The crowd consisted mainly of the elderly and children, with most being regulars of the storytelling tea hall.
However, there was no shortage of young people either, and among them were quite a few figures of ninjas.
Shikamaru even spotted two jonin among them.
Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi also noticed Shikamaru. Asuma took the initiative to greet him, "Yo, kid from the Nara family, what are you doing here too?"
"Good afternoon, Lord Asuma, Lord Kurenai."
Shikamaru, who had not yet graduated at this time, saluted seriously before replying, "I am acquainted with Ryun. He invited me to come eat."
"Oh, then could you ask that guy if we can go in first? Otherwise, it looks like we'll have to wait a really long time."
Asuma Sarutobi wore a helpless expression. He had heard a few elders from the Sarutobi family mention yesterday that a new Yakiniku restaurant was opening with a half-price discount. Being tempted by the cheap offer, he had invited Kurenai Yuhi, but he never expected there to be so many people.
"This... Let me ask."
Shikamaru really didn't want to get involved in this matter, but the other party was the son of the Hokage, and potentially the next Hokage in the future.
As the heir of the Nara family, Shikamaru couldn't afford to offend Asuma Sarutobi.
He walked over to Nojuro Ryun's side. Ryun was currently writing queue numbers for everyone by hand.
Meanwhile, Ino and Tenten were serving pre-prepared fruit platters and snacks to the people in line.
This level of service was practically unheard of in Konoha. Therefore, whether civilians or ninjas, everyone waited happily in line, and no one expressed any dissatisfaction.
"What is it, Shikamaru? Something wrong?" Ryun asked, already knowing the answer, when he saw Shikamaru approach.
Shikamaru steeled himself and voiced his request, not holding out much hope.
To which Ryun replied, "Of course, that's possible. However, it would mean you and them having to share a table with the two adults. That way, it wouldn't count as cutting in line."
"That was an option? That's great!"
Shikamaru clapped his hands together excitedly and walked back over, deliberately raising his voice, "Ah, you two, I have already reserved a seat for you. Please follow me."
Asuma immediately caught on and laughed heartily, "Oh, it was you, Shikamaru. I couldn't find you earlier and had us waiting for a while!"
"Let's go, let's go. Lead the way!"
Asuma's acting skills couldn't be described as poor. It was more like they were practically negative.
Yet, no one in the crowd exposed him. After all, his father was the Hokage.
Fortunately, in this current world, there was no concept of equality for all. Their act of cutting the line didn't cause any chaos.
Organized by Ryun and the other two, the crowd began to enter the Yakiniku restaurant in an orderly manner.
In the kitchen, besides the proprietress, employees brought by Tenten and Ino from their respective family shops were also helping with food preparation, so they could manage the busyness.
This order could have continued to run smoothly, until an angry voice rang out, "What are you doing? Who gave you permission to write my name up there!"
Shimura Taiji arrived triumphantly, but was confused seeing so many people gathered.
He was just starting to think about what exactly was happening here when he then saw his own name posted on the wall, clearly stating that he owed 50,000 ryo.
Didn't this mean Ryun had announced his business to the entire Konoha?
Previously, Taiji hadn't believed Ryun would dare do this. Ryun was just a civilian, while he was a chunin of the Shimura family!
Even if Ryun knew Guy's student, knew someone from the Yamanaka family, what kind of waves could mere kids stir up?
Yet, Ryun had actually gone and done it!
Furious, Taiji felt his temples throbbing. He roughly pushed through the crowd, intending to tear down the banner.
However, his hand was firmly grasped by a large hand. The other person was also a Konoha chunin.
"What are you doing? Why are you harming civilians!"
Faced with the accusation, Taiji felt his blood boiling with anger.
He immediately turned his head to see exactly who he had supposedly bullied, only to find an old woman clutching her waist, lying on the ground moaning and sighing, murmuring to herself, "I might die..."
"Grandma Yamashita, what happened to you?"
Ryun rushed over, helping the old woman surnamed Yamashita sit up.
When she saw Ryun, the old woman revealed a sly smile born of civilian survival wisdom, then said, "Ryun, I might die. If I die, tell my son that his mother just accidentally fell."
The old woman's grandson then started crying loudly, glaring at Taiji with red, accusing eyes, practically ready to fight him.
Taiji felt like his reason was about to burn out. He had only given a slight push, didn't even use chakra. How could this old woman be dying?
Just as he was about to argue, several ninjas gathered around, and one female ninja even knelt beside the old woman to examine her.
Ryun initially thought they might be exposed, but the female ninja instead said, "It's better to go to Konoha Hospital for a check-up. That way everyone can feel assured."
By now, Ryun was certain that Taiji had incurred public anger. No one wanted to speak up for him.
This was precisely the result he wanted today. He just hadn't expected his elderly and young friends to also lend him a hand in their own way.
"Alright, thank you. Please, esteemed ninja, take her to Konoha Hospital. The expenses can be billed under my name."
Seeing the old woman about to be carried away by the female ninja, Taiji couldn't hold back anymore.
If the old woman really got diagnosed with some problem, with so many people as witnesses, he would at the very least have to make a trip to the Konoha Military Police Force. How would that be any different from the foolish subordinates he himself talked about?
If he were confronting Ryun over the debt issue, while unpleasant, he wouldn't feel unjustly treated.
But if he ended up being sent to the Konoha Military Police Force because this old woman fell, then Taiji would rather have completely shamed the Shimura family and become a laughingstock in many people's mouths. This was something he absolutely could not tolerate!
Taiji forcefully broke free from the circle of ninjas surrounding him and said, "I will personally take her to Konoha Hospital! I will also cover the expenses!"
This was the only solution Taiji could think of. As for confronting the old woman to prove his innocence, the current crowd simply wouldn't give him that chance!
Then, at that moment, Ryun exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Lord Shimura has brought money. It looks like you're here to settle that 50,000 ryo bill?"
Hearing Ryun say this, Grandma Yamashita suddenly jumped out of the female ninja's arms, twisted her waist a bit, hugged her grandson who was crying non-stop, and said, "I think I'm fine now... Sorry for troubling you all."
Almost everyone gradually understood the current situation. Especially the ninjas who also disliked the Shimura family or Danzo watched Taiji with expressions of suppressed laughter, quietly waiting for his response.
Taiji's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He was considering whether to erupt when the door of the Yakiniku restaurant opened.
Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi stepped out together. The commotion outside had made it impossible for them to remain seated.
"Oh, a Shimura... You're here to eat too... Wait, it couldn't be you who ate 50,000 ryo worth of barbecue over ten days, could it? Is it really that good?"
Asuma Sarutobi, with a toothpick in his mouth, eyed him unfavorably.
He was also one of those who disliked Danzo, and to a significant degree.
---
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━