Naruto frowned, looking displeased at Sasuke opposite him, and with a cold, unthreatening huff, he buried his head in the food on his plate.
Sasuke was a little surprised by Naruto's silence today; he subtly raised one eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the group intently enjoying their barbecue.
It finally settled on Chizhao's face, who was busy grilling meat, and he unconsciously pursed his lips:
"Is this barbecue place really that good?"
"Hm?"
Chizhao noticed the unusual tone in Sasuke's voice and thought he was in a bad mood because of his stomach ache.
So she spoke to comfort him: "I know you're not feeling well right now, but I've grilled some meat for you, and it's absolutely delicious!"
With that, she picked up a piece of meat, enticing in color and perfectly cooked, and gently placed it on the plate in front of Sasuke.
However, Sasuke's gaze fell on the somewhat messy plate in front of him, and he frowned, saying:
"This plate looks like it's already been used...."
The Naruto opposite him spoke with disdain:
"Isn't it just the one you used? Do you have a phobia of germs?"
Chizhao's hand, which was about to pick up another piece of meat, suddenly froze. She stiffly turned her head to look at the confused Sasuke beside her.
She gasped when she realized he was wearing pants, not a skirt, on his lower body.
Oh no, oh no, oh no!!!
When did the real Sasuke arrive?!
Chizhao frantically tugged at the skirt of Shikamaru beside her under the table.
He turned his head in confusion, looked at Chizhao, who was constantly winking at him, and then also looked at Sasuke.
At first, he didn't notice anything unusual, until Chizhao leaned back, revealing Sasuke's pants, and then he realized something was seriously wrong.
No... it can't be! Is that really Sasuke?!
Sasuke was baffled by what Naruto said, thinking he was deliberately trying to pick a fight again. He crossed his arms and glared at him in displeasure:
"What do you mean by that?"
In a panic, Chizhao quickly removed the plate in front of Sasuke, trying to smooth things over:
"Ah... it's a bit dirty, so let's just get another one...."
After doing this, Chizhao silently prayed in her heart:
Naruto, just keep having a stomach ache for a while longer. If Sasuke sees you, you're finished!
At this moment, Shikamaru, in a flash of inspiration, decided to go to the restroom to warn Naruto. He stood up and walked out.
"I also feel a bit unwell in my stomach, so I'm going to the restroom...."
"Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru, called out by Sasuke, turned his head in confusion, only to see Chizhao covering her face, unable to watch, while Sasuke looked at him with even more surprise, a look of disbelief on his face:
"You... why are you wearing a skirt...?"
A bolt of lightning struck Shikamaru's background. He instantly froze in place, unsure how to respond.
Moegi and the others, not understanding, exchanged glances, completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
"Ah~ I finally feel relieved. I didn't expect this undercooked barbecue to be so potent....."
Right now, Chizhao just wanted to jump out the window and escape this hellish scene that was making her so awkwardly suffocated.
The two Sasukes stared at each other in surprise for a while, and when they saw the incredibly incongruous short skirt on the other person.
Sasuke's face immediately darkened, and he said, enunciating each word:
"What exactly is going on here?"
Seeing the real person, Naruto no longer intended to continue pretending. With a "bang," he dispelled the Transformation Technique and shouted:
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?!"
Konohamaru and the others, who were watching the show, were also shocked. They hadn't expected the real Naruto to be right in front of them all along.
With a "bang," he reverted to his original appearance, and the toothless him jumped to the ground and said admiringly:
"As expected of Naruto, to test me in such a way."
He was immediately glared at by Sasuke's menacing eyes and instantly fell silent. Sensing the tense atmosphere, he gestured to the two still watching the show behind him:
"Ise Udon, Moegi, since we've eaten our fill, let's retreat!"
"Yes!"
In an instant, the three of them bolted out of the barbecue restaurant as if their feet were greased.
"Hey! Konohamaru!"
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto, who was about to chase after him, was startled, his hair standing on end, by a stern voice from behind him.
He stiffly turned his head, cold sweat breaking out from guilt, and his voice became a stutter:
"Wh-What do you want...?"
Sasuke's eyes sharpened. He turned and swiftly threw a Kunai, pinning it between the two figures attempting to escape through the window. Exuding a dark aura, he said coldly:
"You'd better explain the current situation to me clearly."
......
Sasuke's eye twitched as he looked at the barbecue restaurant's promotional flyer on the table, then frowned and took a deep breath.
Staring across the table at the three of them, his voice floated coldly before them:
"So, you're dressed like this to participate in this event?"
Naruto, still defiant, stubbornly grumbled:
"Yeah! We're just having a simple barbecue, we're not doing anything else!"
"You, impersonating me and wearing a skirt, I could kill you for that alone."
Provoked, Naruto slammed his hand on the table and stood up:
"You think I'm scared of you?! I've always disliked you, Sasuke!"
His gaze swept over Naruto's flowing short skirt, and Sasuke let out a cold snort from his nose, mocking:
"Are you going to fight me dressed like that? I don't have such a disgusting fetish."
Shifting his gaze to his lower body, Naruto's face instantly turned bright red. He immediately sat down obediently, looking embarrassed, but still stubbornly looked at him with his neck stiff:
"Damn you, Sasuke! I'll go back and change my clothes, then I'll come and fight you!! You just wait for me!!"
After speaking, he stood up and ran out, creating a whirlwind. Seeing this, Choji quickly grabbed some cloth to cover the skirt that was about to burst open on his lower body, and ran out after Naruto, shouting:
"Wait for me, Naruto! I need to change too!!!"
In an instant, the large table was left with only Sasuke, arms crossed, and the isolated and helpless Chizhao.
The air was filled with the aroma of barbecue, and the awkward atmosphere made Chizhao feel like crying without tears.
You two are going too far!
Why did you just leave me here?!
"Excuse me," Sasuke suddenly called out to a passing waitress:
"Could you please clear this table? And bring some more barbecue...."
Chizhao looked at Sasuke's actions in confusion, and opened her mouth:
"You...."
"The troublesome people are gone. Now can you explain why, as soon as you came back, you started fooling around with that big idiot?"
Stumped for words for a moment, she could only wait for the waitress to carefully clean the table and return with two fresh sets of tableware before leaving.
Only then did Chizhao awkwardly scratch her cheek and slowly begin:
"This... perhaps it's because I haven't had barbecue in a long time, and then I found it very interesting, so I...."
"So you find it very interesting to see me in a skirt?" Sasuke's tone carried a hint of danger.
Chizhao instinctively replied: "Yes...."
"What did you say?"
"Pfft, pfft, pfft... I don't find it interesting!"
The Sasuke in front of her exuded an aura of displeasure. Chizhao's heart was a mix of emotions, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the chopsticks on the table, her eyes flickering, not daring to meet his dark gaze.
She was just joining in the fun, but she felt like the main culprit.
Sighing softly in her heart, Chizhao forced a smile, trying to change the subject:
"By the way, Sasuke, why are you here?"
Sasuke unhurriedly picked up a tender slice of meat with his chopsticks and gently placed it on the grill in front of them.
The meat instantly sizzled invitingly on the hot grill, and the aroma once again filled the air.
"I just happened to be passing by your house, and then I ran into Grandma Huizi. She told me you went to eat barbecue with Naruto...."
Sasuke paused, and Chizhao continued his sentence:
"So you came looking for me?"
Seemingly a little embarrassed, Sasuke gently put down his chopsticks and frowned:
"I was also a bit hungry because I hadn't eaten lunch, so I just happened to pass by and saw you."
Chizhao narrowed her eyes suspiciously and let out a meaningful "Oh~"
Having already eaten her fill, she decided not to disturb Sasuke's meal and prepared to get up and leave:
"Then I won't bother you while you eat...."
"Stop. I haven't said I forgive you yet."
Chizhao, who had stood up, dejectedly sat back down, looking at the handsome Sasuke in front of her with a bitter expression, and complained:
"It wasn't me who impersonated you, so why are you still angry with me?"
"You participated, so you're an accomplice."
Chizhao was a bit helpless and could only continue to ask:
"Then what do I need to do for you to forgive me?"
Sasuke raised his eyes, placed the cooked meat on the plate in front of Chizhao, and leaned on his chin, looking at her somewhat casually:
"Eat again with me, and you're paying."