"Ahem." Toru Kujyo gave a light cough, breaking the brief silence. He glanced around at the members of Team 7 and Team 10, then suggested with a smile, "We made it through the first exam without any real trouble. To celebrate, how about we all go out for barbecue? My treat."
"Barbecue?!" Naruto Uzumaki's eyes instantly lit up like lightbulbs, and he nearly started drooling. "Awesome! I love barbecue!"
"Barbecue..." Choji Akimichi stopped eating his chips, an equally fierce fire blazing in his eyes.
Shikamaru Nara lazily glanced at the excited Choji, then at Naruto, whose eyes were also shining, and sighed. "Hey, Kujyo, I'd suggest splitting the bill. Otherwise, Choji alone could bankrupt you."
"It's fine." Toru Kujyo's tone was breezy, carrying an unshakable composure. "I've done a few S-rank missions lately, so I have plenty saved up. Eat as much as you like. Don't hold back."
At those words, not only Shikamaru but even Ino and Sakura looked surprised. S-rank missions? Those were difficult assignments that even Jonin couldn't necessarily get easily. Just who was this Toru Kujyo?
"Tch." Sasuke Uchiha slipped his hands into his pockets and coldly turned to leave. "Not interested. I'm going back to train."
"Oh?" Toru Kujyo's voice drifted after him, tinged with amusement. "You can't even spare time for a meal? Or are you worried you'll lose to me at the dinner table, too?"
Sasuke Uchiha stopped dead. He slowly turned back, his dark eyes meeting Toru Kujyo's smiling gaze, a vein faintly throbbing at his temple. This casual provocation infuriated him more than any heated words could.
"...Hmph. Who's afraid of you?" Sasuke turned his head away, his tone stiff. "Since you're so insistent on treating us, I'll come along."
"Good." Toru Kujyo smiled in satisfaction.
Inside the barbecue restaurant, steam