Journey to the West: Life Simulation of Sun Wukong

Under Sun Wukong's tutelage, Sakura's culinary skills were superb. In her hands, the kitchen knife seemed like a dancing sprite, quickly slicing the steak that Choji had brought into five pieces, which she then placed in a skillet to fry.

While Shikamaru watched the heat, Sakura began to prepare the venison, washing away the blood, rubbing it with sauce, wrapping it in foil, and roasting it in the oven.

"Sakura, I've already peeled the konjac," Naruto said, peeling all the konjac Ino had brought and handing it to Sakura.

"Thank you, Naruto."

Sakura took the peeled konjac, rinsed it with water, and steamed it in the pot.

She then took out the instant noodles Naruto had prepared, "They haven't expired yet, but since they're already open, we can't let them go to waste."

After nearly an hour of bustling, all the dishes were ready.

The glistening konjac balls drizzled with syrup were very enticing; the aromatic roasted venison needed just a sprinkle of salt to make mouths water; the instant noodles contained small greens and an egg, simple yet substantial; adding to that, a delicious steak for each person garnished with oranges, a tempting dinner was all set.

"It smells so good!"

"Sakura, I didn't expect your cooking to be this amazing!"

"This is almost like our family gatherings."

"As expected of Sakura!"

Elated by the praise from the four, Sakura put her hands together and said, "Let's eat quickly, it won't be as good once it cools."

"Okay!" x4

"Let's dig in!" x5

Just as the five were about to pick up their bowls of noodles, a knock sounded at the door.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

"Who is it?" Naruto was a bit upset. Just when he was about to enjoy himself, they were interrupted—

"Hokage Grandpa?"

Naruto opened the door and saw Sarutobi Hiruzen standing there. He was stunned for a moment, then happily pulled Sarutobi into the room and said to Sakura and the others, "It's Hokage Grandpa visiting me!"

Sakura and the others stood up and greeted Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage!"

"Haha, no need for formalities. I just came to see Naruto, and also to bring him next month's allowance." Hiruzen chuckled as he handed next month's allowance to Naruto, then his stomach growled, "If you don't mind, could you set an extra place at the table for me? Hokage work is too busy, I haven't had dinner yet."

"No problem." Sakura smiled slightly, got up, and went to the kitchen to make a bowl of instant noodles for Sarutobi Hiruzen, adding vegetables and eggs, just like theirs.

As for the steak, Sakura cut off part of her own steak and placed it on a new plate, while others, including Shikamaru, did likewise.

This way, the steak on Sarutobi's plate ended up being the most generous portion.

"Really, Hokage Grandpa came to freeload a meal." Naruto grimaced, but still cut off a portion of his steak and added it to Sarutobi's plate.

"You are all good children." Hiruzen was very gratified, particularly praising Sakura, making Naruto feel the friendship among them.

This was very good!

Wasn't that fast... has she grown taller? ReadaheadandgetupdatesatM*V*L*E*M*P*Y*R.

Probably by next time Sakura hits a growth spurt, she'll be over five feet seven!

"Let's dig in!" x6

With one more person, although Naruto verbally complained about Sarutobi, he enjoyed the meal even more, savoring the moment.

After the meal, everyone sat patting their stomachs, discussing how to write their end-of-term reports, what to do during winter break, and how to plan their studies for the coming year.

Sakura, seeing Sarutobi smiling throughout, suddenly said, "Lord Hokage, many people in the village are reluctant to sell food to Naruto; can this be improved?"

"This is indeed a big problem." Sarutobi's smile faded, then he sighed, "Although I am Hokage, I can't change the villagers' prejudice against Naruto."

"It's okay, Sakura. I believe that one day, I will make everyone accept me!" Naruto encouraged himself, "At least, in school, by studying diligently and passing exams, my classmates clapped for me!"

"Congratulations, Naruto." Hiruzen also felt happy for Naruto.

"Lord Hokage, perhaps one day, Naruto will truly earn everyone's acceptance in the village, but now is his growing time. Today is fine since we could come, but he can't just survive on instant noodles and milk tomorrow and the day after." Sakura was quite serious, even a bit stern, "Lord Hokage, I think Naruto's special circumstances warrant converting part of his allowance from general funds into fresh vegetables, meat, dairy products, and fruits. This would not only help him hone his cooking skills but also ensure he gets the nutrition he needs."

"That's a good idea." Hiruzen nodded but then shook his head, "However, being a ninja involves daily missions, so it's not possible to deliver fresh ingredients to Naruto every day."

This indeed was a big problem.

"Master, what should I do?" Sakura wondered to herself.

"The answer to the question, you need to think about it yourself," Sun Wukong's voice resonated deep within Sakura's heart.

"Is that so?"

After thinking for a while, Sakura suddenly said, "Lord Hokage, I have an idea!"

"Oh? Let's hear it, Sakura," Sarutobi Hiruzen anticipated eagerly from the six-year-old girl.

"Since ninjas don't have much time, but we, the ninja school students, do," Sakura gestured with her thumb, "We basically only have classes in the morning and most of the afternoon free. Lord Hokage could assign a task to us, the ninja school students, to deliver fresh ingredients to Naruto."

"I know the lowest level of ninja tasks is D-rank, but I think we could set a special task for ninja school students—an E-rank task."

"For example: delivering ingredients to Naruto, the payment could vary from one to twenty-two," Sakura said.

"The amount of the payment is very small, even less than what a courier would receive, but for ninja school students, even earning one-two would make them very happy."

"Moreover, during the process of delivering ingredients to Naruto, they could also roam around Konoha more, instead of just going back and forth between home and ninja school. If they regularly interact with Naruto, they can get to know him better, and he could make more friends that way."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was astounded!

A path never considered before!

And through Sakura's suggestion, he thought of even more; this task shouldn't only be limited to Naruto but could also make all the village's orphans, especially those in the orphanage, feel the warmth of Konoha.

The orphans, mostly insecure with outward toughness that was feigned, something Sarutobi Hiruzen was well aware of. Thus, he could slightly raise the so-called E-rank task's payment, allowing those delivering life necessities and ingredients to spend more time talking with the orphans.

As for the funding issue—

A mere sum below one hundred-two, why fuss over it?

If such tasks could deepen the orphans' sense of belonging to Konoha, not to mention just ten to twenty-two, even a thousand-two, he would be willing to pay.

Aren't the funds of Konoha meant to be spent on the blade's edge?

"Sakura, you are such a clever child," Sarutobi Hiruzen exclaimed, "What is your dream, I wonder?"

"To be Hokage, of course!" Sakura revealed a radiant smile, causing Sarutobi Hiruzen to become momentarily stunned as he seemed to see a golden figure in her.

That smile, just as heartwarming.

"Hmm, I see great potential in you, Sakura," Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and then bid farewell to Naruto, leaving the place and quietly closed the door behind him.

"Sakura, even if your dream is to be a Hokage, I won't give up just because I like you," Naruto shouted.

Bang!

Sakura punched Naruto on the head, saying, "Stop talking nonsense, since you are the host, at least tidy up the dishes."

"Yes." Naruto rubbed his head and moved the dishes to the kitchen counter, but his face was filled with happiness, "It's so nice to have friends."

Sakura, however, took out her composition paper and started discussing with Ino and the others about how to write the report.

Ino said, "Just write about your experiences over this semester, right?"

Shikamaru yawned, "Just write what Iruka likes to read, like: 'My most admired teacher is Mr. Iruka.'"

Choji took out some potato chips, crunching loudly, seemingly unconcerned about how to write.

But Sakura had already started writing—

[Konoha, the ninja village of the Land of Fire, has flourished under the ideology of the First Hokage that "Where the leaves dance, fire burns eternally."]

[However, Konoha still has many problems—]

[The wealth disparity among villagers is quite significant; ninjas, even the high-ranking ones, need to accept tasks daily to sustain themselves. But this is how society operates, always requiring some people to struggle at the bottom to allow those above to enjoy.]

[Enjoyment is not a fault, but while enjoying the rights one deserves, one should also bear an equal responsibility, more effective, more efficient.]

[If one only enjoys, then they become a parasite, wasting society and the world's resources.]

[For instance, the nobles of the Land of Fire, I often interact with all sorts of people, both from within and outside of Konoha, and from their conversations, one conclusion can be drawn: nobles occupy over sixty percent of the resources, especially the Daimyos, who only need to sit in their position and enjoy the servitude below, just like pigs in a pen, and such a pig can decide the fate of ordinary people at any time.]

[Accidentally bumping into a noble could require kneeling and begging for forgiveness, and there's even a fifty percent chance of being beheaded.]

[This is definitely wrong!]

As she wrote this, Sakura paused and thought it over, then crossed out the segment about the Daimyo and tore up the entire paper, throwing it into the trash can.

Although Sakura was still young, she understood that if she submitted this report to Iruka, she might be called in for a severe reprimand.

Because in this society, everyone thinks that it's only natural for the Daimyo to enjoy all that!