"Suzuki-kun!"
When Suzuki returned, it was already late, so he didn't think to go back to the school and went home directly. His home was on the outskirts of Konoha, far from the main village, yet it was still crowded, as it was the only place untouched by the Nine-Tailed incident, which was why he could get quite a lot of money by renting, in the past, and quickly turned the profit into the charcoal shop, which gave him a sum of a stable income.
Still, frankly, he knew that he could make a lot more money, yet considering how busy he was, as he had to learn many things, from various jutsu, techniques, and even medical, he only limited himself to a property and a charcoal shop.
However, at the same time, this also made it hard for him to enter everyone's eyes when he was weak, since, despite giving him quite a sum of money, the amount wasn't so much that it attracted the greedy eyes.
'Well, if they are greedy, then they are welcome.'
At that moment, with the Manager, he wasn't afraid anymore, knowing it was only a time for him to grow stronger.
More importantly, he knew how to play his cards well, especially when he was friends with the heirs or heiresses of clan members, whether Hyuga, Yamanaka, Nara, Akamichi, Aburame, Inuzuka, or anyone else.
Even a wolf was hunted in a pack.
Suzuki wasn't sure whether he was the alpha, but since he was weak, it was better for him to befriend everyone so that, if something happened to him, they would quickly notice and save him.
This strength of his was probably the biggest change that he had from Sasuke; yes, Sasuke was strong, but unfortunately, he pushed everyone away, or rather, it was better not to think about it, as Suzuki just wanted to relax now.
"...there is all of you here."
While he had expected Hinata and Ino, he didn't expect to see the whole group that came to his place.
"Yo!"
Shikamaru raised his hand as he waved with a lazy expression.
"Suzuki, when are you going to cook? Let's have a feast!"
"You rock, Suzuki! You win against Sasuke!"
"Wan! Wan!"
"You are amazing."
Then, there was Choji, Kiba, Shino, and also—
"Suzuki, teach me that jutsu! I want to defeat Sasuke-teme with that!"
Yup, there was also Naruto.
If there was a reason why Danzo wouldn't dare to kidnap him, it was because Suzuki had known all of them, and he had gotten close to them.
As for Sasuke, it might be better to get close to him, but Suzuki knew that it was quite troublesome, and he really had no energy, especially when he was extremely busy.
"With your control over a chakra, it is impossible, Naruto." Shikamaru knew that Suzuki's jutsu was a secret, so how could others learn it so easily?
"Instead of thinking about that, shouldn't you think about tomorrow's graduation exam?"
"Ugh! Shikamaru, stop treating me with that harsh truth!"
Suzuki didn't say much about their interaction, but he knew well that Naruto was being loud because it would hide his inferiority. "How about we eat first? I am hungry."
"OOOOOOOOOOHHH!!"
The loudest was Choji, followed by the rest.
Still, even so, everyone was curious about why Suzuki was called by Hokage, yet somehow, it was hard to ask about it, especially when he appeared so calm, and wasn't even excited for a moment.
Was it a good or bad?
However, Suzuki seemed to focus on cutting the meat, which he had prepared for the BBQ, and, frankly, his movements were just so smooth and graceful, cutting the meat as if it were paper, leaving them in a daze.
"What's wrong? Aren't you going to help me?" Suzuki asked, speechless, wondering whether they would all eat for free. "If you don't help, I will charge you 50,000 ryo for each person."
"SO EXPENSIVE!"
Yet, all of them quickly moved and helped him, but fortunately, Ino, the most vocal, quickly asked, "Why were you called by Hokage-sama?"
Everyone quickly became quiet, trying to listen, but Suzuki answered in a boastful manner, "Because of my talent. He saw my genius and decided to invest in me."
"....." Everyone.
"What a braggart!" Ino snorted as she nudged Suzuki's side.
Hinata only chuckled and said with a gentle smile, "But Suzuki-kun is really a genius."
"Right?"
"....."
Ino rolled her eyes, but she didn't say much, and just continued to talk about many other things, from the annoying girls, the aftermath of the battles, and many other things.
Suzuki was calm and just listened patiently as he asked one question after another, making her talk further.
Naturally, Hinata also joined, as if it were the most natural thing.
As for the others, they moved away, as if they were afraid of interrupting.
"Damn, he is so cool!"
"How can he handle those two with ease like that?"
"Amazing!"
While the male made comments, Shikamaru rolled his eyes, as he knew well that if there was a reason why Suzuki could do well, it was because Suzuki never thought to make a move on Hinata or Ino, as he thought of them as little sisters, someone younger than him.
They might have felt it, too, but they still stuck to him, as they didn't want to move away from him, and as long as no one broke away from the line, everything was fine.
More importantly, they were still young, so there was a lot of time.
"So, everything is okay?" Shikamaru asked, as he ate the BBQ, thinking that it was so damn delicious!
"Yes." Suzuki nodded as he was thinking of making another business. 'Let's develop an MSG.'
"...." Shikamaru.
Frankly, Shikamaru wondered how this orphaned boy, who had nothing except for a property and a single C-Rank of Fire Jutsu, could improve so much, and become so strong that he was afraid that he could do nothing, yet he had to say, it was so reassuring to have him as an ally.
"If you have a good business idea, let me invest."
"You sure?"
"Do you have one?"
Regardless, no one was sure what Suzuki had done, but they could tell his cooking had improved, which made them eat a lot, yet, without a doubt, compared to Hinata and Choji, they were still amateurs.
"I am so jealous of you, Hinata!"
Ino sighed helplessly, looking at Hinata's flat belly and bulging chest, and almost cried.
"No, no... I am also jealous of you, Ino..."
While Ino's chest wasn't bulging, Ino had this feminine charm, which Hinata felt that she, herself, was lacking.
After all, if she was so charming, then—
Hinata looked at Suzuki in a daze and couldn't look away.
Ino looked at Hinata and noticed everything, yet she didn't say anything, as she knew well that she was in the same position.
"EVERYONE!"
All of a sudden, Naruto shouted, "'WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GRADUATION EXAM TOMORROW! WE WILL BECOME NINJAS! LET'S DO OUR BEST!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!"
Youth.
Suzuki looked at everyone and felt that he was really old since he really couldn't enjoy being a ninja at all, since as he became a ninja, it meant that he would face many dangerous missions, yet what could he do except to improve, right?
Regardless, for now, let's just enjoy.
"LET'S HAVE A PARTY!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!"