After leaving Orochimaru's lab, the sky had darkened completely. The surrounding forest buzzed with the sounds of insects and rustling wildlife.
Hayashi didn't linger. He immediately headed back toward the village, and about ten minutes later, he arrived at the location for tonight's gathering.
It was a small tavern where he and Orochimaru had dined a year ago. The tavern had since been renovated—everything looked brand new, and the place was noticeably cleaner.
"Oh, isn't this Shikaku?" Hayashi approached the entrance and saw Shikaku scanning the area.
"What a coincidence," Shikaku muttered.
"Oh, oh, it's Hayashi. It really is quite a coincidence," Shikaku added, holding his head as though life had drained out of him.
"Then, may I ask, why are you here?" Hayashi asked, puzzled.
"Well… I heard someone was treating tonight. Free barbecue and unlimited drinks," Shikaku admitted, scratching his spiky hair awkwardly. Freeloading wasn't exactly a noble habit, but generosity had its pull.
"You heard about it too?" Hayashi's chest tightened with a sense of impending doom.
"Free barbecue, unlimited drinks, who told you that?!" he demanded, grabbing Shikaku's arm.
"Nawaki. He said he also invited students from other classes…"
Hayashi's vision blurred as the reality sank in.
"Hey, wake up, Hayashi! Someone fainted from excitement!" Shikaku shouted.
---
"Hayashi, are you alright?" Kushina's worried expression brought him back to the room.
"I'm fine, won't be dying tonight," Hayashi replied, slumping in his chair.
The hall was packed, bustling with his classmates. Students from other graduating classes had shown up, all eager to catch a glimpse of the ninja who had dominated multiple academy rankings. Hayashi, however, saw through the façade—they were all freeloaders.
At his table were eight people: Kushina, the four members of Nawaki's group, and the three members of Shikaku's group.
"Hayashi, I didn't mean for so many people to come. I had no idea," Nawaki said, looking innocent.
"Then who said, 'If you don't come, you're not giving me face, Senju Nawaki!'" Hayashi shot back.
"Fine, I'll chip in," Nawaki said, pulling a single fifty-ryo bill from his thin wallet. Too bad even the cheapest ramen cost sixty ryo. He smiled sheepishly at Hayashi.
Hayashi sighed and stood. "Everyone, the barbecue is free tonight, and drinks are unlimited. Don't be shy."
Reluctant smiles and cheers broke out. Choza raised his voice, "Boss, give me the most expensive barbecue!" The tavern erupted in excitement.
Originally, Hayashi had intended to invite only a few close friends, since this tavern was one of the few that served alcohol to minors. He hadn't expected to be outsmarted by Nawaki.
In truth, Hayashi wasn't poor. Kagami had left him a substantial inheritance, and he had earned plenty of merit points on the battlefield—each convertible to five thousand ryo. He could easily exchange them for over three million ryo if he wanted.
Battlefield missions were far more lucrative than village assignments. A B-rank mission in the field could net ten to thirty merit points, translating to one hundred thousand to three hundred thousand ryo. In the village, the same mission might yield at most fifty to one hundred fifty thousand ryo, with the Jonin captain taking the largest share.
S-rank missions could earn millions in minutes. No wonder high-level ninja in Konoha were so wealthy.
Hayashi pondered Minato's inheritance. Minato had completed thirty-nine S-rank missions, yet his monthly allowance was only one thousand ryo. Where did the rest go? Did Konoha impose an inheritance tax?
Kushina caught his expression and asked, "Hayashi, where did you go tonight?"
"I went to visit Orochimaru-Sensei. Why?" Hayashi replied, lifting a skewer of grilled meat.
"The Police Force sent someone looking for me," she said.
"What? Why?" Hayashi frowned. Four years ago, Uchiha Yama had taken an interest in him, and since then, the clan's attitude toward him had improved considerably.
The old fox wanted Hayashi to act as a bridge between the clan and the village, much like Shisui and Itachi would in the future. If plans had followed normal course, Uchiha Yama would have helped Hayashi enter the Anbu, a position that would have otherwise been impossible for the Uchiha clan, since they were directly assigned to the Police Force after graduation.
With Kagami's legacy and Orochimaru's mentorship, Hayashi's entry into the Anbu would now be supported, leaving the Third Hokage with no reason to refuse.
However, before any of this could unfold, the Second Great Ninja War had erupted, and Hayashi had been sent to the battlefield by Orochimaru. He had yet to understand Uchiha Yama's intentions regarding Kushina.
"Could he… be interested in you?" Hayashi wondered briefly.
Kushina's answer surprised him. "The Police Force said we should go to the Naka Shrine in the clan compound on the evening of the fifteenth of this month for a clan meeting."
"Where? Naka Shrine?!" Hayashi exclaimed.
---