"Ah? Oh... yes, yes, I should thank you."
Kushina hadn't expected anyone to step in and help her, driving away the bullies, and she nodded in a daze.
Then she heard Ryoko say in a matter-of-fact tone: "It doesn't need to be too complicated. Just bring me a bento for a week as a protection fee. From now on, if any blind fool in class dares to trouble you, just say the name of me, Akimichi Ryoko, or come directly to me, and this great one will settle it for you!"
Kushina blinked, her little mind racing, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Protection fee? Was that right?
But the other party had indeed helped her and promised protection. Trading a bento for peace seemed... quite reasonable?
In the end, she nodded in a daze: "O... okay."
After all, someone was willing to help her and drive away those hateful guys; she was naturally more than happy to accept.
Even if it cost a few lunch boxes, it was no big deal, as her family had plenty of money.
Bento and such could be easily handled.
To the side, Minato Namikaze watched this bizarre development and helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Ryoko-kun, isn't it a bit inappropriate to demand bentos from a classmate like this?"
Hearing this, Ryoko immediately straightened his face and retorted righteously: "Minato, what kind of talk is that? Helping each other among classmates, how can you call it 'demanding'?"
"I'm maintaining class order, protecting the weak, and punishing evil. If I hadn't stepped in, who knows how arrogant those guys would have become or how many people they would have bullied."
"Believe it or not, if I spread the word, countless people would be willing to offer up bentos for my protection."
This set of twisted logic left the eloquent Minato Namikaze momentarily speechless.
Minato knew in his heart that Ryoko's initial motive was likely eighty percent for those bentos, but it was undeniable that he had indeed stopped the bullying in the most direct and effective way, doing what Minato had wanted to do but hadn't.
He opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only shake his head helplessly, unable to argue further.
However, in his heart, he did not agree with this method of helping others.
Under the banner of maintaining justice and opposing class bullying, Ryoko successfully expanded his "Bento Supply Network" quite a bit.
The next day at noon.
In addition to the previous three, several more students came to deliver bentos.
When they obediently placed the bentos on Ryoko's desk, the expressions of all the students in Class A became extremely strange.
They didn't understand why, after just one day, there were even more people delivering bentos.
What exactly was going on?
A line was almost forming.
What was this? Some kind of evil dark trade?
Some timid students even began to feel afraid, worried that one day it would be their turn.
Akimichi Chen Dong looked at his clansman surrounded by bentos with a chubby, complicated face.
He was both envious and afraid.
He was envious that Ryoko could obtain such a large amount of food; after all, this was something the Akimichi Clan dreamed of.
He was worried that this guy, who didn't follow the usual path, would one day cause a huge mess and involve him.
He could only pray silently in his heart: "I hope Ryoko can behave a bit and not cause any more big commotions."
As the center of the storm, Akimichi Ryoko had no time to worry about his classmates' complex feelings.
Looking at the rows of bento boxes in front of him, all different in style but emitting a tempting aroma, his face blossomed with a smile, and his eyes narrowed into slits.
"It's quite a feast, I'm digging in!"
He announced and immediately entered combat eating mode.
He skillfully picked up his chopsticks and lined up all the bento boxes on the table, like a general reviewing his soldiers.
Then, using both hands, he attacked from both sides, starting his meal like a whirlwind sweeping through clouds.
Swallowing in large gulps and picking up food with precision, his movements were so fast they almost left afterimages.
In no time, the row of bento boxes stacked like small mountains were all empty, with not even a grain of rice or a leaf of vegetable left.
This appalling eating speed and volume left the entire class dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open in surprise.
It wasn't that they hadn't seen big eaters; the Akimichi Clan itself was famous for its large appetite, but someone like Ryoko, with such a small body, devouring so much food in an instant was simply unheard of!
The most terrifying thing was that after eating so much, his stomach didn't even enlarge a bit.
This guy truly had a monstrous appetite.
"Hmph, a bunch of people making a fuss over nothing," Akimichi Chen Dong grumbled inwardly. "You haven't seen the terrifying way he eats when he lets loose in the clan; that's a true disaster."
Thinking of the scene where not a blade of grass was left wherever he passed, Akimichi Chen Dong couldn't help but shiver.
Scary, too scary.
Uzumaki Kushina looked at the mountain of empty boxes in front of Ryoko and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Ryoko-kun, are you... are you really okay eating so much at once? Won't you choke or have a stomachache?"
Although she understood after Uzumaki Mito's guidance that Ryoko helped her mainly to get bentos.
But after all, he had effectively helped her and spared her from bullying, so she still felt some goodwill and concern in her heart.
Ryoko satisfiedly patted his stomach, which still showed no bulge, and said nonchalantly: "Just a few bento boxes, it's not even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."
"To be honest, I haven't even truly felt full yet."
The speaker was casual, but the listener was attentive.
"So many bentos, such a large portion, and it's not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth?"
"Not full yet? Is that something a human can say?"
"How is this possible? This is clearly enough for several people."
A sound of gasping instantly rang out in the classroom; the children were beyond shocked by this terrifying appetite.
Of course, some people showed different thoughts.
Hyuga Aoki's eyes flickered as he thought to himself: Could this be the secret to his great strength?
Thinking of the Akimichi Clan's Secret Techniques, he felt a bit envious; no need for too much training, just eat, eat, eat.
He even began to seriously consider whether he should have his family prepare a few more bowls of rice when he got home.
Maybe if he ate more, his strength and Chakra would also surge, allowing him to defeat Ryoko.
As for the brothers Uchiha Tekka and Inaho, it was also the first time they had witnessed such an exaggerated eating scene from Ryoko; it was no longer on the level of an ordinary person.
Especially his stomach, which looked as if he hadn't eaten anything, made them feel even more horrified.
A strong sense of urgency arose.
The two looked at each other, seeing the same determination in each other's eyes.
The opponent is not to be underestimated; we absolutely cannot slack off. After going home, we must double our training!
Next time we challenge him, we must win!
Such a terrifying monster requires going all out to be defeated.
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