After Hinata rested for a while, she went to a clothing store on the street to change out of her sweat-soaked clothes, then followed Ao-kun to a barbecue restaurant in Konoha.
The restaurant was run by the Akimichi Clan.
He had been there a few times with Sister Izumi and Izumi's Mother, and the food had been excellent.
"Hinata, since we finally got to go out, I'm treating today. Eat as much as you want!" Uchiha Ao declared with a grand wave of his hand.
"Then thank you, Ao-kun." Hinata's eyes curved into crescents as the fingers hidden in her kimono sleeves lightly twisted her hem.
In the warm atmosphere of the barbecue restaurant, sparks crackled from the charcoal fire, making her cheeks look even more enticing than the freshly grilled pork belly.
A shadow suddenly swept over them.
A huge man had arrived. His round figure nearly filled half the table, yet he moved with surprising agility. His thick hands held a ceramic bowl full of dipping sauce, and the barbecue tongs hanging from his waist clinked with every step.
"Welcome!" The fat man grinned, showing two rows of white teeth. The apron stretched taut across his chest was emblazoned with "Akimichi BBQ." "Just the two of you today?"
Uchiha Ao nodded.
"Right this way, then." The fat man nodded and led them to an empty table.
Before long, the marbled beef on the grill began to sizzle, amber fat dripping onto the coals and sending up a delicate, savory aroma.
Uchiha Ao deftly flipped the meat. The edges curled and crisped, and he picked up a slice with the tongs, rolled it through the sauce, then placed it in Hinata's bowl. "Try it. This special sauce goes really well with beef tongue."
Hinata shyly lowered her head and murmured, "Thank you." She gently prodded the beef with her chopsticks, then took a small bite. The tender, juicy meat made her eyes light up.
"It's really delicious! You should eat too, Ao-kun." She picked up a slice of golden-brown beef tongue, hesitated, then quickly placed it in Uchiha Ao's bowl.
Not far away sat the two members of the Hyuga Branch Family who had been following Hinata.
"Ikki, should we go stop them?" one of them asked, nudging his companion, who was busy eating barbecue.
Ikki Hyuga slowly swallowed his mouthful and wiped the corner of his mouth. Through the restaurant window, his eyes remained fixed on Uchiha Ao and Hinata. "Hayato, what's the rush? The young lady hardly ever gets to go out. Let her have a little freedom."
Hayato Hyuga hesitated. "But the clan head's orders..."
"Relax. I know what I'm doing." Ikki waved him off, then stuffed another big, sizzling piece of barbecue into his mouth. Grease ran down the corner of his mouth, but he didn't bother wiping it away. "Hayato, don't just sit there watching. Eat."
Hayato still looked uncertain, but seeing how much Ikki was enjoying the food made his stomach growl, too.
He pressed his lips together, then finally picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of barbecue. The tender, juicy flavor burst across his tongue, and he couldn't help narrowing his eyes.
Ikki let out a low chuckle.
The clan head? If it weren't for the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, who would willingly be a puppet on strings, forever denied freedom?
Lord Hizashi, too... How could he have sacrificed himself for a little kid?
He had long been dissatisfied with Hinata.
If that Uchiha brat really got together with their "young lady," he would love to see the look on Hiashi's face.
Uchiha Ao was focused on placing a perfectly grilled short rib in Hinata's bowl when he caught the amused smile on Ikki Hyuga's face out of the corner of his eye.
He raised an eyebrow but didn't give it much thought.
Just then, the restaurant door was thrown open with a bang, and a hearty laugh boomed inside.
"Kakashi! Today, we'll settle who's the true barbecue champion!" Guy burst in with an exaggerated running gait, his green jumpsuit especially eye-catching under the warm yellow lights.
Kakashi followed close behind, one hand in his pocket and the other still holding Icha Icha Paradise. His voice beneath the mask was as languid as ever. "Let's skip this silly contest... But I suppose I can join you for some barbecue."
Kakashi?
At the name, the tongs in Uchiha Ao's hand paused.
He looked up toward the entrance.
"Ao-kun, what's wrong?" Hinata noticed him looking past her and turned around in confusion, meeting Guy's exuberant smile.
Kakashi continued flipping through Icha Icha Paradise. Perhaps sensing them looking his way, he closed the book and slowly raised his eyes.
Huh?
Wasn't that the young lady of the Hyuga Clan?
Was she really eating barbecue with a kid from the Uchiha Clan?
"Ao-kun, what's that book the man over there is holding? He's so engrossed in it." Hinata turned back and asked Uchiha Ao, her big eyes blinking with curiosity.
Uchiha Ao was just about to answer when Kakashi tucked the book into his vest and sauntered over. The metal plate on his Forehead Protector glinted in the firelight.
"It's not a book for kids." Kakashi's voice carried a hint of amusement, but his Sharingan lingered for a moment on the chopsticks Hinata and Uchiha Ao held over the same bowls.
Guy stepped closer, his round eyes suddenly widening. "Ao-kun!" He rushed over in three quick strides and slung an arm around Uchiha Ao's shoulders, nearly pulling him off balance. "I never expected to run into you here!"
Uchiha Ao steadied himself and smiled helplessly. "You're as energetic as ever, Mr. Guy."
He and Guy had met because of the system's daily missions.
For a while, the system had gone haywire and kept assigning him missions to "run ten laps around Konoha."
He had met Guy during one of those runs.
"Kakashi, why don't we join them? We can pay for their meal, too," Guy suggested enthusiastically.
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled Kakashi toward Uchiha Ao and Hinata's table. His green jumpsuit swished under the warm lights, making it hard to look away.
Kakashi stumbled as Guy tugged him along and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Guy, you really haven't changed. You always do whatever you want..." Even so, he went along with him.
How much could two kids eat, anyway?
Guy had already tossed several slices of meat onto the grill. Fat dripped onto the coals with a loud sizzle. "Ao-kun, how come you haven't been coming around to burn with youthful passion lately?"
As he flipped the meat, he glanced at Hinata, then suddenly looked enlightened. "Oh—I get it! You've found yourself a pretty companion, so you've forgotten all about your teacher!"
Guy's words made Hinata blush bright red. She hurriedly waved her hands. "N-no, that's not it..." Her voice grew quieter with every word, until it was barely more than a whisper.
Uchiha Ao remained calm. He placed a perfectly grilled slice of meat in Hinata's bowl before looking up at Guy. "Mr. Guy, my sister's been teaching me ninjutsu lately, so I really haven't had any free time."
"So that's it!" Guy nodded emphatically, as if the explanation had dawned on him.
Kakashi looked a little helpless.
Guy, why are you so quick to believe him? Can't you tell that Uchiha brat is just brushing you off?
"Ao-kun, you have a sister?" Hinata asked, her attention caught by something unexpected. She set down her chopsticks.
"Uh... yeah." Uchiha Ao had a bad feeling.
"Then could you take me to meet her, Ao-kun?"
Sure enough, Hinata's next words made Uchiha Ao's fingers tighten around the tongs. Flames suddenly leapt up from the grill, casting shifting light across his stiff expression.
Hinata, do you hear what you're saying?
Before you continue