Looking at the newly increased merit points on his ninja registration card, Taki Toru was practically glowing with happiness. After all, only by accumulating enough merit could he finally be promoted to Chunin.
Hayashi simply smiled and said nothing.
People were happy because they were easily satisfied. For Taki, seeing his four-digit number jump by another thousand was more than enough to lift his mood. But if he could see the long string of numbers on Hayashi's card, the kind that stretched into six digits, he probably would not even be able to cry.
This was the true difference between the rich and the poor. No, between the terrifyingly rich and the terrifyingly poor.
"Why don't we find a place to eat something next? This is the first time everyone has officially become members of the same squad," Taki Yu thought for a moment before making the suggestion.
"Let's go, everyone together," Taki Toru nodded vigorously. "Since I can't beat the captain in combat power, then… at the very least, I have to beat the captain at the dinner table."
Himeji also nodded in agreement.
While providing relatively safe accommodation, the base also had several areas for relaxation. As Yu suggested, within the Konoha base there were barbecue stands and ramen shops. Although simple, they were still valuable places to ease stress.
Of course, the most effective stress-relief places were those so-called massage parlors and large clubs. Unfortunately, the base definitely did not have such things. If it did, Jiraiya would never have stayed obediently in the Rain Country playing the role of a nanny.
"Let me tell you, the barbecue here might look a bit shabby, but the taste is absolutely top tier," Taki Toru said proudly.
Because the Taki siblings had fought on this battlefield for some time, they were already familiar with the surrounding area. And after experiencing life and death together, the bond between them had quietly deepened.
Taki Yu even casually wrapped an arm around Hayashi's shoulder as he enthusiastically introduced the local food.
"As the captain, I'll cover all the expenses today," Hayashi said with a faint smile. Eating a proper meal was not a bad idea. Originally, he had planned to find a secluded place to continue practicing the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, but it seemed that would have to be postponed for a bit.
Before long, the group arrived at a barbecue stand. Since they came quite early, there were no other ninjas around yet.
Taki Toru greeted the shopkeeper with ease. "Boss, give us a few servings as usual."
On the battlefield, aside from the free military cafeteria, places like this required merit points to exchange for food. Every once in a while, the shop owners would submit their accounts to Konoha. The merit points deducted from the ninjas would be converted into silver and returned to them.
In a way, it was war profiteering, and a very profitable kind at that.
"Speaking of which, Captain," Taki Toru said while carefully turning the skewers in her hands, "since you're so strong, why don't we raise the difficulty of our missions next time?"
Before Hayashi could respond, Taki Yu, as her older brother, had already set down his chopsticks and glared fiercely at her.
"Today's mission was already something we barely managed to get through," he said coldly. "Without the captain, even if we came back alive, we would be heavily injured. What exactly are you thinking? Do you believe your shaky medical ninjutsu can save the entire ninja world?"
"…But Yu, if the mission difficulty increases, we can earn money much faster…" Taki Toru replied softly, shrinking back under her brother's glare.
"Before thinking about yourself, you must think about your teammates," Taki Yu said with a serious expression. "Have you already forgotten the previous captain…?"
The moment those words fell, the table fell into silence. Himeji also lowered her head slightly.
Hayashi understood at once.
Squads like Himeji's had already been established for several years. Before he arrived, this team had a Jonin captain. And since he was here now, that could only mean one thing.
That captain had died.
After a brief silence, Taki Toru looked at Hayashi with guilt in her eyes and bowed her head slightly.
"I'm sorry, Captain."
"It's fine," Hayashi replied gently. He glanced at Toru, who looked dejected, then at Himeji, who was pressing her lips together in silence. This squad clearly carried a past filled with loss.
It was somewhat similar to what had happened to Yura back then.
As the meal went on, the heavy mood gradually faded. More and more ninjas entered the barbecue shop, filling it with noise and laughter. Then, after hearing a very familiar voice, Hayashi looked up.
"Eh? Isn't that Shikaku?"
Shikaku tied his pineapple-shaped hair back and looked far more spirited than usual when he noticed Hayashi. "Hayashi, long time no see."
Hayashi looked him over carefully. He was actually wearing a Chunin vest now.
"When we last saw you off, weren't you still a Genin?"
"Yeah," Shikaku replied helplessly. "I also find it strange. My merit points weren't enough, and my strength isn't outstanding either, but the Hokage suddenly called me in and said the village had decided to promote me after some discussion. What can I do? And it all happened after you left. Once I became a Chunin, I had no choice but to give up my rotation and come here with another team."
"Then you're the second person in our class to become a Chunin. Congratulations," Hayashi said sincerely. He had always acknowledged Shikaku's ability. With an IQ of 180, his strategic value alone was enough to justify the promotion.
"I don't want hollow congratulations," Shikaku scratched his head. "Why don't you treat my entire squad to this meal?"
"No way," Hayashi quickly waved his hand. "I've been so poor lately that I might as well be eating dirt."
"The last time you treated hundreds of us, you used up all your savings," Shikaku said with a hint of guilt.
"That just makes me feel worse," Shikaku muttered. "Back then, Choza kept eating and packing food at the same time. I warned him several times, but he just wouldn't stop."
"So that's why you handed him your scroll," Hayashi said.
"Cough," Shikaku coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "So these are the members of your new squad? Not bad, you even have another girl now."
He showed a mischievous grin and nudged Hayashi's shoulder.
"If you like, I can lend her to you."
"Haha, that's not for me to decide. You'd better ask our captain," Shikaku joked back.
"Forget it. Bringing you alone is already troublesome enough. Don't add more burden to me," a calm voice said from behind.
A Jonin with the same hairstyle as Shikaku walked in. Surprisingly, it was not Kato Dan.
"Let me introduce him to you," Shikaku said. "This is the captain of my current squad."
"I am Nara Shikahisa, also from the Nara clan."
"Hayashi," he replied with a polite nod.
After the brief greeting, Hayashi pulled Shikaku slightly aside.
"Shikaku, wasn't your Jonin captain originally Kato Dan?"
"Yes," Shikaku answered. "But this time only I came from our original squad, so I specifically asked a ninja from my clan to give me special training."
Hayashi raised an eyebrow. "And the real reason?"
Shikaku glanced around, then lowered his voice. "The one who gave Nawaki the idea to deal with Teacher Kato Dan… was actually me. So now I'm hiding from him."
"..."