It was lunchtime.
Renye had brought his bento in advance and didn't go home for lunch.
There were quite a few people like him…
Training was already exhausting; who had the energy to go home for a meal?
"Renye-kun, what is this?"
Nara Hon'ya was completely captivated by the plump, reddish, and brightly colored braised lion's head in Renye's bento box.
The surface of the lion's head was coated with an inviting sauce; just looking at it made one's appetite soar.
Nara Hon'ya's throat unconsciously moved, and he gazed longingly at the lion's head.
Seeing this, how could Renye not know what this guy was thinking?
"Have one to try."
"Really? Thank you, Renye-kun!" Nara Hon'ya was overjoyed, taking the lion's head Renye offered him and eating it with a rice ball.
The soft and tender lion's head, the fragrant sauce, and the ordinary rice ball collided on his tongue. Nara Hon'ya's cheeks puffed out, and he squinted his eyes contentedly, mumbling, "It's so delicious, I love it!"
Clearly, he was a foodie.
He usually had no other hobbies; he just loved to taste good food and sleep.
Renye smiled slightly, "It's good that you like it."
He was quite happy to have someone genuinely appreciate his cooking.
The commotion here attracted the attention of those around them.
Their gazes collectively fell upon the braised lion's head.
Looking at the tempting lion's head, then at their own bland bento boxes, they suddenly felt a sense of dullness.
"Danzo, I want to eat!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his friend.
They were closest to Renye and could clearly smell the aroma emanating from the lion's head.
"Hiruzen, you're so spineless!" Danzo Shimura snapped, but his rolling Adam's apple betrayed him.
He actually wanted to eat it too, but he couldn't bring himself to do such a shameful thing.
After all, he had previously had a conflict with Uchiha Renye.
If he went over eagerly, how would others view him?
Unless he didn't want to stay in Konoha anymore.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched as Renye continuously put the lion's head into his mouth, and seeing the delicious lion's head dwindling, he knew he couldn't just keep watching.
Immediately, he stepped towards Renye.
Seeing this, Danzo Shimura suddenly grew anxious, "Hiruzen, what are you doing? Come back!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not heed his friend's shouts.
At this moment, he only wanted to taste the lion's head.
"Damn it, this guy is tempted by food!" Danzo Shimura's face darkened, and he watched silently.
He hadn't expected Hiruzen to be conquered by a meal; it was truly embarrassing.
"Renye-kun, try my tempura." Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled as he handed over his bento box.
Renye was a little surprised by Hiruzen Sarutobi's action, but he quickly noticed that his gaze was fixed on the last lion's head.
He immediately understood that Hiruzen was after the lion's head.
"Hiruzen, thanks."
Renye picked up a piece of tempura and put it in his mouth.
The taste was decent. Having eaten too much lion's head, it was a good change of pace.
Seeing Renye eat it, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, "Renye-kun, what is this?"
He pointed at the lion's head, a puzzled expression on his face.
"This is a braised lion's head I made; the taste is pretty good. Do you want to try it?" Renye asked.
"May I?"
"Of course."
With Renye's permission, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly picked up the lion's head and placed it in his own bento box.
"Renye-kun, thank you very much for sharing this delicious food."
After greeting him, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and left, jogging to his friend's side.
"Danzo, look!" Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the lion's head and dangled it in front of Danzo's eyes, his triumph unconcealed.
Danzo Shimura had been feigning sleep with closed eyes. Hearing the commotion, he slowly opened his eyes.
He feigned curiosity, "What is this?"
"Hehe, Renye-kun said this is called a lion's head." Hiruzen Sarutobi said gleefully.
"Let me see." Danzo Shimura leaned closer to the lion's head.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not yet aware of the seriousness of the situation and was still gushing about how he got the last lion's head.
Danzo Shimura looked at the lion's head, which was within reach, and revealed a mischievous smile, "Hiruzen, you're still too naive!"
With that, he suddenly opened his mouth wide.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart jolted. He was about to pull his hand back, but it was too late…
Danzo Shimura had already shoved the lion's head into his mouth.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened in shock at this sudden action, his hand still maintaining the posture of holding the lion's head.
His face was filled with disbelief, and he was stunned for several seconds before reacting, angrily shouting:
"Danzo, you beast!"
As for Danzo Shimura, his cheeks were puffed out, and he mumbled while chewing, "The taste is indeed good!"
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were bloodshot, instantly turning red.
If he were from the Uchiha Clan, he would probably be awakening his Sharingan by now.
"Danzo, you scoundrel!"
He had gone through so much trouble to get this lion's head!
Danzo was truly too much!
Renye had just finished eating and was lazily leaning against a tree, preparing for a nice nap.
Just then, he suddenly heard a commotion not far away.
"What happened?"
Renye looked puzzled, following the sound, and was immediately stunned.
He saw Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura wrestling with each other.
Renye: "???"
Weren't these two guys good friends?
Why were they fighting?
"Danzo, give me back my lion's head!"
"No, are you really fighting?"
Hearing their conversation, Renye finally understood and couldn't help but feel a little amused and exasperated.
He never imagined that a conflict would be caused by a single lion's head.
"Danzo is really despicable..."
As expected of the 'Pot Shadow', he showed his dark side from a young age, even scheming against his good friend.
"Stop fighting, both of you!"
A student wanted to break up the fight, but the two of them were fighting so fiercely that they ended up hitting him too.
Seeing this, the people around immediately gave up the idea of intervening.
From then on, Class A had an unwritten rule—do not try to break up fights.
The commotion here quickly attracted the attention of Senju Takuma.
"Stop right now, all of you!"
Hearing their homeroom teacher's voice, the two bruised and swollen individuals instantly stopped fighting.
Senju Takuma's face was grim, "Who told you to fight?"
They both lowered their heads and said nothing.
They knew that their homeroom teacher was angry right now, and it was best to say nothing at all…
Seeing them remain silent, Senju Takuma looked around and sneered:
"Don't you like fighting? We'll have practical combat training this afternoon, so you can fight to your heart's content!"
Renye: "…"
Everyone in Class A: "…"
They hadn't expected that merely watching the excitement would bring trouble upon themselves.
For a moment, everyone stared at the two with resentful eyes.
Clearly, Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi had incurred the wrath of the public.
"It's all your fault!" Danzo Shimura complained softly.
"If you hadn't stolen my lion's head, would I have fought?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi almost fainted from anger.
That scoundrel Danzo was even trying to turn the tables!
Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his fists, making up his mind.
During the practical combat training this afternoon, he had to give Danzo a good beating!