Ain't That a Kick in The Head?

Charbroiled Restaurant

He tells himself it's because he hasn't been in the village for such a long time. That it's due to the fact he owed it to himself to forget everything about this worthless place, its people and its map. Sasuke refuses to acknowledge any other possible reason.

No barbecue place is THIS difficult to find.

He has a few memories from when he was a genin of where he thought it could be. The prime suspect, a location hazy in his memories, is found in the heart of the village. It's at a crossroads between a convenience store and an outdoors farmers' market. He shopped there a lot, he remembers. The produce was the freshest in the summer, and there was a stall with a red awning that had the best plums.

He stops in his tracks. His stomach growls. Sasuke can't wait to find that damn barbecue restaurant.

*

You'd never be able to tell from the way he swaggered into the restaurant, but Sasuke felt completely embarrassed. It had taken him an hour to find it in the end, and he knew everyone had started eating without him. He asked the hostess about them and was told the Konoha 11 had reserved a table in a room that was somewhat isolated from the rest of the restaurant. She led Sasuke to the room, sneaking blushing glances at him the entire time.

Now, here he is. Sitting beside everyone he hasn't seen since he was twelve on tatami mats and watching them fight over pieces of meat. He sits beside Sakura, who sneaks glances at him and blushes. Sai sits on his other side, wearing a fake smile. Sasuke can't blame him. This event is pretty lame, though the food's good.

(Naruto still hasn't shown up. Sasuke's beginning to wonder if he died or something.)

People keep attempting to talk to him. Many of them will soon start to ask him questions. This is why Sasuke has been stuffing his face with barbecued meat and pretending to be deeply engaged with Sakura's rant on how stupid it is that the basics of medical ninjutsu aren't taught in the academy.

There's one piece of meat left on the grill.

Sasuke goes to grab it, but his chopsticks are intercepted by someone else's. He follows the arrows that the chopsticks create to their thieving owner. Choji.

Tch.

"I'll be taking this piece of meat," the thief says, eyes glinting with gluttonous intent.

"It's mine," Sasuke snaps, "I saw it first."

"Sasuke, please," says Shikamaru, he thinks, "Just let him take it."

Sasuke gives both of them a glower so severe, a lesser man would've turned to ash. He lunges for it anyway.

Immediately, Choji uses his chopsticks to parry against Sasuke's and prevent him from reaching the slice of meat. Sasuke darts over his arm like a snake rushing for its prey. Again, Choji parries, this time with an upward block.

"Hey Choji, do you smell that? It's coming from outside!" Sasuke exclaims, making a show of sniffing deeply and tilting his head towards the open restaurant space down the hall from their room.

"What! Where?" Choji cries and his chopsticks go limp for a split second. Sasuke immediately moves.

The piece of barbecue isn't there any longer. He's met with the sight of Kiba's smug, chewing face.

"You bastard." he hisses.

Choji turns back from the door. The trick worked far better than Sasuke expected it to. He looks between Sasuke and Kiba and glares at them both.

"What," Kiba says, through his full mouth, "we ordered more anyway."

He swallows, then places a spread of raw meat on the grill to replace the stolen goods. Choji instantly forgives him. Sasuke continues to glare at him, but also forgives him. The heavenly smell wafts directly into his nostrils.