"Hiruzen, let's get back to business. Hand Aokawa over to me."
Danzo was unwilling to give up on Aokawa.
The Chakra Bow was much better than the slimy Spider War Bow he was planning to integrate.
Its firing rate was also fast, and there was no need to spit out Chakra Arrows from his mouth every time.
"I'll say it again: I already have other arrangements for him," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, not yielding an inch.
"Hiruzen, Root is the foundation of Konoha. Only when the Roots grow strong can Konoha..."
"I already have other arrangements for him!" Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted directly, repeating himself.
Danzo Shimura's momentum was interrupted, and he frowned.
The Move that was usually very effective failed to work today.
He let out a long breath and decided to settle for the next best thing:
"Then give me Kakashi!"
"I have arrangements for Kakashi as well."
"Hiruzen, you..."
"Danzo, I am the Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted flatly.
Having been interrupted repeatedly, Danzo Shimura's face turned red as he stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi for a long moment.
Finally, without a word, he turned around and slammed the door as he left.
Bang!
The already overburdened door slammed hard against the frame, finally falling apart completely and crashing to the floor.
Danzo Shimura glanced back at the mess of wood splinters on the floor, gave a cold snort, and turned to walk into the darkness.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched his departing figure and spoke calmly:
"Make a note of this: the cost of replacing the door is to be deducted from Elder Danzo's salary next month."
...The next day, at noon.
Aokawa arrived at the Akimichi Clan's BBQ restaurant as planned.
As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Hinata Ayane already waiting for him.
She was dressed differently than usual today.
She wore a loose white T-shirt on top, but it still couldn't hide the full contours of certain areas.
The hem was neatly tucked into a long gray skirt, making her waist look exceptionally slender.
A glimpse of her fair ankles showed beneath the skirt, and she wore a pair of clean white shoes.
With both arms behind her back, she stood there elegantly, looking very soothing.
Seeing Aokawa, she tilted her head slightly and smiled.
Aokawa felt a warm, healing glow emanating from her and went to meet her.
The two walked into the BBQ restaurant, smiling.
The BBQ restaurant was bustling on Saturday, with almost every seat taken.
The owner recognized Hinata Ayane at a glance and warmly led them to a corner seat.
"Is there anything you want to eat?" Aokawa asked, holding the menu.
"I want flower meat!"
"flower meat?" Aokawa was a bit confused.
"This!" Hinata Ayane pointed her finger at the beef on the menu with beautiful marbled patterns.
"Oh, it's short ribs," Aokawa realized.
"So it's called short ribs? This kind with the flowery patterns is especially delicious..."
As she spoke, she couldn't help but swallow her saliva and pointed to several others: "I also want this 'Eye Meat,' this 'one tendon,' and..."
She smoothly rattled off a series of cuts she had named herself; seeing her excited and cute appearance, Aokawa couldn't help but laugh.
He simply handed over the menu: "You should order; I don't have any dietary restrictions."
"Okay!"
Hinata Ayane took the menu and very skillfully checked off items, then subconsciously wrote '20' for the quantity.
Realizing her mistake, she quickly crossed out the zero at the end before handing the order to the nearby waitress.
"Yo, you've brought a new girl to eat with you again!"
Aokawa looked up and realized the waitress was actually Akado Hanahana, who had been with Kurenai Yuhi some time ago.
Just as he was about to respond, Hinata Ayane spoke first:
"Is there a problem?"
Hinata Ayane arched her eyebrows and looked at Akado Hanahana with a serious expression.
Akado Hanahana felt uneasy under her gaze.
It was the weekend, and the clan's BBQ restaurant was busy. She had come to help out since she had nothing else to do; after all, she had never been a waitress and was looking forward to it.
She hadn't expected to see Aokawa laughing and talking with a pretty girl right away.
She immediately felt a surge of anger.
That's why she made that sarcastic remark, but she didn't expect that instead of questioning Aokawa, this girl would react this way.
Instead, a single sentence got stuck in her throat.
Akado Hanahana had no choice but to walk away awkwardly with the menu.
Hinata Ayane watched Akado Hanahana until she was far away before turning back.
As she turned, she met Aokawa's direct gaze.
Suddenly, her face flushed red.
Lowering her head, her index fingers subconsciously began to twiddle again, her eyes darting around, simply not daring to look at him.
After a while, when the blush on her face had faded slightly, she spoke in a low voice:
"Aokawa-kun... do you think I seemed very scary just now?"
Aokawa originally wanted to joke, "You don't look scary, but your figure is'scary.'"
But the words that came out were: "It was very cool. You were valiant yet had a touch of cuteness; it looked great!"
"Really?" Hinata Ayane's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.
It was the first time someone had praised her from that perspective.
"Thank you," Aokawa said softly.
Hinata Ayane shook her head: "I just felt uncomfortable seeing her treat Aokawa-kun like that..."
Her voice grew fainter as she spoke, her gaze stealing a glance at him before quickly darting away.
"Just what?" Aokawa hadn't quite heard her.
"Nothing." Hinata Ayane shifted the conversation to other topics.
The two continued to chat and laugh.
The plates on the table were soon empty.
Hinata Ayane was in the middle of an exciting conversation when she saw that all the meat was gone.
She instinctively wanted to wave for ten more plates of meat but stopped herself abruptly.
Aokawa seemed to see through her thoughts:
"Although the meat at this BBQ restaurant is delicious, it's not very filling. The owner must be cutting corners."
Hinata Ayane realized suddenly.
So there was meat that wasn't filling; no wonder she ate so much every time she came.
Not far away, Akado Hanahana's face darkened upon hearing this.
The meat isn't filling?
That was the first time she'd heard such a thing.
And saying we're cutting corners?
She was about to go over and argue.
Unexpectedly, Hinata Ayane waved directly to the owner:
"Boss, ten more plates of flower meat."
Akado Hanahana's steps faltered.
This was definitely intentional! Where on the menu was there 'flower meat'?
What was even more amazing was that the owner actually understood and went to prepare the meat happily.
Hinata Ayane carefully arranged the raw meat that was brought out.
Five plates on the left and five on the right, surrounding the grill.
After a very satisfied look, she and Aokawa began to eat.
The ten plates of meat were quickly devoured by the two of them.
Hinata Ayane asked the owner for another ten plates of flower meat and even came up with other new terms, like wanting the 'one tendon' and not wanting the 'no eyes' one.
Akado Hanahana's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.
She couldn't continue with this job.
She untied her apron and made an excuse to the owner, saying she wasn't feeling well.
She turned around and went home.
On her way home, she saw Kurenai Yuhi just coming out of her house.
"Hanahana, your mom said you went to the BBQ restaurant. Are you off work?"
"Kurenai!" Akado Hanahana wailed loudly and ran over to give Kurenai Yuhi a big hug.
"What's wrong? Who could possibly bully my Hanahana!" Kurenai Yuhi comforted her.
"It's Aokawa. He's hooked up with a fat girl."
"A fat girl?"
Kurenai Yuhi pushed Hanahana away, her eyes wide as she scanned Akado Hanahana with a look of utter disbelief.
For a moment, she couldn't understand where the charm of such a figure lay.
Had Aokawa really changed his taste because of her rejection?
Seeing Kurenai Yuhi's look of disbelief, Akado Hanahana quickly said, "It's true."
She wiped her tears and gestured in front of her chest.
"It's so big here, almost like an adult's."
-------------------------------
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