CHAPTER 171
The following day, shortly after noon, the six of them gathered inside the base canteen.
As soon as Guy, Ebisu, and Genma stepped through the entrance, they spotted Obito and Rin already seated beside a window. Kakashi sat quietly next to them, his posture as composed as ever.
"Over here!"
Obito immediately waved his arm enthusiastically.
After everyone took their seats, Obito slapped the table confidently and declared,
"Today's on me! Order whatever you want!"
Ebisu slowly adjusted his sunglasses.
A strange glimmer flashed behind the lenses.
"Anything we want?"
"Of course!"
Obito proudly puffed out his chest.
"I, Uchiha Obito, always keep my word!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Ebisu turned toward the kitchen.
"Boss!"
"Thirty grilled fish to start with!"
The smile on Obito's face instantly froze.
"Wait!"
"Thirty?!"
The grilled fish served in the Land of Grass weren't small at all.
Each one weighed nearly half a kilogram.
Thirty grilled fish?
Was this guy trying to bankrupt him?
Unfortunately...
That was only the beginning.
"And another grilled meat platter, several bowls of miso soup, extra rice..."
Genma calmly continued the order while chewing on his senbon.
"Hey!"
"Enough!"
Obito hurriedly grabbed Ebisu by the shoulder.
"You three..."
"Were you starving to death before coming here?!"
"You've ordered enough food for an entire squad!"
His reaction wasn't exaggerated.
The table already held quite a few dishes before Guy and the others even arrived.
Judging by Ebisu and Genma's expressions...
Everything they had just ordered was merely the appetizer.
Ebisu lazily glanced toward him.
"Obito..."
"Don't tell me you're regretting treating us already?"
Obito's face immediately turned red.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he admitted it outright.
"Yes!"
"It hurts!"
"So what?!"
"Do you know how much all this is going to cost me?"
"My food allowance for an entire week is gone!"
"..."
Even Ebisu was momentarily speechless.
Normally...
Whenever someone treated everyone to a meal...
They would grit their teeth and endure the pain in silence.
Obito, however...
Actually admitted he was heartbroken over the bill.
It was the first time Ebisu had encountered someone so straightforward.
Meanwhile...
Guy casually picked up another freshly grilled fish before taking a large bite.
As he chewed, he gently patted Ebisu's shoulder.
"Forget it."
"It isn't easy for Obito either."
After swallowing the food in his mouth, Guy continued speaking with complete sincerity.
"It's not like the time Hayate and Yugao treated us to barbecue and spent over forty thousand ryo."
"Or when Anko treated everyone to dango from the Land of Rice Fields until we couldn't eat another bite."
"Or when Shikuro invited us out. There were countless dishes, enormous portions, and he even packed enough leftovers for us to eat for another three days."
"Then there was Asuma..."
Guy sighed before smiling kindly.
"But regardless..."
"Obito is still treating us."
"We haven't seen each other for such a long time."
"And after travelling all the way here to reinforce your position..."
"The fact that Obito volunteered to pay is already very generous."
"So..."
"Let's only eat a reasonable amount."
"Don't make things too difficult for him."
The instant Guy finished speaking...
Ebisu and Genma immediately understood.
The two simultaneously revealed expressions filled with sympathy.
The way they looked at Obito became strangely complicated.
There was understanding.
Compassion.
And...
Just a tiny bit of pity.
Ebisu even reached over and gently patted Obito's shoulder.
After letting out a long sigh...
He didn't say a single word.
Yet his expression clearly conveyed everything.
"We know..."
"You're poor."
Obito's face instantly darkened.
He slowly looked toward the three shameless friends sitting before him.
Then...
He glanced toward Rin, who was covering her mouth while quietly laughing beside them.
Finally...
After what appeared to be an enormous internal struggle...
Obito slammed both hands onto the table.
"You three..."
"Go ahead and order!"
"I hope you all eat until you burst!"
"Boss!"
Guy immediately raised his hand again.
"Another thirty grilled meat skewers!"
"Thank you!"
Obito's face darkened even further.
Not long afterward, the fragrant grilled meat was brought over, sizzling as oil dripped onto the charcoal.
Without hesitation, Obito immediately grabbed several skewers before placing them onto Rin's plate.
"Rin."
"You should eat too."
"Don't just sit there watching these three hungry ghosts."
Rin smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Obito."
She gently picked up one skewer before taking a small bite.
Her eyes curved into cheerful crescents.
Seeing her smile...
Obito immediately scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
His mood improved considerably.
Watching everyone laughing and arguing around the table...
Rin couldn't help feeling warmth spread through her heart.
This feeling...
Really was wonderful.
It almost felt like returning to their Academy days.
Back then...
After finishing training...
Everyone would gather together just like this to eat, laugh, and play.
Guy was still the biggest eater.
Ebisu and Genma's appetites had grown even larger than before.
Obito remained just as loud and energetic as ever.
As for Kakashi...
Rin quietly glanced toward him.
He sat silently eating grilled fish and grilled meat.
Although he hardly spoke...
His eating speed wasn't any slower than Guy's.
"It must be because everyone's together again..."
"Kakashi's appetite is especially good today."
Guy glanced sideways at Kakashi before curling his lips into a grin.
"So..."
"This guy finally found his opportunity."
Without anyone officially declaring it...
An eating competition quietly began.
One empty plate after another piled up on the table.
Soon...
Bamboo skewers formed several small mountains.
Among everyone present...
The two tallest piles belonged to Guy and Kakashi.
Neither intended to lose.
Watching the silent competition between those two...
Obito gradually felt another sharp pain.
This time...
It came from his wallet.
Finally...
After paying the bill...
He looked down at the receipt.
Then...
He looked back at the four people leisurely drinking tea with completely satisfied expressions.
His hands trembled uncontrollably.
"You..."
"A bunch of bastards..."
Obito ground his teeth so hard it almost sounded painful.
At that very moment...
Kakashi slowly placed his teacup onto the table.
Then...
He stood up.
His calm gaze quietly settled upon Guy.
"Since we've finished eating..."
"Let's get some exercise."
"It'll help with digestion."
Although his voice wasn't loud...
Everyone present heard him clearly.
Guy slowly looked up.
The moment their eyes met...
He clearly sensed the fighting spirit hidden within Kakashi's gaze.
"This guy..."
"He really couldn't hold himself back any longer."
Guy smiled knowingly.
If they hadn't arrived only yesterday after marching continuously for three days...
Kakashi probably would have challenged him immediately.
After one night's rest...
He had finally reached his limit.
Naturally...
Guy had no intention of refusing.
He immediately stood up before stretching his shoulders.
His neck and joints emitted several crisp cracking sounds.
"You're right."
"After eating..."
"It's always good to get some exercise."
His own eyes were equally filled with anticipation.
Faint flames of fighting spirit gradually emerged within them.
Since Sakumo Hatake had survived...
And had continued personally teaching Kakashi here at the Land of Grass...
Guy also wanted to know...
Exactly how much Kakashi had improved during the past two years.
"A spar?"
Obito's eyes immediately lit up.
He completely forgot about the money he had just spent.
"I want to join too!"
Ebisu calmly adjusted his sunglasses.
"Obito..."
"Are you sure you want to get involved in a fight between those two monsters?"
Genma slowly removed the senbon from the corner of his mouth.
"You'll only become background scenery."
"What did you say?!"
Obito instantly exploded.
Seeing another argument about to begin, Rin quickly stepped between them.
"Alright."
"Let's head to the training ground first."
"We're still inside the canteen."
Obito snorted before rushing outside first.
The others followed shortly afterward.
Together...
The group headed toward the training ground located near the edge of the camp.
Many Konoha Shinobi passed by along the way.
Several greeted Kakashi and the others as they walked.
Soon...
Quite a few curious gazes naturally landed upon Guy, Ebisu, and Genma.
"Those three are from the reinforcement force, aren't they?"
"That's right."
"I heard the thick eyebrowed one is incredibly strong."
"Stronger than Kakashi?"
"I doubt it."
"Kakashi can already defeat elite Chunin."
"They're heading toward the training ground."
"Looks like those three kids are about to have a rough time."
The quiet discussions drifted into everyone's ears.
Kakashi paid them no attention whatsoever.
Others might not understand...
But he had always known one undeniable fact.
Guy...
Was strong.
Exceptionally strong.
Especially after hearing about everything Guy had accomplished during the past two years...
Kakashi had only one thought left in his mind.
Just how powerful...
Had Guy become now?
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