The moment her tongue touched the grilled meat, the rich aroma of seared oil and sizzling fat instantly overwhelmed Mei Terumi's senses.

Uchiha Hikaru withdrew his fingers at that moment, quickly pulling out two tissues to wipe them clean.

Then he shot her a sharp glare and jabbed his freshly wiped finger toward Hoshigaki Kisame.

Kisame blinked, utterly baffled.

He froze mid-bite, his cheeks bulging with barbecue, his shark-like teeth continuing to chew reflexively.

Huh???

What did I do?

Why's he pointing at me? I didn't make any noise while eating, did I?

But then came a comment that made him sigh in relief.

"Can't you just look at Kisame!?" Hikaru snapped.

"You're a grown woman, and you don't even know how to eat on your own?"

"Do I really need to feed you, Lady Mei Terumi?"

"Use your damn hands. Eat."

Mei Terumi swallowed the bite of grilled meat and froze, stunned into silence for a full ten seconds.

Hikaru ignored her dumbfounded expression and resumed placing meat on the grill.

During those ten seconds, Mei Terumi focused inward, carefully monitoring her body for any unusual effects.

Apart from an intensified desire to eat more, there didn't seem to be any side effects...

She cast a cautious glance at Hikaru's profile.

No way... it was really just a meal...? Was I overthinking it...?

Her tentative peek, intended to play it cool, only left Hikaru inwardly speechless.

Oh, so she'll only eat if I personally put it in her bowl?

What kind of pampered noblewoman is this...

How is she even still alive?

With a sigh, he grabbed a few more slices of grilled meat and placed them into her bowl.

"This is the last time."

"Cut out the spoiled princess act."

"If you can't eat by yourself, then don't eat."

"If you weren't still useful, I'd have tossed you straight into Konoha's prison by now."

!!!

Mei Terumi snapped out of her haze as the meaning of his words sank in.

Her earlier hesitation now seemed ridiculous… but those last words?

They felt like a final verdict—her fate already sealed.

I knew it! He's got a plan!

He wants me to eat, get my strength back, and then take me straight to the research division to dissect me!

Bastard!

Even if I, Mei Terumi, have to die—I'd rather starve! (╬ Ò﹏Ó)

In that moment, Mei Terumi reached full ideological clarity.

With an expression of deep grief and rage, she seized the chopsticks and began grilling furiously.

Her hands moved so fast that Hikaru blinked in disbelief.

…Wait a sec.

Is Mei Terumi actually from the Akimichi clan? (⊙_☉)

Why is she moving like a starving ghost reborn?

Has the food in Kirigakure really been that bad?

Poor girl…

Maybe this isn't about being pretentious. Maybe she's just… never eaten food this good before…

He glanced toward Kisame.

"Kisame, do you guys eat this kind of stuff in Kirigakure?"

Kisame immediately put down his chopsticks and swallowed the piece of meat he'd been chewing—somehow managing to gulp it down despite a chunk of pork belly still sticking to his lip.

"Lord Hikaru, we usually eat fish and seafood. Occasionally we get some vegetables to balance nutrients."

"Barbecue like this? Only the nobles of the Land of Water can afford it."

"The country's land is mostly islands and swamps. The little arable land that remains is reserved for crops grown by civilians."

"Animals like pigs, cows, or sheep? We only see those when merchants come from other nations."

"This… is actually my first time eating pork."

Though Kisame tried to keep his face neutral, Hikaru caught the faint upturn of his lips—the joy he couldn't hide.

For a moment, Hikaru looked at the nearly two-meter-tall man seated across from him and couldn't help but feel sympathy.

Poor guy… he's grown this big and never even had pork before.

"It's fine. If you like it, eat as much as you want," Hikaru said softly.

Then he fell silent, retreating into thought.

He began mentally drafting the future trade treaty with Kirigakure.

Tariffs on goods would need close regulation—especially trade routes for meat and grain.

At the same time, importing seafood from the Land of Water at low cost could benefit Konoha. Those ingredients were rare delicacies in the village.

Once the routes were secured, the profits could be enormous.

After all, Konoha had over 100,000 villagers, and the Land of Fire had millions.

In his mind, Hikaru could already see mountains of silver coins waving at him

✧(≖ ◡ ≖✿)

Meanwhile, Mei Terumi continued angrily chewing meat, all while keeping a close eye on the man across from her.

She would glance at Hikaru's side profile now and then.

Look at that satisfied face!

He's definitely planning how to exploit my dual Kekkei Genkai!

I have to eat more now. Who knows when I'll get another chance...

Once they drag me into the labs, they'll bleed me daily, inject nutrients just to keep me alive, tie me up in chains, and throw me into some nutrient tank like a damn lab rat! (╥﹏╥)

On the other side of the table, Uchiha Hikaru was still lost in his grand vision—how to use commerce to turn the Land of Water into a vassal state of the Land of Fire.

He continued popping meat into his mouth as he schemed.

Mei Terumi devoured hers in bitter silence, picturing her grim imprisonment.

Only Kisame, pure-hearted in that moment, ate without a care in the world.

He had long since grown weary of Kirigakure's betrayal and hypocrisy—missions where comrades were expendable, friendships fake, survival the only goal.

He'd volunteered to follow Mei Terumi to Konoha, even if it meant imprisonment or death.

Because this time… he wanted to live on his own terms.

Right now, that meant following his own will.

And at this moment, his will… was that glorious barbecue.

Hot… but sooo good~ (≧◡≦)

Konoha is incredible. I don't have to think about anything. I'll just do whatever Lord Hikaru asks me to.

Just… keep the meals coming.

None of them noticed that this man—who would one day be called the Tailed Beast Without a Tail, feared across the Five Nations—had become a simple university student at heart.

A true foodie (≧ω≦)

The three sat in silence, each immersed in their own world.

Before long, the entire feast Hikaru had brought back was completely devoured.

And without needing a single command, Hoshigaki Kisame stood up and started clearing the table.

Then he entered the kitchen and quietly began scrubbing the grill and washing dishes

-------

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