NARUTO SHINDEN - PARENT AND CHILD DAY

Chapter 3: Father and Daughter, dining table for one

In a completely dark room—
«The day of the judgement is getting near…»
The voice of a man resounded sternly.
«The people that live in Konoha are complaining. “Lately, there aren’t enough incentives”…
in that case, I shall prepare an incentive and give it to them.»
Kukuku… the man laughed, and fufufu, hihihi… several laughing voices continued after him.
They were four, including the man.
«We’ll make them taste the “Judgement of the Thunder God”.»
This time the man suppressed a laugh, without letting it out in his voice.
In the darkness where nothing was moving, it wasn’t reflected in anyone’s eyes, but…
«For the time being, we’ll try to disseminate it in Konoha. In a place that stands out as much
as possible, which attracts the attention of many people. Kukukuku…»
The man hoisted the thing he was holding to show it off.
However.
«It’s dark though, I can’t see.»
A feminine voice.
«Eh…? Aah, sorry.»
When the man apologised, he fetched a lighter and click — he lit the flame. As he did so, the
completely dark room shone with a red glimmer.
The woman narrowed her eyes, and checked the thing the man was holding — it was a big-
size poster — carefully.
«…wait.»
Then, she moaned «What’s that? There’s the picture of a big hamburger placed on its centre.»
«It’s our new product. The name of the product will surely be “Judgement of the Thunder
God”. We’ve aimed to an absurd spiciness that satisfies our customers that complain because
there haven’t been enough incentives lately. The shock that spreads inside the mouth the
moment you taste it is surely like receiving an attack of the god of thunder—»
«It’s not what I meant…»
Interrupting uninterestedly the speech of the man that had revealed the new product, the
woman shook her head.
«Why the product of the Thunder Burger is being treated in such a grand style. That’s the
poster of “Konoha’s Eating Competition” that takes place every year, right? I’m sponsoring it
as well, you know?»
«Me too!» «Me three!» also the other two left voiced their complaints.
«Even though you tell me so…»
The man — the shop manager of the Thunder Burger — shrugged while paying attention not
to turn off the flame of the lighter.
«Also Ichiraku’s ramen is appearing on the bottom left, also Q’s aging pork loin, in the
bottom middle. Also the Sweet Bean Jam Temple’s rice flour dumplings with red bean soup,
on the bottom right, as you see. Every one of them is there, though they’re tiny.»
«The problem is that they’re tiny!» the old woman, owner of the “Sweet Bean Jam Temple”,
shouted. Also the landlady of the “Yakiniku Q” next to her stiffened her cheeks.
The girl — the second owner of “Ramen Ichiraku”, Ayame — sighed.
«Anyway, remake this poster. As usual, the competition is sponsored by the union of four
shops, so it doesn’t matter what kind of product, please print it with the same size. And—»
Ayame looked restlessly around the room.
«Why is the Thunder Burger’s break room so dark? Have the light bulbs burned out or
something?»
«No. The light bulbs are brand new, just come out few days ago.»
The shop manager went towards the exit, and pushed the switch of the light.
Then, a corner of the room was illuminated. It was an isolated, meagre light.
«…tiny…»
«When I made the kid that works part-time buy the light bulbs, he bought indirect lighting for
some reason. Throwing them away would be wasteful, so I’m keeping them here for the time
being.»
Without touching the matter of the lighting, the landlady of the Yakiniku Q asked «What do
you mean… with the “day of the judgement” you’ve been telling us about?»
«I’m in charge of the live judgement, so I mean that it’s the “day when I’ll serve as the
referee”. It’s like an expression of determination. As you can see, I’m very nervous.»
«…right.»
As if she wanted to say “Asking that was useless”, the landlady of the grilled meat barbecue
dropped her shoulders.
«Shall we go back to the topic?» Ayame said.
«About the prize that we’ll offer to the winner. The rules is to make turns, so… it’s okay if
the Sweet Bean Jam Temple is in charge this year, I wonder?»
«Hmm.» the old proprietress nodded, answering shortly.
«Well, simply adding the topping should be enough. One free dish of rice flour dumplings
with red bean soup. For the period of one year until the next eating competition will take
place again… how about it?»
The old proprietress smiled, looking satisfied. However…
«It’s not enough.» the shop manager blocked her.
«This year, we have to make a great competition somewhat different than usual. Because it
will take place during the “Parent and Child Day” the Seventh established, at any rate. Also
the prize must be extravagant to match it. For the time being… how about an as-much-as-
you-like rice flour dumplings with red bean soup for the whole year?»
«Wha—» the old proprietress had her breath taken away.
«Something like that would make my shop go bankrupt! As if you bastard could forget it,
too…! In Konoha, there’s that man… Akimichi Chōji!!»
This time, everybody gulped except for the old proprietress. Shin— the silence wrapped them
up as if they were frozen.
«Since there’s that guy, all-you-can-eat is a taboo word in this village… right? Also the
grilled meat shop…»
«…that’s right.» the landlady of the Yakiniku Q agreed with a pale face.
«Only for that customer, even I have been restricting the all-you-can-eat…»
«See? Speaking of such a foolish thing like an as-much-as-you-like rice flour dumplings.»
The old proprietress creaked her teeth, looking annoyed.
«I haven’t forgot. I’ve been in charge of the eating competition of four years ago… when I
went ahead and made the prize an all-you-can-drink sweet half-saké, in one day that man
drank the whole stock… my shop almost went bankrupt. However…» the shop manager said, maybe to soothe the resentful old proprietress, «The fact that it’ll become more gorgeous than
the previous years means that the name of the Sweet Bean Jam Temple will become well
known. Instead, a thing like one rice flour dumpling will keep the customers at a distance,
right?»
«Ngh…!»
Sympathising with the old proprietress, who was at a loss of words, Ayame spoke «Damned
if we go ahead, damned if we stop… I wonder.»
«If you think so, another idea—»
The old proprietress shouted, but then «…no. As I thought, it’s good.» she suddenly lowered
her voice.
«The prize, as you bastard suggested, will be an as-much-as-you-like rice flour dumplings
with red bean soup… there’s no problem for infinite helpings.»
While Ayame and the others looked at each other in wonder, the old proprietress hid her face,
and continued in a low voice.
«The point is, after we’ll make publicity for my shop in a large scale, it’s good as long as I
don’t suffer damage. It’s simple. Because I have the best secret plan… you’ll see…
hihihihi…»