Two and a Half Hours Later – Yakiniku Q

  “Phew~”

  Link leaned against the wall, rubbing his full stomach as he slouched down.

  “Boss, want some more?” Iris enerously.

  Today’s treat at Yakiniku Q was his gesture of gratitude for Link’s guidance. Since he was the host, he figured they could eat as much as they wanted until they were pletely satisfied.

  While Iris wasn’t wealthy or a sed-geion heir, he had the support of his parents and was in a much better financial position than Link. Treating his team to barbecue was no big deal.

  Link waved his hand in polite refusal, saying nothing. The aroma of grilled meat seemed to linger around him, and the sizzling sound of fat searing on the grill still echoed in his mind. However, his stomach couldn’t handle any more food.

  As Link remained silent, the three of them fell into an awkward quiet.

  It wasn’t unusual—Link’s usual demeanor was that of a stoic, cold "cool guy" (or was it "cool kid"?). Apart from his i in food and his tireless dedication to training, he didn’t have many hobbies.

  Iris and Ami knew little about what he liked or disliked. Their iions typically revolved around missions or serious discussions. Now, with some rare dowhe silence felt even more pronounced.

  Link gradually became aware of the awkwardness. Although he was introverted in his previous life and guarded due to his secrets, today ecial occasion. It would be rude to remain so distant when someone was treating him.

  After taking a moment, he decided to speak up. “Do you have any more questions? About training?”

  Ah, great. Back to talking about training again.

  He really didn’t know how to navigate small talk. It wasn’t social ay—he just disliked idle chatter. Still, for the sake of maintaining his image and building rapport with his teammates, he forced himself to say something.

  Ami quickly responded, “About chakra trol…”

  And so began another exge of questions and answers. The atmosphere warmed slightly. Ami, who had spent her academy days teasing others with her clique, now found herself pying the role of a mediator. It was almost ical how quickly her life had ged after graduating.

  She sighed inwardly. The ime she saw her former cssmates, they probably wouldn’t even reize her anymore.

  Iris eventually joihe versation. What started as a discussion about training soon meandered into other, more casual topics.

  They talked about ret movies, popur novels, and even sdalous gossip involving the Land of Fire’s elites.

  The kids in this world sure are mature for their age.

  Link chimed in occasionally when he could tribute, though he mostly listened. Over time, he began to learn more about his teammates.

  Iris loved reading all kinds of novels, had a sweet tooth, and dreamed of being a powerful ninja.

  Ami, oher hand, was a gossip enthusiast with a knaakeup and flower arranging. She hated violend hoped to work in a hospital someday.

  “Then why didn’t you attend the mediinja lectures?” Link asked curiously.

  Ami shrugged with a helpless smile. “I already know most of the material they cover. My chakra trol and reserves are just… g,” she admitted. “Besides, I’ve hought about being a mediinja. I’d be happy just w in a hospital.”

  Practical.

  Being a mediinja was indeed incredibly challenging, far beyond the reaost.

  Link smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. I think if you keep training, you’ll get into the hospital in no time.”

  He wasn’t just trying to be encing. The requirements for joining a hospital weren’t particurly high. As long as one could petently trol their chakra for healing without wasting it, they could qualify.

  It wasn’t about being a famous doctor. For internships, the bar was much lower.

  Konoha Hospital, after all, had both ordinary doctors and mediinjas on staff.

  Ami, still in her formative years, had plenty of time to improve her chakra trol and reserves. Entering the hospital after a year or two of practice was entirely within reach.

  “Thanks!” Ami seemed genuinely uplifted by his words.

  As their versation wound down, Link decided he should tribute a topic of his own. He blurted out, “What’s something you feel most familiar with?”

  In truth, he was voig his own frustrations. He had been struggling to find a dire for developing his Transformation Teique.

  Realizing the question might seem odd, he quickly added, “Just throwing it out there, o take it seriously.”

  Ami tilted her head in thought, while Iris answered without hesitation. “My body, of course!”

  He flexed his biceps with a goofy grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

  My… body?

  Link froze for a moment.

  Of course. What external object could someone know better than their own body?

  There was a saying: “The wise look inward for strength, while the unwise seek it elsewhere.”

  “Transf into myself…”

  The idea hit him like a thunderbolt.

  Transformation already allowed him to bypass questions of internal structure, energy flow, or hans worked. His body would fun as if nothing had ged, regardless of what form it took.

  The transformations didn’t make sense stifically, but they worked heless.

  Previously, he had to treat his body parts as plete units—fingers, hands, arms, his entire form—because he couldn’t prehend the micro-level processes involved.

  But if familiarity was the key, then transf into his own body would elimihose barriers.

  “Boss? Boss!” Iris’s voice pulled him back to reality, his cheerful grin fading into .

  “Huh?” Link blinked and snapped out of his thoughts. “Sorry, I just remembered something. I’ll take my leave now—see you ter at the training grounds.”

  He stood abruptly, his expression serious, and dashed out of Yakiniku Q.

  Developing his jutsu was far more important than idle chatter.

  Iris and Ami exged awkward gnces.

  “Um…” they both started simultaneously.

  “You—”

  “I—”

  “I’ll be going now. See you iernoon,” Ami quickly interjected.

  She stood a, leaving Iris behind.

  Without Link, the two of them barely had anything to talk about. Their is, hobbies, and aspirations couldn’t have been more different. If not for Link, they probably wouldn’t have exged more than a few words in their lifetimes.

  Bleam