Zhang Yu found his words amusing.
"OK."
"Let's have something exciting tonight."
Hashirama stopped moving.
Ban also raised his head.
Izuna asked, "What do you want to eat?"
Zhang Yu tapped on the bar, his tone filled with anticipation.
"Hot pot."
Hashirama blinked.
"Hot pot?"
Zhang Yu nodded.
And it's not your average hot pot.
I'll personally prepare the base sauce tonight.
"Eat insanely spicy food."
Hashirama's eyes lit up instantly.
"Extremely spicy?"
The corners of Ban's mouth turned up slightly.
How spicy is it?
Zhang Yu looked at him and laughed, "So spicy it would make even the Asura of the Ninja World question his existence."
Ban snorted coldly.
"I'll be waiting."
Hashirama immediately became excited.
"That sounds amazing!"
"Boss, I want to eat!"
Izuna also became interested.
What do I need to prepare?
Zhang Yu began making arrangements.
" Izuna, go to the kitchen and prepare the sliced meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu."
" Hashirama, go and set out the big pot and the table."
"Ban, you're in charge of bringing out the alcohol and drinks; they'll definitely want to drink them if they're spicy."
Hashirama patted his chest.
"Leave it to me!"
Ban said calmly, "Okay."
Izuna nodded and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
The few people who were just pretending to be busy became faster than anyone else as soon as they heard about dinner.
Hashirama carried the table with a look of anticipation on his face.
Ban went to the freezer to get the wine, his steps were lighter than usual.
Izuna had already gone into the kitchen and started preparing the ingredients.
Zhang Yu couldn't help but laugh at their expressions.
Once everyone was busy, he suddenly raised his voice and shouted towards the backyard.
" Tobirama, stop hiding."
"You still have scenes to perform later."
Tobirama's calm response immediately came from the Tobirama.
"Knew."
Zhang Yu carried two white porcelain plates as he walked out of the kitchen.
The plate is filled with freshly made pastries.
One is a small fruit and cream tart, with a golden-brown crust, a delicate cream filling, thinly sliced fruit on top, and a sprinkle of icing sugar on top.
The other dish was crème brûlée with cookies. The pudding had a light sheen on the surface, and the cookies next to it still smelled fresh from the oven.
Kurenai Yuhi was still trying to compose herself.
But as soon as the snacks were placed in front of me, their sweet aroma immediately filled my nostrils.
She looked up instinctively.
Zhang Yu smiled and pushed the plate closer.
"I was startled just now."
"Have something sweet to calm you down."
Kurenai Yuhi paused for a moment, then quickly said, " Boss Zhang Yu, this is too much trouble for you."
"It's no trouble at all."
Zhang Yu spoke very naturally.
"Anyone who comes to the store is a customer."
"Besides, you've witnessed such a farce today, so you should at least get some compensation."
Upon hearing the word "farce," Kurenai Yuhi's embarrassment lessened somewhat.
He did not mention Asuma intentionally.
I didn't embarrass her.
They simply glossed over the matter.
This sense of propriety made her feel much more comfortable.
She bent down, picked up the small spoon, and tasted a bite of the pudding.
The moment she entered the mouth, Kurenai Yuhi's eyes widened slightly.
It's so delicate.
The slight bitterness of caramel melts on the tip of the tongue first, followed by the milky and sweet flavor of the pudding.
Sweet, but not cloying.
It's so smooth it seems to melt in your mouth with just a gentle touch.
The tension I felt earlier was mostly relieved by this sweet taste.
She couldn't resist taking another bite.
This time, the movements were faster than before.
Zhang Yu sat down opposite him and also picked up a small cookie.
How does it taste?
Kurenai Yuhi then realized that she had been eating too intently.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly put down her spoon.
"Feel sorry."
I lost my composure.
Zhang Yu smiled.
"How can liking to eat be considered a loss of control?"
"What pastry makers fear most is customers not reacting after eating."
"If you do that, Izuna will feel a great sense of accomplishment."
Behind the bar, Izuna, who had been peeking, paused.
Hashirama immediately lowered his voice. " Izuna, the boss praised you!"
Izuna picked up the cup expressionlessly.
"I heard you."
Ban crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Zhang Yu and Kurenai Yuhi.
"He certainly knows how to talk."
Hashirama whispered, "Madara, did you see that? Kurenai was so nervous just now, but now she's smiling."
Ban snorted coldly.
"This is winning hearts and minds."
Tobirama, who had returned to the bar at some point, said calmly, "It's not simply about winning someone's heart."
Hashirama immediately looked at him.
"Another analysis?"
Tobirama glanced in Zhang Yu's direction.
"First, the boss didn't Asuma again to avoid embarrassing her."
"Secondly, try to distract her with some snacks to help her recover from her fear."
Third, personally accompany her during the meal so she doesn't feel like she's being observed alone.
Fourth, praising her for eating attentively tells her that she can relax here without any problems.
Hashirama listened with a face full of admiration.
"The boss is amazing!"
Izuna nodded earnestly. "Indeed."
Madara coldly replied, "Stronger than Hashirama."
Hashirama objected.
"Ban, why do you always have to bring me along?"
Madara didn't even glance at him.
"Fact."
In the hall, Kurenai Yuhi tasted another piece of fruit tart.
The flaky pastry crumbles at the slightest touch, and the sweet flavors of cream and fruit blend together in your mouth.
She had only intended to eat a little out of politeness.
But once you start eating, you just can't stop.
By the time she came to her senses, half of the pastries on her plate were gone.
Her Kurenai Yuhi, turned even redder.
I'm so sorry.
I'm not usually like this.
Zhang Yu poured her some cola, speaking gently.
There aren't that many rules here.
"Come anytime you want some snacks."
" Izuna makes some new products every day, and if you're lucky, you might even get some that's just come out of the oven."
Kurenai Yuhi was stunned.
"Can I... come again in the future?"
"Certainly."
Zhang Yu laughed and said, " The Undead Tavern is open for business and welcomes all customers."
"You didn't bang on the door, you didn't smoke outside, and you didn't use anyone's status to intimidate anyone."
Kurenai Yuhi couldn't help but chuckle softly.
This time, her smile was much more natural than before.
" Boss Zhang Yu, you're really direct."
"Be more direct."
Zhang Yu also ate a cookie.
"So as not to make people guess."
Kurenai Yuhi looked down at the exquisite pastries in front of her, and the oppressive feeling in her heart gradually dissipated.
She had originally thought that after encountering such a thing today, she should leave immediately.
But now, she doesn't find sitting here uncomfortable at all.
On the contrary, this tavern, though mysteriously intimidating, inexplicably made her feel at ease.
Especially when Zhang Yu was sitting opposite him.
He lacked the imposing presence of a strongman, and also the ever-vigilant sharpness of a ninja.
But in the entire tavern, the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and that terrifying long-haired man all listened to him.
This contrast fueled Kurenai Yuhi's growing curiosity.
She couldn't help but ask, " Boss Zhang Yu, are they... really all...?"
She stopped halfway through her sentence.
Some questions are too offensive to ask.
Zhang Yu seemed to know what she wanted to ask.
"What you see is what it is."