Inside the Bullfrog Sage restaurant.
"Didn't you say you didn't like toads?"
Jiraiya first looked at the large steaming pot of bullfrog hotpot on the table, then shifted his gaze to the full bowl of bullfrog meat in front of Naruto.
"Weren't you the one who said toads and bullfrogs couldn't be lumped together?"
Naruto shot Jiraiya a glance and stuffed a piece of bullfrog meat into his mouth.
After chewing for a moment and savoring the delicious flavor, Naruto waved his chopsticks at Jiraiya. "It's pretty good. You're paying for the meal, so why aren't you eating? Choji Akimichi is from the Akimichi Clan. If you don't eat any yourself, you'll be losing out, you know~"
"I've got plenty of money. I can afford to lose some!"
Jiraiya glared at Naruto. How could he possibly miss the sarcasm in Naruto's words?
To persuade Naruto, who had no interest in the Legendary Sannin title, to become his disciple,
Jiraiya had ultimately followed Naruto to the bullfrog restaurant. But eating was out of the question. If the toads of Mount Myoboku found out, they would surely chew him out.
"Here."
Naruto had no intention of letting Jiraiya off. He took out a fresh bowl and chopsticks, filled the bowl with bullfrog meat, and handed it to Jiraiya. "This is... my apprenticeship gift."
"Your master appreciates the thought."
"There's no point taking verbal advantage. If you eat it, I'll become your disciple."
"Your master's heart is already full from your respect for your elders."
Jiraiya and Naruto muttered back and forth beside each other, trading barbs.
"Naruto, who's this old guy?"
Ino, sitting across from Naruto, watched Naruto and Jiraiya constantly making little moves even while eating and asked curiously.
Jiraiya had called himself Naruto's master earlier, but judging from Naruto's reaction,