Chương 8: BBQ Gathering

Zhen followed the two little ones into a private booth inside Yakiniku Q, where he found his parents waiting. Seated with them were another man and woman of similar age. The four adults were clearly enjoying themselves, drinks in hand and chatting animatedly. The main courses hadn't arrived yet; only a few appetizers and side dishes littered the table. The moment Jirō saw Hayate and Yūgao's bright red faces, he raised an eyebrow.

"Zhen, did you bully them?"

"You worry too much, Father. I wouldn't dream of doing something so impolite." Hayate and Yūgao kept their heads down, refusing to meet the adults' eyes. To any observer, they looked exactly like children who had just been picked on. However, the adults didn't press the issue; it was normal for kids to have their little squabbles.

"As long as you didn't. Come here, let me introduce you. These are Uncle Uzuki Yuhi and Aunt Uzuki Sakura. They're old classmates of your mother and me. Yuhi and I are also teammates; we just returned to the village together." So, it's a 'Sakura,' just with purple hair, Zhen thought, noting the family name. These were clearly Yūgao's parents. Zhen gave a polite bow to the couple.

"Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie. My name is Dongye Zhen. It's a pleasure to meet you; please look after me." Sakura smiled warmly.

"What a polite and handsome boy! Hui, he looks just like you."

"He certainly does," Hui agreed, looking proud. Yuhi's hair color was similar to Zhen's—deep brown was common enough in Konoha, second only to black. The more "colorful" hair types were usually the outliers. He laughed heartily, waving the three children over to sit. He studied Zhen with curiosity.

"Jirō, so this is your and Hui's boy? He seems remarkably composed and reliable."

"Composed is one way to put it," Jirō muttered.

"He's just not very... cute." Yuhi burst out laughing.

"What's wrong with composed? You should be glad you don't have to worry. If he were out there causing trouble every day, then you'd know what a real headache feels like."

"That is one thing his mother and I appreciate. Zhen never looks for trouble; in fact, he rarely even leaves the house. That's why I asked you to bring Yūgao and Hayate along today—I'm hoping he'll make some friends his own age." Just then, the servers arrived with the meat, and the tabletop grill hummed to life. The food at Yakiniku Q was as good as its reputation. Zhen didn't hold back, focusing entirely on the meal while the adults mostly drank and picked at their food.

Watching him "demolish" the meat, Hayate looked on with envy; due to his sickly constitution, his appetite had always been poor. Zhen, on the other hand, was a pure carnivore. He knew that to build a powerful body, meat, eggs, and milk were non-negotiable. Anyone preaching veganism was either getting paid by an interest group or was part of a cult. The Shadow of the White Fang After a few drinks, Yuhi glanced at Zhen again.

"That calm, cold aura... he reminds me of a certain senior's child. It's a shame that boy has become so unpleasant lately." This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Hui nodded.

"You mean Kakashi? He's pushing himself too hard. He's always getting injured on missions; I've seen him in the hospital several times this year. His presence is just... freezing."

"That kid is a true genius," Jirō added.

"He made Chunin at age six, just like me. But I suppose 'that incident' last year was too much of a blow." Yuhi sighed, the jovial mood dampening.

"Yeah. Lord White Fang... what a waste. I followed him on a mission once. He was so protective of his juniors and even gave me some pointers on my swordsmanship. He was a man worthy of respect." Perhaps the alcohol was going to his head, but Yuhi suddenly slammed his cup onto the table, his voice rising.

"I don't know what the higher-ups were thinking. If a mission fails, punish them according to the rules! But how could they let those rumors spread through the village like that? And that bastard who blamed Lord Sakumo—Sakumo failed the mission specifically to save his life, and the man turned around and bit the hand that fed him! It's good that he killed himself. If he hadn't, I wouldn't have let him off easy." Sakura frowned, glancing toward the entrance of the booth before shooting her husband a sharp look.

"Yuhi, watch your tongue. That isn't something for us to discuss." Hui chimed in as well.

"Yuhi, it's over. The village has issued a gag order. Don't go looking for trouble. Besides, the children are here. Let's not expose them to this so early." The two men fell silent. They shared a heavy sigh, clinked glasses, and downed their drinks in one go, dropping the subject. Zhen continued eating his BBQ, though he was listening intently. He knew all about Kakashi's tragedy. It had happened last August.

The village had been a cauldron of rumors and debate: Which is more important—the mission or the lives of your comrades? Both sides had their vocal supporters, and the argument had spiraled out of control. No one cared who started the rumors anymore, but letting the debate continue threatened the very foundation of Konoha. The Will of Fire dictated that comrades should never be abandoned, yet the shinobi code of "mission first" was deeply ingrained. The two ideologies were in direct conflict.

Which was more important? Without a fundamental shift in the world's thinking, there was no answer. The result? Sakumo Hatake committed suicide, the village moved on, and a gag order was issued. For the living shinobi, life went back to normal, except they buried their thoughts deep inside. But for Kakashi, everything changed. He became cold, calculating, and obsessed with the rules—a boy who cared for nothing but the mission.

The Path Ahead After the tension dissipated with more wine, Yuhi suddenly suggested, "Speaking of which, Zhen and my Yūgao will be five next year. Should they enroll in the Academy alongside Hayate?" Hui and Sakura looked thoughtful. Both were confident in their children's talents; early enrollment wasn't out of the question. However, Jirō offered a firm rejection.

"Yuhi, we just got back from the border. You know the situation better than anyone. Who knows when the next war will break out? Enrolling early just means getting dragged into it sooner. They're too small. Let them grow up properly; it's our job to stand in the front lines for now."

"Fair point," Yuhi laughed, waving a hand.

"The title of 'Genius' is a heavy burden. Witnessing slaughter too early isn't a good thing. Drinks! More drinks!" The rest of the night was filled with stories of their "adventures" at the border—sanitized for the kids, of course—until the party finally broke up. At the street corner, as they prepared to part ways, Yūgao suddenly piped up.

"Zhen-kun, where do you usually go to play?" Since she was born in November and Zhen was seven months older, calling him "nii-kun" or "brother" felt natural to her.

"I stay home to train and study. I rarely go out."

"Then... can Hayate-kun and I come find you to play?" Zhen looked at his parents, who were practically beaming with hope. He gave a small nod.

"Sure." The adults, satisfied with the answer, headed home. It was clear they hoped the bond between their generation would continue with their children. On the walk back, Zhen asked, "Are you friends with Hayate's parents too?" Jirō chuckled, ruffing Zhen's hair.

"Not classmates, just friends. Senior Kumomi was two years ahead of us. But the Gekkō and Uzuki families are old allies. Both specialize in the Leaf-Style Kenjutsu. They're very close, and their younger generations often train together."

"Oh. But Hayate... he doesn't look very healthy."

"It's congenital," Hui explained sadly.

"He inherited it from his late mother. It's a shame; I hear the boy's talent for the sword is incredible, but his body is holding him back."

"That's why, Zhen," Jirō added seriously, "a strong body is the foundation of everything. Never forget that."

"I know, Father." Zhen didn't need the reminder. In this world, your body was your only real currency.