The waitress led Jokichi to the table in the corner and politely said to the customers inside, "Hello, because seating is tight, we need customers to share tables. Could you move in a bit?"
Jokichi used this opportunity to see the two of them clearly.
Both were male fatties, one big and one small.
The child was about the same size as Jokichi, round-bodied, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, with a pair of underpants on his head.
The adult was a middle-aged man with a rough face, colored markings on his cheeks, armor full of battle traces, long hedgehog-like hair scattered behind him, and a wild aura exuding from his entire body.
However, when he turned his head and saw the smile on his face, the wildness on his body was immediately replaced by gentleness.
The adult and child had somewhat similar facial features, and both had the Akimichi clan crest embroidered on their clothes. Their identities were self-evident.
Akimichi Choza and Akimichi Choji.
"This is a six-person seat to begin with, it is only right."
Choza smiled and nodded at the waitress and Jokichi, then shifted his body to sit further inside. After moving, he did not forget to lecture Choji, who was burying his head in his food, telling him to be polite and move inside a bit too.
Then Choji also moved inside a bit.
It was really just a little bit, the kind that could be measured with a fingernail, no difference whether he moved or not.
"..."
Jokichi opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
He just bowed politely to Choza and Choji, said "Thank you", and then sat directly next to Choza.
Everyone likes polite children. Choza also smiled and nodded at Jokichi. "The pork belly at this shop is exceptionally delicious, you should order more."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"Mhm, what a good boy!"
Choza praised, then joined the ranks of burying his head in food.
As for Choji...
He had been annihilating the food on his plate from beginning to end, never even lifting his head to look.
Jokichi smiled and did not reply.
He leaned back against the chair. While the waitress was bringing the charcoal grill, he pulled a strand of hair from Choza beside him, and Choza, focused on annihilating food, completely failed to notice.
Actually, it was because Choza's hair was too long, the tips dragging on the chair.
Jokichi pretended to lean on the chair, pressing down on the hair, and smoothly pulled one out when changing postures.
Choza probably noticed but did not care.
[Ding! Found special material "Giant's Hair", can forge special equipment "Giant's Bracelet", do you want to forge?]
Although very curious about the Giant's Bracelet's effect, in front of outsiders, he naturally chose no.
Jokichi put the hair into his pocket, his smile becoming even brighter.
Soon, the waitress brought the charcoal grill. Jokichi picked up the menu and ordered randomly. Since it was his first time here and he did not know what was good or not, he specifically chose the expensive ones.
Anyway, it was a buffet, it would be a waste not to eat.
Choza noticed Jokichi's behavior and shook his head slightly, but said nothing.
The food here could not be wasted. If there was waste, the original price had to be paid.
But Choza had no intention of reminding Jokichi. People have to pay for their impulses, especially young people. If they do not learn a lesson, they will not know how to be grateful.
However, while Choza did not remind him, Choji opposite him spoke up.
"If you cannot finish the dishes here, you will have to pay the original price."
Jokichi froze for a moment, then showed a kind smile to Choji. "It is fine, I have a big appetite, I can eat it."
"Is, is that so?"
Choji looked skeptically at the checkmarks on the menu, his round little eyes full of doubt.
With this kind of portion, even he himself would have a hard time finishing it.
But after all, he was a stranger, a well-intentioned reminder was enough.
Choji did not say anything more and continued burying his head in food.
This little fatty is really kind!
Jokichi sighed internally.
Food was Choji's favorite. In front of food, he would not waste a single moment of precious time. He had not even looked up when the waitress came to ask questions earlier.
But now, to remind a stranger, he wasted precious dining time. It had to be said that Choji was too kind.
Soon the dishes came up. Pork belly, tenderloin, thigh meat... there was both beef and pork, as well as vegetables like green peppers, enoki mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms.
The various dishes instantly filled the empty dining table.
Beside him, the Choza father and son looked over in dumbfounded amazement, not even noticing that the half-eaten barbecue meat had dropped.
Jokichi completely did not care. As if he did not see them, he brushed seasoning on the various meats and put them on the grill to roast.
Soon, the fragrant aroma of tender, charred meat wafted out, and the Choza father and son involuntarily swallowed their saliva.
Meanwhile, Jokichi picked up his chopsticks and placed pieces one by one into his mouth.
His movements were not fast, and compared to the father and son wolfing down their food beside him, it could even be called elegant.
But Jokichi's chewing speed was very fast. A piece of meat put into his mouth would be swallowed into his stomach in less than two seconds, so the frequency of his chopsticks moving was very high.
Soon, all the grilled meat was completely annihilated.
Jokichi unhurriedly continued to brush seasoning on the vegetables and meat and put them on the grill to roast.
Beside him, Choji suddenly asked, "Father, can our Akimichi clan also have the figures of ordinary people?"
"How is that possible!"
Choza glared fiercely at Choji, then said somewhat gloomily, "However, there are indeed some big eaters in this world who cannot get fat no matter how much they eat. I am really envious!"
"Sigh!"
The father and son sighed at the same time, then turned their grief and indignation into appetite, continuing to annihilate the food in large mouthfuls.
Jokichi smiled without saying a word from the side.
Of course he was not some big eater, it was just that after forging the Hot-Blooded Headband, his training volume was getting bigger and bigger.
With more consumption, he naturally needed food to replenish it.
And today, to test the limits of the Sage Body, he had performed a training intensity far beyond the past, resulting in even greater consumption.
However, Jokichi was also a bit worried about this.
He had no income right now, and his living expenses entirely relied on Konoha's subsidies.
But those subsidies were only enough for ordinary living. Now his appetite was getting bigger and bigger, and Konoha's subsidies were no longer enough.
What to do?
Go ask the Third Hokage for more?
If he explained the situation, he should be given more, right!
Although the Third Hokage was not as harmless as he appeared on the surface and was a leader with political maneuvering skills, he was still the leader of Konoha.
As a proper Konoha villager who aimed to be a ninja and trained so hard since childhood, he would definitely be happy to see it.
However, asking people for favors, Jokichi really did not want to go.
Favors owed always have to be repaid.
Jokichi did not like owing others, nor did he like others owing him.
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he would not ask others for help.
Even if it was just a tiny little thing.
But if he did not go to the Third Hokage for money, how would he solve his meal problem?
Jokichi pondered while flipping the charred meat.
His parents had also left behind a pension. Not much, but it could last for a year or two.
But Jokichi prepared to save this money to buy ninja tools like shuriken and kunai later.
If he used it now, he would have no money to buy ninja tools later.
Go hunting?
Jokichi suddenly thought of a solution.
Konoha was located in a large forest. Large animals often intruded from the forest, and there were also many animals in some remote training grounds.
Going hunting for animals could both train himself and solve his meal problem, killing two birds with one stone!
Having found a solution, Jokichi felt much more relaxed, and his appetite was even better than before.
A table full of dishes was quickly finished, and then he ordered another table.
This barbecue meal took four hours.
When Jokichi came out completely satisfied, his belly sticking out, it was already pitch dark outside. Meanwhile, the Akimichi father and son, unwilling to lose to others in terms of eating, secretly competed with Jokichi, and were now lying sprawled in the shop!
Thinking of the silly appearance of the father and son, Jokichi could not help but laugh out loud, then limped his way home.
Alright, he had to admit.
He had also eaten too much.