270. Ordering The Wrong Thing

“Are they really going to fight?”

Sensing an intense and chilling atmosphere, a group of small kids shrank their necks nervously, casting worried glances at Uchiha Gin, who was at the center of the impending storm. Despite Gin-san's habit of tricking kids out of their pocket money, he was, after all, a good person.

“You all stay here; I'll go find the Security Squad,” said Sarutobi Hiruzen, gritting his teeth as he watched the situation escalate.

He was unsure if Uchiha Gin could handle two opponents on his own. Resolutely, he turned to his companions and gave instructions.

“Hiruzen, wait. Uncle Gin...”

Among the group, Uchiha Kagami, who understood Uchiha Gin the best, didn’t share the same panic as the others. To his knowledge, his uncle had never suffered a loss to any man.

“But Kagami…”

“Heh. So that old guy Byakuren is already clashing with Konoha's people? How rash.”

Just as Hiruzen was frowning, uncertain of what to do, several unfamiliar figures appeared behind them. One of them, a short elder with gray-white whiskers, sneered coldly.

The sudden voice startled the kids, who hadn’t noticed the three strange individuals approaching. Beads of sweat started forming on their backs.

“Isn’t Hōzuki Gengetsu with them? Did he die?”

One of the three, a tall, bandaged man, exuded a pungent medicinal smell that made the children uncomfortable.

“Grandpa, are we just going to stand here and watch?”

The last individual, a timid-looking youth about the same height as Hiruzen, hesitated. If not for his mature face, he might have been mistaken for a peer of the kids.

“Watching? We’re not the only ones doing that.”

A sly look flashed across the old man’s resolute face as he signaled his companions not to act rashly, choosing instead to observe.

“Hey, Saru, look at that guy! He’s so ugly!”

Shimura Danzō poked Hiruzen from behind, struggling to stifle his laughter as he pointed at the figure ahead.

“Danzō, you shouldn’t judge people by their looks—oh, crap, he is ugly!”

“Uh… Homura, let’s switch places. That guy smells weird.”

Turning her nose up, Koharu Utatane tugged Mitokado Homura to trade spots, distancing herself from the dazed and goofy-looking Ōnoki.

Kagami, however, had a different perspective.

“Come on, don’t judge by appearances. Sure, he’s short and ugly, but who knows? Maybe his granddaughter will be a stunning beauty with long legs.”

Having overheard the kids’ mocking comments, Ōnoki’s face darkened further. Unable to hold back, he shouted, “You brats! Keep it down!”

Meanwhile, across the street, a bald man with a fierce expression frowned as he noticed the commotion surrounding Uchiha Gin. Intrigued by the gathering crowd, Shamon turned to the middle-aged man next to him.

“Lord Reto, seems like there’s some kind of conflict over there.”

“Mind your own business, Shamon.”

The middle-aged man, calm and composed, appeared indifferent to the scene ahead. His hawk-like gaze lingered on the Hokage Rock above Konoha, as if lost in thought.

“Yes, sir.”

Disappointed, Shamon had no choice but to drop the matter.

“What a prosperous nation. Compared to this, the Land of Wind is like hell.”

Reto’s envious eyes scanned the bustling crowd before he turned back to Shamon.

“Go gather information about the First Hokage. I’ll take a stroll.”

“Uh, alright.”

Watching Reto walk away—toward the conflict, no less—Shamon felt momentarily confused.

Fine, leave me out of the fun.
“Guess I’ll grab some snacks for my students,” Shamon muttered, a soft smile emerging as he remembered his disciples waiting back at their inn.


---

In the growing crowd, two tall individuals stood out. One of them, a black-haired man with dreadlocks, squinted as he observed the commotion.

“Byakuren again? He’s getting more reckless with age. I wonder if his disciple can calm him down.”

The dreadlocked man beside him shook his head in exasperation.

“Actually, it’s his disciple causing the trouble. Byakuren is trying to mediate.”

Back at the conflict, Uchiha Gin scratched his face in surprise.

What kind of person names themselves Byakuren? He handed over a strawberry milk carton, his expression amused.

“Okay, Kamatari. Want some milk?”

“I hate strawberry milk! And it’s Katsura, not Kamatari!”

The younger man’s anger flared, his cold aura intensifying. Uchiha Gin’s mocking remarks, combined with offering him his most hated drink, were pushing him over the edge.

“Then what do you like? I’ll treat you. How about soba noodles?”

The mention of soba noodles caught Katsura off guard, and his fierce demeanor softened slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, he glared at Gin.

“A single bowl won’t cut it.”

“Fine. Two bowls.”

“Lord Byakuren dignity isn’t something you can mock so easily!”

“Unlimited soba. Eat as much as you want.”

“Hmph! Since you’re so sincere, I’ll—”

Just as tensions began to ease, the scene was disrupted by the arrival of the Security Squad. Their leader, Uchiha Shana, barked sharply, “Everyone, hands up!”

The younger man frowned, clearly displeased. Byakuren sighed, lamenting how a minor issue had blown up. Tomorrow’s meeting was going to be awkward.

“I am Byakuren of the Land of Water.”


Byakuren eyed Uchiha Shanna’s crimson Sharingan with a tinge of envy flashing across his droopy eyes.

Uchiha Shana, however, had no intention of showing any respect for the comical-looking old man.

“I don’t care if you’re Byakuren or Byakugan! Hands on your head and squat—uh, uh… wait, it’s you?”

Just as he was ready to flex his authority, Shana caught sight of a smiling, curly-haired figure nearby. A chill ran down his spine, quenching his earlier arrogance.

“Well, if it isn’t little Shana. It’s been a while. You’ve climbed up to captain, huh?”

“Hmph, I’m just doing my job. Someone reported a street brawl,” Shana muttered, his attitude taking a complete turn as he glanced nervously at the ever-smiling Uchiha Gin. Even though he was now an adult, every encounter with Gin brought back haunting memories from his childhood—memories that left an indelible mark on his soul.

“This man... is no ordinary person.”

Byakuren, stunned by Shana’s abrupt humility, sized up the younger man with suspicion. Despite their apparent age similarity, Shana’s submissive demeanor puzzled him. Could this curly-haired guy be a high-ranking figure in Konoha?

To confirm his theory, Byakuren scrutinized Uchiha Gin’s lazy demeanor, but after a long look, he saw nothing exceptional.

“Doesn’t seem that special,” Byakuren thought. Gin’s aura, at best, matched that of an elite ninja. Apart from his somewhat handsome appearance, nothing else stood out.

“If someone like this can be a Konoha big shot, then Hashirama Senju must’ve been mediocre,” he concluded sarcastically.

“Lord Gin, are these two troubling you? I’ll arrest them immediately!”

Desperate to escape Gin’s presence, Shana eagerly stepped forward, pointing at Byakuren and his companion.

“Calm down, little Shana~ These two are my friends,” Gin replied with a chuckle, showing no interest in abusing his authority.

“Friends? But they’re clearly not from our village,” Shana said, eyeing the pair’s foreign attire with skepticism.

“Hah, my network spans the world. Having a few foreign friends isn’t unusual.”

“Then what’s his name?” Shana asked, pointing at the young man with a displeased expression.

“Wig!”

“It’s not a wig! It’s Katsura!”


---

“Don’t think I’ll forgive your rudeness just because you helped us,” the young man said as the Security Squad departed, his tone softening slightly.

“Soba noodles still count,” he added.

“Next time,” Gin replied, raising an eyebrow.

Seeing Byakuren's glaring eyes, the young man reluctantly nodded. “Fine. I am Katsura.”

“I’m Uchiha Gin. I have some connections in Konoha. If anyone troubles you, feel free to use my name,” Gin said, introducing himself casually.

“Konoha connections, huh…”

Byakuren and Katsura exchanged a glance but couldn’t recall hearing about any Uchiha named Gin. He must be a minor figure in the clan.

“Let’s go, Katsura,” Byakuren urged, thinking of the meetings he needed to prepare for.

“Until next time,” Katsura said as he left, though he doubted he’d ever return to Konoha.

“Sure thing, Wig!” Gin called out with a teasing grin.

“It’s not a wig! It’s Katsura!”


---

“Too bad there wasn’t a fight,” muttered Ishiwa, who had watched the entire incident unfold.

“Don’t let me see you kids on the battlefield, or I’ll show you no mercy!” Ōnoki threatened, glaring at the group of kids who had mocked him earlier.

“Hmph, anyone can talk big,” retorted Shimura Danzō. “I’ll remember you, Big Butt!”

Ōnoki stared at Danzō’s face before glancing down at his, indeed, oversized posterior. His lips twitched, but he said nothing more, following his teacher away.

“Danzō, you idiot!” Hiruzen hissed, frustrated by the whole ordeal.

As the crowd dispersed, Reto and his two bodyguards shared Ishiwa’s sentiment.

“I hoped Byakuren could test Konoha’s strength, but this ended up being a flop,” Reto said, shaking his head before walking away.

“Lord A, shall we keep exploring?”

“Of course! I heard Konoha has a famous barbecue place. Let’s check it out!”

Hungry and curious, the group set off to find the popular restaurant.


---

After the commotion died down, Gin regrouped with the kids. Spotting Hiruzen’s worried face and Danzō’s dark circles, he asked curiously, “Little Danzō, who did you fight?”

“We didn’t fight anyone!” Hiruzen exclaimed, shaking his sore fist with a frown. The anger in his eyes toward Danzō was unmistakable.

“Good! Keep it up,” Gin said with a laugh.


Uchiha Gin clapped his hands and laughed, declaring that Hiruzen Sarutobi should preserve this tradition.

Danzō getting beaten? He probably deserved it.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Shimura Danzō merely shot Uchiha Gin a glare without retorting.

“Let’s go, time for barbecue!”

“Yay!”


---

At Uchiha Tarō’s Barbecue Shop

“Clatter~”

“Welcome—oh, it’s Gin! Long time no see!”

The mature woman at the counter, busy calculating the day’s earnings, glanced up. When she recognized Uchiha Gin, her formal smile turned into a warm, familiar one.

“Yako, any seats available?” Gin asked, patting Hiruzen Sarutobi’s head playfully.

“For you? Always!”

Ah, the perks of having friends in the business.

“You can order anything. It’s on me tonight!” Gin grinned, handing the menu to the kids after they were seated in a private room.

“Saru, order this one! The expensive one!” Shimura Danzō pointed to the priciest item on the menu, not even bothering to read its name.

“What’s ‘Beef Treasure’?” Hiruzen Sarutobi scratched his head, confused by the unfamiliar term.

“Doesn’t matter, just order the most expensive thing. You can’t go wrong!”

Danzō, relishing his opportunity, imagined devouring a rare delicacy and smugly declared, “I’ll eat it all!”

“Fine, but if it’s bad, you’re eating the whole thing yourself,” Hiruzen warned.

“Don’t worry. Just don’t fight me for it!”

After some secret plotting, the kids handed the finalized menu to Gin, who didn’t even glance at it before passing it to Yako.

“Uh, Gin, are you sure about this order?” Yako asked, her tone teasing as she looked at the long list.

“Too much? Don’t worry. These brats have big appetites. I’m more concerned it might not be enough!” Gin chuckled, unaware of any mischief.

“Alright then.”

Yako decided not to press further and handed the menu to her husband in the kitchen.

“Tarō, here’s Gin’s order,” Yako said, her expression still bemused.

“What’s with that face? Let me see…” Tarō took the menu, and his reaction mirrored hers.

“Wow, Gin’s really lost it. A whole page of... those?”

“Well, considering all the girls around him, I guess it’s understandable.”

“Yako, grab the deer antler wine from the cellar!”


---

As dish after dish of intricately shaped food arrived, Uchiha Gin’s expression darkened, his gaze toward the kids growing increasingly complicated.

“This is what you ordered after all that planning?”

Sensing something off in Gin’s tone, the kids nodded enthusiastically.

“Too much, Sensei?” Hiruzen asked hesitantly.

“No, I just want to know—who ordered this?”

“It was Danzō!”

The kids immediately pointed fingers at the culprit, leaving Danzō red-faced from the betrayal.

“Saru, you’ll regret this!”

“You brat,” Gin growled, his eyes cold as he recalled Yako’s teasing gaze. “If you leave even one bite, I’ll make sure you grow bigger in the same way!”

“Fine, I’ll eat it all!” Unfazed, Danzō grabbed a piece of the peculiar food, tossing it into his mouth.

“Delicious!”

“Really? Let me try!”

Seeing Danzō’s enjoyment, the others couldn’t resist and quickly reached for their own portions.

“Delicious! So good!”

Watching the kids happily devour the food, Gin regretted not bringing a camera. This scene alone could have secured him free meals in Konoha for life.

“Eat slowly. If it’s not enough, we’ll order more,” Gin muttered, pouring himself a glass of the wine Yako had brought. The drink was strong but pleasant, and he quickly downed it.


---

Suddenly, a booming voice came from outside the room.

“Boss! Bring us all your signature dishes!”

The accent was clearly foreign, and Yako’s reply soon followed, “Sorry, we’re full!”

“Lord A, maybe we should find another place,” one of A’s companions suggested, reluctantly backing off after seeing the overcrowded restaurant.

“Shame, but I guess we have no choice,” said the muscular man with curly hair, disappointed.

“Yako, let them join our table,” Gin called out, opening the door with a smile as he spotted the familiar group.

“It’s him!” The foreigners recognized Gin instantly, astonished by the coincidence.

“Well then, we’ll gladly accept your kindness,” the First Raikage said, giving his men a subtle signal to stay alert as he smiled and joined the table.

“You’re not from around here, are you? Need me to recommend something?” Gin asked cheerfully.

“No need to trouble yourself. We’ll have what you’re having—just bring us two more portions of everything!” the Raikage replied, eyeing the strange dishes the kids were eating with a growing curiosity.