Class Gathering

After changing his clothes, he checked the time. Six thirty. Time to head out.

Yakiniku Q was on Konoha's shopping street, not far from his home.

At his pace as a full-fledged ninja, it wouldn't take long to walk there.

Yakiniku Q was one of Konoha's most famous barbecue restaurants.

The place wasn't big, but business was good, and there was often a line.

When Uchiha Makoto arrived, several people were already standing outside.

Obito, Guy, Rin, and a few other classmates.

"Makoto!"

Obito spotted him first and waved excitedly.

Guy's eyes lit up too, and he gave him a thumbs-up. "Makoto! Congratulations on graduating! This is the hot blood of youth!"

Rin stood behind the two of them, smiling gently. "Makoto, congratulations."

Uchiha Makoto walked over and greeted them with a smile.

Then he noticed the others.

Kurenai Yuhi, Genma Shiranui, Namiashi Raidō, Aoba Yamashiro...

Even Gekko Hayate was there. Though he was still a scrawny little kid, he would become a Special Jōnin in the future and even marry Uzuki Yugao.

Uchiha Makoto's class really was full of stars.

Pick any one of them, and they were an NPC who would make a name for themselves in the future.

Although these famous NPCs didn't have manifestation rates as high as Obito's and Guy's, that didn't stop Makoto from spinning some outrageous boast to each of them every few months.

He saw Obito and Guy every day, which actually made a lot of lies harder to sell. These classmates were different.

Every few months, he could say he had mastered a new Ninjutsu, and they would believe him. Even if their manifestation rates weren't high, Class A of the first year had plenty of famous classmates to make up for it.

Many of his rewards over the past six months had been manifested through these classmates.

He scanned the group but didn't see Asuma Sarutobi.

"Asuma didn't come?" he asked casually.

"Asuma said he had something to do and couldn't make it." Obito curled his lip. "Probably too embarrassed about losing to you."

Uchiha Makoto smiled without saying anything.

It was just as well that he hadn't come.

It saved them the awkwardness.

"Makoto, over here!"

Teacher Nakamura's voice came from inside the restaurant.

Uchiha Makoto looked up and saw Teacher Nakamura standing in the doorway, waving them over.

The whole group poured into the restaurant.

Yakiniku Q's proprietress was a plump, middle-aged woman. When she saw Teacher Nakamura bringing so many children, she smiled until her eyes were mere slits.

"Teacher Nakamura, treating everyone today? Come on in! We've got a big table inside!"

Teacher Nakamura was clearly well acquainted with her. He nodded with a smile. "Sorry for the trouble, Aunt Mieko."

"No trouble at all! A healthy appetite is a blessing!"

The proprietress led them to a long table at the very back that could seat over a dozen people.

After sitting down, Uchiha Makoto looked around.

Obito and Guy sat on either side of him like a pair of guardians.

Rin sat beside Obito, and Kurenai sat beside Rin.

Genma Shiranui, Namiashi Raidō, Aoba Yamashiro, and Gekko Hayate sat opposite them.

Teacher Nakamura sat at the head of the table.

"Today, we're celebrating Makoto's early graduation!" Teacher Nakamura raised his glass, which held fruit juice. "Everyone, let's congratulate Makoto!"

"Congratulations, Makoto!"

"Congratulations, Makoto!"

"Congratulations, Makoto!"

Everyone raised their glasses, filling the room with excitement.

Uchiha Makoto raised his glass too and clinked it with everyone else's.

The juice was sweet and fruity.

"All right, dig in!" Teacher Nakamura swept his hand out. "Order whatever you want. It's my treat today!"

"Yeah!"

"Long live our teacher!"

"I want pork belly!"

"I want beef tongue!"

"I want..."

The children began ordering like mad.

The proprietress, Mieko, held a little notepad and grinned from ear to ear.

Uchiha Makoto looked at the menu, but he was doing the math in his head.

He had a rough idea of Yakiniku Q's prices.

A plate of pork belly cost 200 ryo, beef tongue cost 300 ryo, and a mixed vegetable platter cost 200 ryo...

With over a dozen people at the table, even if each ordered only three plates, the bill would run over ten thousand ryo.

As a Ninja Academy teacher, Teacher Nakamura probably only earned a few tens of thousands of ryo a month, didn't he?

This meal would likely cost him half a month's salary.

Uchiha Makoto looked up at Teacher Nakamura.

Teacher Nakamura was still cheerfully pouring juice for everyone, looking every bit the generous host who wanted them to eat their fill.

But Uchiha Makoto noticed a slight twitch at the corners of his eyes.

Clearly, he had realized how serious the situation was too.

"Teacher," Uchiha Makoto said, "why don't we split the bill? Everyone can pay their share."

"Absolutely not!" Teacher Nakamura immediately shook his head. "I said I'd treat you, and that's what I'll do! Eat as much as you want. Your teacher has money!"

He spoke loudly and confidently.

But Uchiha Makoto saw that his hands were shaking.

"Then... thank you, Teacher." Uchiha Makoto didn't insist.

He had brought money anyway. If Teacher Nakamura really couldn't afford the bill later, he could quietly cover the difference.

The meat arrived soon.

Fat sizzled and spat on the griddle, filling the air with the aroma of meat.

"Let's eat!"

Everyone shouted in unison, and then their chopsticks went flying.

Uchiha Makoto picked up a slice of pork belly and placed it on the griddle.

The fat hit the hot surface with an immediate sizzle, and a delicious aroma rose to his nose.

He flipped it a couple of times, then, once the meat changed color, picked it up, dipped it in sauce, and put it in his mouth.

Mmm, delicious.

The meat was tender and juicy, and the sauce had just the right balance of sweet and salty.

It certainly lived up to its reputation as Konoha's most famous barbecue restaurant.

"Makoto, this beef tongue is amazing!" Obito picked up a piece of beef tongue for him.

"Makoto, try this-the barbecue of youth!" Guy offered him a piece of meat too.

"Makoto, this vegetable smells lovely once it's grilled too." Rin gently handed him a slice of green pepper.

Before long, Uchiha Makoto's bowl held a small mountain of food.

He ate while watching the others.

Obito and Guy certainly lived up to being practitioners of Life Return 2.1.

Their appetites were something else.

With chopsticks in one hand and tongs in the other, Obito worked both sides at once, shoveling slice after slice of meat into his mouth. He chewed twice, swallowed, and reached for more.

Guy was even more outrageous. He picked up a plate and dumped it straight onto the griddle, stirred the meat around a couple of times with his chopsticks, then waited for it to cook. With one grab, he picked up half a plate's worth and stuffed it into his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's.

Akimichi Kosuke, the chubby boy from the Akimichi Clan, was no slouch either.

He had ordered five plates of meat all by himself and was now demolishing them at an astonishing speed.

The others weren't eating quite as ferociously, but they weren't slow either.

After all, they were ninja trainees. They exercised a lot and burned plenty of energy.

Uchiha Makoto glanced at Teacher Nakamura again.

Teacher Nakamura's smile had gone from pleased to strained, then from strained to stiff.

Now, it was edging toward utter despair.

Especially when the proprietress brought over another ten plates of meat, his face visibly paled.

"T-Teacher..." Uchiha Makoto said quietly. "Maybe we should split the bill after all?"

"N-No need!" Teacher Nakamura gritted his teeth. "Your teacher has money! Eat as much as you want!"

As he spoke, he picked up another piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.

But to Uchiha Makoto, he looked as though he were chewing a rock.

"Teacher..." Obito had noticed too. "You don't look so good. Are you feeling unwell?"

"N-No!" Teacher Nakamura forced a cheerful smile. "I'm just... so happy! Seeing you all enjoying the food makes me happy!"

As he spoke, he took another huge gulp of juice.

His expression made it look as though he were drinking bitter medicine.

Uchiha Makoto sighed.

It looked like Teacher Nakamura was destined to take a serious hit to his wallet today.