Nara Shikaku's perpetually sleepy face was now etched with the word "trouble" in bold letters.
He stared at the vivid red solidified mass before him—emanating a strangely alluring, pungent aroma—then glanced at the grave expression on Yamanaka Inoichi's face.
"So... that kid named Akashi Sora used *this stuff* to scare you bad enough that you dragged us here in the middle of the night?"
Akimichi Choza's massive frame squeezed into his chair, appearing remarkably calm by contrast.
He simply reached out with thick fingers, pinched off a small bit of the red base, and popped it into his mouth.
A domineering wave of intense spice and peculiar numbing sensation exploded across his tongue.
"Hiss—"
Choza's face scrunched up, but his eyes lit up brightly.
"Inoichi, Shikaku."
He spoke suddenly.
"How about... we fire up a pot and try it properly first?"
Inoichi: "?"
Shikaku: "?"
Choza pointed righteously at the base material.
"Didn't he want to pull us into a business partnership?"
"Then everything hinges on whether this thing can actually make money."
"If it can't turn a profit, why bother listening to him ramble about the future or paint grand pictures? That's just nonsense."
He slammed the table decisively.
"So—let's taste it first!"
"If it's delicious, everything's negotiable. If it's not, tell him to cool off somewhere else!"
"Eat while we talk!"
Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi exchanged a glance.
Damn.
He... kind of had a point.
...
Soon enough, a pot was set up in the Yamanaka clan's highly confidential meeting room.
Glug glug glug.
Red oil churned vigorously; the rich, intensely spicy aroma aggressively filled the entire space—completely at odds with the room's usual solemn atmosphere.
The three clan heads of Ino-Shika-Cho sat around the single pot, staring at each other wide-eyed.
The scene was, for a time, profoundly bizarre.
"I'll go first."
As the proposer, Choza took the lead without hesitation. He picked up a slice of meat, swished it through the rolling red broth, and stuffed it into his mouth.
The next second, his eyes bulged.
"Mmm! Delicious!"
Shikaku and Inoichi watched his blissful expression and, half-convinced, picked up their own chopsticks.
"Hiss..."
Shikaku inhaled sharply from the spice, but his hand didn't stop moving.
"What a hassle..."
He mumbled unclearly while stuffing more meat into his mouth.
"I've reviewed that kid Akashi Sora's mission reports too."
"He's turned the five basic elemental releases into an art form."
"Now you're telling me he also masters Sage Mode?"
Shikaku dipped a piece of tripe, swishing it precisely "seven up, eight down" in the scalding broth.
"If you add Sage Mode to the mix, his current strength probably rivals the Third Hokage himself."
"And more importantly..."
He paused, popping the perfectly cooked tripe into his mouth and savoring the crisp texture.
"He's still so young."
"Among the younger generation, there's truly no one more suitable."
"Plus, he's Lord Jiraiya's direct disciple."
Piece after piece, Shikaku ate without pause—his mind, however, racing at full speed.
Every piece of information Sora had dropped felt like a puzzle tile.
Lord Jiraiya's disciple—representing legitimate, orthodox lineage.
Sage Mode talent surpassing even the Fourth—symbolizing unmatched potential.
Anbu squad captain—signifying the Hokage's deep trust.
Now, he dangled an irresistible business opportunity to draw in the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.
This combo struck fast and precisely.
Nara Shikaku finished the last slice of meat, lifted his teacup, and took a long, satisfied sip.
He gazed at the remaining greens still rolling in the broth and delivered his conclusion.
"Inoichi, Choza."
"Try it—this broth base is genuinely fantastic."
He clipped another helping with his chopsticks.
Inoichi and Choza watched Shikaku, awaiting his follow-up.
The Nara clan head—infamous for hating hassle—showed no trace of his usual laziness now.
"Inoichi, Choza."
Shikaku's voice was calm, but every word struck their hearts.
"We have no other choice."
He set down his teacup with a clear clink.
"That kid Akashi Sora never intended to give us the option to refuse from the start."
"He used this seemingly harmless hot pot restaurant as bait to tie our three clans to his chariot."
"Think about it—if we refuse, what happens?"
Shikaku's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"He'll approach others. Maybe the Hyuga, maybe another clan—or he could simply do it alone."
"With this stuff's appeal, opening a shop in Konoha would guarantee success. If Ino-Shika-Cho doesn't join, plenty of others will rush in."
"Then we not only miss a massive revenue source—we effectively declare to him that Ino-Shika-Cho stands against him."
Akimichi Choza set down his chopsticks; his usual geniality replaced by gravity.
"Offending a future powerhouse—a man who might become Hokage—for no gain at all."
"Exactly." Shikaku nodded approvingly.
"And if we accept—what do we gain?"
"An ally of limitless potential, a debt of favor from a future Hokage candidate, and..."
Shikaku pointed to the tofu cubes still soaking up broth in the pot.
"A golden goose that could keep our clans fed, clothed, and vastly expand our influence across Konoha."
He leaned back in his chair, his "what a hassle" posture returning.
"Open strategy. The kid's playing a blatant open strategy."
"He's laid out every benefit and risk right in front of us, letting us 'choose.'"
"But in reality, there's only one correct answer."
Yamanaka Inoichi exhaled long and slow, as if releasing all his lingering concerns.
"I understand."
He looked at his two old friends.
"This investment—Ino-Shika-Cho is in."
"About time!" Akimichi Choza slapped his thigh heartily, picking up his chopsticks again. "Come on—talk is cheap; the pot's almost empty! Add more water!"
Nara Shikaku watched Choza's gluttonous enthusiasm and shook his head helplessly.
"What a hassle."
He grumbled—but his body honestly reached for the last piece of luncheon meat in the pot.