"…So this young man is the genin Mikami Yuu, whose name has been rising lately?"
Yūhi Shinku turned his gaze to Mikami Yuu, looked him up and down a few times, then said in a low voice, "I heard you performed extremely well on the southwestern front during this period. Even Lord Jiraiya's battle reports mentioned your names several times. The younger generation truly is formidable."
"Yuhi-senpai, you flatter me. I only did what I should have done. Compared to the achievements of senpais like you, it isn't worth mentioning."
Mikami Yuu replied neither arrogantly nor humbly.
Beside him, Nohara Hiroshi laughed loudly. "Haha, Yuu-chan really is modest. The things you did are enough to make many adult ninja feel ashamed. And not only on the battlefield—just look at this Raw Cola. It exists thanks to you and Lady Tsunade!"
"Oh?"
This time, Yūhi Shinku was genuinely surprised. "You mean that black drink that's been all the rage in the village lately? I heard it has a unique taste and is in short supply. Even Lord Hokage praised it after trying it. So its creation actually has something to do with Genin Mikami?"
"Of course."
As they spoke, the proprietress of Yakiniku Q arrived at the table with a server, smiling warmly as she exchanged a few pleasantries with Mikami Tajima. Then she placed a large platter of fruit on the table and set down a whole crate of Raw Cola beside it, saying it was a complimentary gift.
Although this cola had been purchased from the Mikami family's workshop, once it reached Yakiniku Q, it technically belonged to the restaurant, so this "gift" was perfectly reasonable. It also helped give Mikami Tajima some face.
Although Tajima was not a vain person, he couldn't help smiling at this moment.
"Yuu, pass the cola around."
"Alright."
Mikami Yuu stood up and got to work.
Nohara Rin also came over to help.
As bottles of cola were placed by everyone's left hand, Nohara Hiroshi called for everyone to start eating. The slices of meat on the grill began to sizzle, fat dripping into the charcoal fire, filling the air with fragrance.
"The meat is ready! Hurry and eat! It won't taste as good once it cools! I'm telling you, barbecue with cola is amazing. Lately, a lot of people have been coming to Yakiniku Q just for this combination… Jōnin Shinku, please try some?"
"Mm."
Yūhi Shinku nodded and was just about to pick up his chopsticks when he heard his daughter's voice from across the table.
But she wasn't speaking to him. She was speaking to the white-haired boy beside her.
"Yuu, this piece is grilled just right. Try it. You only just came back from the front line, so you should eat more and replenish your nutrition."
As she spoke, Kurenai naturally picked up a slice of golden, crispy beef belly and placed it on the plate in front of Mikami Yuu, a shallow, perfectly measured smile on her face.
"Uh, thanks."
Yuu said.
Seeing this, Rin pressed her lips together. Then she also picked up a slice of pork tenderloin and brought it over, speaking gently.
"Yuu-kun, this piece of pork tenderloin is very tender. I remember you like this best."
"Oh, and this mushroom tastes good too. I heard they were picked fresh today. It's delicious after being brushed with sauce. Yuu, should I get you one?"
"And this too…"
Mikami Yuu: "…"
Yūhi Shinku's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he cast Yuu the "old father's stare."
Originally, Yūhi Shinku had admired Mikami Yuu a little. After all, Yuu's current position was that of "someone else's child." He had graduated as the top student of the Ninja Academy, defeated Asuma, and then, as one of the first genin from this batch of graduates to go to the front line, repeatedly rendered military service.
A few years ago, when village ninja educated their children, they liked to say, "Look at Kakashi."
But over the past year, some people had already started using Mikami Yuu as the comparison instead.
After all, Yuu was of civilian birth, and he had gone through a quiet period at the Ninja Academy before soaring all at once near graduation. That made most people feel a sense of identification, as if their own children might also have a chance to replicate his experience.
But now…
Yūhi Shinku's mood was a little subtle.
W-what was going on here? Could his daughter be interested in this kid…? How could that be allowed? How old were they right now? That kind of thing… should at least wait five years before even considering it, right?
More importantly…
He, as her father, hadn't eaten food his daughter had served him in a long time! How did this kid get to enjoy that privilege?
On the other side,
Nohara Hiroshi was also muttering internally.
How should one put it? He really did look at Mikami Yuu a little like a future father-in-law looking at a son-in-law. After all, the two families had known each other for many years and understood one another well. The two children had also grown up together since childhood, making them childhood friends. Now they were even teammates in the same squad. Their fate together could be said to be maxed out.
If, on that foundation, they could become even closer by marriage, it wouldn't be a bad thing for either family.
However…
Where had this Yūhi Kurenai suddenly popped out from?
Was she going to become his daughter's rival?
Why did it feel like his daughter couldn't quite beat her in appearance? Clearly, Yūhi Shinku wasn't much more handsome than he was, so why was the daughter he had raised so pretty…
For a while,
Mikami Yuu sat at the center of everyone's gaze. On both sides were Rin's gentle attention and Kurenai's light smile. Across from him were the stares of two old fathers. Even though he had seen plenty of storms by now, he felt a bit uncomfortable and could only lower his head and silently eat.
In the end, it was Mikami Tajima who caught on and stood up to smooth things over.
"Don't just eat meat. Come, come, try this Raw Cola! I'll open it for everyone! Let this toast celebrate Yuu and little Rin's safe return, and may everything go smoothly for everyone from now on!"
"…Alright, cheers!"
Everyone raised their cups and clinked them together.
The chilled black liquid surged into their throats with strong bubbles. That unique, crisp sweetness and stimulating sensation made even Yūhi Shinku savor it carefully, a trace of appreciation flashing through his eyes.
"Mm… this taste is indeed interesting. No wonder those young people are flocking to it."
"Right?"
Soon,
the adults shifted the topic to the situation inside and outside the village.
There wasn't much to say about outside the village.
After more than half a year of war between Konoha and Suna, even the dullest person could tell that this war wouldn't be ending anytime soon. Just among the eight people sitting at this table, how many would still be alive in two years was an unknown. Aside from the Mikami couple and Nohara Miya, none of the others could stay out of it.
As for inside the village…
"Speaking of which, are you all going to participate in this year's Chūnin Exam?"
Yūhi Shinku thought of this and looked toward Mikami Yuu's side.
"Yes, Shinku-senpai. We came back mainly for that."
Rin nodded and replied.
"I see…"
Yūhi Shinku smiled. "This exam won't be small. Aside from genin from our village, several smaller ninja villages have sent people as well. Iwagakure may also send people… As it happens, I've also been listed among the examiner candidates this time. We may meet in the exam hall.
"Mikami Yuu, when that time comes, we can exchange a little. I hope to see an even more outstanding performance from you."
When he said "exchange," Yūhi Shinku paused slightly, as if implying something.
But Yuu didn't really mind.
It was just the Chūnin Exam… what tricks could there be?
If the exam difficulty increased, then everyone would face the same thing, not just him.
Besides, with Yuu's current methods, unless there was a Kage-level expert or a jinchūriki hiding in this exam to bully the fish, even if he sent a shadow clone to participate, passing would be effortless. So who became examiner really didn't matter.
Next,
Yuu ate in peace, occasionally raising his head to say a few polite words.
Rin and Kurenai helped him pick up food from time to time, or served him some soup. Every time, it tugged at the nerves of the two old fathers.
Only Mikami Tajima and Mikami Aoi had smiles in their eyes.
Mm… it seemed their son really had grown up, not only on the battlefield but even after returning.
Of the two girls in front of them, Rin had grown up under their eyes. Her character was beyond reproach, and she did things with proper measure. This girl named Kurenai was someone they were meeting for the first time, but her appearance and personality also seemed good, and her father was a Konoha jōnin… Ah, it was hard to choose. Both seemed excellent.
Forget it. They would leave this kind of problem for their son to worry about. As parents, they just needed to wait peacefully and watch him start a family and career.
And so,
the adults all had different thoughts.
The three children were being affectionate.
Only after the meal ended, the three families paid and said goodbye at the restaurant entrance, did the slightly subtle atmosphere finally ease.
Kurenai waved her little fist and said, "Good luck in the Chūnin Exam," then said goodbye to Yuu and Rin before returning home with her father.
"Huh, Tajima, what are you smiling about?"
Nohara Hiroshi noticed Mikami Tajima's expression.
"Ahem… I remembered something happy."
Mikami Tajima was too embarrassed to say he was struggling over which girl should become his daughter-in-law, so he coughed a few times and changed the subject.
"By the way, Hiroshi, why don't you also apply to retire and come help me run the factory? Let's make Raw Cola bigger and stronger, and create new glory together."
"…Let's talk about it later."
Nohara Hiroshi shook his head. "The village needs people right now. How could I retire at a time like this? Sigh, sometimes I really do envy you, Tajima. Although you were injured, staying in the village is safer than going to the battlefield, and you have such a good son…"
"Don't say that. It's all fate. When I was first injured, I thought I was done for. Surviving was truly unexpected."
Mikami Tajima's face filled with emotion.
Seeing the atmosphere suddenly become a little heavy,
Mikami Aoi spoke at the right moment and teased, "Big Brother Hiroshi, you're still young. You and Miya can have another one. If it's a son, then like Yuu-chan said, ask Lord Third to bestow a name on him. Call him Nohara Shinnosuke. He definitely won't be any worse than our Yuu-chan."
"Nohara Shinnosuke, huh… sounds like a restless child."
Nohara Hiroshi thought for a moment, then laughed loudly. "But if I really had a son, that wouldn't be bad. Rin would be a good big sister. When he grows up, he'd be about ten years younger than Yuu. Maybe he could become Yuu's disciple, haha!"
And so,
the two families returned home amid laughter and conversation, waved goodbye, and each went inside to rest.
…
The next few days passed peacefully.
There was still no news from Tsunade. No one knew whether she was researching those experimental materials or slacking off at the casino.
Yuu found time to visit the Konoha Research Institute and meet Orochimaru.
"…Oh? So this is the blood sample from that Scorch Release user?"
Seeing what Yuu brought out, Orochimaru licked his lips. "Mikami-kun, you really do bring me surprises."
"However, you want my latest materials on Neural Activation Technique? Don't tell me you've already started practicing that jutsu?"
Facing Orochimaru's question,
Yuu pressed his lips together. "Not yet. But I've had some inspiration lately and want to confirm whether it's correct."
"…Is that so?"
Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes and carefully studied Yuu for a while before shifting his gaze away.
"My research progress on that technique is limited. The copy I gave you last time was basically the latest result. Since you've had inspiration… then continue researching it with me. We should make some breakthroughs."
"…Alright."
Yuu nodded.
Although helping Orochimaru research carried a certain degree of danger,
for the sake of Neural Activation Technique, he could only accept it.
If the duration of Overload Pulse could be extended to one or two minutes, Yuu was confident his close-combat ability would rise to another level. For the sake of that potential return, some necessary risks had to be taken. If anything really went wrong, he could go find Tsunade afterward.
…
The contact with Orochimaru was only a small interlude.
Over these few days,
Obito came several times to find Yuu and Rin, dragging them to the training ground to "prepare" for the Chūnin Exam.
Obito and Rin still attached some importance to the exam, worrying that if they performed poorly, they might fail to be promoted.
But Yuu didn't care at all. Usually, he just threw over a shadow clone to practice with the two of them, while his real body went elsewhere, where no one was around, to secretly train trump cards like Neural Activation Technique, or to help Orochimaru with experiments.
A shadow clone's practice also counted toward Yuu's main body and increased the affection of his ninjutsu. It didn't delay either side. A double win.
In addition,
Might Duy had passed Mikami Tajima's interview two days ago and officially became an employee of the Mikami family workshop.
Although he was a genin, Duy was physically strong and energetic. He could do the work of four or five people by himself, making Mikami Tajima very pleased. Because of this, he even raised next month's production target from the original forty thousand bottles to fifty thousand.
If this target could be successfully achieved…
Perhaps the bet between Yuu and Tsunade could be settled early.
When the fourth day after returning to the village arrived,
Namikaze Minato, who had disappeared for several days, finally appeared in front of Yuu and the others again.
"Yuu, Rin, Obito, how have you been these past few days?"