Kakashi Must Never Dodge the Bill

Though Sasuke wanted to ask for guidance, he simply could not bring himself to consult Hinata about training.

This was not just a matter of pride.

In Sasuke and Hinata's generation, the Uchiha and Hyuga had always been rivals.

Before the Uchiha Clan Extermination, Fugaku Uchiha and Hyuga Hiashi had often lectured Sasuke and Hinata that they had to surpass the other at the Ninja Academy.

Hinata naturally noticed the hesitation on Sasuke's face, but she ignored him.

Naruto and Sasuke were going to become gods someday anyway. What did it matter if they were a little weak now?

So what was Lady Hinata doing?

Hinata was grilling meat.

Hinata was already full. She was preparing to bring this grilled meat home for Hanabi and Neji. Kakashi was treating them, after all!

Kakashi had been single for nearly thirty years. He had become a Jonin at twelve and had worked in the Anbu for several years. He usually had nowhere to spend money, so no one knew how much savings he had accumulated over the years.

Hinata had done the math for Kakashi. Based on his savings, he had enough to eat and drink for more than a decade.

Working under Kakashi in the future, she would never have to worry about food or drink.

After finishing the BBQ, the trio went their separate ways, and Hinata took the grilled meat home.

Hanabi was already seven years old this year. Like Hinata, she had chosen to attend the Ninja Academy.

However, the Ninja Academy was on break today.

Hinata brought Hanabi some grilled meat, spent some affectionate time with her, then went to find Neji.

Hinata did not actually know whether Neji was home. If he was not, she would have no choice but to eat the grilled meat herself.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As soon as Hinata reached Neji's small courtyard, she heard the sound of someone striking a training post.

"Brother Neji!"

"Lady Hinata!"

Neji stopped training and walked over. Hinata handed him the grilled meat and said with a sweet smile, "I passed the Genin Exam today. Our team leader treated us to BBQ, so I brought this for you!"

Neji took the lunchbox and smiled. "Congratulations!"

Hinata and Neji sat in the corridor. Neji ate the grilled meat while Hinata casually talked about that day's survival exercise. Feeling that the time was right, Hinata suddenly said, "Brother Neji, Teacher Kakashi is really unreliable. He said he would treat us to BBQ today, but then he ran off. In the end, we had to put it on credit."

Neji: "..."

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

Hinata glanced at Neji and continued, "I heard Teacher Might Guy is Teacher Kakashi's rival. Could you ask Teacher Might Guy to have a word with Teacher Kakashi?"

Sure enough... his bad feeling had come true!

Neji knew Hinata fairly well. Beneath her sweet, adorable, well-behaved appearance hid a heart black to the core.

Neji could not help but pity Kakashi. He did not know how much grilled meat Hinata had eaten, but she had even packed some to take home. This was clearly Hinata making Kakashi pay to avert disaster!

Neji hesitated. "You can tell Teacher Kakashi yourself tomorrow!"

Hinata looked at Neji with an expression that said, You cannot carve rotten wood, and asked, "Has Teacher Might Guy ever treated you to a meal?"

Neji answered honestly, "Many times. Teacher Might Guy can be a little... single-minded, but he is a good person!"

Hinata sighed. "Why couldn't I have met such a good teacher? Sigh! What if Teacher Kakashi refuses to pay the bill?"

Turning to Neji, Hinata said faintly, "I heard that when many people persuade one person together, the effect is very good. Brother Neji, you can ask Teacher Might Guy to tell some of Konoha's Jonin about this, then have them all persuade Teacher Kakashi to pay the bill..."

"That way, Teacher Kakashi will definitely pay!"

Neji could not help worrying for Kakashi, having a subordinate like Hinata. His future days were probably not going to be easy.

Hinata held grudges.

Of course, Neji would only keep that thought to himself. He would never say it aloud, lest Hinata hold it against him.

Neji had once asked Hinata why she always beat up Sasuke during taijutsu sparring classes.

Neji had initially thought it was because Hinata wanted the Hyuga name to surpass the Uchiha name.

But Hinata's answer had been, "Brother Neji, do you remember when I was five and you took me out shopping, and we ran into the Uchiha brothers? Sasuke snorted coldly at me back then."

Over that one incident, Hinata had beaten Sasuke up at the Ninja Academy for a full six years.

So Neji could not imagine how many meals Hinata would have to eat from Kakashi to make up for the psychological damage caused by the "Kakashi Bill-Dodging Incident."

See? Hinata had not only eaten a huge meal at Kakashi's expense, but she also wanted the whole circle of Konoha Jonin to know about Kakashi dodging the bill.

Hinata patted Neji on the shoulder with her little hand and said with a beaming smile, "Brother Neji, I'll leave this matter to you. Oh, right. Choji, Shikamaru, and Kiba should have passed the ninja exam too. I'm going to visit them!"

Well then! It was not enough for Kakashi's rival, Might Guy, to know. She truly intended to publicize this throughout Konoha's Jonin circle.

How could Hinata possibly let Kakashi get away with dodging the bill?

He had personally said today that he would treat them to BBQ.

If Kakashi truly refused to pay, Hinata would make him famous throughout the ninja world.

From this day onward, Konoha's Copy Ninja Kakashi was dead. The one still alive was Konoha's Bill-Dodging Ninja Kakashi.

Hinata remembered that in the Original Story, her ninja way had been, "I always say exactly what I mean. That is my ninja way." Though she had copied it from Naruto, it was quite useful sometimes.

Say exactly what you mean, and do exactly what you say!

That was her ninja way today!

Hinata honored her ninja way. She first went to find Ino and Sakura, then visited Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba.

Throughout it all, Hinata asked only one question: "Did your teacher treat you to a meal?"

They did?

"I'm so jealous of you! Let me tell you, Teacher Kakashi treated us to a meal, but he actually ran off halfway through. We could only make it out of the BBQ Restaurant alive by putting it on credit."

After returning home, Hinata thought of something else.

Team 7 would be gathering tomorrow to do missions, and Kakashi would definitely be late.

Hinata sighed. "I'm so tired! I still have to cure Kakashi's problem. I need to think carefully about what kind of trap to use against Kakashi tomorrow."

Achoo!

Kakashi, who was currently reporting on his work to the Third Hokage in the Hokage's Office, clearly had no idea that if he did not go to the BBQ Restaurant and pay the bill on time, he would lose the title of Copy Ninja and become the Bill-Dodging Ninja, renowned throughout the ninja world.

The Third rubbed his temples and said softly, "Kakashi, you're late!"

Kakashi dared swear that this time, he absolutely had not done it on purpose.

I went to the hospital!

I went to check whether a certain organ had developed a problem.

I just don't know whether that old man, the Third, will believe this excuse.

Pah! This isn't an excuse. It's the truth.

Kakashi took a treatment slip from Konoha Hospital out of his ninja tool pouch and placed it on the Hokage's desk. He said weakly, "Third, this was a workplace injury. Reimburse me, will you?"

Third: "..."