Naruto: Clan Simulation and Bloodline Evolution from Scratch

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The crowd consisted mainly of the elderly and children, most of whom were regular patrons of the Tea Hall.

However, there was no shortage of younger people either, and among them were quite a few ninja.

Shikamaru even spotted two jōnin among the crowd!

Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi also noticed Shikamaru. Asuma took the initiative to greet him.

"Hey there, kid from the Nara clan. What brings you here?"

"Good afternoon, Lord Sarutobi, Lady Kurenai," Shikamaru greeted them seriously. At the time, he hadn't graduated yet.

"I know Ximen-kun. He invited me here for a meal."

"Oh? Then can you ask that guy if he can let us in first? Otherwise, it looks like we'll be waiting for a long time."

Asuma looked helpless. He had heard from a few elders in the Sarutobi clan yesterday that a new barbecue place was offering a 50% grand opening discount. Trying to take advantage of the deal, he invited Kurenai, but hadn't expected such a huge crowd.

"Well... I'll ask," Shikamaru replied reluctantly.

He wasn't keen on getting involved, but Asuma was the Hokage's son—and possibly the future Hokage.

As the Nara clan heir, offending Asuma was the last thing Shikamaru wanted to do.

He walked over to Ximen Zhen, who was busy handwriting queue slips for everyone.

Nearby, Ino and Tenten were serving pre-prepared fruit platters and snacks to those waiting.

This level of service was unheard of in Konoha. As a result, both civilians and ninja alike lined up cheerfully, without a single complaint.

"What's up, Shikamaru? Something you need?" Ximen Zhen asked, already knowing the answer.

Shikamaru reluctantly explained the request. He wasn't expecting much.

To his surprise, Ximen Zhen replied, "Of course. But you two and the two lords will have to share a table—that way it won't count as cutting in line."

"Oh, it can be handled like that? That's great!"

Shikamaru clapped his hands and walked back energetically, deliberately raising his voice.

"Alright, my lords, I've got your seats. Please follow me."

Asuma immediately caught on and laughed heartily.

"So it was you, Shikamaru! I couldn't find you just now—you kept us waiting!"

"Come on, let's go. Lead the way!"

Asuma's acting skills weren't just bad—they were practically in the negatives.

But no one around exposed him. After all, his father was the Hokage.

Fortunately, in this world, the idea of complete equality didn't exist. Their queue-cutting didn't cause any disorder.

With Ximen Zhen and his two companions coordinating, the crowd began entering the barbecue shop in an orderly fashion.

In the back kitchen, aside from the proprietress, staff from Tenten and Ino's family shops were helping prepare the ingredients, so things were manageable.

Everything could have continued running smoothly—until an angry voice rang out:

"What the hell are you doing? Who gave you permission to write my name up there?!"

Shimura Taiji strutted in smugly, only to be stunned at the size of the crowd.

He was trying to figure out what was going on when he saw his own name pinned on the wall, along with a notice saying he owed fifty thousand ryo.

Did that mean Ximen Zhen had announced his debt to all of Konoha?

Taiji never thought Ximen Zhen would actually do such a thing. He was just a civilian! And Taiji was a chūnin of the Shimura clan!

Even if Ximen Zhen knew Gai's disciples or people from the Yamanaka clan, they were still just a bunch of kids—how much trouble could they really cause?

Yet, Ximen Zhen really had done it!

Furious, Taiji felt his temples pulsing as he shoved through the crowd, trying to rip the banner down.

But his hand was firmly seized by a large one—belonging to another Konoha chūnin.

"What do you think you're doing? Why are you trying to hurt a civilian?!"

Confronted with this accusation, Taiji's blood surged.

He turned around, wanting to see who he supposedly hurt—and saw an old woman clutching her back, lying on the ground and groaning, murmuring,

"I might be dying…"

"Granny Yamashita, are you alright?!"

Ximen Zhen rushed over and helped the elderly woman sit up.

She gave Ximen a sly smile—the survival wisdom of a civilian—then said,

"Ximen, I might be dying. If I don't make it, tell my son it was just an accidental fall."

Her grandson burst into tears, red-eyed and glaring at Taiji, as if ready to fight him.

Taiji felt like he was losing his mind. He had only given her a light push—he hadn't even used chakra!

How could she be dying from that?!

Just as he was about to argue, several ninja surrounded him. One kunoichi even knelt beside the old woman and began examining her.

Ximen Zhen worried she might expose the act, but instead, she said,

"It's best to take her to Konoha Hospital. That way everyone can feel at ease."

Now Ximen Zhen was certain: Shimura Taiji had provoked the wrath of the crowd. No one was willing to speak on his behalf.

This was exactly the outcome Ximen Zhen had hoped for. What he hadn't expected was that his elderly and young friends would help him in their own ways.

"Alright then. May I trouble this ninja to escort her to Konoha Hospital? You can put the expenses under my name."

Just as the kunoichi was about to carry Granny Yamashita away, Taiji lost it.

If the hospital actually found something wrong, and with so many witnesses, he'd definitely be dragged to the Konoha Military Police!

How would that make him any different from his so-called 'stupid subordinates'?

If it were just a confrontation with Ximen Zhen over the debt, he wouldn't have felt wronged.

But if a granny's fall got him hauled off by the Military Police, he'd not only disgrace the Shimura clan—he'd become a laughingstock. That was absolutely unacceptable!

With a forceful jerk, Taiji broke out of the ninja circle.

"I'll take her to Konoha Hospital myself! I'll cover the expenses!"

That was the only solution he could think of. As for clearing his name by arguing with the old woman—this crowd would never give him the chance.

Just then, Ximen Zhen looked surprised and said,

"Oh? Lord Shimura brought money today? Does that mean you're ready to settle your fifty-thousand-ryo tab?"

The moment he said this, Granny Yamashita suddenly jumped out of the kunoichi's arms, twisted her waist a bit, and hugged her still-crying grandson.

"I think I'm fine now… sorry for the trouble, everyone."

By now, most people understood what was really going on.

The ninja who disliked the Shimura clan—or Danzo—watched Taiji with barely restrained amusement, waiting to see how he would respond.

Taiji's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He was still debating whether to blow up when the door to the barbecue shop suddenly opened.

Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi all stepped out together. The noise outside had gotten too loud to ignore.

"Oh, from the Shimura clan, huh? You're here to eat too... wait, are you the guy who racked up fifty thousand ryo in ten days of barbecue? Is it really that good?"

Asuma spoke with a toothpick in his mouth, eyeing Taiji coldly.

He was also one of the many who despised Danzo—and he despised him intensely.

(End of Chapter)