The young waitress led Kuro to the table and, with a professional smile, addressed the diners,
"Hello, sorry for the inconvenience. The place is very crowded, would you mind sharing the table with another guest?"
Kuro took the opportunity to take a good look at the two.
Both were human males, one big and one small.
The first was a robustly built boy, wearing a short t-shirt and shorts. The most striking feature was the swirl-shaped marks on his cheeks, emphasizing his rounded face.
The second was an adult man, clearly much larger, with a sturdy face and colored lines across it. He wore battle-worn armor, and his red hair, messy like a hedgehog, fell behind him. His wild aura was unmistakable.
Their faces bore some resemblance, and their clothes carried the Akimichi clan emblem, making their identities evident.
Choza Akimichi and Chōji Akimichi.
"Originally, this was a table for six, so it's fine," Choza smiled, nodding toward the waitress and Kuro.
He then shifted slightly to make space, simultaneously signaling Chōji, who was enjoying his meal, to be polite and move over.
Chōji let out an annoyed sigh and slid to the side… though he barely moved an inch, just enough to not seem rude.
Kuro observed him, opened his mouth to say something, but decided it wasn't worth it. Instead, he simply nodded respectfully.
"Thank you."
With that simple word, he sat down next to Chōji.
Everyone likes polite children, and Choza nodded, clearly pleased.
"The pork belly here is amazing. Order some more if you like it."
"Thank you, sir."
"What a well-mannered kid!" exclaimed Choza before returning enthusiastically to his meal.
As for Chōji…
He remained entirely focused on his plate, devouring it without lifting his head for a second.
Kuro smiled without responding.
He leaned back in his chair as the waitress placed the charcoal grill on the table. In a casual move, he grabbed a strand of Choza's hair, which was long enough that the tips brushed against the back of his chair. Choza, engrossed in his food, didn't notice a thing.
Kuro, pretending to be comfortably reclined, pressed the hair against the chair and subtly pulled a strand when he shifted position.
Choza probably noticed, but he didn't seem to mind at all.
[Forge material detected: "Giant Hair" identified. This material allows the creation of the special item "Giant Bracelet." Do you wish to proceed with forging?]
Although intrigued by what the bracelet might do, Kuro knew this wasn't the time or place. There were too many people around.
Without anyone noticing, he hid the strand of hair among his own, and his smile grew even wider.
After a while, the waitress arrived with the hot grill, and Kuro grabbed the menu to choose. Not knowing which dishes were the best, he opted for the most expensive ones.
After all, this is a buffet. You don't eat for free.
Choza noticed Kuro's behavior and shook his head but said nothing.
In this restaurant, you couldn't waste food. If you left anything on your plate, you'd have to pay the full price.
Well, let him learn the hard way.
Choza thought that sometimes young people needed to learn important lessons through experience. However, he decided not to warn him.
But Chōji did.
"If you don't finish what you order, you'll have to pay the full price," Chōji said without looking up from his plate.
Kuro stared at him, surprised by the comment, but then gave him a kind smile.
"Don't worry, I have a big appetite. I always finish what I eat."
"....Really?"
Chōji looked at him skeptically, glancing at the dishes he had chosen from the menu. His small eyes, almost hidden in his round face, filled with suspicion.
The amount of food he had ordered was substantial, even for someone like him.
But in the end, Chōji decided not to insist. He had been kind enough with the warning and returned his focus to devouring his food.
'This chubby kid is really kind!'
Kuro sighed.
Food was Chōji's favorite thing. He didn't waste time when eating. He hadn't even lifted his head when the waiter came to ask questions.
But now, to remind a stranger not to waste food, I have to say Chōji is kind.
Shortly after, the dishes began arriving: pork belly, sirloin, thigh meat, beef and pork cuts, green peppers, and a variety of vegetables.
The once-empty table was now brimming with food.
Choza and Chōji stared at the plates in amazement, so much so that they didn't even notice half the meat had already disappeared.
Kuro acted as though he didn't see their gazes. He took some pieces of meat, dipped them in seasonings, and placed them on the grill.
Soon, the exquisite aroma of grilled meat began to fill the air. Choza and Chōji swallowed in unison.
Kuro picked up his chopsticks calmly, bringing a piece of meat to his mouth.
His way of eating contrasted with the Akimichi: while they devoured their plates without pause, he ate slowly, with elegant movements. However, he chewed quickly, and each piece of meat disappeared in seconds, causing him to use his chopsticks frequently.
Before long, all the meat on the grill had disappeared.
Unhurriedly, Kuro began seasoning more meat and vegetables, preparing them for grilling.
Suddenly, Chōji, his mouth full, looked at his father. "Dad, could someone from our clan have been expelled?"
"Of course not!"
Choza shot Chōji a reproachful look, then said somewhat dejectedly, "Although… there are some people in this world who are gluttons and don't gain a single gram of fat. That's what I envy!"
"Sigh…."
The duo sighed at the same time, then turned their pain and anger into appetite and continued devouring the food.
Kuro smiled and said nothing.
It wasn't that he had an extraordinary appetite, but since forging the red headband, the intensity of his training had increased considerably.
If you train more, you need to eat more. It's logical.
Today, he had taken his training to a much higher level than usual, all to test the limits of his new body. But that extra effort had also left his stomach growling more than usual.
However, this situation worried him.
I have no income and depend entirely on Konoha's subsidies to survive.
Those subsidies were enough for a simple life, but now, with his increased food consumption, they were no longer sufficient.
What can I do?
Talk to the Hokage?
If I explain my situation, he should help me, right?
Hiruzen wasn't exactly known for being generous, but he was a shrewd political leader and knew how to recognize effort and potential in his citizens. Kuro was sure the Hokage would be pleased to see such a dedicated child training hard.
But asking for help comes at a price.
Kuro wasn't a fan of owing favors, nor did he like others owing him. So, if he could avoid it, he preferred not to ask for anything, even something as small as an increase in his subsidy.
Even if it's something minor.
No, there has to be another solution.
While turning the meat on the grill, he reflected on his options.
His parents had left a small pension after their deaths. It wasn't much, but it could last a year or two.
However, he had decided to reserve that money for buying kunai, shuriken, and other necessary tools in the future.
If I spend it on food now, I won't have the means to equip myself later.
Then, an idea came to him.
What if I go hunting?
Konoha was surrounded by a large forest, and it wasn't uncommon for large animals to approach the village. Additionally, some remote training fields also had abundant animal populations.
If I hunt, I'll not only solve the food problem but also use it as part of my training. Two birds with one stone!
The idea calmed him, and his appetite seemed to grow even more.
...
He finished all the dishes on the table and ordered another full round.
The meal lasted four hours.
When he finally left the restaurant with a full stomach, it was completely dark. The moon shone high in the sky, and the night air was cool.
As he walked toward the exit, he remembered the expressions of Choza and Chōji. Both had secretly tried to compete with him, determined not to be outdone in a gluttony contest. However, now they were sprawled face-down on the table, unable to move.
Thinking of the naive look on the father and son's faces as they tried to eat more, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
All right, I admit it. It was a tough battle, but I won.
With a satisfied smile, Kuro limped back home.