Konoha, the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant.
The lights inside were warm and bright, and the aroma of grilled meat filled the air.
Aoba, Akimichi Choza, and Aburame Shibi were already seated in a private room, the table laden with all kinds of meat and vegetables.
The meat sizzled on the grill. Fat dripped onto the charcoal, sending up white smoke laced with a charred aroma.
Choza stared at the barbecue with his tiny eyes, swallowing continuously.
"What's taking Minato-senpai so long?"
Leaning back in his chair, Aoba watched Choza and thought that if Minato did not arrive soon, Choza-senpai would not be able to hold out much longer.
"Don't worry. He should be here soon. Minato has already left the Hokage Building."
A Kikaichū landed on Shibi's finger.
Sure enough, not long afterward, the private room door opened and Minato walked in.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Minato took off his coat and sat in the empty seat beside Aoba. "Lord Hokage held me up for a while."
"Haha, Minato-senpai, if you hadn't come soon, Choza-senpai's drool would have dried up."
Aoba said with a grin.
Minato smiled at that and gestured for Choza to start eating.
"Let's eat!"
Choza pressed his palms together, then his chopsticks flashed like afterimages. Half the meat slices that had just changed color vanished from the grill in an instant.
Shibi remained silent, but his hands were no slower. The meat on the plate before him was not lacking in the slightest; clearly, he was an old hand at this.
"Hey, hey, hey! Leave some for me!"
Aoba's eyelids twitched wildly. He swiftly rescued two slices of beef tongue from the glutton's chopsticks and stuffed them into his mouth. Scalding meat juices burst across his tongue, making him squint in satisfaction.
This was what