Double-transformation: I, Sakura Haruno! Will crush the pirates!

Having just gone through a battle and used the Palm Healing Technique to recover from her injuries, Sakura's stomach growled, which was heard by Fukasaku who was standing nearby.

"Is Sakura hungry? Let's go to my house for dinner. Her mother should have already prepared a big feast for us."

Fukasaku raised his arms and drew a large circle in front of Sakura.

Sakura suddenly remembered that the toads on Mount Myōboku apparently ate... insects!

However, given his physique as a member of the giant royal family, eating a few insects shouldn't be a problem, right?

After all, when they were adrift at sea with Captain Roger and food was scarce, they even ate live sea creatures...

Walking on the path filled with toad statues, the huge leaves around her rustled in the breeze, making Sakura feel a little dazed in the shadows.

After the two climbed up the hillside, they came to a small house that had been converted from a hollowed-out rock cave.

Just then, Shima, carrying a large bundle on his back, returned from outside.

"Hey, honey, is dinner ready? Sakura's starving!"

After a few frog leaps, he landed in front of Shima, who had just returned, and helped her lift the package behind her.

"Oh dear, we'll have to wait a little longer!"

Master Shima raised his hand and waved to the two of them.

"We've run out of food at home, and since they were both just injured, I went and got some ingredients that can help them recover their energy!"

"There's a big feast tonight to celebrate Sakura's arrival!"

Master Shima weighed the wriggling package on his back and patted it with his forepaw.

Even without her detailed explanation, anyone with eyes could tell what was inside.

Sakura's eyebrows twitched, and she forced a stiff smile.

"Well...that's true, thank you Shima-sensei."

As everyone entered the house, Jiraiya, who was wrapped up like a cross, immediately cried for help upon seeing Sakura's arrival.

"Sakura-chan, I'm all better now, let me go!"

"No, if I let go of you, what if you start scratching your wound again!"

Sakura ruthlessly rejected Jiraiya's request and helped him up to lean against the stone wall.

"I'm all better now, really, really!"

Jiraiya's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and the corners of his mouth were twitching as he gave Sakura a not-so-sincere smile.

Sakura looked at him suspiciously, raised her finger and pointed to herself, saying, "Look me in the eyes and say it. People of Konoha don't lie to people of Konoha."

"The people of Konoha don't..."

Before Jiraiya could finish speaking, Sakura's Observation Haki had already read his inner thoughts.

Especially when the opponent's emotions are fluctuating wildly, Sakura's Observation Haki can even allow her to hear the opponent's thoughts to a certain extent.

Take Jiraiya for example right now; his mind is filled with the endless loop of "It's so itchy, it's so itchy!"

"Okay, it was a lie."

"You're kidding, right? How would you know?"

Jiraiya twisted and swayed, causing the cross to become unstable and eventually crash straight to the ground.

Ignoring Jiraiya's howls behind him, he even instructed Fukasaku to keep an eye on his teacher who needed to rest.

Sakura stood up and walked into the kitchen, wanting to see what Shima had prepared for dinner.

"Oh, Sakura's here. Is there any dish you particularly want to eat? Tell Grandma."

Shima sensed Sakura's arrival and greeted her.

"Let's go with the flow."

Sakura looked at the delicious-looking pieces of protein on the cutting board and didn't know how to answer.

Shima-sensei assumed Sakura was just shy and took a stool out of the cabinet.

She jumped onto the stool and, standing on tiptoe, began to prepare the ingredients.

Sakura could barely distinguish grasshoppers and aphids from the middle of the insects, and there were also some densely packed little white insects that she couldn't name.

Only after asking Master Shima did I learn that the insect was called a taro worm...

"The taro worm is a chakra creature that lives in the middle of tree trunks all year round. It has few natural enemies and each one grows very plump."

As Shima explained to Sakura Haruno, he used Fire Release to spit out flames and boil a pot of water in front of him.

Pick up the taro worm from the package, peel off the outer shell, cut off the head and tail with a knife, then cut open the abdomen to remove the internal organs, and finally put it into a pot to simmer over low heat.

"However, since it mainly feeds on tree sap, it has a refreshing taste, is high in sugar, and has a slight alcoholic flavor, making it a favorite staple food for many young toads on Mount Myoboku."

"Oh, is that so!"

Sakura, who was helping Shima with serving utensils, felt as if she had been stuffed with a lot of wonderful knowledge.

"Since you two have just been injured, let's have something lighter for tonight's main course."

Shima was about to take out the grasshopper he had caught when he turned around and found that Sakura had already removed its entire shell.

The muscles on the grasshopper's legs were also completely removed and cut into neat slices.

"Oh my, Sakura can cook too? Her knife skills look pretty good."

Shima the Immortal showed a delighted expression, brought over the insect slices that Sakura had prepared, and used Fire Release to heat oil in a wok.

With a sizzling sound, the insect slices were put into the pot. After adding a seasoning that Xiaoying didn't recognize, an enticing aroma wafted from the oil.

"Well, I've studied some of it."

Following Shima's instructions, Sakura stir-fried the taro worms, drained them, added water to the pot, and steamed them.

After finishing all that, Master Shima also made earthworm ramen, aphid salad, and sika worm jelly, and instructed Sakura to make a caterpillar oden.

After drizzling with sauce, a delicious whole-insect feast is ready.

"Oh, what a feast!"

Upon seeing the table laden with food, Fukasaku wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing a tenacious aphid crawl out of the plate, I stuck out my tongue and pulled the stubborn insect back into my mouth.

"So delicious!"

"Hey honey, don't sneak some food!"

After scolding her husband, Shima walked to the wall, helped Jiraiya up, and untied him from his restraints.

"Thanks, boss, but you're too late!"

Unable to contain himself any longer, Jiraiya dashed out of the room to find a place to relieve the unspeakable discomfort of middle-aged men.

"Sigh, that Jiraiya!"

With a sigh, Shima-sensei prepared a basin of clean water and placed it at the door.

A moment later, the four of them sat around the small dining table.

Jiraiya expertly picked up the taro worm and stuffed it into his mouth, while also filling a large bowl with ramen and deliberately slurping it into his mouth in front of Sakura. Finally, he secretly looked at Sakura with a teasing gaze.

【childish】

'system? '

Sakura looked surprised when she heard the voice; she hadn't expected even the system, which usually preferred to stay hidden, to come up.

[Please note that this device is not intended for diving; please do not slander it.]

[Also, the achievement 'Pain, I miss you so much' has been obtained, earning 40 achievement points.]

Current Achievement Points Balance: 80

Missing me to death? You mean you want me dead!

Sakura sighed and scooped some oden ingredients from the pot, then placed the bowl in front of her.

Under Jiraiya's expectant gaze, he picked up the caterpillar with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and took a bite.

Click!

Sakura's eyes narrowed, and a milky aroma spread in her mouth.

The caterpillars that feed on the crisp leaves of Mount Myoboku year-round produce a large amount of fatty acids from their skin due to the reaction of natural energy. After being steamed and seasoned at high temperatures, they produce a fragrance similar to milk.

The delicate texture bursts on the taste buds; the insect meat remains chewy even after steaming or boiling, and releases a fragrant juice after being chewed.

"Hmm, it tastes really good."

Upon hearing Sakura's words, Shima beamed with joy and quickly added several more insects to her bowl, along with a bunch of insect dishes.

"Try these too, and see if Grandma's cooking is good."

Sakura accepted all the offers and tasted each of the insect dishes one by one.

"The cold aphid salad is quite fragrant, and the noodle worms are chewy enough, but the taro worms are a bit sweet and sticky."

Sakura ate heartily, even having the energy to comment on the dishes, leaving Jiraiya speechless.

"Ah? Why?"

The toad spirit of Mount Miaomu, the immortal Daoist, was utterly perplexed.

Even though they are both human, when Sakura first came to Mount Myōboku and faced such terrible food, she was perfectly fine, while he vomited uncontrollably.

"Hmph, because Jiraiya-sensei is an idiot!"

Sakura swallowed a taro worm and stuck her tongue out at him.

Without even needing Observation Haki, she could tell from Jiraiya's face what he was expecting, and naturally, she wouldn't let him have his way.

.

The dinner was a pleasant affair for both host and guests, except for Jiraiya, whose resolve had been broken.

As dusk fell, the hermit Fukasaku brought out bedding for Sakura and Jiraiya to rest at his house.

Late at night, Sakura quietly lifted the covers and went out of the room.

The outdoor breeze was refreshing, and the croaking of frogs echoed throughout Mount Myoboku, creating a sense of tranquility.

Sakura sat on a giant leaf, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Mount Myōboku.

The prophecy of the giant toad and the battle in Amegakure kept replaying in her mind, and the ensuing twists and turns made her feel a little anxious.

"Ultimately, it's because I'm not strong enough. I really want to grow up quickly!"

[Note: If your power is insufficient, this machine recommends that you accumulate achievement points to exchange for Wood Release!]

'Hey, you shrewd businessman, you've been waiting for me here, haven't you!'

Sakura chuckled in exasperation, but the system's interruption quickly put her earlier worries behind her.

The growth of a giant is destined to be extremely long. If one is eager to become stronger and overdraws one's potential, it is undoubtedly a very foolish thing to do.

Therefore, the best way is to travel back and forth between the ninja world and the sea step by step, using the time difference to accelerate one's growth!

"It's time to go back to the sea!"

Lying on a leaf with her hands as a pillow, Sakura gazed at the boundless starry sky, her thoughts drifting.

[Announcement: The current time is the end of Konoha Year 59, mid-1500 of the Sea Calendar.]

"How thoughtful of me, my partner."

【Humph. 】

"Well, buddy, you know what I mean!"

[Notification: Ten achievement points have been deducted!]

A cold wind blew from afar, and a soft, faint light enveloped Sakura's body.

A long-lost weariness washed over her, and Sakura closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

My dream was filled with flames and violence.

The scenery of the sea once again came into view.