(Chapter about food)
On Konoha's commercial street, a new dessert shop had just opened. Inside the glass display case were rows of colorful wagashi, tri-colored dango, sweet red bean soup, and cakes in all sorts of cute shapes.
A long line had formed at the shop's entrance, made up mostly of young girls and children. The air was filled with the thick, sweet fragrance of sugar.
Uchiha Kagami was the first to arrive at the front of the line. He swallowed subconsciously.
"They say the matcha daifuku here is amazing!"
Koharu Utatane leaned in excitedly.
"I heard they even have a limited-edition sakura water mochi!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura stood behind Koharu. Although they didn't speak, their eyes were fixed on the display case at the very front.
All those colorful sweets made one's appetite stir just by looking at them.
On the way here, they had already overheard plenty of people praising this shop's desserts, and now they couldn't wait to finally taste what made them so delicious.
Renya perked up his ears, listening to Kagami and Koharu's conversation. It was the first time he'd ever heard such long names for desserts.
When it was his turn, he'd definitely have to order something to try.
Even though that's what he thought inside, he couldn't show it on his face.
"Sweets? Only children would be interested in that sort of thing, right?"
He crossed his arms and wore a helpless expression.
He wasn't here because he wanted to eat, no. He was just accompanying the others to try them. Yes, that was it.
Danzō gave him a sidelong glance and said lazily,
"Is that so? Then you can wait outside."
He had long suspected that Renya actually liked sweets, but simply refused to admit it.
Renya: "…"
He glared at Danzō with resentful eyes, a silent threat hidden in his gaze. Why did this guy always have to ruin his act?
It looked like it had been too long since he last taught him a lesson—his skin was itching again. If he dared ruin his act again, he wouldn't mind letting him taste the might of a Sharingan illusion.
Their dangerous gazes clashed. Danzō's mouth twitched, and wisely, he said no more.
This tsundere bastard—say just a few words and he already blows up.
In truth, Renya really hadn't cared much for sweets at first. But after Hashirama Senju bought him two sticks of tri-colored dango, he completely fell in love with that sweet flavor.
And honestly—eating sweets really did make people happy. From then on, his love for desserts spiraled out of control…
...
Inside the dessert shop.
The six of them sat around a table, each ordering their favorite sweets.
In front of Hiruzen Sarutobi were three plates of dango. He used his chopsticks to stuff them into his mouth as quickly as possible.
Koharu Utatane elegantly scooped red bean soup, sipping it slowly, one small mouthful at a time.
Uchiha Kagami lifted up a fruit cake. One bite later, a blissful expression instantly spread across his face.
For people who loved sweets, this food was pure heaven! The long wait in line had not been in vain.
Shimura Danzō calmly sipped black tea, ignoring the sweets in front of him, wearing an expression that said: I'm only here to accompany you all.
Unlike the tsundere Renya, he truly didn't like sweets. Well, it wasn't that he never ate them—he'd have a bite every now and then—but that was it.
...
Renya sat at the far end, his table empty. But from time to time, his eyes drifted toward the others' desserts.
He was thinking about what excuse he could use to order something without arousing suspicion.Seriously, these guys—couldn't they at least offer to ask him?
"Renya-kun, you really aren't eating?" Koharu asked curiously.
Everyone else had ordered something, but only Renya hadn't, which seemed a little odd.
"Mm, Renya, you should try it—it's really good!"
Uchiha Kagami placed a slice of cake in front of him, then happily went back to enjoying his fruit cake.
He loved sweets more than anything.
Renya stared at the matcha cake before him, his Adam's apple moving slightly.
"Then… I suppose I'll reluctantly try it, just to see what it tastes like."
The matcha cake was topped with red beans and shiratama mochi balls.
He had originally wanted to refuse, but the presentation looked far too tempting.In the end, he couldn't resist…
He picked up a small fork, scraped up a bit of cream, and slowly brought it to his mouth.
(...So sweet.)
Renya's pupils widened slightly. The faint bitterness of matcha was immediately wrapped by a soft, rich sweetness.
Before he realized it, he had scooped up another bite, this time with the fluffy cake base and a red bean.
(...Damn it. It's delicious.)
If the others weren't here, if he didn't have to keep up appearances, he would've devoured the whole thing already.
Danzō's gaze slid over him, a fleeting glint of disdain flashing in his eyes. Loves sweets but still pretends not to care—this guy's stubbornness was something else.
"Renya-kun, you look like you're enjoying it quite a lot," Koharu said with a smile.
The way Renya-kun ate was so different from his usual self—it was almost… cute.
Renya's hand froze midair, his fork still holding a big chunk of cake.
At the same time, Hiruzen and the others turned to look.
"Haha, Renya, your ears are red!"
Hiruzen couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses.
"From my observations, the Uchiha clan seems to have a general fondness for sweets."
After all, while they had been waiting in line, there were quite a few Uchiha children buying sweets.
Renya immediately straightened his face.
"I'm merely giving an objective evaluation. The cake tastes… a little bland."
As for the claim that the Uchiha liked sweets—utter nonsense! Besides, he was a Senju, not an Uchiha!
"Renya-kun, want to try my strawberry daifuku? It's super sweet"
Uchiha Kagami brought his dessert close.
Renya looked at Kagami's offering and forced himself to stay calm.
"Since you're recommending it so strongly, I suppose I'll reluctantly give it a try."
Kagami had offered it so enthusiastically—he couldn't exactly turn him down.
...
Five minutes later—
In front of Renya were three empty plates.
Matcha cake, strawberry daifuku, tri-colored dango—all of it had been completely devoured by him alone.
The others stared at him wide-eyed, as if they'd just seen a ghost. This guy had eaten enough for three people!
Shimura Danzō raised an eyebrow, unable to resist asking,
"Weren't you the one who said only children eat sweets?"
"The battlefield's been bitter these past two years. I need a bit of sweetness to balance it out."
Renya wiped the corner of his mouth elegantly.
This shop's desserts were simply too good. He hadn't realized until it was too late that he'd eaten everything.
Luckily, he already had a perfect excuse prepared.
Everyone: "…"
Well damn, that excuse really couldn't be refuted.
"I still need to bring some back for Tsunade, that little girl," Renya said.
"You know how it is… kids love sweets."
"Customer, what would you like?" the shop clerk asked with a smile.
"Pack up one of everything you've got. That little girl Tsunade has quite the appetite."
Everyone: "…"
Tsunade was only six years old. Could she really eat that much?!
...
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