Picking Up the Tab When Treating Someone to a Meal

Chapter 24: When Treating Someone to a Meal, You Should Rush to Pay

The next day.

Konohagakure.

Inside Ichiraku Ramen.

A boy was slurping down his ramen with great satisfaction.

Beside him, a young man with glasses picked up his ramen with his chopsticks, took a bite, and even used a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth after each mouthful.

This way of eating was undoubtedly more refined than the boy next to him, making it inevitable that people around them would find the boy's manners a bit crude.

"So... so gentle!"

A girl's eyes sparkled as she looked at the refined young man.

The owner of Ichiraku Ramen was a middle-aged man, known in Konohagakure as Uncle Teuchi or Boss Teuchi. The girl speaking was his only daughter, Ayame.

Teuchi seemed to feel it was a bit impolite and gently patted the girl who spoke, "Ayame, don't stare at the customers like that, it disturbs them while they're eating ramen..."

"I know!"

Little Ayame pouted in dissatisfaction and secretly glanced at the boy eating so crudely, "He's quite good-looking, why is he wolfing down his food like that?"

"Because your ramen tastes delicious!"

The boy praised with genuine sincerity, "I feel like I'll have energy after finishing a bowl of ramen. Although, it's probably because I skipped breakfast!"

"Uh... thank you for the compliment."

Boss Teuchi could only thank the customer's praise as usual.

"I've never seen you before!"

Little Ayame was a bit curious about this boy who was the same age as her, "Are you a ninja from another village? Are you here in Konoha for the Chunin Exam?"

"I'm an Anbu ninja from the village."

The boy shamelessly declared his identity.

As if afraid Ayame wouldn't understand, the boy earnestly explained to her, "Anbu, do you understand Anbu? It's the village's darkest department! The kind that appears in people's homes in the dead of night and kills the entire family there!"

"..."

Little Ayame's eyes widened.

"..."

Boss Teuchi strained his eyes open. After so many years in Konoha, he was surprised he had never heard such strange talk about Anbu...

Boss Teuchi had a vague feeling that something was not quite right.

Just then, a white-haired Anbu ninja walked over with his teammates and corrected him, "Hey, don't slander Anbu's reputation here. Akihara Kagura, I recall you're not an Anbu ninja either, are you?"

"Huh? I'm not an Anbu ninja?"

The boy, Akihara Kagura, looked up in surprise. Seeing a familiar person approaching, he narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Senior Kakashi, are you saying the Anbu training program isn't part of Anbu's operational sequence?"

"..."

Kakashi Hatake remained silent, unable to answer.

Although everyone believed Root wasn't part of the official Anbu, its official name was the Anbu Training Program. In theory, Root ninjas were indeed within the Anbu structure.

This kid...

He seems to have become more polite than last time?

At least he's willing to call me 'Senior' now...

"Long time no see!"

The boy, Akihara Kagura, greeted Kakashi Hatake enthusiastically. His gaze then shifted to Tenzo beside him, "Yo, traitor, you're here too. Long time no see. Don't worry, Lord Danzō won't let me kill people randomly in the village, so you're safe."

"..."

Kakashi Hatake retracted his previous assessment.

"..."

Tenzo hesitated, unsure whether to greet him back.

"Sizzle... sizzle..."

Kabuto Yakushi remained seated at the table, eating his ramen elegantly.

"Aren't you supposed to be participating in the Chunin Exam today?"

Kakashi Hatake walked over, asking curiously, "Do you still have time to come here to eat ramen? The first written test should be starting soon, right?"

"It doesn't matter."

Akihara Kagura shrugged indifferently, "What's the difference between arriving early and arriving late? I won't know anything on the exam paper anyway."

"..."

Everyone present fell silent.

Why would you even say something like that!

"Um... the Chunin Exam..."

Tenzo stood by, hesitating for a moment before speaking up to remind him, "If you're late, it seems you'll be disqualified from the exam..."

"Oh."

Akihara Kagura nodded as if he understood, then looked at Kabuto Yakushi beside him, his expression still calm. "Kabuto, didn't you hear what they said? Didn't you eat breakfast? Haven't you ever eaten ramen? Didn't you bring money to pay the bill?"

"He's... a bit of a jerk!"

Little Ayame couldn't help but mutter. When she saw the young man's gaze slowly shift towards her, she was so scared she quickly lowered her head and apologized, "I'm sorry!"

"It's fine."

Akihara Kagura shook his head and pointed to the empty bowl on his table. "So, as a token of my apology, can you let me off the hook today? Otherwise, if I have to rush to the exam, I might have to put it on my tab. Just send the bill to Anbu..."

"..."

Little Ayame was dumbfounded.

"I'll pay."

Three voices spoke up at the same time.

One voice sounded a bit helpless, one sounded a bit reserved and uneasy, and the last voice sounded rather calm.

Kakashi Hatake reached into his pocket, looking surprised at Tenzo, who was also reaching for his wallet beside him, and then at Kabuto Yakushi, who was already paying.

"Looks like you're quite popular..."

Ayame took the money, offering a rare compliment to the young man.

"Perhaps."

The young man, Akihara Kagura, seemed rather pleased with himself. "Actually, these three people who wanted to pay for me are all people I intend to kill..."

"..."

Everyone present fell silent.

This kid's mouth really knew how to offend people!

"Hurry up and get to the exam!"

Kakashi Hatake frowned.

If it weren't for Tenzo's precedent, Kakashi would have wanted to pull Akihara Kagura out of that hellish place called Root. He wouldn't bother with such an arrogant brat.

"Let's go."

Akihara Kagura waved at Kabuto Yakushi and glanced at Kakashi and Tenzo. "Tsk, what a shame. You two were a step too late when paying. If you want to treat someone to a meal in the future, it's best to be quicker than others when it's time to pay..."

"..."

Kakashi Hatake and Tenzo exchanged confused glances.

At this moment...

They didn't know what the kid meant.

However, Kabuto Yakushi, who had rushed to pay, soon realized the benefits of being the first to pay when treating Akihara Kagura to a meal.

"Kabuto, I will still kill you and Director Yakushi Nonō."

"But seeing as you treated me to a bowl of ramen today, I can at least give you a piece of somewhat useful information..."

Akihara Kagura shifted his gaze to the calm-faced Kabuto Yakushi and continued slowly, "The Iwagakure you're going to infiltrate, Director Yakushi Nonō is also there..."

Second update!

Akihara is not a bad person.