"Captain eats well—these are just small matters!" Uchiha chuckled, his tone light. He didn't feel even slightly upset about building a good relationship with Saitama this way. While it certainly wasn't kind to his wallet, their camaraderie made up for it. Besides, wasn't there a certain younger brother beside him to share the cost?
Thinking this, Uchiha shot a fiery glance at Uchiha Yan—right in front of Yan's amused eyes, full of mischief.
Saitama didn't pay much attention to the silent brotherly exchange. He focused entirely on the sizzling barbecue before him. His appetite had grown significantly lately—especially after a day of intense training. Eating was the only thing that made him feel whole again.
At home, Granny Kaka didn't treat him poorly—every meal came with a generous portion of meat. But today, catching two big spenders in his net, Saitama wasn't holding back. The food at home was his own, but the meal today? That was someone else's dime—and it was delicious.
"Zzzt!" Fat and juices hissed as the meat grilled, the marinated slices giving off a mouthwatering aroma. Saitama watched with laser focus, waiting for the perfect moment when the meat would turn from raw red to golden brown.
"Yosh, let's go!" A loud voice boomed from the next table.
Uchiha turned to look. Seated opposite each other at a grill were two men clad in vibrant green jumpsuits. Several plates of grilled meat were already stacked on their table.
The speaker was a middle-aged man with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows. He carefully placed a slice of grilled meat into the bowl of the younger man opposite him.
"Alright! I humbly begin!" Guy clasped his hands together, eyes closed in respect before he picked up his chopsticks.
"After this meal, the flames of youth will burn even brighter!" said Might Guy, voice filled with passion.
His father, Might Guy's spitting image but older and more weathered, beamed with pride.
"Yes!" There was a sparkle in Guy's eyes as he began to eat with enthusiasm.
"Dad, aren't you eating?" Guy paused mid-bite, noticing his father hadn't taken a single piece.
"Ahaha! Of course I'm eating too! Youth doesn't cheat!" Might Guy—formerly known as the Eternal Genin, Might Dai—grinned, dipping a slice of meat into sauce and finally bringing it to his mouth.
Guy smiled, satisfied, and resumed eating. What he didn't notice was that Dai barely ate—and even when he did, he chewed slowly, clearly conserving.
Uchiha Huo didn't recognize them. He glanced at them once and looked away, assuming them to be just another loud pair of father and son.
"Hmm?" Saitama finally looked up from his meal and caught sight of them too. His eyes landed on Dai's subtle movements and fell into thought.
Might Dai—Konoha's "Eternal Genin." His economic status was well-known among those who paid attention. He mostly performed low-level D-rank missions, which paid poorly. As taijutsu specialists, he and his son required intense physical training, frequent medical attention, and paid hospital visits. It all added up.
While Konoha did provide basic allowances for active shinobi, it was barely enough for someone like Dai.
"Guy! After this, run around the village ten times. Can you do it?!" Dai held up a piece of meat like a challenge.
"Yes! I will complete the mission!" Guy yelled, biting into the meat like it was an enemy to conquer.
"Yosh!" Dai placed the piece in his mouth, a warm, proud expression on his face.
"Huo!" Saitama tapped the grill with his chopsticks. "Add more meat, don't just stare."
"Oh—on it, Captain!" Huo jolted, having gotten distracted watching the father and son. He quickly placed more slices on the grill.
Yan, standing beside him, was also staring curiously. His thoughts raced. Who are they? Why did Captain Saitama look so serious just now? But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall any background on the eccentric duo.
"Hah!" Saitama cleaned off the new round of grilled meat in no time. He exhaled contentedly.
"Alright, let's go. Good meal today." He glanced at Dai and Guy, who were still eating—much slower than his own pace.
"Okay, Captain!" The Uchiha brothers stood up. Huo quickly ran to the counter to pay.
As Saitama passed Dai's table, he caught sight of Dai watching Guy with fatherly pride. A piece of meat hung between Dai's chopsticks, but it hadn't reached his mouth in quite some time.
Saitama offered a small smile before leaving. He didn't know them personally, and this wasn't the right time to approach. Still, familiarity had begun to bloom.
"Captain, I've settled the bill." Huo came over.
"Hold on a moment." Saitama waved him off, called the shop owner, handed over some extra money, and whispered something before leaving with the brothers.
---
Back at Dai's table, the owner returned carrying multiple extra plates of meat.
"Mr. Ninja, that customer just now treated you."
"Huh?" Dai looked confused. He didn't recognize the young man.
"That boy just now—he's a regular here. Part of the Uchiha clan, I think. A good-hearted one." The shopkeeper smiled.
"Oh… I see. Thank you." Dai's mind flashed with the image of Saitama's smiling face.
"Don't thank me—it wasn't me who paid for it." The boss dropped the plates off and returned to the counter.
"Kay, this is a gift from a fellow traveler on the path of youth. Let's eat!" Dai didn't act coy. Once he understood who sent it, he accepted the gesture with pride.
"Alright, Dad!" Guy's eyes sparkled with joy, his broad smile revealing his bright teeth as he dove in.
With Saitama's unexpected generosity, Dai no longer needed to hold back. Saitama had bought them thirty full plates.
"Yosh, let's dig in!"
"Right!"
For a moment, the rotisserie was ablaze with youthful energy. Even the boss went quiet behind the counter, moved by the scene.
---
On the way home, Yan finally broke the silence.
"Captain, was there something special about that father and son? You even treated them."
"Maybe I just liked the look of them. Remember, Yan—don't judge by appearances." Saitama poked the tall Uchiha in the ribs, half-joking, half-serious.
Both brothers nodded. That sentence made sense—sort of—but they weren't sure they understood it fully.
"So you mean… they're powerful?" Huo asked cautiously.
"Mm-hmm." Saitama neither confirmed nor denied, just hummed in response.
"Oh…" The brothers fell quiet again.
By now, they had returned to the Uchiha compound. The brothers split off toward their home in the west sector.
Saitama headed for his own house, where Granny Kaka was watching TV. He knocked and entered her room when she responded, sitting by her bed for a long chat.
He would be leaving for the front lines in a few days. Time was short.
By ten o'clock, he bid her good night and went upstairs to wash and sleep.
Outside, the sky glittered with stars. The moon hung bright and white, casting its cold light over the land.
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