Barbecue

"Understood, Lady Tsunade."

Uchiha Nagi rubbed the back of his head where he had been patted, deciding to say no more.

Tsunade frowned slightly at this. "Little one, in a setting like this, there's no need to call me 'Lady.' Just call me 'Big Sister,' same as Kushina."

Although plenty of people addressed her that way, she wasn't here in any official capacity today.

Right now, she was simply a doctor and Kushina's big sister.

"Exactly, exactly!" Kushina chimed in from the side to support her.

"Well..." Uchiha Nagi hesitated. Given his identity as an Uchiha, was it really appropriate to address the princess of the Senju Clan so informally?

However, since Tsunade didn't seem to care, why should he, someone who felt little sense of belonging to the Uchiha Clan, worry so much about it?

"Sister Tsunade, you can just call me Nagi from now on."

Uchiha Nagi chose not to call her "Big Sister Tsunade" like Kushina did; that felt a bit too intimate and sugary for his taste, and he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Fine. Kushina, Nagi, order whatever you want to eat," Tsunade said with a bold, sweeping gesture.

Although Tsunade currently had a gambling addiction, she was still under the watchful eye of her grandmother, so her pockets were still quite deep.

"Barbecue!"

Kushina spoke up immediately.

"Tsk, Kushina, you really don't know how to save me any money." Tsunade gave Kushina's cheek a playful, annoyed tug before turning her gaze to Uchiha Nagi.

"And you?"

"Anything is fine for me." Uchiha Nagi wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was a good thing he wasn't the one paying; if he had to foot the bill, given his family's financial situation, he would likely go bankrupt on the spot.

"Alright then, barbecue it is. To the Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurant we go!"

Inside the restaurant, the three of them had just placed their orders and sat down when the barbecue at the neighboring table caught their attention.

On the iron grill, thick slices of meat were sizzling, the fat melting into golden droplets under the high heat and popping with an enticing sound.

The edges of the meat were charred and curled, revealing tender, pink interiors that shimmered with an amber luster in the firelight.

A rich, meaty aroma wafted through the air, mingling with the smoky scent of charcoal and drilling straight into their nostrils.

The three of them twitched their noses, all involuntarily swallowing in unison. It was no wonder the Akimichi Clan's barbecue shop was so popular; with craftsmanship like this, business would never be bad anywhere.

"Look at how hungry you look. Our meat will be up in a moment," Tsunade said, finding Kushina's expression amusing.

"Sister Tsunade, you're no better than I am," Kushina retorted, refusing to be outdone.

After Tsunade and Kushina bickered for a while, the meat finally arrived. It came out remarkably fast, perhaps because the staff had recognized Tsunade.

"Here it is, here it is! Let's start grilling!" Tsunade's eyes lit up as she grabbed the tongs, taking the initiative to be the one to cook.

Soon, the three of them stared at the meat on the grill, feeling that something was off. Why did it look so different from the table next to them?

The meat at the neighboring table was vibrant and delicious-looking, enough to make one's mouth water just by looking at it.

But the meat under Tsunade's care was charred black in some spots, yet in those same areas, there were still bloody patches, clearly undercooked.

How on earth did she manage to have it both burnt and raw on the same piece of meat?

"Sister Tsunade, do you actually know how to grill?" Kushina asked, looking at the unappetizing mess on the grill with a suspicious expression.

"You brat, I'm usually the one being served. You should be grateful you even have the chance to eat meat grilled by my own hands."

Tsunade's face flushed red, feeling that her dignity as a big sister had taken a hit.

Grilling meat wasn't actually difficult, especially at an Akimichi restaurant where the quality of the meat was top-tier.

Uchiha Nagi muttered to himself before reaching out. "Sister Tsunade, let me give it a try."

"Does Nagi know how to grill?" Tsunade asked as she handed over the tongs.

"I haven't done it much, but I'm the primary cook at home, so it shouldn't be a problem." As Uchiha Nagi spoke, he began his work with fluid, practiced motions.

Applying oil, flipping the meat, seasoning...

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion under his hands, and before long, the fragrant aroma of grilled meat began to spread.

"Wow, Sleepyhead, you're amazing! Much better than Big Sister!" Kushina's eyes lit up as she looked at the meat, which appeared even more delicious than the order at the next table.

Tsunade watched this, feeling a bit puzzled. "It doesn't look that hard. Why couldn't I do it?"

To understand it at a glance but fail the moment you try—that perfectly described Tsunade right now.

"Alright, it's ready to eat at this stage. If you prefer it a bit crispier, you can wait a little longer," Uchiha Nagi said, observing that every slice had turned a perfect golden brown.

"I'm digging in!"

Kushina and Tsunade acted as if they hadn't heard his last sentence, immediately taking action.

They impatiently picked up a piece of golden, glistening meat, blew on it carefully, and took a bite!

"Snap!"

A faint, crisp sound—the noise of perfectly charred, crispy skin shattering between teeth.

Immediately following, a rush of piping hot, succulent juices burst forth in the mouth, sweeping across the taste buds with an unparalleled, savory richness.

The meat inside was impossibly tender, melting away as if it would dissolve upon contact, creating a magnificent contrast with the crispy exterior.

"Mmm!!!"

Kushina's eyes widened instantly, her cheeks puffed out, looking as if she were bubbling over with pure bliss.

"So, so delicious! Big Sister Tsunade! I've never eaten grilled meat this good in my life!"

"Indeed!"

After replying, Tsunade cast aside all restraint; her movements became lightning-fast, and the slices of meat on the grill vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Whoa, Big Sister Tsunade, you're cheating!" Kushina's eyes went round as she witnessed this.

"Kushina, let Big Sister teach you a lesson: in the face of such delicacies, any hesitation is a sign of disrespect to the food itself!"

With that, Tsunade and Kushina began a frantic scramble to clear the grill, and the meat naturally couldn't withstand such an assault, disappearing like leaves in a gale.

Uchiha Nagi watched this scene, the corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily.

He had assumed he would be able to claim a few pieces for himself, but before he could even set down his tongs, the grilled meat had already been devoured by the two of them.

Have I completely turned into a waiter?

After a silent grumble, Uchiha Nagi didn't hesitate and simply continued his duties as the waiter.

And so, every time he finished grilling a batch, the meat would vanish into the stomachs of Tsunade and Kushina in the blink of an eye.

Afterward, both of them would fix their expectant gazes on Uchiha Nagi, leaving him no choice but to continue.

After several rounds, Tsunade and Kushina looked at Uchiha Nagi once more.

"Um, the meat is all gone."

Uchiha Nagi felt rather helpless; he... hadn't even eaten a single piece of grilled meat yet!