Naruto: Skill Editing System

It was Sunday. Hirakawa Yuuki stood at the entrance of his usual training ground, with Minato Namikaze beside him. Both leaned against a post, waiting.

A few days ago, after Kushina helped Yuuki track down several Lightning Release scrolls, Yuuki had promised to treat her to a big barbecue feast to thank her.

And today was the day to make good on that promise.

Of course, going to eat barbecue as just a boy and a girl might give people the wrong idea.

So Yuuki decided to bring Minato along too.

"Still not here?"

Yuuki sat atop one of the wooden training pillars, resting his chin on his hand in boredom.

His gaze kept drifting toward the various training equipment scattered around. His palms itched, tempted to start practicing to kill time.

"She should be here by now. You said ten, right? It's already around ten twenty."

Minato closed the book he'd brought along and glanced up at the sky, estimating the time.

"Sigh... guess we wait."

Yuuki sighed helplessly at Minato's words, resigned to stand and wait.

"Hey! Yuuki! Minato! I'm here!"

Thankfully, they didn't have to wait much longer. Just a few minutes later, Kushina came jogging toward them down the street.

Yuuki quickly jumped down from the pillar and stepped closer to get a better look, only to freeze.

It wasn't just Kushina.

Trailing behind her were two more familiar faces: Mikoto Uchiha and Shiina Kō.

"Yuuki, did you invite them too?"

Minato gave a small wave to Kushina, then leaned toward Yuuki and whispered,

"You sure about this? Even though none of us eats that much, barbecue's expensive, you know."

Yuuki's mouth twitched as he stared at the girls approaching.

He slid his hand into his pocket and touched the pouch where he'd been saving his allowance for years. His heart ached a little.

But he forced a smile, waving it off like it was nothing.

"Don't worry, it's fine."

As Yuuki and Minato talked, Kushina and her friends arrived.

"Sorry, I took a bit longer grabbing Mikoto and Kō. Hope you don't mind."

Then she leaned close and whispered into Yuuki's ear,

"You said I could bring people, right? I only brought my two best friends. Pretty reasonable, don't you think?"

Yuuki winced as he remembered their earlier conversation.

He'd been so focused on those new jutsu scrolls that he'd agreed without thinking.

Now all he could do was smile and accept it. This was his own doing.

Minato stood nearby. Even though Kushina had whispered, his sharp senses picked up every word.

He gave Yuuki a subtle smirk.

Yuuki could only respond with a pained smile.

"By the way,"

Just as Kushina was about to turn to chat with her friends, she seemed to remember something and leaned close again.

"I had to work really hard to get Kō to come out today. Don't waste the chance."

Her tone was dead serious as she patted Yuuki's shoulder, as if saying, I believe in you.

Yuuki felt a headache coming on.

How many times had he told Kushina this wasn't appropriate? But she refused to give up on playing matchmaker.

Honestly, if he'd had a friend like her in his last life, his kid would probably be toddling around by now.

Yuuki couldn't help glancing at Shiina Kō, standing beside Mikoto.

Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her slender neck seem even more delicate.

Her small, round face carried a shy, bashful look, and the pale lavender dress she wore highlighted the innocence and cuteness of her age.

Yuuki shook his head.

She'd clearly dressed up specially for today, but at ten years old, no amount of effort changed the fact that she just looked adorably childlike, the kind that made grown-ups instinctively want to protect, nothing more.

He looked up at the sky to gauge the time.

"Let's go. We'll head toward Barbecue Q at a leisurely pace."

With the day's designated sponsor, Hirakawa Yuuki, giving the order, the group began strolling toward the restaurant.

They wandered lazily through Konoha's streets. Kushina and her two close friends chatted away, while Yuuki and Minato occasionally joined in.

Every so often, Kushina's distinctive, boisterous laugh rang out.

It felt relaxed. Peaceful. Comfortable.

Yuuki found himself smiling.

For a moment, it was as if they lived in an age of peace.

A school break, friends messing around, no need to think too hard, just aimlessly walking and wondering where to eat lunch.

The grueling training, complicated jutsu, dense theories, and the looming shadow of war...

All those worries seemed to drift far away.

If he had one tiny complaint, it was that no kind soul had appeared to cover today's bill.

"Hey! Choza!"

Kushina's cheerful greeting snapped Yuuki out of his thoughts.

His eyes lit up as he spotted Choza Akimichi up ahead.

He hurried to the front of the group.

"Choza! Fancy seeing you here!"

"Huh?"

Choza shivered at Yuuki's overly enthusiastic welcome.

"Yuuki? Something up?"

"Oh, no, no. Just saying hi. Where are you off to?"

"Getting food, of course."

"Perfect!"

At Barbecue Q, at a table in the corner.

The scent of grilled meat filled the air.

Plates of barbecue piled high, four or five stacks, each nearly as tall as a person's waist.

Yuuki, Minato, Kushina, Mikoto, Kō...

They all stared wide-eyed at Choza, who was still going strong.

Everyone knew the Akimichi clan could eat, but this was something else.

Choza alone was putting away more than all of them combined.

Yuuki rubbed his swollen belly. He was stuffed, but watching Choza's unrestrained appetite was making his mouth water again.

"Why are you all staring? Eat up!"

Choza finally noticed everyone had stopped and looked a little embarrassed.

"Yuuki, you done with that?"

He eyed the large piece of meat left on Yuuki's plate.

"Oh, sorry, I'm full. Want to help me out?"

"Sigh, guess I'll have to take care of it!"

Looking as if it pained him, Choza grabbed the plate and devoured the meat in one bite.

The rest of the group could only stare, hands unconsciously resting on their bellies, feeling as if their own barbecue might burst out at any second.

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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter