The moment Nagi and the others stepped inside Yakiniku Q, they immediately spotted familiar faces.
Naruto waved enthusiastically.
"Hey! Isn't that Shikamaru, Choji—and Karin? You guys came for yakiniku too?"
Choji grinned. "Yo, Naruto. What a coincidence. You here to eat too?"
"Yeah! We just finished a mission, so Kakashi-sensei's treating us to celebrate. What about you?"
"Pretty much the same. Team 10 and Team 9 just wrapped up a dangerous mission. Asuma-sensei invited Yamato's team to join us."
Asuma walked over at that moment.
"Yo, Kakashi. Since you're here too, why don't we all sit together?"
"I don't mind. Mainly depends on—"
Kakashi's half-lidded gaze drifted toward the other side.
"Sasuke-kun. Long time no see."
Ino was just about to casually slide over when Sakura shoved her aside.
"Ino-pig, back off! This is Team 7's rare group dinner!"
Ino ignored her completely and smiled sweetly at Sasuke.
"Well, since we ran into each other like this, how about eating together, Sasuke?"
"You—!"
"What?"
"Ino-pig!"
"Forehead girl!"
"…!"
The two began their well-practiced argument.
Karin tried to quietly pull Sasuke away, but Sakura and Ino instantly dragged her into the fray as well.
Used to this chaos, Shikamaru muttered, "How troublesome," and went off to chat with Naruto and Choji.
Kakashi and the others accepted Asuma's invitation.
They chose a more secluded area so everyone could sit together comfortably.
The Seating Battle
As everyone took their seats, Sakura, Ino, and Karin exchanged heated glances—sparks practically flying. Each wanted the seat beside Sasuke.
On the men's side—
Kakashi, Asuma, and Yamato sat together, chatting about their squads.
As Nagi sat down, Naruto originally intended to sit beside him. However, Sai and Shin, seeing their superior arrive, moved even faster and claimed the seats on either side of Nagi.
Sasuke smoothly took the seat opposite Nagi.
Naruto muttered under his breath about Sasuke, then plopped down beside him anyway.
Choji joined Asuma's table.
(Teachers drink, I eat meat—perfect arrangement.)
Shikamaru avoided the teachers' boring conversation and sat on Sasuke's other side.
Thus, the seating formed as follows:
Shin — Nagi — Sai — Shikamaru — Sasuke — Naruto
The moment Naruto and Shikamaru relaxed—
They felt three murderous glares stab into them.
"…We're done for." ×2
Naruto had wanted to sit closer to Nagi.
Shikamaru had just wanted a quiet seat.
Instead, they ended up flanking Sasuke.
Sakura. Karin. Ino.
All three glared at them with deadly intensity.
Realizing today wasn't the day for open warfare, the girls reluctantly took seats nearby—still within striking distance of Sasuke.
The Meat Hits the Grill
Soon, the staff delivered plates of meat, condiments, and grilling tools.
Sasuke and Nagi had ordered special seasonings.
Asuma, Kakashi, and Yamato ordered drinks.
The grills quickly heated up.
Choji reacted instantly, laying out his favorite cuts with practiced precision:
Beef tenderloin. Sirloin. Marbled wagyu.
At Nagi's table, Sai and Shin reached for the meat—
But Naruto stopped them with a serious expression.
Shikamaru didn't understand at first.
Then he did.
Nagi and Sasuke, perfectly in sync, arranged the slices across the grill with meticulous spacing and balance.
The restaurant owner personally delivered the special condiments.
Observing their movements, he smiled.
"Precise placement. Refined technique. And those seasonings… We have experts tonight."
"These spices are specially sourced and prepared by our shop. Please enjoy."
Nagi accepted them, briefly sensing their quality before nodding.
"Thank you."
The owner left.
Nagi began mentally calculating spice ratios—balancing aromatics like an equation.
Meanwhile, the three girls focused intensely on grilling their own meat, each trying to outperform the others in front of Sasuke. Their competitive spirit drove them to steadily increase the heat at their table.
The Fragrance Bomb
Nagi mixed the seasonings with careful motions while turning the meat.
Sasuke adjusted the flame at just the right moments—one glance from Nagi was enough.
Naruto watched with sparkling eyes.
Shikamaru lazily rested back.
Choji stared at his grill with total concentration.
Sai monitored the condiments. Shin watched the tools. Whatever Nagi needed, they handed it over instantly.
Kakashi, Yamato, and Asuma chatted casually—
Until—
Kakashi's sensitive nose caught something.
He turned sharply.
Nagi sprinkled his freshly blended seasoning over the meat.
The spices settled on the surface—then melted seamlessly into the meat, merging with the sizzling juices.
At Nagi's subtle cue, Sasuke increased the heat.
Then—
It happened.
Under rising temperature, the hidden layers of aroma detonated.
A fragrance bomb.
The scent exploded outward—swift, overwhelming, inescapable.
Shikamaru's perpetually bored eyes widened.
For perhaps the first time in years, he understood what desire truly felt like.
Asuma. Yamato. Choji.
The competing trio.
Even nearby diners.
All froze.
Every gaze turned toward Naruto's table.
Nagi, Sasuke, and Naruto remained calm.
They were used to this.
After a moment, Nagi judged the timing.
"It's ready. Let's eat."
Naruto grinned, chopsticks poised.
"Hehehe, finally! I'm gonna—"
He stopped mid-air.
Dozens of eyes locked onto his hand.
He turned.
Sakura. Kakashi. The others.
All staring. All hungry.
He hesitated.
Then glanced back.
Nagi was already eating leisurely.
Sasuke, Sai, Shin, and Shikamaru moved quickly—grabbing slices, then chewing slowly.
The meat was firm yet tender.
The texture exquisite.
Then—
With the first bite, the juices burst forth.
Rich, aromatic, overflowing across the palate.
Happiness.
Pure happiness.
Naruto blinked.
Wait… why am I worrying about them? The meat comes first!
Without another thought, he joined the others—fully immersing himself in the taste of bliss.
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
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