At lunchtime, the five-member clique—Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino—wordlessly made their way to the school Rooftop. The view was wide, the sun perfect; it had become their newly discovered secret spot.
Naruto pulled a neat stack of bento boxes from his backpack, each prepared with care that morning.
The others, seeing this, fished out money and handed it to Naruto with practiced ease. It had become routine: Naruto cooked, everyone chipped in for ingredients.
"Naruto's cooking is so good—I've been craving this all morning!"
Choji gazed longingly at the boxes, swallowed, and—unable to hold back—reached first to grab one.
"Hold it!"
Naruto flicked his chopsticks, lightly blocking Choji's hand. Laughing, he said, "That one's mine; your special portion is right here."
He reached deeper into the pack and produced an oversized bento two or three times the normal size, solemnly presenting it to Choji.
Seeing Choji's delighted face, Naruto added matter-of-factly, "You paid the most, so you get the most food."
Shikamaru, lounging nearby, drawled, "Geez, even lunch has to be this troublesome..."
—though he didn't slow down one bit when taking his own box.
How on earth does this guy cook so well?
Watching Choji's huge portion, Kiba looked envious. He fished in his pocket, pulled out some coins, and stuffed them into Naruto's hand.
"Here, Naruto! Consider it an advance!"
His voice was as loud as ever, but his eyes were serious.
"Pretty soon the clan's going to teach me our secret techniques and assign me my own Ninken—I'll officially start raising a dog. When that happens, fix a meal for my partner too. Something nutritious and stamina-boosting!"
He could already picture himself and his future companion feasting together.
Slapping Naruto's shoulder, Kiba declared, fired up again, "Just you wait, Naruto! Once I start training in the Inuzuka arts and me and my hound are in sync, we'll beat you for sure!"
It was both a proclamation and a promise to the comrade he'd soon fight alongside.
"You're on!"
Naruto answered with a grin.
The Rooftop door burst open with a bang, and a green whirlwind strode in—Might Guy.
"Naruto! Let's go—"
He'd meant to invite Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen, but a rich, familiar aroma hit him mid-sentence.
"...That smells amazing!"
His gaze locked on the five sitting with their bento—especially the mouth-watering dishes inside.
Naruto immediately offered his box toward Guy, apologetic: "Sorry, Guy-sensei. I didn't know you'd be on campus, so I didn't prepare a portion. If you don't mind, please have mine."
"No, no—I already ate, Naruto!"
Might Guy shook his head hard, trying to shake off the tempting scent. He swallowed, eyes firm, and resolutely refused.
In truth he'd skipped lunch and his stomach was growling, but a true shinobi could endure a little culinary temptation.
He had to keep up the image of a teacher before his students.
Forcing his eyes away from the bento, he told Naruto his real reason for coming: "I'm only substituting here for one month."
Raising a finger, he grew serious. "I'll go talk Kakashi out of accepting the Sandaime's team assignment—at least for now."
His face lit with anticipation. "Once you graduate and become Genin, the two of us will lead your whole class together. It'll be an even hotter feast of youth!"
Originally, the Third Hokage and Might Guy had agreed:
Guy would persuade Kakashi to leave Anbu and join the Jonin instructors in the same intake; if he failed, Guy would teach combat at the Academy one month each year to gain experience.
But after seeing Naruto's potential and their teacher-student bond, Guy made a different call. He would delay Kakashi instead, urging him not to accept the assignment yet.
He'd wait until Naruto's class officially graduated and became Genin.
Then he and Kakashi would emerge as Jonin leaders of the same intake, taking the Genin squads formed from Naruto's class.
"...That works."
In Naruto's mind, Guy was far more reliable than Kakashi anyway.
Forget Pain's invasion or the Great Ninja War—Might Guy really could turn the tide with one kick.
Too bad Obito was an Intangible Dog and hard to hit.
With Guy gone in his usual whirlwind, the Rooftop relaxed again; the five friends gathered, laughing and chatting as they resumed lunch.
But soon the door opened once more.
All five turned in unison to see Uchiha Sasuke standing there, holding an elegant Bento Box.
Sasuke had been mobbed downstairs by over-enthusiastic girls and come up to what he thought was a quiet refuge, only to find it occupied—
especially by Uzumaki Naruto, the very guy who'd beaten him in morning practice.
The group's easy camaraderie and the delicious smell were irresistible.
They're eating so well... The thought slipped in unbidden.
"Hey, Sasuke!"
Naruto called casually, as though their fierce duel that morning had never happened. "Here for lunch too?"
Sasuke didn't answer.
The warm, harmonious atmosphere made him feel out of place, and Naruto's nonchalant attitude grated on him.
Lips pressed tight, he said nothing, turned, and left—shutting the door behind him.
Looks like he'd have to find somewhere else to hide.