At Akimichi Barbecue Q, Hikaru Kinoshita was busy tasting the meat he had just cooked himself.
"No good… cooking while eating is too slow," he muttered, frowning slightly as he chewed. "I guess I really have no talent for cooking… If Minato grilled the meat, it would definitely taste better."
"Really? (^～^) Then I'll take over the grilling!"
Minato Namikaze beamed with pride at the praise from his friend. Hikaru's eyes glimmered with joy at this small victory, and he shouted: "Big sister, bring me another ten pounds of meat!"
The Akimichi matron, keeping a close watch on the two of them, noticed Hikaru devouring half a pound in a single bite. She realized he was showing off his strength. Today, the Akimichi household had finally met a worthy challenger.
After years of leaving her ninja days behind, she had lost her instincts.
She placed twenty pounds of meat beside Hikaru, her eyes firm and unwavering. "Come on, let's see your determination."
Hikaru nodded heavily, his spirit igniting. He decided to give it his all and show the matron his full power. After this piece, no one could match him.
He looked at Minato, nodded slightly, and said, "Please take care of it. Whatever Minato cooks, I will finish it all."
"All right! Leave it to me, Hikaru! (づ●─● )づ"
Minato, only six years old, stood on a chair, holding a pair of tongs in each hand. He moved them with unbelievable speed. His young body already displayed extraordinary talent his reflexes were superhuman, and he could perfectly control the heat so every piece of meat was crispy outside and tender inside.
"Enjoy!"
"Got it! (✪▽✪)"
Hikaru accepted without hesitation. The twenty pounds of meat disappeared in no time. "Big sister, another thirty pounds!"
"Another thirty pounds!"
"Another thirty pounds!"
The Akimichi matron's smile faded. She had never imagined that a six-year-old could devour over a hundred kilograms of barbecue and still keep going. This far exceeded the Akimichi family's expectations.
At this moment, other diners put down their chopsticks and slowly gathered around them.
"Is this a prodigy from the Akimichi family? Eating like this, he's bound to be a powerful ninja one day."
"No, I know him. He's from the Kinoshita family."
"You mean Minato's little brother?"
"Yes."
"No wonder Minato is so frugal. If I had a brother like this, I might be even more extreme."
"Yeah… we all misunderstood Minato. Next time we meet, we must apologize properly."
"Yes, Minato… it's too hard…"
Hikaru's older brother, Kazuya Kinoshita, had already gone downstairs. Or rather, he had quietly watched from afar while Hikaru devoured fifty kilograms of meat and had already said goodbye to Ayaka Hata.
Now, hearing his friends' conversation, Kazuya walked forward with a wry smile.
"Don't say that. Aren't we partners? Honestly, my little brother has always had a big appetite. As his older brother, I can't let him go hungry."
"Minato, now I understand you're responsible, a ninja carrying on the Will of Fire. Sorry…"
"It's… it's fine (︶.̮︶✽)"
Kazuya felt a brief pang of guilt, but only for a moment. He quickly regained composure and began planning how to use this as an excuse to score a few free meals. His little brother never failed to surprise him. Truly, he was his pride and joy.
Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze was drenched in sweat. His hands trembled slightly from the high-speed, high-intensity grilling. Could he keep going?
No way. He could not disappoint Hikaru's trust.
With determination, Minato continued, sweat dripping steadily, hands never stopping.
Hikaru's previously flat stomach had now become a round ball. The Rubber Fruit gave him incredible elasticity, especially in his abdomen.
"Another thirty pounds!"
Hikaru had no choice. Having broken through his limits four times today, he was starving after waking up and urgently needed energy, even though he was already full. He reminded himself this monthly opportunity was rare, so he pushed himself a little further.
"Burp~"
Hikaru patted his fully stuffed stomach, looked at the towering plate, clasped his hands slightly, and nodded. "Thank you for the meal. I'm full. (´｡✪ω✪｡｀)"
Minato collapsed onto the chair, his mind thinking only one thing: "Saved…"
Watching Hikaru eat until he couldn't even close his hands, the diners twitched at their mouths in awe. They thought all the knowledge learned as a child was wrong. Who said you can't eat yourself into a giant?
"Whoever said that, come forward and see Hikaru Kinoshita for yourself."
While everyone was shocked, Kazuya stepped forward, eyes gentle as he scanned his brother. He positioned himself carefully, grabbed Hikaru by the neck, hoisted him onto his shoulders, and gently carried Minato along as he walked out of the barbecue shop.
"Boss, that ninja hasn't paid yet!" the waiter shouted nervously.
"He ate over two hundred kilograms of meat. He gets it free. Why pay?"
"I mean… Lord Kazuya hasn't paid yet."
"Kazuya was with them. Why pay?"
"But they didn't come together, did they?"
"Forget it. Kazuya doesn't eat much anyway. This time, just let it slide," said the Akimichi matron.
"But he packed another twenty pounds to take away and hasn't paid yet. (=_=)"
The matron's expression froze. Typical Kazuya… truly ridiculous!
Outside the barbecue shop, Kazuya checked the scroll in his hand. "Sorry, Akimichi matron. This is the last time! ～(￣▽￣～)~"
Night fell, and the air grew cool. Hikaru lay on the tatami, too exhausted to sit up. He practiced Chakra Extraction while resting.
"This is a happy problem… but how did brother know I went to the barbecue shop?"
He felt a twinge of unease, suspecting his brother had been watching him.
Meanwhile, intelligence about Hikaru devouring 200 kilograms of meat reached Danzo Shimura.
The cold, ruthless ninja's face darkened. Chakra is a combination of body and spirit, requiring physical energy to refine and convert.
If Hikaru can eat this much, either he is just a food machine, or he can refine it into chakra. Danzo leaned toward the latter. This meant Hikaru's Rubber Fruit potential was incredibly valuable.
Could it rival the Uzumaki and Senju clans, with naturally immense chakra?
"Hi, he's only suited for Root. Your laissez-faire training will waste him."
Danzo was furious, frustrated that he was not Hokage and that all talent was under the control of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Mark my words, Hikaru Kinoshita will be mine."
Considering Kazuya's already large appetite, Danzo realized this wasn't the limit. Hikaru was only six. With age, he could eat even more. At that rate, his chakra would be enormous.
Danzo ordered the ninja on the ground: "Monitor him closely. I need all information, especially on his growth in strength.ヾ(￣0￣; )ノ"
"Yes, sir!"
Danzo's face remained stern. If Hikaru's chakra increased rapidly, even if using jutsu, they must control him and bring him into Root.
"Hiruzen, don't blame me. This is all for Konoha. You… are too weak."