New Beginnings

[AFungalNetwork]

Bamba waited in his usual spot at his favourite bbq restaurant. Today was the day he would meet his first students. His promotion to special jounin was sudden, his new responsibilities even more sudden. Not that he was complaining, in fact he was excited to be leading a squad of his own. What would they be like, he wondered as he stuffed his face with barbecued meats. He was only given the names of his students and little additional info.

He had sent each of them a scroll with an invitation and directions to this restaurant. It was a little obscure and their clientele was mainly Akimichis. Not many other people knew about this place and his clan liked it that way. As such, Bamba believed it to be the perfect place for this most special of occasions. He had briefly planned out how he wanted things to go in his head. They would meet, they would eat, they would bond over the delicious food this place had to offer. The thought brought a smile to his face. And as he waited, he continued to wonder.

He had an Inuzuka, an Aburame, and someone born outside of the main clans. He hoped the two would get along with the clanless genin, well they would have to eventually. As he scarfed down a whole roasted squid he began to wonder what type of dog the Inazuka had. Bamba liked dogs, most animals really, with the exception of amphibians. Too slippery, kinda gross. He imagined several different types of dog it could be. A proud basset hound, it's ears longer than the day. Or perhaps it would be a saint bernard, a real bear of a dog those ones. Whichever it would be, he was excited to meet it.

He ordered another plate of ribs as his mind drifted to the Aburame. He had little knowledge of the Aburame Clan. He wondered what insects they utilised. Was it only one breed? Are all insects at their mercy? Perhaps his student would be special, break tradition and bring in a hercules beetle. But the one who he was most interested in learning about was the clanless one. All of his friends had grown up in major clans, he was interested in what their experience was.

His team was certainly diverse and that thought made him smile. He hoped to be a good teacher and role model for them. They are the future of the village after all. But in the meantime, he continued to sit, eat, and wonder. This was the most excited he had been since his promotion.

[HotelBravo]

---

Her name was Hisame Himizu, though her nickname, and the name that she largely went by was Melty. It wasn’t long ago that she had just recently graduated from the Shinobi academy, and shortly after she had received instructions to meet with a genin team. It was something that she had been excited for, but also she had been very much terrified of. It was a part of being a shinobi, so she knew that she couldn’t avoid it, but at the same time she was struggling with the idea of introducing herself to new people - or even worse being in a public space. She checked her notebook for the address for the fifth time since she had been standing in front of the building to make sure that this was the right place. This… was definitely the right place right? She hugged the book tightly against her chest while she gathered up the courage that she would need to go inside.

The Akimichi clan were big and loud people. They had always been a little intimidating to a girl small like herself. They always seemed like a happy people though, so maybe this was going to be alright? She took another deep breath, steeling herself before she raised her foot to take a step inside, except she couldn’t do it, and pulled her feet back and placed them together. This little dance continued until someone accidentally bumped into her and caused her to stumble forward into the building. The smokey scent was the first thing to hit her. It was overwhelming. She moved towards the wall as she made her way through the bustling restaurant. Her eyes were wide as though she was in panic mode. She held a hand against the wall for stability as she followed the wall.

”Uh…Bamba-sensei?“ She had found a tall stocky man who was sitting alone. He had white hair, and wasn’t wearing a shirt. He was really big - so he must have been an Akimichi. She swallowed deeply and gave a little bow. ”I-I’m! Shimizu Hisame! People call me Melty! Reporting for Dinner - I ah eep! Reporting as Ordered!” Red flushed her face, she really couldn’t stand to look at the man’s response. She heard the man clear his throat. ”Ahem.” Melty looked up at the man, who pointed towards the real Bamba-sensei. This man was just a regular. ”Oh? - O-OH! By the Kami I’m so sorry… Sorry Sorry! I want to die… Oh my kami.” If she was red before what she was now made that look pale.

She hurried with shame plastered all over her face to the real Bamb and in her haste tripped on a chair leg that was being pushed out by a customer who was moving to stand, and so she tumbled onto the floor at Bamba’s feet. In half a heart beat she was already on her feet and was sitting next to Bamba, and was wishing that she was dead - surely being dead was better than what she was feeling right now.

””R-Reporting as ordered. Shimizu Hisame. People call me Melty.”“ Her voice was barely louder than a whisper and under the din of the room, it was hardly audible.

[AFungalNetwork]

The events that followed the girl entering the restaurant transpired faster than the rush of a current. Before he had known it she was sitting next to him, her face still as red a tomato. The poor thing looked mortified but Bamba couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. He gently pat the girl on the back and smiled warmly at her.

Well then Melty. Welcome to the Big Belly Barbecue! I hope my directions were clear on the scroll. he was already waving a waiter down.
Not many people outside of the Akimichi clan know of its existence. I should hope you will keep it that way. As you already know, I'm Akimichi Bamba and I will be your sensei. The others haven't arrived yet so congratulations on being the first one here! Take a look at the menu and order whatever you want; this meal's on me. Let's get to know each other a little more while we wait for the others. His voice was calm and gentle so as not to overwhelm the girl. He could tell from her demeanor that even just being out in this environment was a lot for her.

As he finished the last of the ribs, the waiter arrived. I'll take an order of pork belly and pig's feet, please. I think the young lady needs some time to think, I'll call you once she is ready. Thank you. he gulped down a cup of water and continued.

I'll start so it's not so scary for you. I am from the Akimichi clan, obviously. I'm an only child but I have tons of cousins to make up for it. My favorite animal is cats and I have a general distaste for amphibians. But most importantly, my favorite food is Chanko. his voice was confident but kind and it never lost its gentleness, even as he got excited talking about food. Please tell me your favorite food and whatever else you want to tell me! he picked up a menu and handed it to Melty. You're also going to need this. It ain't a proper meet and greet without food! he chuckled, sending waves of vibrations across his large belly.

[HotelBravo]

---

Melty froze for a moment as Bamba-sensei’s hand patted her on the back. She was not accustomed to being in physical contact with other people, and his hands were big enough that he could crush her skull easily. The force of the pat while gentle pushed her forwards and her glasses came loose from her face. She adjusted them back into position with one hand. She was on the receiving end of a Hearty Akimichi welcome. ”Uhm…okay.“ She answered him in a small voice, having received the introduction from Bamba-sensei. She didn’t really want to get to know him all that much, but as she saw it, she didn’t really have a choice. The man cleaned his plate so only the bones remained before he was already making another order. When the waiter looked to her, she felt her heart form a lump in her throat, but fortunately Bamba-sensei intervened and told the waiter that they should come back later.

He started listing interesting facts about himself and then of course the topic turned to food. Of course it would be food. She should have expected that so much time would be spent on food. Please tell me your favorite food and whatever else you want to tell me! Bamba-sensei picked up the menu and offered it to her.. You're also going to need this. It ain't a proper meet and greet without food! Melty reached to accept the menu, only she forgot that she was also clutching her notebook. The book tumbled to the floor as she took hold of the menu, but then she went for the book instead - and the menu too fell from her grasp. Doh! She was so stupid stupid stupid! She scooted out of her chair, picked up the book and the menu, and used the menu to hid her face. She really couldn’t bear to exist. He was obviously thinking that she was a clumsy idiot! She wouldn’t be so clumsy if she wasn’t so nervous.

””I d-don’t really have a favorite food.I guess I don’t eat alot, especially not meat. I think its more of a chore.I have instant noodles sometimes, but really I’d rather be studying.”“ She knew she was about to make him mad. Akimichi were known for their voracious appetites and being a person who wasn’t into their passion was bound to have consequences. She was fidgeting with the menu while she spoke. She really didn’t find anything all that appealing here. Food was food after all. One only needed enough to live, what was the point and in all of this fine dinning? She just didn’t get it. ””Sorry.”“

[zory_alechiv]

It wasn't surprising that they were meeting in a restaurant of all places because their sensei was an Akimichi after all. Yet, Mitsu couldn't help but feel a little bit irritated that they were here instead of on a training field like his brother was. In fact, he was already surly about being separated from his brother, and his brother got to be on the same time as Hajime, a close family friend. Second born, oddman out again, he thought irritably.

Though, he supposed not being beside his brother had its own merits. Their team was more diverse already with only one Inuzuka on it. He wasn't sure what the other two could do but Inuzukas tended to able to do one thing: bite. Maybe they'd have something to make themselves more formidable than the other team and he could be better than his brother. That would be great, right?

So, he decided he would give it a try. What's the worst that could happen, right?

The smoky scent slammed into him and nearly sent him drooling. The smell of cooked meat permeated the air and he could feel his mouth water. Looking down, he saw Yuki was already panting in delight. Okay, so far so good, and this might be a good thing. At least, that was what he thought until he saw a girl with glasses walk over to a balding man.

”Uh…Bamba-sensei? I-I’m! Shimizu Hisame! People call me Melty! Reporting for Dinner - I ah eep! Reporting as Ordered!”

No way it couldn't be.... He watched with mild amusement as the bald man shook his head and pointed her in the right direction. At least he hadn't made the same mistake. Baby steps, he smiled and started to quietly follow the girl. So was this his new team mate? Melty was her name. Curious. His reverie was disturbed by the girl tripping over a chair and face planting on the ground. Yuki dropped to their belly and crossed their paw over their eyes in sympathy.

"I know. That was rough," he mutters.

Finally, he closes the distance and drops down to grab Yuki under his chest and lift him into his arms. Yuki isn't too big yet but as a Siberian wolf breed, he'll get huge. His dark fur is warm against Mistu's skin as he steps closer.

"My favorite animal is cats and I have a general distaste for amphibians. But most importantly, my favorite food is Chanko."

Yuki growled loudly and Mitsu wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Bamba-Sensei, Don't ya know dogs are better than cats any day? Cats stink. At least dogs are tough." He sniffs and turns his head away, his nose stuck in the air. "Yuki doesn't like people who like cats," he says though it's a complete lie and Yuki calls him on it with a nip at his jaw, causing him to yelp. "Not nice, Yuki." The two had a slight staredown before Mistu rolled his eyes."Fine, Yuki says he's gonna make ya change ya mind though."

The boy is silent for another moment before Yuki yips and butts his chin. "Oh right. Name's Inuzuka Mitsuko. Most call me Mitsu or Ko. Ko is fine," he shrugs. "And this is my best friend, Yuki." The dog yips in response. "He says its nice ta meet ya both."

[AFungalNetwork]

Bamba listened intently to the girl's response. He could hear the hesitation in her voice as she admitted to not liking food very much. He saw the way she shirked away and her eyes flinched as if she was waiting for him to yell. I see, well that's okay. We don't have to have the same passion. If everyone loved food as much as I, there would be no truly outstanding chefs. Perhaps some grilled vegetables or a bowl of ramen for you then? he spoke in the usual calm and gentle voice. He was a little surprised to see her here and he wondered why she wanted to be a ninja in the first place; she seemed so... fragile. He put the thought out of his head, maybe she would surprise him.

Bamba turned his attention the impassioned Inazuka who had appeared before him. My apologies Ko, I didn't mean to imply that I like dogs less than cats. he said smiling, this kid had spirit. Dogs are great, you couldn't ask for a better hunting companion. They have great energy and keep you active and healthy. But when I settle down at the end of the day to read a book in bed; there's no creature I'd rather have with me than the calm presence of a cat. with that he picked up one of the pig's feet and presented it to Yuki, placing it gently on the floor before him. I invited everyone to dinner and that includes you Yuki. he smiled at the canine before returning to the children seated with him.

“You know,” he began, his voice steady but thoughtful, “a squad is a lot like a meal.” He gestured toward the spread of food before them. “You need different ingredients to make it complete. Too much of one thing, and the dish loses its balance. Too little, and it lacks substance.”

His glance shifts to Ko. “Some of us are fire—bold, passionate, quick to act. Some are water—calm, adaptive, steady even in the roughest currents. Others are the earth beneath our feet—unshaken, dependable, holding everything together. And some…” He glanced at Melty who had shrunk away earlier, offering her a small, knowing smile. “Some are the gentle breeze, the presence that soothes, the one who notices the things others overlook.”

Bamba let the words settle before he continued, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table. “A squad that only values strength might charge ahead but crumble when faced with a problem they can’t punch through. A squad of only strategists might overthink until an opportunity slips away. But together… together, you fill in each other’s gaps.”

“You don’t have to be the same. You shouldn’t be the same. The best squads aren’t built on similarities, but on balance. If there were only cats and no dogs, then those who truly love dogs would appreciate them less, and vice versa.” He let out a small chuckle, reaching for another bite of food.

As he did the waiter had arrived. Three more plates of ribs, a plate of grilled vegetables, and a bowl of ramen. Please., the waiter wrote the order down and hurried along.

Now, Inuzuka Mitsuko; what is your favorite food? he asked with a serious smile.

[Izanagi]

If there was one thing that could be said about Aburame Kaichi it was that he was reliable. Which was all the more distressing to him that he was running late. Through tinted glasses the young man checked his wrist-watch for the 4th time as he muttered to himself, hurrying his pace. ‘Three minutes, forty-two seconds late’ he chastised himself, nearly bumping into a large man as he stumbled his way into the restaurant, still glancing periodically at his watch. “S-sorry” he muttered. Exhaling slowly, he forced himself to breathe deeply to maintain his composure, but his body was tense as he craned his neck, peering around the various booths as he searched for his team. ‘Big Belly Barbecue; 6pm’ he recalled, he was in the right place, right? The sign had said as much, and the time….6:04, 5 seconds and counting. He considered sending out some of his friends to search for them, though disregarded the idea. A restaurant was no place for insects, and he already felt out of place. Only 5’0 tall, thin and pale, covered in a long forest green jacket, hood up and a brown scarf wrapped around his face, he certainly stood out among the many burly, shirtless men who towered over him.

Suddenly he heard a bark and turned his attention to the sound. A dog? Was there an Inuzuka on his team? That had to be them, he considered, moving toward the sound as he soon laid eyes upon a large man and Inuzuka boy, his ninken and a nervous looking girl. ‘I’m the last one’ he lamented, “Sensei?” he confirmed before bowing his head deeply, “I’m sorry I’m late. It’s my fault. There’s no excuse” he muttered, voice muffled by his scarf. He glanced to either side, wondering where he should sit. It shouldn’t be next to the girl, right? She would just think he was being a creep, but then the Izuzuka would likely be loud and messy, he didn’t want to get any saliva or dog hair in his food. Neither option was good. Instead, he would wait there awkwardly, hoping perhaps Sensei Bamba would choose for him.

Straightening from his bow he glanced between his new comrades once more before fixing his gaze back toward their Sensei. He was ever grateful for his dark glasses so that he never had to meet someone’s gaze directly, tending to keep his head dipped slightly, making him appear shorter than he was. “I’m…Aburame Kaichi. Yoroshuku onegaishimasu” he introduced, dipping his head once more before finally taking a seat wherever he had been directed to do so. He would immediately begin flipping through a menu, bringing it up to cover his face as he searched for any options that weren’t meat. He would read the options front to back and then again. The grilled pineapple caught his eye. “Do you think? Could I have some grilled pineapple? I like sweet things” he stated, lowering the menu just enough so that his tinted glasses peaked over the edge.

Kaichi AppearanceShow

[HotelBravo]

---

I see, well that's okay. We don't have to have the same passion. If everyone loved food as much as I, there would be no truly outstanding chefs. Perhaps some grilled vegetables or a bowl of ramen for you then? she reluctantly peaked over the menu at Bamba-sensei. It seemed that he wasn’t about to get mad at her for disagreeing with him. That was a relief. She was still using the Menu as a shield when the other two boys arrived. It was an Inuzuka boy. He was around the same height as herself. He looked kind of scary to Melty with fierce features that reminded her of a wild creature.

"Bamba-Sensei, Don't ya know dogs are better than cats any day? Cats stink. At least dogs are tough." The boy protested against Bamba-sensei’s declaration a moment before about cats. It wasn’t lost on Melty that the boy and the dog seemed to have some kind of disagreement. She thought that Yuki was a really beautiful creature. She wanted to get a better look at him. She had never seen this breed of dog so up close before, but wouldn’t it be rude? Melty was thoughtlessly tugging at her sleeves while her full attention was on the dog. The boy gave a greeting, and she returned it, slightly distracted. ”Hello. Melty.” She answered. She opened her notepad with one hand, using the menu still to hide her face with the other, she started to take notes on Yuki. She drew a sketch of the dog and its wonderful looking fur. It really looked rather soft and she wanted to touch it. She started listing her observations. She was distracted with her note taking and didn’t pay attention to the order put on her behalf.

””Melty Log : Stardate” -297746.77134069
Today I saw a really cute and beautiful dog. It looks like its some kind of breed of wolf. Black and grey fur pattern. Its really my first time seeing a service shinobi animal so close up and personal before. He definitely seems really smart, because he seems to be following the conversation, although I haven’t heard him speak at all. It looks like the boy - Ko, I think he said his name was, has the ability to speak - “ She paused her writing when a new voice distracted her and caught her attention. She had been so caught up in her own little word that she hadn’t been paying attention to the conversation or the movement of the people around her.

“I’m…Aburame Kaichi. Yoroshuku onegaishimasu” The boy was just… standing there. He was an Aburame, one of the clan known for their bug keeping. Try as she might, she didn’t see any bugs though. ”Hi I’m Himizu Hisame. People Call me Melty. I can’t believe I’m on a team with three of the most renown clans in Konoha. My parents run a bookstore - I-I hope thats alright?”

[zory_alechiv]

Dogs are great, you couldn't ask for a better hunting companion. They have great energy and keep you active and healthy. But when I settle down at the end of the day to read a book in bed; there's no creature I'd rather have with me than the calm presence of a cat. I invited everyone to dinner and that includes you Yuki.

Ko opened his mouth to say something else but the nip Yuki gave against his jaw was a warning. He was being rude and not realizing it. His mouth quickly shut and he looked at his canine companion before rolling his eyes. "Okay, I'll behave." Ko smirked before setting the wolf down at his feet. A silent conversation passed between the two before Ko tilted his head. Yuki woofed softly before trotting up to Melty, sniffing around her calves. After he finished with that, he moved to their sensei and did the same thing. By that time, another had joined them and was standing a little too close to Ko for the Inuzuka's liking so the redhead shifted slightly away.

By that time, Yuki was done with his inspection of their sensei and gave the newcomer the same treatment before moving back to Ko's side. Another silent conversation passed between the two before the Inuzuka nodded. Finally, the wolf took the treat offered to him, his duty seemingly done as he moved to sit between Bamba's legs and Melty's for now to chew on the foot.

With Yuki's approval, Ko took the opportunity to meet his new team as well. He started with Kaichi since he was closest and leaned over to sniff at the man's shoulder. Kaichu smelled like the bark from the pine trees in the forests outside of the the village and the scent of Konoha just before the rain. Seemingly satisfied, he moved this time to Melty, but because she was sitting down, he sniffed at the top of her head. Paper and ink met him with an underlying floral scent. Another smell that wasn't terrible. Finally he moved to sit on the other side of Bamba, sitting close enough that the smell of spicy herbs wasn't hard to smell.

"All right, now we can be friends," he says as if he wasn't the one displaying odd behavior. When he sits, he draws his legs up underneath him and takes the time to look at his teammates once again. He needed to know where he fit. Both of them seemed anxious and hesitant, and he knew the Aburame would be ninjutsu focused. What was Melty? He thought she was odd in her behavior but Kaichi seemed similar. Perhaps he was the odd one? Yet, with both of them being hesitant and anxious, he'd almost bet she liked to hang back too. He couldn't really see her fighting on the front lines. That left him and Yuki to be the barrier between the enemy and his team. He wasn't upset. He knew his place and something settled inside.

Now, Inuzuka Mitsuko; what is your favorite food?

Just as he opened his mouth, Kaichi spoke up and the Inuzuka promptly pressed his lips together. It was a little more assertive than he expected and so placed Kaichi's position in battle between himself and Melty.

"Not really a fan of sweets myself. Anything with meat," he shrugged. "I'm not a fan of plants at all."

[AFungalNetwork]

It was the Aburame who arrived last. He was another shy and anxious one. It had taken Bamba a good 5 minutes before he realized the boy was waiting to be assigned a seat.
Kaichi, why don't you sit next to Ko. he said with a gentle smile. The waiter arrived with the ribs, vegetables, and ramen. This was Bamba's favorite part of meeting new people, guessing what they would like to eat. He spent the next few minutes silently studying the ragtag group of genin.

Melty had her face buried in her notebook and was rather shy. She isn't a big fan of food and gave off a shut-in vibe. Her build suggested she didn't eat a lot, let alone copious amounts of meat. She was frail looking which told Bamba she probably wasn't getting enough nutrients from her diet, she was possibly even malnourished. She would prefer the ramen then. He would do something about her diet though, nobody on his team was going to eat poorly if he could help it.

He slid the ramen over wordlessly to Melty.

Next he looked over to Ko. The boy's gaze was locked on the plates that had just arrived. Easy enough, Bamba slid a plate of ribs to Ko and placed a plate on the floor for Yuki. Last but not least was the Aburame. There was a plate of ribs and a plate of grilled zucchini, broccoli, and eggplant seasoned to perfection. The boy had been engrossed in the menu for a while now, that told Bamba that he wasn't happy with the choices here. The boy was thin as well. Didn't look very muscular at a glance. Also not a big meat eater. It was decided then.

Bamba slid the plate of grilled vegetables over to him.

He looked at his new students and smiled. "So, how did I do? I pride myself on being able to guess what food people prefer based on appearance alone."

With that he grabbed the final plate of ribs and cleaned one of them to bone.

"A healthy diet is essential for growing shinobi. Today you can have whatever you want and you can eat in the way you're accustomed to. But once we start training together, I'm going to make sure you have a balanced diet. The same goes for me too, no more buffets of meat for me. We'll all grow stronger through training and nutrients!" He laughed as he pat his big belly.