Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Eating Barbeque
The sky gradually darkened as night fell over the entirety of Konoha Village.
A gentle breeze occasionally swept through the air, cool as water, brushing against people's cheeks with a pleasant, soothing touch.
At this time, Konoha's bustling commercial street was brightly lit. Both ninjas and villagers alike naturally gravitated to the area, seeking to unwind after a day of toil.
The night life had begun—some gathered at taverns for drinks, while others feasted at barbecue restaurants.
The soft, amber glow from various shop lights illuminated their interiors and added a gentle brightness to the otherwise dim streets, enveloping the village in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
Naruto, accompanied by Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha, strolled into the lively commercial street with a clear destination in mind: the Akimichi Clan's Barbecue Restaurant.
Upon entering the restaurant, Naruto wasted no time. Under the astonished gaze of the server, he waved his hand dramatically and ordered:
"Twenty servings of Kobe beef, please. Since it's free, might as well go all out, right?"
He added, "Five plates of grilled leeks, ten ears of roasted corn, five whole grilled tuna… and, for now, that'll do."
"What?!"
Mikoto, the thrifty and meticulous one among them, let out a shocked exclamation.
Quickly calculating in her mind, she realized Naruto's order was equivalent to the payment from a single C-rank mission.
"Naruto, are you sure we won't waste this much food?" she asked hesitantly.
Kushina frowned slightly, leaning closer to whisper in Naruto's ear, "Besides, this stuff is really expensive."
"Don't worry about it," Naruto said, flashing a sly grin. "I have free meal coupons from the old man. Just relax and enjoy!"
Naruto's calm assurance did little to ease their concerns, but they resigned themselves to their indulgent meal.
The three of them, as members of Team 7, nibbled on fruit platters while patiently waiting for their order.
The Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurant was a popular spot, not just because of the clan's reputation, but also for their insistence on freshly prepared ingredients to ensure the utmost quality of flavor.
The restaurant was packed with patrons, meaning the food would take a while to arrive.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the server finally brought out the dishes, filling the entire table with food.
The sight left the server and other customers in awe.
Team 7, however, soon demonstrated the true meaning of being voracious eaters.
The plates of Kobe beef vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye, as though swept away by autumn winds scattering leaves.
In less than five minutes, the table was left with nothing but empty plates smeared with sauce.
"Server, bring me twenty more plates of regular barbecue, three servings of fruit salad, and a large bottle of juice. Oh, and be quick about it!"
Naruto let out a satisfied belch as he turned to give the order.
"Right away, sir," the server replied, hurriedly wiping nonexistent sweat from their forehead before retreating.
Kushina glanced at Naruto, who sat there in a daze, lost in thought.
---
Ding…
A task reward has been detected. Unclaimed.
Reminder: If not claimed within 24 hours, it will be automatically forfeited.
Would you like to claim it?
Naruto blinked in mild surprise, suddenly recalling the unclaimed task reward from earlier.
"Claim," he silently commanded in his mind.
Congratulations! You have received a task reward: Summoning Beast Lottery.
Would you like to initiate the lottery?
"Yes."
A massive 3D projection materialized in front of Naruto, displaying numerous icons of fantastical beasts:
Ten-Tails' Empty Shell — Gedo Statue
Tailed Beast — Eight-Tails
Genjutsu Crow Summoning Scroll
Mount Myoboku Summoning Scroll
Ryuchi Cave Summoning Scroll
Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Scroll
Sarutobi Clan's Enma Summoning Scroll
Common Ninja Dog Summoning Scroll
The variety was staggering. Naruto's eyes lingered greedily on the Ten-Tails' Empty Shell, the most powerful option available. Meanwhile, the Common Ninja Dog scroll seemed laughably out of place.
A dazzling blue light streaked across the projection...
"Please let it be the Gedo Statue, please!" Naruto muttered unconsciously.
"Huh? Naruto, what are you mumbling about?" Kushina asked, looking at him curiously.
"Ah, nothing, nothing," Naruto said quickly, waving his hand and forcing a smile. "Just brainstorming some new jutsu ideas."
"Oh, I see."
Satisfied with his response, Kushina returned to her meal, her attention fully absorbed in the barbecue.
Naruto, the blond-haired boy with an extraordinary talent, was undoubtedly a genius. Surely, he was devising yet another groundbreaking technique—far beyond the reach of ordinary prodigies like Kushina and Mikoto.
---
Ding. Congratulations! You have drawn a Summoning Beast: Genjutsu Crow Summoning Scroll.
Would you like to claim it?
"No. Store it in the system space for now," Naruto replied firmly. He didn't want to deal with the hassle of explaining the sudden appearance of a scroll.
Mikoto tilted her head slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
Suddenly, she picked up a large piece of grilled meat and stuffed it into Naruto's mouth.
Naruto chewed happily, his face lighting up with pure joy.
"Hey, Mikoto, that was sneaky!"
Seeing this interaction, Kushina grew flustered, so much so that she nearly spat out her beloved fruit salad.
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