Exhausted.
Rikusei rubbed his forehead in frustration, tracing circles on the warm tabletop.
It was supposed to be hot pot for two, but a third person had squeezed in.
And that wasn't all. With so much delicious food in front of him, he still had to keep asking question after question.
Seeing that the clan head was ignoring him, Chikaku could only pester Rikusei, begging him to tell him about what was happening in the village.
The brown chopsticks swayed slightly in the bubbling hot pot. After searching around, they picked up a tender slice of fish and placed it in a bowl. Looking through the thin veil of steam, he asked in a low voice, "You just said Tobirama disbanded the Senju Clan."
After getting confirmation once more, he raised an arm to stop Rikusei from speaking. He wanted to think it through carefully.
"People from the former Senju Clan have been placed in all the village departments now, right?"
Chikaku's answer made Rikusei pause to give him a thumbs-up. Then he hurried back to the battle with Madara over the food.
His appetite had been thoroughly satisfied by Rikusei's special seasonings. He set down his bowl and chopsticks, apologized to the master and student, then headed for the door.
His hungry clan members were still outside. They had to get a taste of such a uniquely delicious hot pot, too. He couldn't let them suffer in this godforsaken place for nothing.
It was one thing that they couldn't return to the village often, but at least their appetites had to be satisfied. He quickened his pace toward the place where the Chinoike Clan was being watched.
"Teacher?"
Rikusei, who had felt invincible until then, put down his chopsticks in confusion. He couldn't understand what could have made the