Warm Pot and Whispers on the Wind

Warm Pot and Whispers on the Wind

The streets of Konoha at dusk were gently steeped in the soft hues of twilight.

The air carried the aromas of countless household dinners, mingled with the fresh scent of grass and trees borne on the evening breeze. Shuji led the two of them down a somewhat quieter alley and stopped before a shop hung with an indigo noren curtain.

The ancient-looking character for "pot" had been embroidered on the curtain in white silk thread. Warm yellow light and faint, sweet-scented steam drifted out from within.

The moment they lifted the noren, a rich fragrance of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and fine beef fat washed over them like a warm embrace.

The dining hall was small, decorated in natural wood tones. Cushions surrounded several low tables, and there were few customers. Their conversations were subdued, making the place feel especially warm and tranquil.

Completely unlike the noisy, lively atmosphere of a barbecue restaurant, this place was filled with the comforting, homely warmth unique to hot-pot dishes.

"Welcome!" The proprietress, dressed in a simple kimono, smiled gently as she led them to seats farther inside. A black earthenware pot was set into the center of the low table, with a small gas burner beneath it.

"Three servings of sukiyaki." Shuji looked across at Anko and Itachi. "Is that okay?" He knew both of them preferred sweeter flavors.

Anko nodded vigorously, her eyes already glued to the menu. "Okay, okay! Of course!" Itachi also gave a soft hum, a trace of anticipation in his gaze.

This sort of restaurant, with its atmosphere of home-cooked food, gave him a rare sense of relaxation.

"Premium beef, tofu, konjac noodles, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, chrysanthemum greens, scallions, and udon." Shuji skillfully ordered the ingredients. "One egg per person, for dipping the meat."

"Certainly. Please wait a moment." The proprietress took down the order and withdrew with a smile.

Before long, a black earthenware pot was brought to the burner and filled with dark brown, glossy sweet broth.

The gas burner ignited, blue flames licking at the bottom of the pot. Fine bubbles began to rise through the broth, and the rich sweetness of it rose with the steam, spreading even more boldly through the room and stirring their appetites.

The proprietress brought over the neatly arranged ingredients: thin slices of premium wagyu, marbled red and white like frost and snow; silky tofu cubes; grayish-white konjac noodles; plump shiitake and slender enoki mushrooms; bright green chrysanthemum greens; and tender white scallions cut on the diagonal. There were also three bowls of clear raw beaten egg.

The broth in the pot began to boil, filling the air with steam. Shuji used his long chopsticks to pick up several slices of wagyu and lay them in the bubbling broth at the center of the pot.

The pink meat rapidly curled and changed color in the dark broth. Its fat melted away, releasing an even more enticing aroma that blended perfectly into the broth's sweet and savory base.

"Eat the meat first," Shuji said.

Anko had long since run out of patience. She picked up a slice of beef, perfectly cooked with slightly curled edges, and quickly rolled it through the raw egg.

The warm beef was coated in cool, smooth egg before she put it into her mouth. In an instant, its supreme tenderness melted across her tongue. The rich flavor of the meat was wrapped in the egg's mellow creaminess, while sukiyaki's distinctive sweet-salty sauce struck her taste buds in layer upon layer. She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and let out a muffled sigh. "Mmm... this sweetness is amazing! And the beef is unbelievably tender!"

Following Anko's example, Itachi carefully picked up a slice of beef and dipped it into the egg. The beef's rich freshness, the egg's silkiness, and the broth's sweet savor blended perfectly in his mouth, creating a warm, mellow sense of satisfaction. He chewed quietly, though noticeably faster than usual. Behind the hazy steam, his dark eyes seemed especially gentle.

Seeing how satisfied they were, Shuji picked up a slice of beef as well. When the egg-coated meat entered his mouth and the pronounced sweetness of the mirin spread over his tongue, his brow twitched into a nearly imperceptible frown. He took a sip of tea to wash away the sweetness in his mouth.

When it came to hot pot, he still preferred clear broth or something mildly spicy. He really was not used to sweet hot pot.

"Your dishes are all here. Please enjoy." The proprietress brought over the last of the udon and vegetables. Seeing the steaming, bubbling pot and the three of them focused on their meal, her smile deepened.

"Thank you." Shuji nodded. Just as the proprietress was about to leave, he casually asked, "The shop seems pretty busy today. Is something good happening?"

The proprietress paused, warmth spreading across her face. "Thanks to customers like you, business has always been decent. But these past few days, everyone does seem to be in better spirits."

She lowered her voice, her tone carrying the joy of sharing good news. "Everyone's saying that Kumogakure is finally sending an official delegation to discuss peace!"

"After fighting for so long, we've finally seen a glimmer of peace. Everyone feels much more at ease, and they're more willing to come out for a nice meal."

She gestured toward several tables where families were clearly dining together.

"Look, more people are bringing their children out too."

A Kumogakure delegation? The news had already reached ordinary shopkeepers? Shuji's chopsticks paused slightly as he picked up some food.

"A delegation?" Anko asked indistinctly, her mouth stuffed with a shiitake mushroom soaked in broth. "Is the news reliable? Those Kumo ninja were pretty vicious before."

"It's true, it's true!" A woman at the next table, dining with her child, could not help joining the conversation. Her face held simple, heartfelt hope.

"My husband does odd jobs at the Administrative Department, and even he heard about it!"

"They say the delegation is of very high rank, led by one of Lord Raikage's trusted aides! With such a show of sincerity, they can't be coming to fight, can they? They must truly want peace talks!"

She gently patted the child beside her on the head. "It would be wonderful if the war could really end. Then the children could grow up in peace."

"Yes, it would be good if it could end," an elderly man at another table said with feeling. "Too much blood has been spilled at the border. Peace is more precious than anything."

For a moment, the restaurant was filled with hopeful murmurs and relaxed talk of peace arriving.

The topic was soon carried away by the fragrance of food bubbling in the pot and the hazy steam. The proprietress and the other customers each returned to their own tables.

"Kumogakure..." Anko swallowed her food and licked the sweet sauce from the corner of her mouth. Some of the satisfaction in her eyes faded, replaced by a ninja's scrutiny. "One of the Raikage's trusted aides is leading them? That's quite a show. I just wonder what they're really plotting."

"It's the inevitable trend."

Shuji placed a piece of tofu, cooked just right and soaked through with sweet, savory broth, onto Itachi's plate. His voice was calm.

"Kumogakure cannot win. Peace talks are an inevitable choice. As for their sincerity..."

He paused and looked at the broth bubbling in the pot. "It depends not on what they say, but on what they do afterward—and what price they are willing to pay."

Itachi quietly ate the tofu Shuji had given him. It was tender and smooth, completely infused with the broth's sweet savor.

His gaze fell on Shuji's calm profile. Although he had lost teammates during missions at the border, his senior seemed to hold no particular feelings toward Kumogakure itself.

Anko curled her lip, clearly uninterested in such practical talk, but she said nothing more. Her attention was soon drawn back to the konjac noodles rolling in the pot, coated in sweet-salty sauce.

"Forget it, why think so much? These konjac noodles are incredible after soaking up the broth! Ma'am, another serving of konjac noodles!" She raised a hand to call out.

"And four more servings of meat," Shuji added. Ninja had big appetites. There was always room for more.

Outside the window, Konoha's lights gently flickered to life beneath the deep blue dusk. Inside the sukiyaki restaurant, warmth filled the air as the earthenware pot bubbled and its sweet fragrance spread everywhere.

The three sat around the warm pot, focused on the food before them. The hot broth, tender beef, and vegetables soaked full of flavor brought a comforting satisfaction that reached from their stomachs to their hearts.

The exhaustion and tension from training seemed to melt away in the hazy steam and rich sweetness.

After the last bit of udon slid into her stomach, Anko let out a satisfied breath and leaned back against the cushion behind her. Itachi also set down his chopsticks and quietly drank tea.

Shuji raised his teacup, his gaze casually passing over Anko's black mesh short-sleeved shirt, washed to a faded gray with even the cuffs somewhat worn. Then he looked at Itachi's dark blue outfit, neat but clearly ordinary everyday clan wear.

"Full?" Shuji set down his teacup, his voice breaking the silence after the meal. "Good. There's still a little time." He stood. "The team has just been formed. As the captain, I should show some consideration."

Anko and Itachi both looked at him with slight confusion.

"Let's buy a few things." Shuji's tone was casual, as natural as if he were arranging their next training session. "A captain's gift. No refusing, okay?"

(End of chapter)