CH-97. Shiki, who's food is better?

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"Will he agree to that?"

Sasuke didn't expect it to be Kakashi.

He remembered that Naruto had said Kakashi was the lifelong rival of his teacher, Might Guy.

What kind of strange fate is this?

Teachers are lifelong rivals, and so are students?

Wait…

Sasuke realized he might be overthinking things, as Naruto had mentioned his own lifelong rival was Shiki.

"He'll agree."

Shiki thought for a moment and said, "You can ask your brother to talk to him."

In theory, Kakashi owed a favor to the Uchiha clan.

He had been allowed to keep the Sharingan with the consent of Fugaku.

Of course, the biggest contributor was the Fourth Hokage, Minato.

As for asking Itachi to act as a go-between, besides the fact that he's Kakashi's ANBU teammate now, there was another reason.

He's already aligned with the Third Hokage.

With another coming to him, the Hokage might be quite pleased.

The only possible issue was Fugaku.

Would he agree?

But none of this really concerned Shiki.

He had proposed a solution, and whether it would work depended on Sasuke.

At the barbecue restaurant:

They were warmly greeted as soon as they walked in.

"Sasuke!"

Sakura waved excitedly.

"This way! Shiki!"

Ino was equally enthusiastic.

"Sasuke."

When they got closer, Naruto grinned and asked, "How did you know I got second place?"

Is he serious?

What's there to be happy about for second place?

Sasuke twitched the corner of his mouth.

To be honest, he felt a little envious.

He used to be second, but now he was third.

When he was second, he thought it wasn't good enough, but now that he's third, he'd love to go back to second.

"Sasuke, I grilled some pork belly for you."

Naruto pushed a plate of grilled meat in front of him.

"It's burnt!"

Sakura quickly placed a plate of grilled meat before Sasuke and said, "Eat mine."

After a moment of silence, Sasuke picked up his chopsticks.

He took a bite, chewed, swallowed, and said, "It's barely okay."

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.

At least it wasn't a terrible review.

Sasuke glanced at Shiki, sitting across from him.

To his left was Ino, and to his right was Hinata.

He thought he'd be grilling for the two girls, but somehow it was the other way around.

'I can't keep up with this. I can't finish it at all.'

"Naruto."

Sasuke suddenly remembered something and asked, "How long did you last sparring with Shiki?"

He hadn't seen their match since he left early.

Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.

He'd been defeated instantly—there wasn't much else to say.

"I get it."

Sasuke read his expression and figured out the whole story.

If Naruto had lasted longer, it would've been big news.

It must've been a short, decisive loss.

"What do you know?"

Naruto, noticing Sasuke's look, quickly said, "I held my own for a long time!"

"Really?"

Sasuke replied indifferently.

"Of course!"

Naruto said confidently.

"Idiot."

Sasuke felt surprisingly satisfied.

"Dummy!"

Naruto quickly shot back.

Sakura sat there in a daze, holding her chopsticks.

'Am I just an extra here?'

She didn't know how to jump into the conversation.

"Alright, I've had enough."

Shiki stopped Ino and Hinata from serving him more food.

For some reason, these two were getting more and more eager to feed him.

He thought for a moment and divided the extra barbecue between the two girls.

But he reversed it—giving Ino's grilled meat to Hinata and Hinata's to Ino.

Fairness was the focus here.

[Achievement unlocked: 'A Meal for Three.' Reward: Crocodile Power Gu.]

[Crocodile Power Gu: Second-level Gu worm, consumable type. Permanently increases strength to that of a crocodile.]

Shiki paused.

These achievements were getting stranger and stranger.

But this Crocodile Power Gu was useful.

He'd been worried that the strength provided by the White Pig Gu and Black Pig Gu might eventually be insufficient, but now he didn't have to worry.

The strength of a crocodile—a crocodile could snap jaws with ease!

Shiki glanced at Sakura.

He suspected she had triggered this achievement.

After all, they were having a great time here, and it seemed unlikely that Hinata would feel competitive with Ino.

"Shiki."

Ino looked at Hinata with a smile and asked, "Who's better at grilling?"

"Hinata's is more detailed."

Shiki answered without much thought.

But after saying it, he noticed the problem.

Hinata smiled elegantly.

Ino's smile froze.

"Ino's is good too."

Shiki quickly added.

Ino gritted her teeth and bit into her beef.

There was no doubt—she had lost half the battle.

What now?

Can't win in any way.

Ino looked confused.

'Am I just supposed to give up?'

'No, I won't!'

"Ino."

Shiki pulled out a tissue, wiped the corner of her mouth, and said, "You've got oil there."

She had bitten too hard, and oil splashed on her face.

"Thanks."

Two blushes appeared on Ino's cheeks, making her look quite cute.

Hinata, on the other hand, puffed out her cheeks slightly, looking like a little hamster.

Oh, this is fun.

Shino found it entertaining.

One of life's joys is watching his friend stumble.

But it wasn't meant to be.

Shiki picked up a piece of grilled meat and put it in Hinata's bowl, achieving a double win.

This was all about keeping things fair.

Shino shook his head in mock pity.

"So, what are you all planning for the holidays?"

Kiba asked, taking a sip of his drink.

"Training, of course!"

Naruto replied enthusiastically, "I'm up at four every day, doing 300 laps and running upside down..."

"Alright, alright, enough!"