This Chapter only slice of Life. You can skip it.
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Just as Senba tried to get Ninjutsu scrolls and test his new talents, a clear growl escaped his stomach.
'I completely forget to eat something.'
Too many things happened today, occupying his whole attention.
Senba rubbed his stomach and stood up, preparing to go to the kitchen and eat something.
There should still be ingredients he bought yesterday in the refrigerator. Although he didn't know how to make any complex dishes, heating up some leftovers or cooking some instant noodles was no problem.
However, just as he stood up, there was a knock at the door.
"Knock, knock!"
Senba raised an eyebrow; who would come at this time?
He walked to the entrance and opened the door. Standing outside was a girl with long black hair draped over her shoulders.
She was wearing the standard Konoha ninja uniform: a deep blue short-sleeved top, gray shorts, and knee pads strapped to her legs.
"Mikoto."
Uchiha Mikoto, his neighbor and childhood friend.
Mikoto was about to greet him when his stomach growled, making her smile vanish.
Before Senba could speak, Mikoto reached out and pinched his right ear.
"Senba!" She frowned. "Did you skip dinner again?"
Senba flinched but didn't swat her hand away. If an outsider saw this, they would definitely suspect their eyes were playing tricks on them.
The Uchiha Senba, who acted cold and distant at school, was now averting his eyes, not daring to look at Mikoto.
"Mikoto-nee! I was waiting for you to come so I could treat you to barbecue. I didn't skip dinner on purpose."
Mikoto was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, let go of his ear, and instead gave his small face a gentle pinch.
It felt soft, like freshly made mochi.
"You're a terrible liar."
She huffed and scolded playfully, "You think I don't know? Usually, when I didn't come, you'd just heat up instant noodles and wouldn't go out to eat at all."
Senba blinked and didn't argue, because what she said was the truth.
...
Mikoto's parents had died in the line of duty when she was very young.
She also had an uncle named Uchiha Setsuna, the representative of the radical faction who had attempted a coup over a decade ago and was thrown into prison.
Because of Uchiha Setsuna, Mikoto's parents' lives in the clan had never been easy. Later, they died during a mission, leaving the young Mikoto an orphan.
It was Senba's parents who had been looking after her. At that time, Senba had just been born, and Mikoto often came to his house to play, helping to hold and soothe the baby.
After Senba learned to speak, the first name he called wasn't "Dad" or "Mom," but "Mikoto."
Later, Senba's parents also died in the line of duty. That year, Mikoto was five years old. She stood at the door of Senba's house, watching the child who wasn't even two years old yet, sitting alone in the courtyard, not crying or making a fuss, just quietly looking at the sky.
From that moment on, she came often. Every few days she would drop by, bring some food, talk with him, or do nothing at all, just sitting together in a daze.
Besides her, there was another person who often came: Senba's cousin, the son of Uchiha Kagami, who was a few years older than Mikoto.
After Uchiha Kagami died, his wife also passed away from illness soon after, leaving behind a young child. That child was a bit older than Mikoto but also lived alone.
The three of them looked out for each other like this, becoming each other's closest people.
Although Third Hokage Hiruzen granted amnesty to Setsuna after taking office, Mikoto rarely had contact with that uncle. She still lived alone, occasionally coming to Senba's house to stay with him for a few days.
...
"Alright, alright." Mikoto withdrew her hand. "Since you were waiting for me so sincerely, I'll treat you today."
She puffed out her chest, her tone carrying a bit of pride.
"Let you have a taste of your sister's salary!"
Senba blinked. "Salary?"
"That's right!"
Mikoto tilted her chin up proudly. "I graduated from the Academy a month ago and became a Genin. This month, I've done several missions with my sensei and saved up a little bit of money."
She paused, then added, "Although I won't have the living allowance from the Village and the clan anymore, it doesn't matter. As long as I do missions, I can get by."
Senba looked at her proud appearance and smiled slightly.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
He put on his shoes and followed Mikoto out the door.
...
The barbecue shop was located in the busiest part of the commercial street.
The shop wasn't large, but business was good. At this time, the shop was already full of people, and the air was filled with the aroma of grilled meat and the warmth of charcoal fires.
Mikoto skillfully found a seat and picked up the menu.
"Let me see... premium beef, ribs..."
She muttered while flipping through the menu, then looked up and asked, "Senba, what do you want to eat?"
"Whatever," Senba said, sitting next to her, allowing her to choose her favorite.
Mikoto glared at him dissatisfiedly. "'Whatever' is the hardest to please! Speak up!"
Senba thought for a moment: "Beef ribs."
"And?"
"Stack."
"Which kind of beef?"
"...Whatever."
"..."
Mikoto took a deep breath, deciding not to argue with him for now. She called over the waiter and ordered seven or eight servings of meat in one breath, plus two bowls of rice and a vegetable platter.
The charcoal fire was brought out quickly, and the plates of meat were laid out on the table one by one.
Mikoto picked up the meat and placed it on the grill. The fat sizzled as it hit the heat, and the aroma filled the air instantly.
"Come, open wide~"
She picked up the grilled meat, dipped it in sauce, and held it to Senba's mouth.
"I'm not a child anymore." Senba looked at the piece of meat, then at Mikoto's expectant gaze, and helplessly opened his mouth.
The meat entered his mouth, and the savory sauce and meat flavors exploded on his tongue.
"Is it good?"
"Mm."
Mikoto smiled contentedly and began grilling the next slice.
The two of them ate, grilled, and chatted like this.
Senba asked her about her missions, and she began to talk enthusiastically about helping villagers find cats, cleaning riverbeds, harvesting medicinal herbs, ...
They were all D-rank missions, but she spoke with such animation as if she were talking about some great feat.
Senba listened quietly, occasionally nodding or asking a question.
He noticed that when Mikoto spoke, her eyes would sparkle.
An hour later, the plates on the table were empty, with several empty plates stacked in front of each of them.
Mikoto rubbed her stomach and let out a satisfied sigh. "Phew... I'm so full."
Senba also leaned against the back of his chair, looking satisfied.
The waiter walked over and handed over the bill with a smile.
"For the two of you, it's a total of eleven thousand Ryo."
Mikoto took the bill and pulled out a small wallet from her pocket.
When she noticed the cost and her money, her expression froze.
Senba looked at her and saw Mikoto's lips twitching slightly.
"Sen... Senba..." Her voice trembled. "My money..."
Senba tilted his head. "What's wrong? Didn't bring enough money?"
"I performed missions for a month... and earned over thirty thousand Ryo..."
Tears welled up in Mikoto's eyes. "This one meal cost over ten thousand Ryo... one-third is gone..."
Senba fell silent for a moment. Konoha's barbecue was indeed expensive; a bowl of ramen only cost seventy or eighty ryo, while the average price of barbecue was one thousand ryo per serving.
Even though eleven thousand Ryo wasn't too much, for a Genin who had just graduated, it was indeed a huge sum of money.
The reward for a D-rank mission was between five hundred and ten thousand Ryo. After the mission was completed, the leading jonin, or captain, took half, and the rest was split equally among the team members.
In other words, when Mikoto completed a D-Rank mission, the actual reward she received was roughly between eighty and two thousand Ryo.
How many missions could one do in a month?
She had just graduated and followed her sensei to do some simple D-rank missions. Earning over thirty thousand Ryo in a month was already considered very diligent.
As a result, one meal consumed a third of her salary.
Looking at Mikoto's pitiful appearance, Senba couldn't help smiling.
"Next time, it's on me."
Mikoto was stunned for a moment, then sniffled and nodded vigorously.
"Okay!"
She paid the money, and the two of them walked out of the barbecue shop.
The night breeze was slightly cool, and the lanterns along the street emitted a dim yellow light.
Mikoto walked ahead, her back looking small. She would occasionally look back at Senba to make sure he was following.
Senba followed behind her, watching her ponytail sway gently with her steps.
Suddenly, he felt that tonight's barbecue was exceptionally delicious.