Life Curry House

Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the wooden house's chimney, and the enticing aroma of curry drifted through the air.

After a full day on the road, everyone stopped in their tracks. That smell...

Naruto's stomach growled despite himself, and he scratched his head with a goofy grin.

"Great, I was just getting hungry." Tenten took Neji by the wrist and pulled him toward the house.

Even Kazahana Koyuki, who had remained motionless inside the carriage all this time, emerged. She lifted the curtain and sniffed the aroma, but then shot Shuofang Si a vicious glare and ducked back inside.

"Let's get something to eat first." Kakashi checked on Naruto and the others, then looked up at the sky and decided to settle down here.

"We're still some distance from the mine. This would make a good stopping point."

Shuofang Si dismounted and followed the group.

I'm at the aperture opening stage now. Missing a meal or two won't matter.

I remember this part of the story, though. Looks like I arrived before these events happened in the original timeline. If Rock Lee had recovered from his injuries, he should have joined this mission.

Following the scent of curry, Naruto eagerly rushed forward, swept the curtain aside, and went in.

The moment he entered, he saw a gray-haired old woman standing behind the counter, stirring a large pot of curry with a ladle.

The curry was rich and fragrant, but the heavy scent of spices in the air made Naruto sneeze several times in a row.

Just then, a thin young man came downstairs with luggage on his back, intending to leave. The old woman spotted him, caught him by the ear, and dragged him back.

The young man wore shabby hemp clothes, his face full of impatience. "Mom, let go of me!" he shouted.

"Don't go joining that Kurosuki gang! You'd be helping them prey on others!"

The old woman tugged hard on his ear and roared, "What's wrong with staying home and making curry? You've got a perfectly good shop to inherit, and you'd rather run off with a bunch of rogue ninja!"

"Mom, you don't understand! Lord Kurosuki and his men are really strong. They said they'd teach me ninjutsu if I joined them!"

The young man, Keshi, broke free of his mother and staggered a couple of steps, accidentally bumping into Naruto beside him.

He turned and saw the group, but as his gaze passed over their Konoha forehead protectors, his expression instantly grew wary.

Keshi instinctively took a step back.

He recognized those forehead protectors. Konoha ninja. He had once saved that fellow in the green bodysuit.

"Who are you?" His voice was still hoarse and cracking from his argument with his mother.

The old woman was much calmer than her son. She narrowed her eyes and studied her guests.

"Oh my, visitors. We don't get many of those." She set down her ladle, a knowing smile spreading across her wrinkled face.

"It's rare to have travelers stop by. Take a seat, everyone. There's plenty of curry."

The group exchanged glances, then found seats.

Naruto and Tenten rushed to the counter almost simultaneously, their eyes fixed on the bubbling pot of curry.

Kakashi settled near the door, where he could see everyone inside the shop and the only dirt road outside.

Sandayu went to take care of the carriage. Kazahana Koyuki reluctantly entered and chose the corner farthest from Shuofang Si, refusing even to glance at him.

Keshi remained where he was, watching them. His wariness only deepened as the ninja filled his family's shop.

Finally, he could no longer hold back. He took two steps toward his mother and said quietly, "Mom, they're ninja from outside. Lord Kurosuki said..."

"Lord Kurosuki said this, Lord Kurosuki said that. Is your surname Kurosuki?" The old woman struck the pot with her ladle, producing a sharp clang.

Keshi was left speechless, his face flushing red.

Shuofang Si picked up the plate of curry rice the old woman handed him and took a spoonful.

The curry was surprisingly good. It was intensely spicy, with just the right blend of seasonings, and gave him a comforting warmth that spread through his body.

He glanced at the stubborn young man, swallowed his curry, and asked casually, "How long has that gang been holed up here?"

Keshi shot him a wary glare and said nothing.

The old woman answered for her son. "A few months now. Ever since the Kurosuki took over Mine Mountain Village, there's been no peace around here. Anyone they dislike gets forced into a Funeral Burial, buried alive.

"These old bones of mine aren't afraid of them, but I don't know what nonsense they've filled this boy's head with. Every day, he keeps shouting about going to join them."

"Because Lord Kurosuki is strong!" Keshi finally burst out. "He can fight dozens of people all by himself! His twin blades can call down lightning to strike people. You have no idea how powerful he is!"

"Kakashi, Konoha's technician. I remember you have a signature move called Lightning Blade, right? Shall I leave him to you, then?" Shuofang Si suddenly turned to the dead-eyed Kakashi.

"Oh? You certainly know a lot." Kakashi put away his copy of Icha Icha Paradise and picked up his spoon.

"I may not have chakra, but I suppose I qualify as a warrior. I'd like to test myself against this former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. I hope you can watch my back."

Kakashi's hand stopped abruptly. He looked at Shuofang Si seriously. "I know it's not ideal to say this to a client, but fighting ninja isn't a game. I must refuse."

Shuofang Si leisurely wiped the curry grease from the corner of his mouth with a napkin, then pulled a chunk of gold from his pocket and slapped it down.

"I can upgrade this to an S-Rank mission and change the objective to protecting me while I use him for sparring practice."

"No, I refuse. Protecting an ordinary person while he fights a rogue jonin isn't a realistic mission. You should have discussed this when you commissioned it."

Shuofang Si did not press the issue and put the gold away. He knew the Main God would never let him exploit a loophole like that. He had only been testing whether he could get some assistance.

The exchange left Keshi a little panicked. "Has Konoha come to take down the Kurosuki?"

Neji sat by the window, his Byakugan shifting slightly as his gaze settled on Keshi.

"Those rogue ninja have been terrorizing this area for a long time," Neji said suddenly, loud enough for Keshi to hear clearly from the foot of the stairs.

"Konoha has already accepted a commission to eliminate him. Joining them now would be nothing short of throwing your life away."

Keshi tightened his grip on the banister. He did not turn around, and his shoulders trembled slightly, as though someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over his head.

After a moment, he released the banister and went upstairs without a word.

His footsteps were heavy, each step making the wooden stairs creak.

Granny Sansho watched her son disappear up the stairs, worry settling over her wrinkled face.

She turned and bowed deeply to the group. "Thank goodness. That Kurosuki gang is far too brazen. They don't care about the lives of anyone around here. I'm so glad you've come."

She straightened and wiped the corners of her eyes with her apron. "Keshi has the same temperament as his father. Once he sets his mind on something, nothing can make him budge."

Kazahana Koyuki sat at a table in the corner. She took no part in the discussion, only stared at Shuofang Si with a mocking look.