Gathering for a Meal

"Teacher, Shin had nothing to do with it." Mikoto Uchiha stood up, hoping to plead on Hyuga Shin's behalf.

"It looks like you two are quite close. Go outside and stand with him as punishment!" With that, she left, carrying the unconscious Uchiha Ken.

She'd only given him a quick examination and had no idea how badly he was hurt. It would be better to take him to the infirmary and have him checked out.

Chapter 21: Gathering for a Meal

A spectacular scene was unfolding outside Class A. They'd only just started school, and the entire class had already been made to stand outside as punishment. Not a single person was left in the classroom.

Even Shikaku Nara and Minato Namikaze were among them. Shikaku Nara had been dragged out by Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi.

As for Minato Namikaze, he'd realized he was the only one left in the classroom and felt awkward, so he'd voluntarily come outside to join the others.

"Don't look so down. Once you become great shinobi, this might turn into a fond memory."

"It's just a fight! It's nothing. If you don't act wild while you're young, what will you have to reminisce about when you're old?" Hyuga Shin said nonchalantly.

"Shin, you really have a great attitude." Nawaki lowered his head. "If I become Hokage, this will be a stain on my record!"

"Don't worry, Nawaki. It's fine. Just looking at you, I can tell you'll never become Hokage," Hyuga Shin "reassured" him.

Watching Hyuga Shin take a shot at him, Nawaki really wanted to strangle him.

Ignoring Nawaki's murderous glare, Hyuga Shin turned to Mikoto.

"Mikoto, you're so good to me. You risked getting in trouble with the teacher just to plead for me. I like you so much!"

"I, I..." Under the curious gazes of everyone around her, Mikoto glared at Hyuga Shin in embarrassment, then lowered her head.

Seeing that Mikoto looked so shy she was about to cry, Hyuga Shin immediately stopped teasing her and turned to Hizashi Hyuga.

"Hizashi! Should I beat you up, or should I beat you up?"

Not wanting to lose face in front of everyone, Hizashi Hyuga stubbornly replied, "This had something to do with you in the first place. I didn't say anything wrong."

"All right! I'll cut to the chase. Pay up, and we'll call it even." Hyuga Shin held out his hand.

After thinking it over, Hizashi Hyuga deftly pulled out ten thousand ryo and placed it in Hyuga Shin's hand.

"Hyuga Shin, how dare you bully my little brother!" Seeing Hyuga Shin extort money from his brother, Hyuga Hiashi flew into a rage.

"Why do you have to make it sound so bad? He gave it to me of his own free will. Isn't that right, Hizashi?" Hyuga Shin shot Hizashi a threatening look.

"Don't be afraid, Hizashi. Your big brother will stand up for you."

Hizashi looked at his big brother, whose strength was about the same as his own, then at Hyuga Shin, who had beaten him senseless. In the end, he shamefully gave in.

"Big Brother, don't worry about it. I gave it to him willingly."

"You..." Hiashi pointed at Hizashi, unable to say a word. He snorted at Hyuga Shin, then went off by himself to stew in his anger.

"Ten thousand ryo! You're loaded!" Nawaki stared enviously at the bills in Hyuga Shin's hand.

"You're the heir to the Senju Clan. You care about such a small amount?" Hyuga Shin shot him a disdainful look.

"Ugh! My big sister gambled away all my allowance. I only have enough money on me to buy one bowl of ramen, and it's the cheapest kind." Nawaki took out his wallet and tipped out a fifty-ryo coin, looking utterly miserable.

"Man, you really are broke." Hyuga Shin gave Nawaki a sympathetic look. He'd forgotten all about Tsunade earlier. What a mistake.

Before long, their teacher, Ueno Juri, returned. Looking at the group standing outside as punishment, she gave a helpless sigh.

"Everyone, get back inside. If this happens again, you'll be punished severely."

There was no way she'd actually punish them. Most of these students came from powerful backgrounds, and fortunately, Uchiha Ken was all right. So she let the matter drop.

Back in the classroom, Ueno Juri glared at everyone, then began going over a few things they needed to know.

They'd only just started school, so classes wouldn't begin right away. Lessons would officially start tomorrow. Today was mainly for familiarizing the students with the rules of the Ninja Academy.

"I don't know all the details of what happened today, but the matter is over. If anything like this happens again, don't expect me to go easy on you."

At the end, Ueno Juri brought up what had happened earlier once more.

"Yeah..." A few scattered voices answered from below. Most of the class had their heads down, fast asleep.

Watching this, Ueno Juri's forehead creased with anger.

"Ugh, forget it. You've only just started school, so I'll let it slide for now. But if you act like this again tomorrow, you'll all be sent to the training ground to stand as punishment."

After sitting through the day until school was over, Hyuga Shin raised his head and invited Mikoto, "Mikoto, want to have dinner with me? My treat!"

"If you're paying, I'm coming too." Nawaki, whose ears were sharp, suddenly rushed over to Hyuga Shin's desk.

Looking at the third wheel, Hyuga Shin smiled helplessly, then said, "All right! I'll treat the whole class to a meal today. We'll go to the Konoha BBQ Restaurant. Anyone who's interested can come."

"Great! Shin, I'm definitely taking you up on that friendship." Choza jumped up excitedly.

"Mikoto, you'll come too, right?"

"Mm." Mikoto nodded and answered softly.

Only a few people in all of Class A declined. Everyone else agreed, including the brothers Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Nawaki shouted, "Boss! Get us a big private room!"

"Sure thing! Since you're all kids, I'll give you a seven—no, a ten percent discount." The owner had been about to offer them thirty percent off, but after seeing Hyuga Shin, he quickly changed his mind.

Once they reached the private room, Hyuga Shin started ordering. He began with grilled meat and vegetables, and had fifty plates brought out right away.

"Hey, hey! There are a lot of us, and Choza here can eat quite a bit, but is there really any need to order this much?" said Inoichi Yamanaka, who had been quiet up until then.

"Exactly, Shin. It'd be a waste if we couldn't finish all this. This must cost a lot, right?" Mikoto chimed in.

"Don't worry. You have no idea how much he can eat," Nawaki said before Hyuga Shin could respond.

Sure enough, by the time they were nearly finished, even Choza Akimichi, the biggest eater of them all, was full of admiration for Hyuga Shin.

Near the end of the meal, Mikoto tugged at Hyuga Shin and whispered so only the two of them could hear, "Shin, do you have enough money? If you don't, I have plenty."

Hyuga Shin chuckled, then reached out and stroked Mikoto's head. He teased her in the same quiet voice, "Don't worry. I've got plenty of money. I can afford to keep you."

"Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore." Mikoto blushed and lowered her head, picking up a glass of juice to hide her embarrassment.

By the time they finished eating, it was already evening, and the students all went their separate ways.

After saying goodbye to Mikoto and Nawaki, Hyuga Shin headed home with Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

Hyuga Hiashi, with his stern face, didn't say a word the whole way. Bored, Hyuga Shin naturally started talking to Hizashi Hyuga instead.