"Gulp."
Naruto swallowed hard.
As he stared at the absurdly lavish spread on the table before him, his eyes went wide.
There was a huge roast chicken, golden and glistening with fat; crispy tempura piled into a small mountain; and an entire steamed sea bass still giving off steam, surrounded by exquisite sushi and sashimi Naruto did not even know the names of.
"Se... Sensei..."
Naruto stammered.
"Are we... hosting some important person?"
Uchiha Yao lifted a cup of tea and gently blew away the steam.
"To celebrate the first time you didn't come in last."
Naruto lowered his head, not wanting anyone to see his reddened eyes.
This was the first time in his life that someone had celebrated something for him.
"Thank you... Sensei."
Naruto's voice was thick with emotion.
"Eat."
"Once you're done, I have a new mission for you."
Hinata, seated beside Naruto, watched the scene with a gentle smile on her fair face.
She was happy for Naruto.
At the same time, her gaze could not help drifting secretly toward the man seated at the head of the table.
Sensei Yao always looked so cool and distant, but actually... he was a very gentle person, wasn't he?
On the other side of the table, Kurenai Yuhi's movements seemed somewhat reserved.
She had been asked to stay for dinner as well.
She could not refuse Lord Yao's order, nor did she want to.
It was just that ever since that afternoon at the training ground, when that man had corrected her taijutsu under the guise of teaching, in a posture that had been almost an embrace...
Her heart had been in complete turmoil.
She did not even dare look Uchiha Yao in the eyes now.
When they were nearly finished eating, Uchiha Yao's voice rang