Lin Cheng's Little Pride

"Then, for dinner tonight~"

Watching Kakashi suddenly put on an expression that suggested he intended to eat Lin Cheng into bankruptcy tonight.

A bead of cold sweat couldn't help but hang from the back of Lin Cheng's head.

"No~ no problem! Eat whatever you want! I'll definitely keep you full!"

As the cold sweat slid down the back of his head, Lin Cheng promised with a slight stutter.

Then~ then at this moment, Lin Cheng and the others watched with expressions of horror as Kakashi acted as if he were determined to eat himself into a fatty in one sitting!

"Oh~ Kakashi! My eternal rival in destiny! What kind of trauma have you suffered?

Or perhaps? Are you issuing a challenge to me?

Yes! That must be it!

Wait for me! Kakashi! I will catch up to you immediately!"

The tone that was originally one of concern suddenly underwent a drastic shift.

The scene, which was originally just Kakashi sweeping through the grilled meat alone, instantly transformed into Kakashi and Might Guy together.

With the corner of his mouth twitching, Lin Cheng awkwardly tried to persuade them: "Ka~ka~shi! Don't be impulsive!

At worst, I'll cover all your food expenses for the next period of time!

You don't have to push yourself this hard! You'll ruin your health!"

"Lin Cheng! Don't try to stop our duel, Kakashi!

If you're afraid you don't have enough money, I'll help you pay for it together!"

While desperately chasing after Kakashi, Might Guy took a moment to mumble a vague assurance.

"...Is that what you think, Brother Might Guy?"

After a moment of silence, Lin Cheng suddenly asked in a gloomy tone.

Immediately following this, Lin Cheng did something that left everyone else dumbfounded.

"Waiter!"

"Yes! Sir! How may I assist you?"

Hearing Lin Cheng's low-pitched, slightly chilling shout.

The waiter, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately opened it and walked in.

Thud!

A thick stack of the highest-denomination banknotes was placed on the table by Lin Cheng and slowly pushed toward the waiter.

"Go! Bring over every ingredient in your barbecue shop that can be grilled! My friends aren't full yet!"

"Uh~ sir!"

Seeing this scene, the waiter who had just walked in couldn't help but feel at a loss.

"What? Not enough money? Then~ add more!"

Thud!

As the sound rang out, another stack of banknotes of the exact same value appeared before everyone's eyes.

In an instant, even Kakashi and Might Guy, who were frantically eating the grilled meat, felt a sense of being left in the wind!

"Go, quickly!" said the expressionless Lin Cheng.

"Yes~ yes! I'll bring the ingredients for you immediately!"

The waiter, finally stabilizing his emotions, immediately agreed with a smile on his face.

And as if he had used the Body Flicker Technique, he vanished in an instant, running off to prepare the ingredients.

Looking at the somewhat frozen scene, the previously expressionless Lin Cheng immediately put on a kind and gentle appearance.

"Don't be polite! Just eat to your heart's content! Don't worry about me not having enough money! I have plenty more!

If you can't get full at this place, we can just move on to the next one!"

"..." Everyone.

"..." Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, who was secretly spying with the Telescope Technique.

"Lin Cheng! There's no need for this! It's not necessary to have the shop bring out all their ingredients!"

Nara Shikaku, who had only just met Lin Cheng that evening, awkwardly tried to persuade him.

"That's right! Our Akimichi Clan often gathers at this barbecue shop!

Even if our entire clan were here, we wouldn't be able to eat through the ingredients this shop has in stock!"

Akimichi Choza, who had also just met Brother Lin Cheng that evening, tried to persuade him with honest sincerity.

However, this statement only made the others break out in a cold sweat!

"That's perfect then! We won't have to change locations!"

To the dissuasions of Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza, Lin Cheng responded with a direct smile.

"Lin Cheng! You really don't have to do this!"

They hadn't expected that the seemingly amiable Lin Cheng could be so stubborn.

Yamanaka Inoichi, who had come along with Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza, also broke into a cold sweat as he tried to persuade him.

"How could that be?! Clearly, you were worried about your friend's health, yet it was twisted into a fear of not being able to pay the bill! This is a matter that must be clarified! I, Lin Cheng, am a man who values his reputation very highly!"

His smiling expression and words left no room for doubt.

A cold wind blew past.

In the end, under the watchful, smiling gaze of Lin Cheng, Kakashi and Might Guy were forced to eat until they were stuffed!

They were then sent to the Konoha hospital!

Afterward, under the gaze of others whose legs were trembling, Lin Cheng wore a shy expression as he headed to the hospital to keep them company.

"Ahem! I think that in the future, when I'm with him, I must be careful with my words and actions! Otherwise, it could be quite dangerous!"

Watching the smiling Lin Cheng walk away, Yamanaka Inoichi coughed lightly, his face covered in cold sweat.

"...Agreed!"

After a moment of silence, Sarutobi Asuma spat out those two words.

At the same time, someone far away in the Hokage Office also put away their ninjutsu amidst a sudden, unexpected fit of coughing.

"Heh! With such a cute personality, his nature surely cannot be bad!"

As the image of that stubborn expression he had witnessed flashed through his mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled to himself.