Cheapskate

Not planning to press the matter, Kakashi said to Jiya, "So what are you planning to do now?" The unspoken meaning was that he was telling him to leave.

But Uchiha Gen suddenly looked bashful and pulled out some paper and a pen from behind his back. "Please give me your autograph, sir. Otherwise, I'll pretend to leave, then secretly hide here and watch Sasuke's moves to help Dosu Kinata cheat."

Kakashi: "???"

Sasuke's expression twitched. He actually said something like that so righteously. How could this guy be so shameless? It wasn't as if Sasuke was afraid of that, but hearing it said right to his face still made his chest tighten.

Kakashi's expression stiffened as well, nearly breaking character. "...Can you tell me why you're so insistent on getting my personal autograph?"

Uchiha Gen pondered for a moment. "Because you're Kakashi. Even though you showed me no mercy just now, I grew up listening to stories about you."

He had listened to them since childhood?... Fine. Seeing Jiya's persistence, Kakashi had a feeling that if he refused this time, there would be a next time. Helplessly, he took out some paper and a pen from his pocket and wrote down his name. "Here."

The moment Uchiha Gen got the autograph, he seemed to sense something. His pupils suddenly widened, and he said excitedly, "Thank you!"

Then, with several Body Flickers, he vanished from the spot.

Watching him go, Kakashi scratched his head. Could he really be one of his little fans? Thinking back on what had happened earlier, had he been too cold toward him?

Congratulations, Host, on obtaining Kakashi's autograph. Reward: one day of Taste Experience Card access. During this period, the food you eat will not be restricted. (Receiving an item gifted by an important character has a chance to trigger a reward. Rewards cannot be obtained repeatedly.)

Uchiha Gen's grin nearly split his face. He had only asked for it on a whim, as a keepsake, but he had unexpectedly gained something extra. Long live Kakashi!

Elsewhere, Kakashi suddenly felt like sneezing. "Achoo!"

He rubbed his nose through his mask.

Sasuke pushed himself off the rock with one hand. "I've rested enough. Let's continue!"

Kakashi nodded, but he discovered that Sasuke's moves had suddenly become far too fierce. He wasn't considering the battle situation or planning his attacks at all, nor was he thinking about when to use which move. He was wasting far too much chakra and leaving too many openings!

Seeing this, Kakashi frowned. In a blur, he seized the wrist Sasuke had thrust toward him with Chidori. "This is training, not a fight to the death. When the time comes that you really need to risk your life, do you plan to become crippled by attacking without regard for the consequences like this?!"

Sasuke lowered his head unwillingly. "He's strong! That Gaara— even if that Jonin was weak..."

Thinking of Jiya's performance, Sasuke simply didn't dare fight Gaara.

Kakashi was suddenly both annoyed and amused. So that was what this was about. "You don't actually think that Jiya from Otogakure really couldn't defeat Gaara, do you?"

"?"

That was exactly how Sasuke saw it.

"Judging by how quickly Jiya dodged just now, if he wanted to, he might not be able to kill Gaara, but he could at least suppress him. No one who becomes a Jonin is simple."

"Then why was he...?"

"Such a coward?"

Kakashi's expression turned serious. "He may have sensed it..." There was something wrong with Gaara. There was a high chance that he was a Jinchuriki.

"You can't bully children."

Sasuke: "???"

"Alright, that's roughly it. Though Jiya's strength definitely can't compare to mine."

Sasuke stared with dead-fish eyes, three black lines dropping down his forehead. He thought so too, but hearing it said so openly felt strange.

Uchiha Gen could barely contain his excitement. He wanted to use the card immediately, but it was already late. Some snacks might not be available, and he didn't know how the one-day duration was calculated. What if it reset at midnight the next day? That would be terrible.

Soon, the next day arrived. Since he didn't need to sleep, Uchiha Gen stood on the rooftop like a statue, staring intently at the clouds in the east. Only when the sun finally rose did he clutch his silver coins, his eyes shining with energy.

"Boss! One serving of takoyaki!"

The vendor had just opened up. Hearing the familiar voice, he laughed heartily. "Sure thing! You're up early today, Jiya?"

Jiya flashed a broad smile and nodded. "Much appreciated!"

The vendor wiped his hands. Seeing that smile brightened his mood for the whole day, and he began heating the pan and making the balls. "You seem especially happy today. Did something good happen?"

Although Jiya was a ninja from another village, why turn away paying customers? Besides, he was polite, and his way of doing things really made him hard to dislike.

Jiya smiled and praised him, "Because I get to eat the balls you made earlier~"

That was the honest truth.

But the vendor took it to mean that ninja matters were inconvenient to discuss, so he didn't ask further. "Hehe, then I'll accept the compliment. The balls are ready! Careful, they're hot."

"Thank you." Uchiha Gen took the dumpling and sniffed it, but he felt nothing. It was still the same as before. His brows furrowed slightly, and he couldn't help feeling disappointed.

But when he took a bite, the distinctive savory flavor of the little ball erupted in his mouth. Uchiha Gen froze, and tears formed from chakra spilled down before he could stop them.

The sight gave the vendor quite a fright, and he asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are the dumplings not good?"

Uchiha Gen shook his head, desperately wanting to control his emotions. These past days, his thoughts had inevitably drifted away, as though he were trapped in a dream he could never wake from. Apart from his thoughts, he had no sense of touch, pain, or taste.

His usual actions relied entirely on his body's instinctive control and calculations, preventing things like crushing a cup with a slap.

Seeing the droplets on the dumpling, Uchiha Gen wiped away his tears. His hope for life grew even stronger. "It's fine, it's fine. Your dumplings are too delicious. I just couldn't hold it in."

As he spoke, he stuffed two balls into his mouth side by side.

Freeing up a hand, Uchiha Gen pulled out a list he had stayed up all night writing and hurried away. He only had one day, so he had to eat as much as he could!

The vendor stared dumbfoundedly as Uchiha Gen left.

Wasn't it hot? Looking at the steel skewer in his hand, the vendor quickly finished making the dumplings and bit into half of one. As he savored it, he frowned. "It tastes the same? Damn! Hot! Hot! ..."

After an entire afternoon, Uchiha Gen arrived at the famous "Otsutsuki Ichiraku" ramen shop, eating all the way while carrying bags of food. He had been here before, but this time was different!

Over this period, the food Uchiha Gen had eaten had probably piled up as high as a person. He had been worried at first, but later discovered that there was no problem at all. He had no idea where all that food went, but this was the one benefit of the system that he appreciated: he could eat endlessly without getting full.

However, the money in his hand had dwindled to just over 9,000 ryo. Thinking of those 100,000 ryo, he had to save some money as capital.

He chose the ramen shop as his final stop, where he could sit and enjoy his meal slowly. Thinking about the Akimichi Clan's secret barbecue, which was expensive enough to make him cough blood, he wished he had more money.

"Welcome! What would you like to eat? Oh, it's Jiya. The usual?" Uncle Teuchi asked with a smile.

"No, I want to eat more today. Uncle, your cooking is unmatched!" Uchiha Gen said with a flattering smile. He ordered ten bowls of ramen, each with a different flavor, then sat down to wait. Looking around, he finally noticed two figures beside him, one big and one small, one white and one yellow.

Seeing the food packed in the large and small bags beside Uchiha Gen, then hearing him order ten bowls of ramen, Naruto couldn't help wondering whether this guy was from the Akimichi Clan. But he didn't look fat.

Noticing Naruto looking curiously at his food, Uchiha Gen smiled kindly like a creepy old man luring a child. "Kid, is there anything you like? If you like it, I can... hmm." Uchiha Gen hesitated at that point.

Looking at Naruto's blond hair and the whiskers on his face, he made up his mind. "I can give you one thing to eat. No more than that."

Naruto's wide eyes immediately drooped in disappointment. Pouting, he looked at Uchiha Gen as though he were a cheapskate who had failed at showing off.