The Allure of Good Food

"..." Houka felt wronged. What did it mean to get caught in the crossfire while sitting down? He was getting shot even while lying down!

Especially after Shin Kiyono had just chewed him out for over an hour. Again?!

"Uchiha Houka, you may have been born into the Uchiha Clan, but you haven't put your talents to use in training. You're always spacing out in class, fooling around, and failing to get along with your classmates. You cause trouble everywhere you go, and you even ran your mouth during Kakashi's Graduation Exam. In the end, you foolishly challenged Kakashi and became a laughingstock throughout the school—and even all of Konoha. You've made your teacher look terrible!"

Shin Kiyono wasn't exaggerating. Over the past break, teachers from other classes had repeatedly stopped him on the road to tease him about the Uchiha Houka in his class. It had been humiliating.

If Houka hadn't been a member of the Uchiha Clan, Shin Kiyono would have used his authority to transfer him to another class long ago.

"Teacher Shin Kiyono, it wasn't like that!" Uchiha Obito suddenly stood up and shouted indignantly. "Houka trained as hard as he could during the break. He's absolutely not a laughingstock!"

As soon as he finished speaking, murmurs rose around the classroom.

"I heard about it. That idiot Houka was training Taijutsu and ended up in the hospital. They say the doctor even paid his medical bills for him." A Hyuga boy said with a laugh. His name was Masamune Hyuga, a Branch House member of the Hyuga Clan. He knew a few Gentle Fist moves and was something of a big shot in class.

"He's a member of the Uchiha, with a powerful Kekkei Genkai, but he can't awaken his Sharingan, so all he can do is learn Taijutsu?" Asuma Sarutobi glanced back at Houka, then turned away as if it were nothing.

"What a disgrace."

"Hehe, he's just an idiot."

The other classmates, who had long been unhappy with Houka, didn't hold back. They piled on, mocking and insulting him.

Houka looked around. He wasn't a bad person, but he wasn't the sort to turn the other cheek, either. He remembered every person in the classroom who insulted him and added them to his blacklist.

The blacklist held most of the class. Naturally, it also included Mizuki, the jealous kid.

Kurenai Yuhi, Ibiki, Tobitake Tonbo, Rin, and the others stayed quiet rather than joining the mob.

No wonder they were important characters in the original story. They really did have different temperaments.

Shin Kiyono raised a hand to quiet the class. He looked at Uchiha Obito, then at Houka, who had remained silent with a calm expression, and suddenly felt that something was off.

In the past, if Houka had faced this kind of scorn, he would have jumped up and argued back. But today... Had he changed?

"Anyone who works hard deserves respect, not ridicule!" Shin Kiyono said. "Uchiha Houka trained hard during the break. Whatever his reasons, that effort deserves recognition. I hope you keep it up from now on! But I'm very disappointed in your past behavior!"

Though there was still some displeasure in his voice, Shin Kiyono had acknowledged Houka's training over the break. That surprised Houka.

But after thinking it over, he understood. This class had Asuma Sarutobi, the "Fire Second Generation," as well as Kakashi, son of the White Fang of Konoha, and talented children like Kurenai Yuhi. The Third Hokage wouldn't assign some mediocre person as their homeroom teacher.

Was he the same kind of teacher as Iruka, Naruto's teacher?

After saying a few more things and arranging the afternoon training session, Shin Kiyono left the classroom.

Just then, a clear bell rang outside.

The morning classes were over.

In an instant, the Ninja Academy went from a peaceful retreat to a bustling marketplace. The chatter of countless kids filled every classroom, then spilled into the cafeteria, the playground, and beyond.

"Kurenai Yuhi, I brought a delicious lunch. Um, let's go eat it together on the roof." Asuma Sarutobi was every bit the "Fire Second Generation." With money to spare, he held two lunch boxes and made his move on Kurenai Yuhi.

Kurenai Yuhi blinked her adorable, wide eyes and nodded sweetly. Her chubby cheeks wobbled as she moved, making her look like a little doll.

"Obito, I brought lunch. Let's eat together," Rin said as she went over to Uchiha Obito.

Uchiha Obito froze, then looked at Houka, his expression hesitant.

"What's wrong?" Rin asked curiously. Obito had never looked like that before.

"Um, Rin, your lunch really is delicious, but, but..." Uchiha Obito was torn. For one thing, his lunch was still with Houka. For another, he'd eaten every meal at Houka's house over the break, from breakfast to dinner, and he'd gotten used to Chinese Cuisine. There had been sour-and-spicy cabbage, mashed potatoes, and stir-fried greens with shiitake mushrooms. Later, with support from Yakushi Nonō, they'd even had nutritious dishes like steamed garlic shrimp, kung pao chicken, and fish head with chopped chili. The food had nearly made Uchiha Obito swallow his tongue!

"Rin, how about we eat with Houka today?" Uchiha Obito looked at her pleadingly.

"Huh? Why?" Rin tilted her head, confused. Like most of the class, she disliked Uchiha Houka a little, but she was kindhearted and preferred to keep her distance rather than make a fuss.

"Because the food he makes is really delicious!" Uchiha Obito swallowed, and his stomach gave an honest growl.

By then, Houka had already picked up the lunch he'd prepared that morning and looked over at Obito.

In the end, Rin nodded in agreement.

After all, she was only six, and she was a gentle girl. There was no reason to refuse Obito's sincere invitation.

The three of them didn't bother looking for another spot. They ate right there in the classroom.

Rin's lunch was simple: rice balls filled with seaweed, pork floss, and greens. They looked delightful.

Beside her, Uchiha Obito eagerly opened a lunch box. Inside were rice and the dishes Houka had made that morning: sour-and-spicy cabbage and mashed potatoes. They'd gone cold, but the flavor hadn't changed at all. The sour-and-spicy cabbage was especially fragrant; even cold, its tangy, spicy aroma spread through the room. Some classmates sneezed when they caught a whiff, then couldn't help taking another couple of sniffs.

"That smells amazing!"

"Yeah, it's sour and spicy. I'm drooling!"

"Whose lunch is that? It smells so good."

Uchiha Obito couldn't wait any longer. He shoveled rice into his mouth, eating like there was no tomorrow.

Beside him, Rin stared at his lunch box in amazement. That sour-and-spicy fragrance was coming from inside it.

Then Houka opened his lunch box, and the aroma grew even stronger.

Gulp.

Rin couldn't help swallowing, her eyes full of anticipation.

Houka noticed and pushed the lunch box toward her. "Want to try some?"

"Huh?" Rin startled. At the sight of Houka, she instinctively wanted to refuse, but the sour-and-spicy aroma was too tempting. She wrinkled her cute little nose, then nodded. After one bite of the cabbage, she couldn't hide her astonishment.

It's so delicious! If Houka can make food this good, he must have a kind heart! Rin thought.

"How is it?" Houka asked, though he already knew the answer.

Rin nodded enthusiastically. "It's delicious—so delicious! It's sour, spicy, and fragrant. The flavor is amazing!"

By then, the other classmates had also been drawn in by the smell.

Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi, who had been about to head to the roof, came over too. Kurenai Yuhi's round, adorable face held a look of longing. She was clearly a little glutton.

"Ah, it's so good!" Uchiha Obito cried between bites, thoroughly satisfied. Seeing Rin eating too, he laughed. "How is it, how is it? Good, right? Houka made it himself. It's gone cold, though, so it doesn't taste nearly as good."

"Hmph, what's so special about it? He just added extra vinegar and chili. That's childish!" said a white-haired boy with a scornful expression.

"I agree. I can make this kind of dish, too, and mine would taste even better than Uchiha Houka's!"

Quite a few classmates who had mocked Houka earlier voiced their support for Mizuki, then left the classroom with obvious reluctance.

"Kurenai Yuhi?" Asuma Sarutobi looked at Kurenai Yuhi, who still didn't seem willing to leave. He hesitated.

"Um, could I have some too?" Little Kurenai Yuhi had seen Rin savoring every bite and finally couldn't resist the temptation of good food.

Asuma Sarutobi slapped his forehead and sighed helplessly.

In the end, Uchiha Obito, Rin, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi all sat beside Houka and enjoyed the food.

But hey, you're eating way too fast! What about me, the owner of the lunch?!