klisemfg Chapter 575 Thank you both!
Chapter 575 Thank you both!
Zhang Hai didn't care whether he really remembered or not. He directly manipulated the wooden ox puppet and brazenly passed between the two guards, successfully entering Sunagakure Village.
After Zhang Hai and Kakuzu had walked away, another gatekeeper said with a hint of envy to the one Zhang Hai had waved to, "Not bad, buddy, you even know such a young puppeteer?"
The gatekeeper, who had been spoken to, scratched his head and responded with an uncertain chuckle, "Uh... really? Heh, you do look somewhat familiar." He said you looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place the person. However, he didn't suspect anything; after all, someone who could openly control a puppet couldn't possibly be an enemy.
Upon entering Sunagakure, Zhang Hai and Kakuzu immediately sensed its distinctiveness. Compared to the bustling and vibrant Konoha, Sunagakure appeared exceptionally solemn and austere. Almost all the buildings were single-story houses constructed from brownish-yellow stone, densely packed together. The streets were sparsely populated, commercialization was noticeably lacking, shops were scarce, and there was no hawking of war. The entire village exuded an air of poverty, as if every corner spoke of a scarcity of resources. Zhang Hai silently assessed that Sunagakure was arguably the poorest of the Five Great Nations; the environment was indeed worrying.
After walking for a while, the two finally chose a restaurant that looked fairly clean and sat down. The owner, a somewhat shy middle-aged man, quickly came forward to greet them upon seeing customers enter. Zhang Hai took the menu and found that the variety of dishes was unexpectedly large, but the prices were equally high, probably a considerable expense for an ordinary ninja.
However, Zhang Hai was now completely indifferent to money. After days of travel, he needed to replenish his energy. He even thought to himself that money was meant to be spent, especially at a time when he needed to replenish his strength.
He casually ordered a few dishes, all of which were the most expensive signature dishes on the menu. The restaurant owner, perhaps encountering such a generous customer for the first time, looked slightly surprised and uncertain, tentatively asking, "Are you... sure you want to order this much?"
Zhang Hai understood the shopkeeper's unspoken meaning: he was worried they couldn't afford to pay. He smiled slightly, took out two sizable bills from his pocket, and casually handed them over as a tip. "This is all for now, I'll add more if needed."
The shopkeeper hurriedly took the banknotes with both hands. Upon seeing the number on them, his face immediately lit up with a joyful smile, and he repeatedly thanked them, saying, "Thank you both! Thank you both! I'll go prepare it right away!"
With few other customers in the restaurant, the kitchen staff worked exceptionally quickly. Before long, a large table of dishes was laid out, their aromas enticing and their colors irresistible, whetting the appetite.
Just as Zhang Hai was about to pick up his chopsticks, the restaurant door opened again. A bald, middle-aged man with a peculiar tattoo on his head walked in. He was burly and his clothes were somewhat worn, but his eyes were bright. He immediately spotted the Manchu Han Imperial Feast on Zhang Hai and Jiao Du's table, his eyes lighting up instantly. He walked over as if they were old friends and sat down in the empty seat opposite them. Looking at the table full of dishes, he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Kakuzu paused slightly, then a hint of displeasure flashed in his green eyes. He spoke coldly, his tone carrying an undeniable command: "This is our location."
The man chuckled, rubbed his hands together, and said with a hint of flattery, "Brothers, this meal looks so lavish. May I have some too? I haven't had a proper meal in days."
Kakuzu, seeing that the man was ungrateful and dared to approach him, knew he wouldn't tolerate such uninvited guests. His face darkened, and he shouted again, his voice filled with murderous intent: "Get lost!"
The man's smile froze instantly, and his expression turned ugly. He muttered a few words, and although unwilling, sensing the coldness emanating from Kakuzu, he wisely stood up and prepared to leave.
Just then, Zhang Hai smiled slightly and called out to the shopkeeper, "Boss!"
The shopkeeper hurried over. "Young man, what can I do for you?"
Zhang Hai pointed to the bald man and said in a gentle tone, "Bring this guest the same dishes as well. I'll pay for today's meal."
Upon hearing this, both Kakuzu and the bald middle-aged man looked at Zhang Hai with surprise and suspicion. A hint of confusion flashed in Kakuzu's eyes, as if he was wondering what Zhang Hai was up to now. The other man's eyes widened, clearly not expecting such a good thing to happen.
Zhang Hai explained to the man, "My uncle doesn't really like dining with outsiders. But it's fate that we met, and it's just a meal; I can afford to treat him."
The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment after hearing Zhang Hai's words, then his face lit up with ecstatic joy. He gave Zhang Hai a thumbs up, chuckled, and said in a gruff voice, "Then I won't be polite! Thank you, sir!"
The shopkeeper was visibly taken aback when he saw the middle-aged man, apparently recognizing him. He quickly recovered and replied to Zhang Hai, "Okay, young man! We'll get right on it!" He then hurriedly turned and went to the kitchen to give the order.
Kakuzu, watching Zhang Hai's actions, couldn't help but speak, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction and lecturing: "Kid, you can't spend money like this." Clearly, there was a fundamental difference in their views on money; one was obsessed with money, while the other was extravagant.
Zhang Hai picked up a piece of grilled meat, chewed it with relish, and said to Kakuzu indistinctly, "Money can be earned back, but if you don't eat, you'll starve to death." He had a leisurely and self-satisfied expression on his face, as if he were saying some profound truth.
Just then, the bald, middle-aged man walked over with a cup of water, smiling broadly. "Well said, kid!" He gave Zhang Hai a thumbs up, then looked at Kakuzu and gestured, "Come on, let's toast to the two of you."
Kakuzu ignored him, continuing to eat his food. To him, this uninvited guest remained an eyesore and a stranger. Zhang Hai, however, put down his chopsticks, stood up, picked up his teacup, and retorted, "You're too kind. When you're traveling, having more friends means having more options. If I treat you today, and you treat me tomorrow, we'll get to know each other better, won't we?" He smiled broadly, his tone carrying a touch of youthful innocence, yet also revealing a mature shrewdness.
The middle-aged man seemed very pleased, his eyes gleaming with admiration as he looked at Zhang Hai. He raised his glass, downed it in one gulp, and exclaimed, "Interesting! Little friend, you're really interesting!"