Chapter 8: A Sumptuous Dinner
"Haha, System, that was the best thing you've said all day! The most pleasant thing to hear. It made this master happy, made this master's heart bloom with joy."
Rumble, rumble.
Suddenly, an embarrassing sound emerged. It seemed it was about time to eat. His stomach was getting a little hungry. Orion rubbed his flat belly and wondered if his mother had cooked yet.
Orion looked out the window again. The sun was almost completely gone, and it was nearly nighttime. Today had been a really tiring day; so many things had happened.
Sniff, sniff.
Orion chose to close his eyes and slowly take in the smells.
Eh, what's that delicious smell? It seems to be wafting in from outside the door. Mmm, it's the aroma of food. It seems to be stir-fried vegetables... no, wait, there's also the smell of meat. What kind of meat is it?
"Ah, I remember now! This meaty aroma must be braised pork! It must be the smell of my favorite braised pork! Haha, I'm so smart. Mother must have already finished cooking and is just waiting for me to come down and eat."
"Orion! Orion! Namikaze Orion! Can you hear me? Hurry up and come downstairs for dinner!"
It was his mother's call. Her voice was still so gentle and pleasant, like a small stream that could flow right into his heart, instantly lifting his slightly gloomy mood.
"Mom, I hear you, I hear you! I'll be right down! Wait a moment, I'm coming down to eat with you right now."
He just didn't know if his father, Minato Namikaze, would be home. Ever since his father became Hokage, he had been swamped with work every day. He spent basically the entire day at the Hokage's office, with no time to come home.
Orion walked steadily towards the door, step by step. He reached out and opened it. Because his stomach was a little hungry, he quickened his pace. Soon, Orion arrived at the dining table.
There were a great many dishes on the table, all colorful and all his favorites. His mother was currently scooping rice into bowls.
Orion took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"It smells so good! Mom, why are you so good to me today? Why did you make so many delicious things, and all of them are my favorites?"
Looking at the bowls of steaming food on the table, Orion was a little puzzled and asked his mother, Kushina Uzumaki.
Hearing her son's question, Kushina shot Orion a sidelong glance.
She said, "Are you trying to say I'm usually not good to you, and that I'm only good to you today?"
"Hehehe, no, no! My mom is the best person to me in the entire world," Orion said to his mother, Kushina.
Seeing her son's antics, Kushina stopped teasing him. "Alright, alright, I forgive you."
Just then, his father walked in from outside. At this moment, his father, Minato Namikaze, was not wearing his exclusive Hokage robe, but a set of white clothes and pants—casual home wear. It seemed his father really did like the color white.
But why is Father home today? Isn't he very busy? Ever since he became the Fourth Hokage, he's barely had any time at home, no time to spend with me and Kushina. But today he's here. I wonder why?
Minato Namikaze walked into the room and saw the bewildered look on Orion's face. He knew it was his own fault; because he was away from home for so long, his son had this reaction whenever he was actually around.
Minato gave a genuine smile and slowly walked over to Orion. When he reached him, he stretched out a hand and ruffled his hair.
"Silly child, have you forgotten that today is your birthday? I even gave you a jutsu scroll as a birthday present this afternoon!" Minato said softly to Orion.
My birthday? My birthday?
"Ah! I remember now! So today is my birthday. Look at this memory of mine. I guess so many things happened today that I even forgot my own birthday. I really shouldn't have!"
Looking at his father, Orion smiled as well. He didn't dodge or resist as his father ruffled his hair, because this feeling of being cared for was just too good, really comfortable, like the warm sun shining on his body.
Orion's mother, Kushina Uzumaki, looked at the harmonious father-and-son pair and couldn't help but show a warm smile. Today was a family reunion, the whole family together and happy. How nice.
"Alright, is that enough, you two? It's our son's fourth birthday, and it's already very late. Shouldn't we eat first? After dinner, I won't care what you two do," Kushina said with a helpless tone.
"Time to eat, time to eat! My stomach is about to be completely empty."
Orion had never experienced this kind of affection before. Hearing his mother Kushina's words, he dodged his father Minato's hand, his face turning slightly red. He felt a little shy.
Orion didn't know when the last time he had blushed from shyness was. It must have been a very, very long time ago. Now, feeling it again, it didn't seem so bad. His face felt warm.
Orion quickly sat down, grabbed a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks, and prepared to start eating.
Suddenly, his mother, Kushina Uzumaki, noticed that something seemed a little off about her son. She couldn't put her finger on it, but he just looked strange, a little different from before. But she just couldn't say what it was.
"Why do I have this feeling?"
Kushina Uzumaki fell into deep thought. After thinking for a while, she looked at Orion again, at his face. Why is it like this? Why do I get a different feeling from before? It's so strange!
Kushina kept looking at Orion like this. As she watched, her eyes suddenly widened, and she blurted out without hesitation, "Ori, have you gotten paler recently? You seem a little fairer today than before."
She even walked over to Orion, reached out a fair, tender arm, and pinched his cheek. After pinching it, Kushina froze. Son, your face is so soft! Why didn't I ever feel this before?
After pinching his cheek, Kushina tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"Forget it, why bother thinking about it? No matter what he turns into, isn't he still my son?"
Minato Namikaze, who had been eating, heard Kushina's words and also looked up. He carefully studied Orion's face, staring for a while, making Orion's scalp tingle.
Minato spoke up, "If Kushina hadn't mentioned it, I really wouldn't have noticed! Orion, you actually do seem a bit fairer than before. I really couldn't tell without looking closely."
Orion, who had been eating happily, was about to lose his appetite from all the scrutiny from his parents.
Looking at his parents, Orion broke into a cold sweat. Damn, they really are my parents. How can they notice such an ordinary thing? I just got a little paler, is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of it?
However, while this might be a small matter in Orion's eyes, it wasn't small in his mother's. In a mother's eyes, anything related to her child is a major event.
Orion replied to his mother, "Mom, maybe it's because I haven't been out in the sun much lately, so I got a little paler."
"Really? Is that so?" his mother Kushina asked, looking at her son doubtfully.
"Yes, yes, that must be it."
This was the only answer Orion could give to this question; there was no other. He couldn't possibly tell his parents, I'm a transmigrator, and because I cultivated chakra, the system in my body activated. After it activated, it remodeled my body to bind with me.
That kind of answer was impossible. Even if he said it, his parents probably wouldn't believe him. They might even think there was something wrong with his brain. It would be embarrassing if they called a medical-nin to treat his brain.
(End of this chapter)