Who is being metaphorized?

The smoky aroma from the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant in Konohagakure was always a bit stronger than elsewhere.

The Akimichi clan, known for their "food" as their symbol, possessed exquisite barbecue techniques. Whether it was beef tongue sliced as thin as cicada wings, beef ribs with the perfect fat-to-meat ratio, or pork belly with distinct layers, once handled by them and grilled with spices from the Yamanaka clan, it transformed into supreme delicacies in the mouths of diners. A sip of medicinal liquor from the Nara clan afterward, and the day's fatigue vanished.

"Sizzle!"

A soul-stirring sound erupted as the beef tongue in Senba's tongs met the scorching grill. Its edges immediately curled, and the originally pink meat quickly took on an enticing brown hue. Fine droplets of oil fell onto the charcoal, igniting wisps of white smoke carrying the aroma of meat.

Genma Shiranui, whose stomach was already round and full, took a slow sip of the medicinal liquor. Watching Senba meticulously grilling the meat, he couldn't help but smile and say:

"The last time I saw someone treat food with such focus, it was a comrade from the Akimichi clan. Senba, your barbecue skills are excellent, and your appetite is no less than that of the Akimichi."

By this point, the barbecue in front of the five of them had been replaced three times. Uchiha Izumi, the youngest, was clutching her small belly and groaning. Tsuki beside her was feeding her hawthorn water in small sips, preventing her from having trouble sleeping later from discomfort.

Iruka, also full, saw that Teacher Genma wasn't displeased by Senba's large appetite, and his good impression of him grew significantly:

"Teacher Genma, ever since our team was formed, Senba has always taken meals very seriously. He usually wouldn't waste a single grain of rice, let alone such delicious barbecue."

Senba ignored the two discussing his large appetite and gently picked up a piece of grilled beef tongue. He dipped it in the savory-sweet sauce and savored it.

"This is the happiness of being full!" Feeling the meat juice burst in his mouth, Senba's eyes lit up. His chopsticks then moved like lightning, causing the nearby Akimichi clan members to smile. Senba's actions were undoubtedly the highest praise for the Akimichi clan's barbecue.

Soon, Senba had cleared all the barbecue. He greedily swallowed the last piece of pork belly, its rich yet not greasy texture making him want to savor it.

"Could you please make another order of this barbecue, exactly the same? And this time, please grill it and bring it out to us. Thank you." Genma Shiranui's voice pulled Senba back from his barbecue bliss. Looking at the smiling face opposite him, Senba touched his stomach, which was six-tenths full. He had originally planned to stop, but now he felt a little embarrassed, suspecting he was taking advantage.

Unlike Senba, Genma Shiranui watched the three adults and one child in front of him enjoying themselves, and his recent gloomy mood brightened considerably. Perhaps this was what the Fourth Hokage had meant when he said that watching the seedlings of Konoha grow was his greatest joy.

Now that he was free from his duties as the Hokage's personal guard, he truly understood the meaning of those words. However, the person who had said them was no longer here.

After a moment of slight sadness, during a break while the meat was being prepared, Genma Shiranui let out a satisfied burp. He then tapped his fingers lightly on the table, drawing the attention of the three of them.

"Senba, Tsuki, Iruka, the day after tomorrow is when we go on our mission together. Before that, there are a few things I need to tell you."

"After the great disaster our village experienced, a large number of ninjas also died. Now is an opportunity. If you perform exceptionally well during the mission, the village will not hesitate to reward you. Many secret techniques will be allowed for you to learn, so I hope you will not slack off."

As he spoke, Genma Shiranui observed the expressions of the three, finally resting his gaze on Iruka, who showed the least joy. Seeing his slightly sad expression, Genma Shiranui knew that Iruka was not moved by this opportunity. He sighed inwardly but said nothing; everyone had their own aspirations.

"Teacher Genma," Senba said after swallowing a mouthful of hawthorn water to cleanse his palate, the slight greasiness in his mouth disappearing. "I heard from the elders in my clan that the relationship between Konoha and Kumogakure is very tense. I wonder if war will break out again?"

"It's hard to say."

Genma Shiranui was not surprised by Senba's question. It would be a problem if those trained by the Senju clan only knew how to learn cool ninjutsu. He downed the remaining wine in his cup, his voice becoming slightly grave.

"You have all participated in war, so I will tell you the truth. The reason we were able to repel Kumogakure back then was actually due to strong logistical support and the might of the Fourth Hokage."

"Logistics are normal. Given Kumogakure's towering terrain, even if their territory were twice as large, their logistical output wouldn't be half of Konoha's."

"On the main battlefield, we fought against four ninja villages successively. Not only did we suffer heavy casualties, but our war-weariness also reached its peak. In the end, it was the Fourth Hokage, known as the 'Yellow Flash,' who suppressed the A and B combination of Kumogakure."

As he spoke, Genma Shiranui's eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment. He appeared to see the valiant figure of the Fourth Hokage and the unwilling gaze of Kumogakure's Fourth Raikage flash before his eyes.

At this moment, Uchiha Tsuki, having settled her sleepy younger sister, handed Senba some grilled venison. After receiving a big smile from him, her face slightly flushed as she looked at the somewhat tipsy Genma Shiranui and asked:

"Teacher Genma, I once heard the clan elders say that although the Fourth Hokage is deceased, Kumogakure and Iwagakure have an irreconcilable enmity. They probably wouldn't dare to start a war with us first."

Genma Shiranui was about to answer when he glanced at Iruka, who was listening intently, and Senba, whose attention was drawn to the venison. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Senba, what do you think?"

"Sufficient profit." Senba chewed and swallowed the tender grilled venison, looking at Tsuki and Iruka, who seemed confused. "Sufficient profit is the only reason the Raikage would start a war. If a village leader is someone who disregards the bigger picture for revenge, he wouldn't have brought Kumogakure's strength to second place after Konoha."

"Many people's evaluation of the Raikage is that of a brute. Perhaps this is just a disguise. When sufficient profit appears, it's not impossible for him to join forces with the Tsuchikage to attack Konoha."

"Not letting personal matters affect the village, always prioritizing the village's interests – such a person is the most terrifying. He may not have many glorious moments, but at the same time, he won't be swayed by emotions."

"He won't get worked up and act recklessly."

"Therefore, what we need to do is prevent the alliance of Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Only by making them uneasy about their own backs can we reduce the possibility of war."

After stating his opinion, Senba lowered his head and resumed his battle with the venison. This half portion of venison was full of flavor and could not be missed.

Genma Shiranui, sitting opposite him, marveled inwardly but was also puzzled. He clearly sensed that Senba's dissatisfaction when mentioning the Raikage was evident, but it didn't seem to be directed at the Raikage. Who was it then? It was so hard to guess!

What a precocious young man.