CH - 62 Feast

With a mixture of apprehension and excitement, the group followed the captain to what was referred to as the cafeteria. The Grass Ninja captain addressed them, her demeanor calm but firm, as she explained the rules of the dining area.

"From today onwards, anyone working here can eat in this cafeteria," she announced, her gaze sweeping across the assembled individuals. "Help yourselves to as much food as you want, but remember not to waste anything!"

She gestured towards the plates placed beside her. "Take a plate here, then form a line. Let me tell you something! You're in luck. Our leader has ensured that there is an abundance of food prepared for all of you. You can enjoy any dish you find here! But remember my earlier warning about wastage. If anyone wastes food, you won't be welcome here! Now..." She waved her hand. "Form a line!"

Despite her instructions, no one moved. The group exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes scanning the well-organized windows and spotless tables in the cafeteria. They stood rooted to the spot, unsure of how to proceed and wary of upsetting the group of ninjas who watched them intently.

However, the irresistible aroma drifting from the windows, combined with their enduring hunger over the past two days, made it difficult for them to resist. Their stomachs growled in response to the tantalizing scent. Still, no one dared to take a step forward.

Koujou, positioned towards the back of the line, also gazed blankly at the window, unable to catch a glimpse of the food inside. However, the distinct aroma of meat wafted towards him, triggering memories of the chaos-stricken Land of Rain. It had been so long since they had tasted meat, even stale bread had been a scarce commodity. The fear of running out of food had plagued their daily lives. Koujou felt the urge to approach and indulge in the delicious meal, but fear held him back.

He swallowed, noticing that those around him were experiencing the same inner conflict. Everyone's mouths watered in response to the fragrant scent. At that moment, a realization struck Koujou, and he turned his head to look at his wife and daughter.

His wife and daughter were equally captivated by the enticing aroma emanating from the window, yet they hesitated to approach. Ruko, his daughter, appeared eager to step forward, but her mother tightly grasped her hand, silently forbidding her from going ahead.

Indeed, everyone was hungry. The thought of his wife and daughter enduring hunger weighed heavily on Koujou's mind. He glanced once more at the mouthwatering display behind the window, torn by indecision.

Then his gaze shifted to the Grass Ninja standing silently on the side, almost as if they were encouraging the group to proceed. It felt as though they were silently assuring them that there was nothing to fear.

Filled with a mix of hope and caution, Koujou pondered Leader-sama's intentions. After all, they had been brought here, and food had been provided for them. It seemed unlikely that they would be harmed. With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Koujou steeled himself and mustered the courage to take the first step forward.

Just like he had taken the lead during the interview, where he bravely stepped into the unknown, Koujou found himself in a similar position now. As he walked into the unfamiliar dining hall, all eyes turned towards him, curious and expectant. Once again, he was at the forefront, setting an example for others to follow.

Following the instructions of the Grass Ninja, he made his way to the area with the plates and picked one up. Seeing that no one stopped him, he felt a sense of relief, slowly starting to trust these Grass Ninjas.

With nervous steps, he approached the window. However, when he saw the delectable spread of food, he froze in awe.

A loud clang from the chef's ladle startled Koujou, making him worry if he had done something wrong. Before he could react, the chef in his uniform calmly asked, "What do you want?"

Apologizing with a timid voice, Koujou responded, "I... I'm sorry!"

"What do you want?" The chef softened his tone slightly.

Trembling, Koujou pointed at a dish filled with meat and asked, "Can I have this?"

Without acknowledging him, the chef scooped up a generous portion and placed it on his plate. "Anything else?"

Koujou was taken aback. Could he really ask for more dishes? "Anything else?!" he repeated in bewilderment.

"Yes, take as much as you want! Why are you crying? Hurry up!" The chef regarded him with a hint of impatience, encouraging him to select more food.

Overwhelmed with gratitude towards Leader-sama, Koujou emotionally exclaimed, "I... I'm grateful to the leader! The leader is a good person!"

"Indeed! He is the esteemed leader of our Land of Grass, the heroic figure who brought an end to the war! There's no need to mention it. Now, please proceed!" The chef nodded, urging Koujou to move and not remain frozen in place.

Apologizing for his outburst, Koujou wiped away his tears and pointed to another dish. "Excuse me, I'd like to have this too."

Under the watchful gazes of everyone present, his plate was filled to the brim. Holding it with care, he found a seat as instructed and sat down to enjoy the much-needed meal.

The workers and their families stood in awe, their disbelief turning into gratitude and excitement. They realized that they could indeed partake in this bountiful feast. The Grass Ninjas had not deceived them, it was as simple as that!

Inspired by Koujou's courage, the others followed suit, stepping forward and picking up their plates. They formed a line, obediently adhering to the rules set by the ninjas.

Koujou's wife, seeing her husband unharmed and taking the lead, swiftly took her daughter's hand and approached the window. Ruko, filled with wide-eyed wonder, exclaimed, "Wow, so many dishes!"

Chuckling softly, Shuko affectionately touched her daughter's head and glanced at the silent Grass Ninja then shifted her gaze towards her husband nearby, her eyes slightly misty but her smile bright. "Let's serve ourselves quickly, my dear. Afterward, we'll... eat together with your father."

"But... I don't know what to choose. Can I take a moment, Mommy?" Ruko asked hesitantly, feeling a mixture of excitement and uncertainty in the face of the array of tantalizing dishes before her. The abundance of food was a sight she had never encountered before.

…

After a satisfying dinner, they followed the established routine and formed a line, filled with assurance that the Grass Ninja had been true to their word. They eagerly anticipated their new life, grateful to leave behind the hardships of the Land of Rain.

"Koujou, Shuko, Ruko," a Grass Ninja called out their names, causing them to respond promptly, though puzzled by the summons. Nevertheless, they complied and answered, with little Ruko chiming in, "Yes!"

"These are the keys to your new house," the Grass Ninja said, handing them a key. "Since your family will be together, the rooms are relatively spacious. However, due to time constraints, the house may not be in the best condition. We hope you can overcome any difficulties and work diligently."

Accepting the key, Koujou felt warmth spreading in his heart as he earnestly promised, "Grass Ninja, I will fulfill my duties diligently!"

Ruko nodded with a serious expression and added, "I will work very seriously too!"

"Our leader believes that children should focus on their studies while their fathers work. We will arrange for your schooling later," the Grass Ninja said with a rare smile, glancing affectionately at the adorable little girl. Then, turning to Koujou, they added, "Now, follow this person to your new home. Rest well and be prepared for work tomorrow."

"Yes, Ninja-sama!" Koujou happily led his wife and daughter, expressing their gratitude to the Grass Ninja for their assistance.

The group walked towards their new home, conveniently located near the factory for better management. The building was taller to accommodate the large number of residents. Koujou's family was assigned a residence on the third floor.

"This is where you will live. There should be no room changes without permission. Gather downstairs at 7 a.m. tomorrow," the Ninja instructed before departing.

Koujou's family gratefully bowed, watching the Grass Ninja leave. They then directed their attention to their new home, savoring a moment of silence. Instinctively, Koujou and his wife exchanged a knowing smile, understanding that this would be their new life from now on.

"Daddy, open the door!" Ruko suddenly exclaimed, diverting their attention to their precious daughter.

"Alright! Daddy will open the door!" Koujou gazed at his joyful daughter and gently patted her head. Recalling the Grass Ninja's earlier words, uncertain of their sincerity, he muttered to himself, "Regardless, we must work hard! We must not let anything drive us away!"

With that, he opened the door, revealing a bright and airy space. Despite the modest size compared to their previous home in the Land of Rain, there was no trace of dissatisfaction in their hearts. Instead, they felt a sense of security.

At that moment, as Koujou felt his wife's hand holding his own, he turned his head to look at her, and she smiled back at him. Taking a deep breath, a faint smile graced his lips. "From today, this will be our home!"

…

On the other side, Akihiko, having just finished dinner at Fuso's home, sat in the courtyard and stretched lazily.

The journey had been incredibly exhausting! Recruiting people, traveling—it was only natural for him to feel tired. Sensing something, he turned his head and looked at Kana, who had finished tidying up and joined him on the side. Kana must have been busy these past few days! She looked tired, and Akihiko made a mental note to help her relax later.

In a short while, Fuso, who had also finished tidying up, approached with three cups of hot tea. Without hesitation, Akihiko smiled and nodded, then leisurely picked up a teacup, ready to take a sip. Curiously, Kana looked at him and asked, "Oh, Akihiko, where are Konan and the others? Why didn't they return with you?"

As she spoke, Fuso also set down her teacup, her expression filled with doubt as she gazed at Akihiko. As a mother, she was concerned about Nagato's well-being. If Akihiko hadn't assured her that Nagato and the others were fine, she would have questioned whether Nagato had been sacrificed.

"Konan and the others," Akihiko took a sip of the hot tea and noticed the two of them staring at him. His eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled, "Don't worry, they're all fine. They took the opportunity to go out and have some fun. They'll probably be back tomorrow!"

...

At the same time, inside a cave in the Land of Rain, Nagato wore a serious expression as he looked at Yahiko and Konan. Approaching a hanging whiteboard they had acquired from somewhere, he began writing a line with utmost seriousness: "Who is our enemy? Who is our friend?"

After finishing writing, Nagato turned around, tapped the whiteboard with a serious expression, and looked at the two of them, speaking firmly, "For now, our top priority is to distinguish between who is the enemy and who is the friend!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.

.

.

You can read +5 chapters ahead of everyone on my Patreon

p@treon.com/Kaiszer

(replace ' @ ' with ' a ' for the link)