You're the Protagonist, You Know

"sizzle..."

The crackling of bursting oil rose and fell. Pieces of meat, some whole and some skewered with assorted vegetables, sizzled on charcoal-fired grills, giving off an enticing aroma.

Chiba sat on the threshold outside the cabin's front door, his brow slightly furrowed. The meat and vegetable skewer in his hand was still sizzling with oil, clearly fresh off the grill and giving off a mouthwatering fragrance.

Yet Chiba, who normally had no resistance to meat, seemed to have no appetite at all. Before his eyes, Obito, Ebisu, Genma, and the others were fooling around together. Asuma stood with one hand in his pocket, watching over the meat and vegetable skewers on the grill, while Kurenai and Rin helped him out. As for Might Guy, he still seemed to be trying hard to strike the "Victory V" pose he had gifted Chiba, hopping about on the ground. It was a scene brimming with cheer.

"What's wrong? You look like you've got something on your mind."

At some point, Kakashi had walked up in front of him and held out the drink in his hand.

"Oh, it's nothing."

Hearing Kakashi's words and seeing the drink he offered, Chiba shook his head and accepted it.

"Is that so?"

Kakashi did not leave. Instead, he sat down beside Chiba and said, "Are you still troubled over Wuyue?"

"No."

Chiba shook his head. He had already let go of the matter with Shiga—or at least, he had forced himself to shove it to the back of his mind. What occupied his thoughts now was not Shiga's betrayal.

"Is that so? Still, what happened with Shiga was really..."

Kakashi's brow creased slightly. Honestly, when he heard that Shiga had betrayed them, stabbed Chiba, and even caused Morino Teacher and Kento to die in battle, his