands, blackened by lightning, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.
"We must win! Chidori! Get hyped!"

“Chichichichi!~”

"Boom!!!"

"Fugaku! You're fired!"

Directly opposite Hualaitu is Konoha's landmark brand, Honey Ice Cream.

Unlike the usual bustling scene, the gates were closed today, with a sign indicating that cleaning was underway.

Inside the shop, a short figure was diligently scrubbing the floor covered in white paste. Even though he was drenched in sweat, he dared not slacken his efforts, his disheveled face filled with fear.

After cleaning up the last splatter of sticky milkshake in the corner, Rope Tree timidly raised his head and looked at the beautiful woman sitting in the chair in the center of the hall.
"Grandma Yongmei, I know I was wrong!"

"No, I think you still haven't realized your mistake, Little Rope Tree."

Upon hearing the word "grandmother," Uchiha Eimi's expression stiffened slightly. She slowly put down her teacup, her half-closed beautiful eyes filled with a faint dark aura.
"Alas!"

Nawaki nearly choked with fright. At that moment, he missed his grandmother terribly. Compared to Uchiha Eimi, even the usually strict Senju Momoka seemed exceptionally kind and gentle.
"Alright, alright, since today is your last day of part-time work, Auntie won't hold you responsible."

Fortunately, Uchiha Eimi wasn't a demon. After pointing out Nawaki's mistake, she generously forgave his reckless act of blowing up the milkshake container in the kitchen.

"Really? Thank you, Grandma Yongmei!"

"Oh dear, Auntie, I suddenly remembered that the restroom in the store hasn't been cleaned yet, it's been clogged for days."

"Goodbye, Auntie! I'll miss my colleagues!"

Rope Tree scrambled to escape from Honey Ice City, where he had been working part-time for almost a week. Recalling the inhuman intensity of his training over the past few days, a lingering fear crept onto his face.
"Sigh, in the end it was still just a little short."

Looking down at the blurred "poop" mark on her palm, Rope Tree bit her lip in disappointment.
After the first day of introductory Rasengan instruction, Uchiha Gin took him to his favorite spot, Honey Ice City, on the second day.

Before he could even raise any questions, Uchiha Gin made the decision for him and signed a six-day part-time contract.
Completely bewildered, Rope Tree was led to the kitchen of Honey Ice Cream by a senior employee.
His assigned task was to make the milkshakes he needed to train for the Rasengan.
"Shengshu, train hard. This is an internship opportunity that I, your grandpa, went through a lot of trouble to get for you from Aunt Yongmei. You must cherish it."

As Uchiha Gin counted the money he received from selling Nawaki, he gave him a tearful warning.
"Grandpa Yin, it's me!"

Just as Rope Tree was about to raise his hand to ask a question, he heard a loud bang, and a huge container taller than himself was placed in front of him.

"New guy, this is where you put the ingredients for making milkshakes. You have to use a blender to blend them at high speed until all the ingredients are perfectly combined before it's considered up to standard."

Looking at the container, which was as big as his bath tub, Rope Tree raised his head in disbelief and asked cautiously,
"Excuse me, where is the blender?"

"Gintoki instructed that I would not provide you with any equipment."

"what?"

"Rope Tree~ This is the lesson you will need to learn next. Imagine yourself as a blender."

Uchiha Gin left, leaving behind Nawaki with empty hands.
"New guy, get to work quickly, we're about to open for business, and your task today isn't just this one bucket."

Following the direction pointed out by the shop's senior employee, Rope Tree's vision went black. There was a small mountain of raw materials piled up there, undoubtedly prepared for him.

"I am a blender, I am a blender, I am a..."

After a few seconds of silence, Rope Tree attempted self-hypnosis.
"I am a blender!"

After successfully brainwashing himself, he slowly raised his little hand, which had a "poop" mark drawn on it, and resolutely pressed it into the bucket.

"Get the kidneys and liver!"

"Buzz buzz buzz!" Let's celebrate!
The first blender in Konoha was born at this moment!
"Idiot Rope Tree".

Hearing the familiar voice, Nawaki, who was reminiscing at the entrance of Honey Ice City, looked up in surprise and stared at Fugaku wearing an apron with the Wallace logo.

"You're off work so early?"

Rope Tree had long known that his competitor was in the shop directly across the street, who, like him, was using a part-time job as a front for cultivation.

But it's clearly not yet time to leave work, so how did they sneak out?
"I resigned."

Slowly taking off the apron that had been with him for several days, Fugaku, who had once again been kicked out by the manager for causing an explosion, stubbornly explained,

"I have no reason to stay there any longer."

"What?! Have you already succeeded in your cultivation?"

Upon hearing this, Rope Tree's expression changed drastically, and he became utterly dejected.
Did I ultimately lose?
Looking smugly at the ashen-faced Nawaki, Fugaku unconsciously straightened his back and boasted loudly.
"Heh, with my genius comprehension, mastering a mere A-rank ninjutsu is as easy as drinking water."

"Fugaku, the manager sent me to ask you for an apron. Even if you're fired, you can't embezzle store assets. Also, I'd like to inform you that due to your work mistake, the losses from the past few days will be compiled into a bill and sent to the Uchiha clan."

Unfortunately, the tables turned quickly. Before Fugaku could continue his boasting, Nonou, burdened with the manager's orders, arrived late but surely.

"Uh"

Seeing Nono snatch the apron from his hand, Fugaku's face instantly turned a deep, rich purplish-red.

"Oh, so you were expelled!"

Nawaki grinned widely, winking and making faces at Fugaku with a sly grin.

"You idiot aren't much better. I heard you blew up the kitchen. Did Grandma Yongmei spank you?"

"No way! How dare you call Yongmei 'Auntie' or 'Grandma'? You're dead meat!"

"Hey! Don't talk nonsense! Believe me or not, I'll sue you for defamation! He's defaming me!"

"."

Watching the two argue from the sidelines, Nono, who was using the argument as an excuse to slack off, shook her head with a sigh.
"Sigh~ That's why I hate childish men."

"Yo~ Ono Nou, slacking off again?"

Just then, a warm, large hand descended from the sky and gently stroked the head of the seemingly mature Nonou.

Despite being fondled by familiar large hands, Nono showed no displeasure. Instead, she squinted her eyes, appearing quite pleased.

"Uncle Yin, that's very impolite to a lady like that~"

Because the one who rubbed her was none other than her favorite Uncle Yin.

"Save those words for when you've grown into a true lady."

Suddenly appearing, Uchiha Gin had his signature lollipop dangling from his mouth. Asano raised an eyebrow and casually shoved a peeled candy into his mouth.

"Hmm~!"

"Right now, enjoy the sweetness that only children can understand~"

Nawaki and Fugaku, whose faces were already pressed together, noticed Uchiha Gin standing nearby. They immediately stopped arguing and ran over, one after the other.
"Grandpa Silver!"

"Uncle!"

"I heard you've been cultivating quite well, achieving remarkable results!"

Uchiha Gin turned to look at Nawaki, who was covered in milkshakes, and Fugaku, who reeked of fried chicken, and teased him with a mocking smile.
"Uh, it's not as great as you say, Grandpa Gin!"

Faced with the praise, Nawaki scratched his head with a silly grin, his face full of innocent smiles.

"Idiot, can't you tell the difference between good and bad talk?"

Seeing this, Fugaku covered his forehead, his eyes filled with helplessness, and reminded him,
Don't you know what you've done?
These words of praise were more offensive to Fugaku than insults.

"what?"

Ignoring the bewildered Nawaki, Fugaku lowered his head and spoke to Uchiha Gin in a dejected tone.

"Uncle, it was my mistake, I will take responsibility."

"Young people are bound to make mistakes occasionally, as long as they don't stab their families in the back."

Uchiha Gin shook his head, reaching out to pat Fugaku's dejected head, but seeing the other's greasy hair, he ultimately chose to persuade him with words.
"what?"

Fugaku raised his head in confusion upon hearing this.

He wasn't born, so how could he stab his beloved family in the back?

"I'm just giving you an example, don't take it to heart. Just go back and write a plaque, and hang it in a prominent place at home."

"???"

"Alright, I have a pretty good understanding of your situation. Tomorrow is the assessment day. Are you all ready?"

Upon hearing this, Nawaki and Fugaku clenched their fists, lowered their heads in silence, and
If cultivation had a progress bar, they should have already reached 90% of the stage, which would place them in the category of super geniuses for a child of that age.

If they are given another week, they will definitely be able to grasp the secrets of the Rasengan and Chidori through intensive training.
But the appointed time has arrived, and their defeat is inevitable.

We haven't yet.

The two, who were both dejected, surprisingly found themselves in sync and spoke in unison.
Are you ready to give up?

But before he could finish speaking, Uchiha Gin interrupted him.
"."

The two fell silent. When it came time to say give up, their pride prevented them from uttering the word.
Do you know when people absorb knowledge the fastest?

Looking at the two silent children, Uchiha Gin asked thoughtfully,

"do not know."

Fugaku and Nawaki exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison.

"Naturally, it's the night before the exam!"

Uchiha Ginji waved, signaling the two to follow. He wanted to give these two kids an unforgettable eve of their exam.

Before leaving, he turned to look at Nono, who was still slacking off, and said goodbye with a smile.

"I'm leaving now to cultivate. See you in the South."

P.S.: Wishing everyone a simple Mid-Autumn Festival! (End of Chapter)