Life at the ninja academy was meaningless.
At least, that's how Gin felt.
He had memorized all the academy's knowledge long ago, and the Will of Fire had been thrown into the trash. When it came to battle experience, he believed in learning through actual combat.
The noisy chatter around him woke Gin up. The setting sun cast a warm glow on his face as he lifted his head.
He also noticed Satoru's dark expression.
Just ignore him.
Minato, who was about to wake Gin, awkwardly retracted his hand.
Gin's timing for waking up was impeccable. He never needed anyone to call him.
"We're going to have some barbecue, Gin. Do you want to come?"
Gin glanced at the expectant Kushina nearby. Minato was smiling brightly, although the two were still in the early stages of a budding romance. Gin had no desire to play third wheel.
However...
"Are you paying?"
If someone else was treating, that was a different story.
Minato looked a bit embarrassed. He couldn't really afford to treat everyone. He came from an ordinary civilian family and was the only one to become a ninja.
"I'll pay!"
Kushina slapped the table. After all, these were her two close friends.
Unbeknownst to him, Gin had been considered one of Kushina's close friends.
But the moment Kushina said she was paying, Gin disappeared from his seat.
"Eh!?"
Where did he go?
"Hey, what are you waiting for?" Gin waved from the classroom door. "Let's go have some barbecue!"
Eating free food should be done with enthusiasm!
Minato: ...
Kushina: ...
How could you be so skilled and... so quick!
"Wait!" Hyuga Sei, with a dark expression, approached Minato.
"I want to come too."
Sei had been curious for a long time about why Minato's strength had increased so rapidly. He wanted to uncover this secret.
"I won't pay for you," Kushina said, turning her head away. She didn't know Sei well.
To be precise, apart from Minato and Gin, no one else in the class interacted with her proactively.
She wouldn't play the sucker.
Sei sneered, waving his hand.
"I'll treat everyone."
The Hyuga family was wealthy. Even as a branch family member, he could afford a barbecue meal.
"That's the spirit of a true tycoon."
Gin patted Sei's shoulder, startling him so much that he almost used Gentle Fist.
Wasn't this guy at the door? When did he come over? How was he so elusive?
No, Sei looked deeply at Gin, who was eager to eat barbecue.
This guy wasn't simple.
Satoru watched his students completely ignore him and leave the classroom, his face darkening.
He fell into deep doubt.
"Am I... really suitable for teaching students?"
Gin was indeed not simple.
And neither were Minato and Kushina.
Inside the barbecue restaurant, Sei looked at the pile of plates stacked like a small mountain.
His heart ached.
Such an appetite wasn't something ordinary people could manage. He could almost hear his wallet crying.
"Sorry, wallet. I can't save you." Sei silently mourned for his wallet.
A promise was a promise, and a Hyuga never went back on his word.
Especially not in front of a detestable Uchiha.
The Hyuga were Konoha's best! (breaking voice) "Boss, another order, please." Gin raised his hand.
Sei's face fell. Sometimes, people didn't have to be so stubborn.
Gin and Kushina were fighting over the barbecue.
They stared deeply at each other, like two arcs of electricity colliding.
A worthy opponent.
Their chopsticks flew as they grabbed meat from the grill, like swords clashing on the battlefield, rapidly snatching the meat.
Minato apologized to Sei with a glance and quickly grabbed a piece of meat amidst the flurry.
Since he started practicing Basic Inner Power, his appetite and strength had both increased.
Though he couldn't match the other two in their battle, he was a potential big eater.
Sei watched the pile of plates, his face full of tears.
"That was all my savings," he thought bitterly.
Just as he picked up a piece of meat to eat, he found his mouth empty.
"Where's my meat!!?"
He looked at the three, who avoided his gaze, their cheeks puffed out, chewing vigorously. The worst part was they didn't even bother to explain.
Fine, you want to play like that?
"Byakugan!"
Sei joined the battle, his chopsticks striking like Gentle Fist techniques.
He had learned the meaning of the dining table war.
If you can't grab the meat, you only deserve to eat plain rice.
When Gin was finally satisfied and picking his teeth, Kushina glared at Sei.
"You're cheating!"
Who uses a bloodline limit and taijutsu while eating?
That's just wrong!!!
\Sei turned away, tears streaming down his face.
"Do you have a problem?"
He had spent so much money, he couldn't leave without eating a single bite.
Kushina awkwardly smiled and looked away.
"I have some money."
Minato offered his small allowance.
\Sei, seeing Minato's 100 ryo note, was moved to tears.
Truly, Minato was the most popular.
Offering a helping hand in his darkest hour.
But just as he was about to take the money, his face changed.
Minato was his lifelong rival. How could he fall into his trap!!
"I won't fall into your trap."
Sei refused with difficulty.
"Huh?" Minato scratched his head, not understanding what Sei meant.
"Hurry up, it's time to pay."
Gin, completely shameless, urged while picking his teeth with a toothpick.
"And then let's head to the training ground. I have something to teach you."
He had a new trump card and was ready to teach it.
Four techniques had further training directions.
Unfortunately, his golden finger limited him.
Sei, puzzled, went to pay the bill.
Under the forced smile of the barbecue restaurant owner, Hyuga Sei emptied his wallet.
Seeing the owner's barely contained laughter, it was clear how much Sei had spent.
Holding the few remaining coins, his heart and soul felt exhausted.
"I wonder if my cousin can take me in for a few months."
This was his living expense for months, gone in one meal.
These three were true gluttons.
Outside, he saw the three discussing something, silently clenching his fists.
He felt like a sucker. As he approached, he heard Gin sigh.
"There are fewer people on the streets."
Despite being a commercial street, there were only a few people around. Including the four of them, there weren't enough to form two groups.
Sei recalled the discussions among his clan and spoke.
"I heard that ninjas from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind are trying to invade the Land of Fire. Our village's ninjas are on reconnaissance and defense."
Minato also sighed. "People are afraid that foreign ninjas will invade. They don't dare to go out."
Kushina remained silent. Of the four, only she knew the true horrors of war. Her home had been destroyed.
They could all smell the war in the air.
"Let's train harder. The year we graduate, we might be sent to the battlefield."
Gin spoke with a vague tone, but he was certain in his heart. They would inevitably be drawn into the war.
"So, what are you going to teach us?" Sei asked curiously.
Gin glanced at him, leaning his head back with his hands behind his head.
"Come with me, and you'll see."
Sei saw that Minato and Kushina had no doubts and followed Gin, half understanding.
They walked through several streets, heading to more secluded areas.
Even entering the forest.
"Why such a remote place?"
Minato asked.
Last time it was by the stream. Why the forest this time?
Gin chuckled. "I found a secret base. We can train there, just the four of us."
When he said "us," his eyes glanced at the bushes.
Kushina and Minato noticed Gin's subtle action.
Both fell silent.
Since practicing Basic Inner Power, their senses had sharpened. They had long noticed the Anbu members always following Kushina.
Kushina understood the situation but pretended not to. Minato didn't understand fully but knew it wasn't something a student could handle.
In a dilapidated training ground deep in the forest.
Minato, Kushina, and Sei sat on the ground, while Gin stood on a stump with his hands behind his back.
"Today, I'll teach you four taijutsu techniques."
"Taijutsu?" Sei sneered. He thought it was something important.
"You seem unconvinced. Want to test it?"
Gin smiled at Sei.
Sei, who didn't even respect Minato, stood up and got into a stance.
"You..."
Before he finished speaking, Gin was in front of him, his smiling face annoyingly close.
"One of the Four Techniques: Soru."
Sei didn't stop moving, using Gentle Fist immediately.
His hands moved quickly, even leaving afterimages.
But Gin dodged left and right in Sei's strikes like paper, avoiding every hit.
The more he missed, the more anxious Sei became, attacking faster.
"This is one of the Four Techniques: Kami-e."
Gin demonstrated Kami-e, then stopped abruptly, standing still. This gave Sei an opening to strike his pressure points.
Each hit targeted Gin's chakra pathways, but Gin remained standing, unhurt.
He even winked at Sei.
This guy was even more annoying than Minato!!
But...
Sei stepped back, his hands red and swollen.
This guy was so tough.
Gin spoke calmly.
"One of the Four Techniques: Tekkai."
He then pointed to a nearby branch. When he lifted his finger, there was a deep hole left by his finger.
"One of the Four Techniques: Shigan."
"These are the four taijutsu techniques I'll teach you."
(End of Chapter)