"Ah~ This restaurant is really amazing! I have to come again next time!"
Naruto patted his round belly, satisfied as he slumped in his chair, his face glowing with a happy flush.
"Exactly, exactly! Better than any other barbecue I've had before!" Kiba let out a loud, satisfied burp. Akamaru on his head was already lying belly-up, fast asleep.
Hinata held a bottle of drink, sipping it slowly, somewhat embarrassed as she looked at the mountain of empty plates before her, her cheeks slightly flushed.
She quietly glanced up at Menma, only to find him smiling at her. Her face turned even redder, and she quickly looked down.
"Hinata, your appetite is truly becoming more and more astonishing," Ino said, propping her chin on her hand, her eyes full of amazement. "Even Choji can't eat as much as you now."
Choji, also leaning back in his chair, rubbed his belly contentedly: "I was off my game today. I'll win next time... burp."
Shikamaru shook his head helplessly: "Honestly, it's just a meal. What's there to compete over?"
That said, the plates in front of him were also basically empty.
Sasuke remained quiet as usual, just sitting there, occasionally looking around, his gaze particularly focused on the three Kirigakure's Genin at the next table.
At that moment, Suigetsu was casually leaning over, his arm on the back of Naruto's chair, a familiar smile on his face: "Hey, your name's Naruto, right? You said Zabuza was taken out by a Land of Stars' Ninja? Is that guy really dead?"
Naruto turned to look at Suigetsu, blinking his blue eyes, and nodded without any guard: "Yeah, he was killed in one blow by that guy named Iida Yusuke! Super strong!"
A flicker of understanding passed through Suigetsu's eyes. He chuckled lightly and muttered quietly: "Makes sense... Zabuza was an S-rank Missing-Nin, after all. How could a few Genin brats have killed him."
His tone carried a hint of matter-of-factness, but also a touch of regret that he hadn't been able to face the legendary [Demon] himself.
But Naruto's next words made the smile on Suigetsu's face freeze slightly.
"That old man was carrying a huge sword!" Naruto gestured, his arms exaggeratedly spread wide. "I think it was called... the Kubikiribocho! He swung it 'shwip' and chopped Zabuza's weapon in half!"
Suigetsu and Chojuro exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.
The Kubikiribocho.
One of Kirigakure's seven legendary Ninja Swords, which had disappeared without a trace years ago after being taken from Samehada's wielder, Suikazan Fuguki, by the mysterious Shura.
Although they had long heard that the Land of Stars had formed its own Ninja Sword Corps, they hadn't expected to encounter it so soon.
Suigetsu instinctively touched the weapon wrapped in bandages on his back… the Longsword: Nuibari.
And Chojuro glanced sideways at the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari, wrapped in a cloth bag behind him.
Kirigakure's seven Ninja Swords, now only three remained, with only two inheritors. How pathetic...
"The Kubikiribocho, huh..." Suigetsu clicked his tongue, a flicker of fighting spirit in his eyes. "Interesting."
Menma, while flipping the last few slices of meat on the grill with tongs, was quietly observing Honoka.
This red-haired girl spoke little, mostly listening quietly, occasionally lifting her clear eyes to observe the Konoha group.
Her gaze lingered on Naruto for a few extra seconds, clearly interested in the surname 'Uzumaki'.
"Menma-kun..." Hinata's soft call brought Menma back to reality.
He turned to find that Hinata's bowl was already piled high with grilled meat, while he had been mechanically adding more to it.
Hinata's face was as red as a ripe tomato, her pale eyes full of shyness: "I-it's enough... I really can't eat anymore..."
Menma then realized he had been distracted. He put down the tongs and smiled gently at Hinata: "Eat up. The Chunin Exams are coming soon. You'll expend a lot of energy then. You need to store up energy now."
His concern warmed Hinata's heart. She softly said "Mm", and continued eating in small bites.
Ino, propping her chin on her hand, watched Hinata's piled-high plate and her continued eating, then looked at Choji across from her, who had entered a 'food coma standby mode'. She couldn't help but sigh: "You really can't judge a book by its cover... Hinata looks so gentle and quiet, yet her appetite is this big."
Sakura also nodded in agreement: "And she eats very gracefully, nothing like Choji, who seems so rough."
Hinata, hearing their comments, lowered her head even further, her ears turning bright red.
Sasuke and Shikamaru exchanged a few more words with the three Kirigakure's Ninjas.
It was less a conversation than a mutual probe.
"How many teams did your Kirigakure send this time?" Shikamaru asked, seemingly casually.
Chojuro pushed up his glasses and replied shyly: "Just two Genin Teams, including ours."
The trauma the Bloody Mist Policy had inflicted on Kirigakure still hadn't fully healed.
"And your Jonin Instructor?" Sasuke asked, his tone more direct.
Suigetsu grinned, showing his sharp teeth: "What, trying to probe for intelligence? It won't hurt to tell you. It's Ao-san. But he has other business. Right now, he's probably discussing the exam with Konoha's Jonin."
Ao, a Jonin of Kirigakure, known for taking a Byakugan from the Hyuga main family's member during the Third Great Ninja War.
Shikamaru noted this information silently.
Just then, Menma suddenly looked up towards the entrance of the barbecue restaurant.
Sasuke, who had remained vigilant, also immediately noticed.
Two young men and one young woman walked in.
The girl had bright red short hair, brown skin, a curvy figure, and a short sword at her waist.
Of the two boys, one had darker skin, white short hair, a lollipop in his mouth, and a lazy gaze. The other had fair skin, blonde short hair, and an exceptionally robust build, his muscles straining his clothes taut.
All three wore white standard flak jackets, their forehead protectors worn squarely on their brows.
"They're Ninja from Kumogakure..." Shikamaru lowered his voice. "Are they here for the Chunin Exams too?"
Menma recognized them.
Karui, Omoi, and Atsui, the most outstanding young Ninja of Kumogakure's generation.
Among them, Karui and Omoi were also disciples of the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki, Killer B. Their strength was not to be underestimated.
The three stood at the entrance, seeming to be talking to the staff.
Soon, another figure walked in.
A young woman with short blonde hair, delicate features, radiating an icy, unapproachable aura.
She was tall, wearing Kumogakure's dark tight short skirt and a white flak jacket, her chest curving impressively, but those blue-green eyes held no warmth.
Samui, a Jonin of Kumogakure, an icy beauty known for her calmness and erudition.
After the four met up, they were led by the staff to the private booth area on the other side of the barbecue restaurant.
As they passed by the Konoha group's table, Samui's cold gaze swept over them, lingering for a moment on Sasuke and Menma, then casually looked away.
Karui, on the other hand, waved at them in a friendly, open manner, as a greeting.
Omoi still had his lollipop in his mouth, muttering: "So many people... could there be an ambush... what if we get attacked after dinner..."
Atsui patted his shoulder and laughed honestly: "You're thinking too much, Omoi. This is Konoha's central district. Let's just eat!"
Watching the direction the four Kumogakure's Ninja had disappeared, Shikamaru rubbed his temples: "Looks like this Chunin Exams is really a gathering of talent..."
Sasuke remained silent but had already firmly memorized the features of the four Kumogakure's Ninja.
About another half hour later, the group finally finished their long meal.
When it came time to pay, Menma offered to cover the bill.
Naruto wanted to split it, a bit embarrassed, but Menma smiled and refused: "When you earn more money later, you can treat us then."
"Deal!" Naruto nodded vigorously, his eyes shining. "When I become Hokage, I'll treat you to the most expensive meal!"
"Before that, become a Chunin first, dead last," Sasuke habitually poured cold water, but his tone lacked much of its previous sharpness.
Walking out of the barbecue restaurant, the cool night breeze hit their faces, dissipating the smell of oil smoke.
Konoha's commercial street was still brightly lit, bustling with people. The influx of outsiders due to the Chunin Exams made the village more lively than usual.
At the shop entrance, the Konoha group said goodbye to the three Kirigakure's Ninja.
"See you in the exam arena!" Suigetsu grinned, giving Naruto and Kiba a thumbs-up. "I won't go easy on you then!"
Naruto immediately ignited with fighting spirit, waving his fist: "I should be saying that! Even if you're friends from afar, be careful when we meet next time! I will definitely defeat you!"
Kiba, with the now-awake Akamaru on his head, also chimed in: "Yeah! Let's have a good spar then! Akamaru is looking forward to it too!"
Akamaru barked twice in agreement.
Chojuro pushed up his glasses and smiled shyly: "Th-then, see you all in the exam arena."
Honoka bowed slightly, politely saying goodbye.
As she straightened up, her gaze again swept over Naruto, finally landing on Menma.
This black-haired boy's look just now had made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
The group parted ways, heading in different directions.
After walking a certain distance, Chojuro asked quietly: "Honoka, what was that? You were staring at that boy named Menma."
Honoka gently shook her head, her red hair swaying slightly in the night breeze: "Nothing, Chojuro-senpai. I just feel... they're all not simple. That Naruto, and that Menma, both give me a sense of danger."
Suigetsu picked his ear nonchalantly: "Every village has its geniuses. But the more talented they are, the more satisfying it is to beat them, right?"
He paused, as if remembering something: "Speaking of which, that kid named Naruto has the surname 'Uzumaki'..."
When Mei and Ao had entrusted Honoka to him and Chojuro, they had mentioned something about the Uzumaki Clan.
Honoka nodded, her expression somewhat complex: "Mm, but that Naruto doesn't have red hair... and the Chakra inside him feels very strange too. It's vast, but carries a... violent aura."
Chojuro looked thoughtful: "Members of the Uzumaki Clan should all have red hair. Could he just be someone who inherited the surname, a branch line that mixed blood many generations ago?"
"I don't know," Honoka said softly. "But if he really is a member of the Uzumaki Clan... then things become complicated."
The three gradually disappeared at the other end of the street.