"You two passed. Get yourselves cleaned up, then eat."
Aburame Keiichi patted his clothes and said nonchalantly. He casually picked up Morino Kei, who was sprawled on the ground, and tied him to a nearby wooden post.
"As for the one who failed, I'm afraid you'll have to return to the Ninja Academy and fight for another year."
Aburame Keiichi bent down to look at Morino Kei. The boy looked weak, yet still defiant, and Keiichi wore an amused expression.
"Well, as punishment for failing, I'll leave you tied up here for a while. A little hunger will help you clear your head."
"Hey, what's with that look? You're acting like the world's ended. I'm only tying you up and making you go hungry for a bit so you'll remember this. If you made that kind of reckless move in a real fight and failed, the grass would already be growing on your grave."
Aburame Keiichi raised an eyebrow.
"As for you two, go ahead and eat. I'm going to change. You little brat hit way too hard. My back's still giving me the chills."
Aburame Keiichi shook his head and started to leave, but suddenly spun around.
"And don't give him any food. As your instructor, I have the authority to give you orders, and you must obey them completely."
"Ninja exist to complete their missions. Everything else is secondary and can be cast aside when a mission is at stake. Understood?"
The man half turned, the wrinkles left by years of squinting making his expression seem rather menacing.
"Don't disobey me, or you'll be sent back to the Ninja Academy with him..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Aburame Keiichi vanished.
Leaving the two behind to look at each other.
"So Kei really is going to be sent back to the Ninja Academy..."
Hyuga Rei sat cross-legged nearby with her lunchbox in hand, her expression grave.
"Well... who knows? Probably," Uchiha Kai said with a shake of his head.
Though Uchiha Kai said that, he didn't care in the slightest.
After all, this was a classic test in the original story. The real point of the bell-ringing exercise was to share the bento in your hands with your companions and show that you valued them. Do that, and you'd pass the hidden test.
But it didn't matter. Even without knowing the story in advance, the boy would have done the same thing.
Because he could afford to bear the consequences.
So the arrogant Uchiha opened his bento without a care and praised the lavish meal.
"Whoa—grilled meat, pork cutlet, tempura. Not a single vegetable," the boy remarked in surprise.
"Ah... Eating this much fried food in the morning will make you gain weight..." The girl's self-discipline kicked in.
The scent of fried food and grilled meat wafted through the air. Uchiha Kai hadn't eaten breakfast, and after an intense fight, his energy was nearly gone. His stomach had been protesting for a while.
He picked up his chopsticks and took a big bite. His eyes lit up. "This is surprisingly good. Teacher Keiichi knows how to pick a meal."
"Grr..."
Morino Kei blushed and tried to lower his head, hoping to hide the growling of his stomach.
"Oh? Looks like you're hungry, Kei-san~"
Uchiha Kai teased him, chewing even louder.
"Hey! Of course I am!" Morino Kei suddenly shouted, then slumped again, as if he'd run out of strength and options.
"Ah... Being hungry was bad enough, but that sneaky teacher drained a bunch of my energy with those Kikaichū. I feel like I'm going to starve to death..."
Morino Kei's face was gloomy, and he looked like his soul had left his body.
The next moment, the tempting aroma drew much closer. Morino Kei sniffed, puzzled, then looked up to see the boy holding a big piece of grilled meat to his mouth.
"Here, open wide, young master. You need someone else to feed you," Uchiha Kai teased.
"Huh? Don't do that! Did you forget what he just said?" Morino Kei asked, bewildered.
"And then?" Uchiha Kai raised an eyebrow, looking unconcerned.
"What do you mean, 'and then'?! It's bad enough that I'm out. Do you really want to go back to school for another year?" Morino Kei's voice grew urgent.
"How much effort have you put in over the last few years? Don't you know? It's not worth wasting a whole year just because you're being stubborn!"
"So?" The boy was unmoved.
"What do you mean, 'so'?! Are you even listening to me? Stop fooling around and eat your meal. I can handle being hungry for a while. Besides, that old pervert is definitely hiding nearby and watching us!"
"Think about it, Kai. You never used to act so impulsively."
Morino Kei pleaded earnestly, frantic as an ant on a hot pan. He was afraid Uchiha Kai would get carried away and make an irrational choice.
"Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? Who's acting impulsively? Do I look like some hot-blooded idiot to you?"
Uchiha Kai gave Morino Kei a strange look and glanced at him sidelong.
"You're acting impulsively right now, you arrogant jerk!" Morino Kei's face flushed red. Somehow finding the strength, he struggled fiercely, as if he were trying to free his hands so he could smack Uchiha Kai.
"Am I? I don't think so." The boy looked around, playing dumb.
"All I see is my companion, starving after fighting alongside me, while I happen to have a big, delicious bento in my hands."
"It's a perfect match! This is kindergarten-level deduction. Anyone with common sense would know what to do," the boy said with a shrug.
"But..." Morino Kei started to say, but the boy cut him off.
"No more 'buts.' Worst case, we go back together." Uchiha Kai moved his chopsticks closer.
"Ah~ Open wide, young master."
"I... mm!" Morino Kei's eyes stung, and he sniffled.
The next instant, food was shoved roughly into his mouth.
"Mmm~ Delicious!"
Morino Kei made an exaggerated sound. A warm feeling spread through his stomach, and his exhausted body felt a little better.
"Here~ Eat up." The girl beside them held out her bento, too.
"Eh?! Rei, you..."
"If I eat all this fried food, it'll ruin my figure."
Morino Kei looked at the girl in surprise—the stubborn genius who always strove to outdo everyone and never let herself fall behind.
"Don't think I'm going to feed you. Use your own mouth." Hyuga Rei turned her head and spoke with a haughty air.
"Waaaaah! Kai! Rei!"
"I'm so touched!" With a loud cry, Morino Kei buried his head in the bento. His table manners were atrocious, no different from a Ninja Dog of the Inuzuka Clan.
"If you dare to sling snot on me, I'll kill you..." Hyuga Rei watched Morino Kei's exaggerated expression, a vein bulging as she spoke in a low, ominous voice.
"Haha, then I'll break one of your legs," Uchiha Kai said with a wicked grin, joining in the teasing.
"Waaah! Is eating a meal really this dangerous?!"
The three burst into laughter, leaving their earlier unpleasantness behind.
A breeze blew through, and a few leaves fluttered to the ground. The next moment, a combat boot appeared and crushed them.
"Huh?! You two completely ignored what I told you, didn't you?"
Aburame Keiichi's sudden appearance was accompanied by a chilling voice. He glared at Morino Kei, who was devouring his bento.
"As ninja, you ignored your superior's orders and acted on your own." Aburame Keiichi drew out the words.
"Unable to follow even such a simple order." Suddenly, killing intent surged, invisible but enveloping all three of them. Birds scattered, and leaves flipped in the air.
"Are you good for nothing?"
Before you continue