At the ninja school.
The dismissal bell rang, but the classroom did not explode into noise like usual.
Rin turned her chair around and lay across the desk, looking at the three empty seats.
"They're genin now." Rin propped up her chin. "They were already chosen and taken away before, but back then, they still felt like our classmates. Now it feels completely different."
Obito sat beside her with both hands behind his head. "What's different? Aren't they still the same three people?"
"They're wearing forehead protectors now," a classmate beside them whispered.
A forehead protector was like a dividing line. Once you wore it, it meant you were a real ninja.
Guy shouted while crying, "My rivals have left, but I won't be sad, because I will chase after them with burning passion!"
The classroom fell silent for a moment.
Rin thought for a bit, then suddenly clapped her hands. "Why don't we throw them a party?"
"A party?"
"Everyone can eat together and congratulate them on becoming genin."
Guy was the first to raise his hand. "A burning party! A youthful party! A party of friendship!"
Several classmates nearby also gathered around.
"I'm going too!"
"Count me in!"
Everyone was noisily discussing where to eat and whether they should pool their money when a cough sounded from the classroom doorway.
Teacher Ibuki stood at the door, holding a stack of teaching materials. His expression looked somewhat unnatural.
"Teacher?" Rin turned her head.
Teacher Ibuki's gaze drifted for a moment. "I heard what you were saying just now."
The classroom went quiet.
Teacher Ibuki walked in and placed the materials on the podium. With his back to them, he stayed silent for two seconds.
"I'll handle the party."
"Teacher?"
"You little brats don't have money to treat anyone." Teacher Ibuki turned around. "Besides, those three guys... are my students too, at least."
"Really, teacher?"
"Mm. We'll set the time for tonight. As for the place..." Teacher Ibuki thought for a moment. "I know a small restaurant. The food is good, and the prices are reasonable."
"Long live Teacher!" several students cheered.
The corner of Teacher Ibuki's mouth twitched. "Stop shouting. Tonight, on the back street behind the school. The restaurant with the red lantern hanging outside."
"Oh, that place." A student nodded.
"Then it's settled." Teacher Ibuki picked up his teacup and walked out. "Don't forget to tell Shin-chan and the others."
"Don't worry, teacher!"
Teacher Ibuki nodded and turned away.
He walked very quickly. As he walked, he pulled out his wallet and glanced inside, then silently stuffed it back, a trace of bitterness appearing on his face.
At dusk, the setting sun dyed the rooftops of Konoha orange-red.
An unremarkable little restaurant was tucked away at the corner of two alleys. The cloth curtain hanging at the entrance had already been washed pale.
Quite a few people were already seated inside the private room, squeezed along both sides of a long table, chattering away.
"Why isn't Kakashi here yet?"
"Is he not coming?"
"He should be, right..."
Before the words finished, the door curtain was lifted.
Kakashi walked in, his forehead protector already tied around his forehead. His mask covered his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
Rin smiled and waved. "Sit over here."
Kakashi swept his gaze over the people in the room, nodded slightly, then walked to a corner and sat down without saying anything.
Guy ran over beside Kakashi, staring at his forehead protector with burning eyes. "Kakashi, someday I'll wear a forehead protector too, and then I'll challenge you!"
"Oh." Kakashi turned a page of the menu, his reaction flat.
Not long after, the door curtain was lifted again.
Uchiha Toru walked in, also wearing a forehead protector. After hesitating for a while, he sat two seats away from Kakashi.
They waited a little longer.
"Why isn't Shin-chan here yet?" Obito stretched his neck and looked toward the door.
"Did he get lost?"
Just as he said that, the curtain was suddenly thrown open.
"Everyone, I'm here!"
Shin-chan stood at the entrance with his hands on his hips, his forehead protector tied crookedly across his forehead.
"Why are you only getting here now?" Obito asked.
"I saw a caterpillar on the way and played with it for a while."
"A caterpillar?"
"Mm. The way it walked was really interesting."
The whole room went silent for one second.
"Forget it, forget it. At least you're here." Teacher Ibuki waved. "Hurry up and sit down."
Shin-chan looked around the private room, his gaze sweeping over the wooden tables and chairs, the dim yellow lights, and the handwritten menu on the wall.
"Teacher, this place..." Shin-chan looked around. "It's so small."
A black line appeared on Teacher Ibuki's forehead.
"And here." Shin-chan pointed at the wall. "The color's faded."
Another black line appeared.
"The writing on the wall doesn't look good either."
The black lines were already densely packed.
"The chair isn't very comfortable either." Shin-chan wiggled his butt. "Teacher, couldn't you find a better place?"
Teacher Ibuki took a deep breath. "My funds are limited. I'm so sorry about that."
There was a faint sound of teeth grinding.
Shin-chan waved his hand, looking very magnanimous. "Forget it. I'll forgive you this time. Just pay attention next time."
A huge cross-shaped vein exploded on Teacher Ibuki's forehead.
"Nohara Shinnosuke!!!"
"Okay, okay." Rin quickly smoothed things over. "Teacher, let's order?"
Teacher Ibuki's clenched fist loosened and tightened, tightened and loosened. In the end, he closed his eyes and took three deep breaths.
"Fine. Everyone's here now. Order whatever you want." After saying that, he paused. "Don't order anything too expensive."
Shin-chan opened the menu.
"I want this, this, and this."
Teacher Ibuki leaned over to take a look, and the corner of his eye began twitching.
"Everything you picked is the most expensive thing on the menu."
"Really?" Shin-chan scratched his head. "I just thought the pictures looked nice."
"Then pick something cheaper."
Shin-chan flipped to another page. "Then I want this, this, and this."
"Those are also the most expensive."
"Teacher, are you lying to me?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Teacher Ibuki sighed. "Forget it. Those are fine."
"Wow, teacher, you're so big-thighed."
The twitching at the corner of Teacher Ibuki's mouth twisted into something hard to describe, like a mix of helplessness and pain over his wallet.
Dishes were brought out one after another.
Shin-chan ate until his mouth was shiny with oil. "This fried chicken is good! This roast beef is good too!"
Teacher Ibuki held his own bowl of the cheapest vegetarian noodles and expressionlessly slurped a mouthful.
"Just eat."
"Teacher, why aren't you eating meat?"
"I'm not hungry."
"But your bowl only has noodles and vegetables."
"I like vegetarian food."
Shin-chan stared at Teacher Ibuki for two seconds, then picked up two pieces of beef from his own plate and put them into Teacher Ibuki's bowl.
"Teacher, you eat too."
Teacher Ibuki froze. "I don't like meat."
"You're lying. There's no one who doesn't like meat."
Teacher Ibuki opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He lowered his head, picked up the two pieces of beef, put them into his mouth, and chewed for a long time.
"Is it good?" Shin-chan asked.
"It's alright."