Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter no.76 Yakiniku Q

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Yakiniku Q was everything Naruto imagined it would be—and more. The warm glow of lanterns lit the interior, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. The air was filled with the mouthwatering scent of sizzling meat, and the low hum of chatter and laughter from other diners made the place feel alive. Each table had its own small grill in the center, and Naruto's eyes darted to the menu on the wall, overwhelmed by the sheer variety of options.

"Wow…" Naruto whispered, practically drooling. "There's so much meat… I don't even know where to start."

"Ever been to a yakiniku restaurant before?"

"No, sir. This is my first time."

"Well, then," Asuma said, sitting down, "let me give you a quick rundown. You pick your meats, grill them right here at the table, and enjoy. It's simple."

"That sounds amazing."

Asuma leaned back, glancing at the menu. "Any idea what you want to try first?"

Naruto scanned the options, his face scrunching up when he spotted something. "Wait… salted beef tongue? People eat tongues? That's gross!"

"It's a delicacy, kid. You should give it a shot."

"No way!" Naruto said, crossing his arms. "I'm sticking to the normal stuff. You know, like beef and chicken. Not tongues."

"Suit yourself. More for me."

Naruto leaned closer, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Okay, but… do you actually like it?"

"It's not bad. Has a bit of a chewy texture, but the flavor's worth it."

Naruto made a face. "Yeah, no thanks. I'll take your word for it."

The two of them continued their back-and-forth, with Asuma pointing out different items on the menu and Naruto reacting with a mix of awe and disgust.

"All right, team," Asuma said, standing up suddenly. "I've gotta hit the bathroom. Don't start grilling without me."

"You got it, bearded sensei!"

"I thought we agreed you'd stop calling me that."

"Not until you teach me something really cool!"

Naruto watched as Asuma disappeared into the distance, leaving him alone at the table with Team 10. The air felt heavy—tension thick enough to cut with a kunai. The three of them—Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino—barely glanced at him, their focus fixed anywhere but on Naruto. It wasn't just awkward—it was hostile.

Naruto's hand tightened around the menu as he forced a grin. "So... what should I order?" he asked, trying to break the silence. He waved the menu toward Choji. "Got any recommendations?"

"Nothing!"

Naruto frowned, his smile faltering. He turned to Shikamaru, who looked like he was seconds away from falling asleep. "What about you, Shika? You guys come here often?"

"Sometimes."

"Hey, Ino, have you been putting on some weight?" Naruto teased, smirking, hoping to at least get a reaction out of her.

Ino's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing into a glare, but she quickly composed herself and buried her face deeper into her magazine, ignoring him again.

Naruto's smirk vanished as the tension finally got under his skin. It reminded him too much of how people used to treat him when he was a kid—like he wasn't even there. The laughter, the warmth he had started to experience with his team? Completely absent. His fingers curled into a fist.

"Alright, what's your problem?" he snapped, glaring at all three of them. "What, was Kiba your best friend or something? If you've got something to say, say it to my face!"

The trio exchanged quick glances, their unease palpable. Finally, Choji slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his chair screeching against the floor.

"Fine!" Choji barked, his voice shaking but firm. "I'll say it—I'm not scared of you!"

Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"I'm not scared of you, alright? But you think blasting us with your killer intent is no big deal?!" Choji's face was red now.

"Killer intent? What are you talking about? What's killer intent?"

Shikamaru opened one eye, his gaze sharp. "Don't play dumb. You seriously don't know what it is?"

"No, I don't!" Naruto snapped back, looking genuinely confused. "What even is killer intent?"

"Killer intent is when you've killed people," Ino explained. "Like, a lot of people. It leaves a trace on your chakra—yin chakra, specifically. When you release it, it's like a warning to everyone around you, telling them you're dangerous. People can feel it, even if they don't know why."

Naruto blinked, his mind racing. "Why does killing leave a trace?"

Ino shrugged. "Nobody knows for sure, but there's a theory that it's like... the soul of the people you've killed leaves a mark on your chakra, almost like a scar. It builds up over time, and if you've killed enough, your chakra carries this weight—this feeling of death. It can make people freeze up or see things that aren't there."

Naruto froze as the pieces fell into place. The countless souls he'd absorbed in Lordran, the endless enemies he'd fought and defeated. Was that why...?

"I have killer intent," he muttered to himself, almost in awe.

"Yeah, no kidding."

Naruto's awe quickly turned into excitement. "Wait, so what can you do with killer intent? Like, can I use it in a fight? Does it have special moves or something?"

Shikamaru groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This isn't some kind of technique, Naruto. It's not a toy. It's a warning system, a side effect of killing. It's not supposed to be something you use."

"Wait, when did I even use it?"

"Graduation day," Choji said. "When you yelled at Kiba. Everyone in the room felt it. It was... terrifying."

Naruto felt his stomach drop. "What do you mean, terrifying?"

The trio hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances before Ino finally nodded and spoke.

"Killer intent has different stages, Naruto. My dad explained it once. The higher the stage, the more dangerous the ninja. The first stage is Kiken Satsui—a sense of danger that radiates from their aura, making your instincts scream that something is wrong. The second stage is Mōsō Satsui, where a ninja's chakra can trigger vivid hallucinations and warp reality around their enemies. The final stage is Shi no Satsui—killer intent so intense, it tricks your mind and body into believing you're dying. Only monsters in human form reach that level."

"What... what level was mine?"

Ino hesitated before answering. "It was the first level—Kiken Satsui."

Naruto paused, his mind racing as he pieced it together. Back when he fought Kiba, he hadn't realized the importance of absorbing souls or how they could enhance his presence and power. At that time, his killer intent had been enough to paralyze the entire class, making them feel like they were facing the terror of the Asylum Demon without fully manifesting its image. But now... now he had absorbed thousands of souls.

He clenched his fists. What was his killer intent like now? Had it evolved? Could he have already reached the final stage of Shi no Satsui without realizing it? And if so... could he push beyond even that?

But that wasn't what was important right now.

Naruto stared at Team 10, his throat dry as guilt clawed at his chest. Honestly, at this point, he had thought Sakura's attitude shift, the silence of the class, and the way people had seemed to stay out of his way were because he had shown everyone that Kiba was no match for him. He thought it had been his strength, his defiance, that had made them respect him—or at least leave him alone. But now? Now he couldn't help but wonder... how much of that was because of the killer intent?

Were Sakura and Sasuke affected too? The question churned in his stomach like a lead weight.

"I..." Naruto's voice wavered as he stared at the table. "I didn't know," he whispered, barely audible, his eyes darting between Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino. "I didn't even know what I was doing. I just... I just wanted Kiba to shut up. He insulted my dead master, and I got angry, and..."

No matter how much he tried to explain it, Naruto couldn't shake the truth—intentional or not, the damage was done. Shame crept over him, heavy and suffocating, until he could no longer meet their eyes. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his actions.

"This isn't the way of a knight," he muttered to himself, his voice cracking. "Oscar would be ashamed of me."

He clenched his fists, remembering the words of his fallen mentor: Precept the Third: A knight's duty is to protect the innocent, to inspire trust, not fear, to fight with honor, and to uphold justice.

Suddenly, the waitress approached, her notepad in hand. "Have you all decided—" she began but stopped mid-sentence, her eyes falling on Naruto. She froze in place.

Naruto glanced up and immediately saw the look on her face—nervous, guarded, and brimming with discomfort. It wasn't the look of someone dealing with a prankster. No, this was deeper. The look of someone who knew exactly who he was.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said hesitantly, taking a small step back. "But... I think it'd be better if you left."

The words sent a jolt through Team 10 as Choji's eyes widened, Ino froze, and Shikamaru narrowed his gaze.

Naruto exhaled softly. He could've made a scene. He could've been so petty about this. He could've summoned clones to eat all the food or caused a ruckus just to show her the consequences of messing with him. But what would be the point? He didn't need to ruin the night for Team 10; he had already caused enough trouble.

"I'll leave," Naruto said, forcing a tight, practiced smile. His voice was calm, almost unnaturally so. "Just give me a minute, okay?"

The waitress hesitated, blinking nervously, then nodded quickly. "I'll... I'll get you three some water," she stammered before walking away as fast as she could, practically tripping over herself.

Naruto could feel Team 10's eyes burning into him. He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"Look..." he began, his voice low. "It was never my intention to release my killer intent. I honestly didn't even know about it until today." He chuckled weakly, though it was bitter and hollow. "I know the experience was scary. You don't need to tell me twice."

Shikamaru didn't respond. He just continued to study Naruto with that sharp, calculating gaze that always seemed to cut right through him. It made Naruto shift uncomfortably.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, the forced smile fading. "I'm sorry," he said finally, his voice heavy with sincerity. "That's all I can say. I... I didn't mean to scare anyone."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

Naruto exhaled, his hands slipping into his pockets as he avoided their gazes. "You know what? I don't think I'm all that hungry after all." He forced a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "But, uh, thanks for letting me tag along. Tell Asuma-sensei it was nice to get out for a bit."

He paused, his expression flickering for a moment, like he wanted to say more but thought better of it. "Anyway... I'll see you guys tomorrow."

With that, he vanished in a flicker of movement, the faint hum of Shunshin no Jutsu the only thing left behind.

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Silence settled over the table, awkward and heavy.

"Ino, Shika..." Choji finally spoke, breaking the quiet. His voice was unsure, but he couldn't keep the guilt out of it. He wasn't the sharpest of the group, but he knew something didn't sit right about how things had gone. "What do you guys think?"

"I think..." Ino started, trailing off as she stared at the empty spot where Naruto had been sitting. "I think Naruto's telling the truth."

Choji tilted his head, and Shikamaru's sharp eyes flicked toward her, curious. Ino tapped a finger against the table. "Look, what do we really know about Naruto? He's an orphan, he loves ramen, and he wants to be Hokage. That's about it, right? If this Oscar guy was someone important to him—someone who gave him that weird armor, someone who maybe believed in him—and he died recently? Then yeah, Naruto has every right to be angry. I mean, wouldn't you lash out if someone insulted someone you cared about, especially if you were still mourning them?"

Her expression softened just a little. "Naruto's loud, yeah, and kind of a spaz, but he's not a liar. That anger we saw during graduation day? That was real. His chakra probably flared out because he was pissed. And that killer intent? It wasn't something he meant to do—it's just something that happened because of his emotions. We act like he's some huge mystery, but maybe it's not that complicated. He's a kid who's been through a lot, and he's trying to hold it together."

Shikamaru was quiet, his frown deepening. "That makes sense," he admitted with a yawn. "But it also brings up more questions." He reached for the napkin with Naruto's doodle on it and stared at the rough drawing of the Asylum Demon. "Why does he even have killer intent? Who the hell is Oscar? And what's the deal with that armor?"

Ino's eyes narrowed, and she jabbed a finger at Shikamaru's chest. "None of that is any of our business, Shika. Just because we're curious doesn't mean we're entitled to answers. If Naruto wanted us to know, he'd tell us."

"I know, I know. Doesn't mean it's not a drag, though."

"Should we... apologize?"

Both Ino and Shikamaru looked at Choji.

"I mean... I feel bad about how I acted. It wasn't right."

Before anyone could respond, the waitress approached the table, her notepad in hand and her voice overly cheerful. "Are you three ready to order?"

Ino turned her sharp gaze on the woman. "Why did you kick out Naruto?"

The waitress froze, her smile faltering for just a moment before she quickly covered it up. "Oh, hahaha! Well, you know how that boy is—always pulling pranks. We didn't want a troublemaker causing issues for our other customers."

"That's a lie," Shikamaru said, his lazy tone making it all the more cutting.

"Your hands are shaking," Ino said coolly. "Your voice cracked on the word 'pranks,' and you're sweating like you're about to be interrogated by ANBU. You're lying."

The waitress's friendly facade cracked. Her expression turned sour as she snapped, "Look, either order or leave."

"Oh, gladly," Ino said, standing up abruptly. She raised her voice just enough to be heard by the other patrons. "I'd rather starve than eat at a restaurant that discriminates against an honest, hardworking shinobi of Konoha."

Her words rang out, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the restaurant. A few people even whispered among themselves, casting curious glances at the waitress. Ino gave the woman one last scathing look before turning and walking out with her head held high.

Choji, however, stayed seated. He cleared his throat and said, "I'll have the deluxe wagyu beef platter, the premium pork ribs, the dragon cut steak, and some of those golden sirloin slices. Oh, and the house special dipping sauce. And two large plates of grilled vegetables. And the lobster set. Also, do you have dessert? I'll take the mochi ice cream. Two orders."

"One large soup," Shikamaru said casually.

The waitress blinked, her pen hovering over the notepad. "Uh... those are some of the most expensive items on the menu..."

Choji leaned forward with a grin that was equal parts innocent and unapologetic. "Perfect. I'm starving."

The waitress hesitated for a moment before sighing and scribbling down the order, muttering something under her breath as she hurried off.

"You know someone's gotta pay for all that, right?"

"Yeah," Choji said, his expression surprisingly serious. "That's the point."

"So, this is your way of apologizing to Naruto? Ordering the most expensive stuff so you can share it with him?"

Choji grinned. "Yep. Food makes everything better."

Shikamaru shook his head, though he couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. "Alright, I've got a plan for the bill and you are going to get hurt."

"I hate you already, but... fine. Let's do it."

The waitress returned with a precariously stacked tray, her expression a forced mix of politeness and barely concealed annoyance. On the tray were plates of premium wagyu beef, golden pork ribs, dragon-cut steak, and lobster, each dish glistening with juices and garnishes that screamed expensive. Following behind her was another server carrying even more plates of food. At the very top of the waitress's tray was a steaming bowl of hot soup, its rich aroma wafting through the air.

As she reached the table, Shikamaru's hands twitched in a subtle seal. A shadow darted across the floor unnoticed, creeping up and catching the waitress's shadow just as she bent forward to place the soup on the table.

Shadow Possession Jutsu!

Suddenly, the waitress froze mid-motion. Her body stiffened, and before she realized what was happening, her hand jerked forward. The soup bowl launched from the tray as if yanked by an invisible force, its contents arcing through the air before landing directly on Choji's lap with a loud splatter.

"AAHHHH!" Choji yelped, jumping up from his chair as the scalding hot liquid soaked through his clothes. Steam rose from his pants as the soup dripped onto the floor.

The restaurant fell into shocked silence. All eyes turned toward their table, patrons gaping in horror at the sudden commotion. The waitress's face went pale as her tray clattered to the ground, dishes scattering everywhere.

Before she could process what had just happened, Shikamaru was on his feet, his kunai pressed lightly but firmly to the side of her neck.

"Care to explain why you just threw boiling soup at my friend?" Shikamaru said, his tone calm but deadly.

"I-I didn't!" the waitress stammered, trembling. "I swear, I didn't mean to! My hand just—"

"Shikamaru," Choji interrupted, grimacing as he used his chakra to cool the burns on his legs. Steam hissed faintly around him. "Let her go. I'm fine."

"Fine?" Shikamaru repeated, not moving his kunai. "You call this fine? You're lucky you could react in time to minimize the damage. What if you couldn't, huh? This isn't something we can just shrug off."

At that moment, the manager, a burly man with a thick mustache and a sharp gaze, pushed through the crowd of onlookers. His dark uniform bore the restaurant's crest, and he radiated the kind of authority that made people step aside. "What's going on here?" he barked, his eyes darting between the trembling waitress and the scene at the table.

"Your waitress just threw a bowl of boiling soup at my teammate. It's only a miracle he was able to use his chakra to protect himself. Without that, we'd be taking him to the hospital right now."

The manager's eyes narrowed, and he turned to the waitress. "Is this true?"

"I didn't mean to!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't know what happened. My hand just… moved on its own!"

The manager's frown deepened. "That's not good enough. You're responsible for serving the food properly. Do you have any idea what could have happened if he wasn't a ninja?"

"I— I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" she said, bowing so deeply it seemed like she might fall over.

"It better not," the manager growled, before turning back to Shikamaru and Choji. "On behalf of the restaurant, I sincerely apologize for this incident. We'll, uh... we'll cover your meal tonight, free of charge."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, his sharp eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Free of charge, huh?" He gestured toward the spread of food on the table. "You might want to take another look at the bill before you make that offer."

The manager's gaze flicked to the food, and for the first time, a flicker of regret crossed his face. He clearly hadn't noticed how extravagant their order was. "Ah... well..."

Still, he straightened, though his jaw tightened slightly. "It doesn't matter. The restaurant will honor my word. But this," he turned to glare at the waitress, "is coming out of your paycheck."

The waitress flinched, looking even more distraught. "Please, sir, I—"

"No excuses," the manager snapped. "Now get these gentlemen some towels and to-go boxes for their food."

Shikamaru gave a faint smirk, leaning back in his chair as he crossed his arms. "Towels would be nice. And make sure they're clean."

The manager's face twitched, but he nodded stiffly. "Of course. Right away."

As the waitress scurried off, the manager turned back to Shikamaru and Choji. "Again, my sincerest apologies. This isn't how we run things here."

"Just get the food packed up. And maybe throw in an extra dessert for the trouble."

The manager twitched again but forced a tight smile. "We'll... see what we can do."

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 36, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!