Not the best, only the most expensive!

"Chain operations?" The concept, quite novel in the current Shinobi World, brought thoughtful expressions to the faces of the young ninja seated around the table.

"Exactly!" Shinji began explaining in greater depth, his tone carrying proven business wisdom from another world. "Put simply, it's like using the Shadow Clone Technique, except what we're duplicating is an entire store's operating model. First comes the most important part-'standardization.'"

He lightly tapped the sizzling slices of meat on the grill with his tongs. "Take this beef tenderloin, for example. Everything from grading it during procurement to the thickness of each slice during preparation-accurate to the millimeter-to the proportions in the marinade recipe-recorded as precisely as a ninjutsu scroll-and the ideal heat and cooking time-strictly specified according to the cut and thickness-needs detailed, uniform, practical standards. Our goal is to ensure that whichever Yakiniku Q branch in Konoha a customer visits, the same dish will be highly consistent in flavor, texture, and quality. That's the foundation of a brand's reputation."

Next, his gaze swept across the slightly noisy but lively restaurant. "Second is 'streamlining procedures.' From the moment a customer lifts the entrance curtain, we need an optimal procedure for everything: greeting them, showing them to their seats, presenting the menu, taking their orders, pacing the dishes, determining when and how to replace the grill mesh, and finally settling the bill and seeing them off. Even the decor, the style and arrangement of the tables and chairs, and the brightness and color of the lighting can gradually be standardized. That way, whichever branch customers enter, they'll immediately feel a familiar warmth and reassurance."

"Then there's 'centralized procurement and distribution.'" Shinji continued, outlining an even larger framework. "Once we have enough branches, we can consolidate their purchasing needs and place bulk orders with established, reputable suppliers. Buying in huge quantities gives us greater bargaining power. Not only can we control costs effectively, we can also demand and monitor more consistent, higher-quality ingredients from our suppliers. Then we establish our own efficient delivery team, using Sealing Scrolls or other preservation methods to ensure that every morning, the freshest ingredients that meet our standards arrive at every branch's kitchen on time."

"Finally, there's the 'staff training system.'" Shinji looked at Choza, who still seemed somewhat bewildered, and patiently explained, "We can establish a 'Yakiniku Q Training Center.' Every new recruit, including prospective managers for future branches, must undergo systematic, rigorous training there. It would cover standardized grilling techniques, the full service process, and emergency response. More importantly, they must thoroughly study and internalize the Akimichi Clan's unique understanding of 'food,' especially 'meat,' and their heartfelt passion for it. Only by passing down that core spirit can we ensure that the soul of our service stays true to the original restaurant."

After clearly laying out the three pillars of "standardization," "streamlined procedures," and "centralized distribution," Shinji looked at Choza's complicated expression-a mixture of shock, confusion, and faint excitement-and abruptly changed tack. An openly teasing, exaggerated mischievousness appeared on his face. He cleared his throat as if preparing to announce something momentous, deliberately adopted the patter of a street salesman or an overzealous visionary, and began his impromptu "performance":

"Choza, let me tell you, once we lay the foundations of our chain empire, we have to look beyond the little well called Konoha and set our sights on the stars and the sea! The Yakiniku Q of the future won't be in the business of scraping together ordinary ninja's hard-earned pennies!"

He swept his arm out dramatically, as though unfurling a magnificent, glittering blueprint before them:

"We need to study the spending psychology of our target customers-those top-tier diners! Think about it. Would a ninja who comes here every day, every meal, to satisfy their grilled-meat cravings be some freshly graduated Genin? They'd have to be someone who's completed eight or ten A-Rank missions, with a bulging wallet and money to burn!"

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and asked with an air of affected mystery:

"Do you know what makes a successful ninja?"

Without waiting for Choza to answer, he immediately answered his own question, his tone utterly decisive:

"A successful ninja is someone who-only eats the most expensive food, not the best!"

"So the preliminary strategic slogan for our future high-end chain is-" He deliberately paused to build suspense, then declared each word with emphasis, "Not. The. Best. Only. The. Most. Expensive!"

Choza listened in stunned disbelief, his mouth slightly open and the tongs in his hand nearly dropping into the charcoal brazier. He unconsciously murmured along, "Not... not the best... only the most expensive?" This completely overturned his Akimichi Clan's simple values of "flavor first, affordability second."

Beside him, Shikaku had just taken a sip of barley tea and promptly choked, coughing repeatedly. When he finally caught his breath, he pressed a hand to his forehead and muttered, "This guy... he's spouting ridiculous nonsense again... what a drag."

Minato did not know whether to laugh or cry. Seeing Shinji's obviously playful expression, he shook his head helplessly, feeling that his friend's jokes sometimes took such wild flights of fancy that nobody could keep up. Kushina, meanwhile, was laughing so hard at the outrageous claims that she rocked back and forth, her giggles clear and sweet. "Hahaha! Shinji, you're hilarious!"

Seeing how well it had worked, Shinji grew even more enthusiastic and continued selling his grandiose dream with a perfectly straight face:

"Imagine it! When we open branches in the future, every location has to be the very best of prime real estate! Right beneath Hokage Rock, we'll open a Global Flagship Store. I've already thought of the name: 'Hokage's Choice: Yakiniku Q'! Across from the mission office's front entrance, we'll open a 'Mission Return: Reward Speciality Store'! Prices? How could ordinary beef tenderloin be worthy of a successful ninja's status? We have to bring in 'Land of Hot Water Premium Marbled Wagyu'! 'Land of Frost Eternal Snowfield Rare-Beast Ribeye'! Grills? Ordinary charcoal is far too unrefined. We need a 'Chakra-Conducting Metal Custom Grill Plate,' precisely searing the meat by simulating the instantaneous heat of a Tailed Beast Bomb's explosion, sealing in every drop of juice!"

The more he spoke, the more absorbed he became, waving his arms as though he could already see that luxurious scene:

"Every server in the restaurant will be an elite selected from the Akimichi Clan, wearing a gleaming Konoha Forehead Protector. Just standing there, they'll have an impressive presence-real prestige! The moment a customer enters, whether we have seats available or not, every employee must bow and greet them in unison: 'My lord, thank you for your hard work! A fresh shipment of meat arrived by air today, preserved with the latest Sealing Scrolls. The flavor is exceptional!' All delivered in an authentic, powerful Akimichi Clan manner of speech. Now that's class!"

"We must have private dining rooms, and their names have to ooze authority-'S-Rank Mission Strategy Negotiation Room,' 'Elite Ninja Exchange: Pinnacle Taste Hall'! Just using one of those rooms for a single meal should cost eight or ten thousand ryo!"

He raised one finger, his expression as solemn as if he were announcing a Hokage's decree:

"And don't complain that it's expensive. There are absolutely no discounts at that price!

"We have to study the spending mentality of those filthy-rich ninja. Anyone willing to shell out eight or ten thousand ryo for grilled meat won't care about spending another eight or ten thousand!

"Let me repeat: what makes a successful ninja? A successful ninja is someone who-whatever they eat, they only eat the most expensive, not the best!

"So the ultimate slogan for our high-end chain is: Not the best, only the most expensive!"

Shinji emphatically repeated the final two lines, then broke character himself, slapping the table and roaring with laughter. His earlier solemn expression instantly crumbled, leaving only the satisfaction of a successful prank.

At first, Choza really had been taken in by Shinji's "luxurious grilled-meat empire," even picturing glittering golden grill plates and servers in ninja flak jackets. Only when he heard the ending and saw Shinji laughing without a shred of dignity did he suddenly realize that the whole thing had been an elaborately staged joke. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and joined in the laughter. "Hahahahaha! Shinji, you rascal, you made it sound real! You gave me a fright! Still... it does sound pretty exciting, even if it's way too over the top!"

Shikaku sighed helplessly, though a faint smile tugged at his lips despite himself. "I knew it... do you spend all day dreaming up these troublesome, ridiculous routines?"

Inoichi smiled and shook his head, his tone admiring. "Shinji, you always manage to give people... unexpected amusement and ideas."

Only then did Minato fully relax. With a gentle smile, he said, "Shinji, hurry up and tell us about a genuinely practical, down-to-earth plan. Look at Choza-you've nearly dragged him out of the world of grilled meat and into a world of genjutsu."

Still wanting more, Kushina clapped her hands and looked at Minato with sparkling eyes. "I thought it was great! If a restaurant that expensive really opens someday, Minato, you have to treat me to a meal there!" As she spoke, she gave him another expectant glance, instantly making the future Fourth Hokage feel an invisible weight of "pressure."

The charcoal still crackled, and the fragrance of meat filled the air. Around the small square table, youth, energy, and laughter abounded. Even that seemingly absurd joke became an indispensable part of this warm evening.