Chapter 2: 28 Snacks Later

"Come on, why not?" Boruto asked following Shikamaru from room to room in the Hokage building.

Shikamaru moved quickly down the hall to deliver various files and to get away from Boruto at the same time. He had a huge stack in his arm which threw off his balance, making him lean to one side as he walked.

"Because the paperwork had to be turned in four days ago, that's why." Shikamaru barely turned around as he said this, adjusting the files in his arm.

"What if we get it in today?"

"It's still four days past the deadline."

"But they were so looking forward to this and the papers got lost. Everything's filled out if you just take a look at them."

"Here you go," Shikamaru said, handing a file to a passing shinobi. "Boruto, that doesn't change the fact that it's four days late. Get it through your head."

Boruto hurried after him, following him in and out of one office after another. "The event still isn't until the day after tomorrow. There's time."

"You mean the one that required the paperwork to be filled out four days ago in order to participate?"

"I get it. Four days ago. I get it."

"Do you?" Shikamaru handed off another file to the shinobi sticking their head into the hall. "Because you seem to be bringing up the same thing over and over again, giving me the impression that you don't get it."

The event in question was the annual food festival taking place in the village where venders would set up tents and food stalls to sell their goods. Many of the participants were home cooks with their own catering business or traveling food cart. Others cooked their specialty at their home kitchen and sold them by the order, without any restaurant or catering business.

That was the business he was trying to help out. It was a new family company that had only been cooking out of home for the past two years to bring in extra money. Since they had no real company or restaurant, few knew about their business or that they even existed.

Boruto only knew about them because he had met the owner's two children. The twin boys desperately wanted their father to succeed and suggested the food festival but the father hadn't completed the paperwork on time, which was why Boruto was at the office trying to plead his case on the family's behalf.

"Their food is good. I tried it. They'll make a perfect addition to the festival."

"The flavor isn't the issue," said Shikamaru.

"Yeah, yeah, the paperwork is late. I heard you."

"Then why do you keep bringing it up?" Shikamaru asked in a singsong tone of voice, clearly annoyed.

"It would mean the world to them. They really need the business. And it's not like I'm asking the day of or even the day before. I'm asking two days in advance. Can't you make an acceptation just this once?"

"Because it wouldn't be far to those who turned in their papers on time. And even if it were a special kind of situation, which it isn't, we're already booked solid for the event. There's no room for their stall. That's why- Here's that file you needed- we require the paperwork to be turned in a week ahead of time. So we- Here's the report. Sign on the bottom and return it to the department- So we have time to figure out where we're going to put everyone and regulate the stalls."

Boruto pushed against passing shinobi to keep up with Shikamaru. "I'm sure you can fit one stall at the place. It's just the one."

"Look," Shikamaru said spinning around to glare at him. "We have close to a hundred venders coming to this event and the only place we could put them all where they wouldn't obstruct traffic was in the park. But the park has limited space and is enclosed with a fence and stone walls. We've lined up the venders along the footpath in the park which stretched all the way to the other end. We have to leave space between stalls so the venders aren't bumping into each other, help the customers distinguish between the stalls and leave enough space for the people to move around without hitting the stands or the people in line for food. Yes, we have to allow space for the people as well, so they don't get confused as to what line is which and allowing them enough room to move down the path to visit other stalls. We can't have a traffic jam. We've accounted for that space. The venders have turned in the paperwork so we know who's coming and what we have space for and we don't have space for even one little stall. Ok?"

"But-"

"In addition to the paperwork, the venders also have to turn in a vendor's fee. That money is to reserve a space for them so no one can swoop in and take it. Everyone has their own space that's been reserved to avoid fights about who goes where and so we know what we have room for. And we don't have room. And they can't set up in someone else's spot after they paid money to have it reserved for themselves. Now will you please?"

Boruto recoiled a little at Shikamaru's tone. It was clear that he was under a lot of stress and Boruto's constant badgering wasn't helping his mood.

Shikamaru turned back around and walked away, distributing files.

"Well? How'd it go?" asked one of the twins.

Boruto gave them the bad news and felt his heart sink as their shoulders slumped.

"I should've guessed," said the brother on the left. "We had to have a health inspector show up to approve our kitchen but she took forever to get here. Guess she had to inspect the other stalls for the event and got around to us late."

"We couldn't turn in the paperwork until we got the health inspector's approval. Everything's up to code but now it's too late."

"Sorry, guys," said Boruto. He really meant it. "I thought I could pull some springs or something but I guess not."

Part of why Boruto was so willing to help them out wasn't just because their food was really good, it was because the twins never asked Boruto to talk to his father about the matter. He actually wondered if these boys even knew he was the Hokage's son. He supposed there were some people in the village who didn't. Not without knowing his name, at least; and Boruto had only given the twins his first. Feeling that they weren't taking advantage of him or using him in any way, Boruto was willing to go to the Hokage office to make a special request. Unfortunately, it didn't work.

"How's your dad taking it?"

"Well…" said the twin on the right, looking at his brother.

"We told him what you were trying to do for us and he was upset about it."

"Oh?" Boruto wondered if the father was worried Boruto would think his sons were trying to use him to gain favor with the Hokage or something. "Why's that?"

"He said with only two days before the event, he'd never be able to make enough food to serve people. Said he wasn't prepared."

"But we can tell he's disappointed. We really need the publicity."

"And we really need the money."

"No one knows we exist."

"We don't get any customers."

"For the two years we've been in business, most of it's orders from friends who need food for catering events."

"And that's only happened a few times."

"If things don't pick up soon, we'll have to close the business."

"Our dad can't do anything else and no one wants to hire cooks right now. They're not in high demand."

"What are we going to do?"

"We thought this event would be perfect to get our name out there but we discovered it too late and by the time we got all the paper stuff in order…"

Boruto had an idea. "If it's just getting your name out there, I can help with that."

"How? The food festival is booked solid. Not even you could get us a spot."

"And even if you did, our dad said there's no time to prepare anything for a crowd that size."

"We would have been competing with other food places, too. Ones more famous like Thunder Burger and Ichiraku Ramen. There's no way anyone would have paid us any attention even if we landed a spot."

Boruto gave them a confident grin. "What's the best way to get people to try your food?"

"Probably free samples."

"But with cost of supplies, we'd be losing money. Not everyone is willing to buy even with free samples."

"Ok, yeah," said Boruto, thinking of something else. "But what's a good way to get your name out there and tempt them to buy?"

The twins shrugged.

"Going door to door," he told them.

"Like cookie salesmen?"

"Or chocolate?"

"Exactly," said Boruto with a nod of his head. "We just need to sell some of your product to the villagers by going right to their door. And since we're kids, they'll feel obligated to buy from us."

The twins exchanged looks.

"That's a good idea, but…"

"Not a lot of our dad's stuff is small enough to sell door to door."

"Or will travel and keep like cookies and chocolate."

Boruto tried to brainstorm. "Is there anything on your dad's menu that can be condensed into something on the go? Like a snack bar or something?"

"Most of his stuff, even with modifications, would only be serviceable as street food…"

"Although, I suppose with the right modifications, there are a couple of things we could transform into something akin to a protein bar."

"That's perfect," said Boruto. "People are always looking for stuff like that. A compact, nutritious bar for easy eating and quick energy."

"Yeah, but most of the stuff on the menu is hot. Only a few things are served warm or even cold. And I'm not sure if they're something you'd want to put in a protein bar."

"And if we tell people that, they might not want it. I mean, right now I'm envisioning beef stew condensed into a snack bar and, I gotta tell you, it's not appetizing."

"Sounds messy."

"And gross."

"Guys, I got this," said Boruto. "It doesn't have to be a complete dish. As long as the flavor's there, I don't think it matters what you use."

"Are you saying we should…?"

"Make a new menu item?"

"One that can be sold door to door?"

"One that people would want to buy for convenience?"

"Exactly!" said Boruto. "I'll even stay and help you create it."

"You cook?"

"I've cooked for my sister before," said Boruto. "It's easy."

"The process?"

"Or the dish?"

Boruto flinched. Technically, the only dishes he's ever cooked for Himawari were simple ones. Mainly fried eggs and rice, but occasionally he branched out to do others, albeit no more complicated.

"Come on," he told them. "With your kitchen passing the health inspection and everything up to code, I doubt I can screw anything up."

"A passing health inspection…"

"… has little to do with cooking skill."

"But you'll be around to help me," Boruto reminded them. "With the three of us working together, I'm sure we can accomplish something."

With one look at each other, the twins nodded in agreement and the three of them set to work.

The night before the event, they had something they felt confident in selling.

They made a big batch of their new product, boxed it and stacked it. Tomorrow morning, all they had to do was grab them and sell them.

Getting an early start turned out to be not the best decision for the trio. Not with so many people attempting to do the same for the food festival. The vendors were pulling carts and wagons of materials to the park to set up and the locals were already starting to line up at the entrance. The vendors hauled large boxes of cooking supplies from their carts to their stalls and began setting up. Some had already done the prep work and precooked a lot of food but there was no less for them to do, making sure everything was warm and ready for their customers. Some had portable ovens and grills to make their food fresh and cooked to order.

The park smelled just like the night air at a festival. The rich, delectable smells of fried food and baked goods filled their nostrils as they walked by. From the entrance, Boruto could see the Thunder Burger stall which was showcasing a new burger. Wanting to try the sweet and sour sliders, Boruto found his feet instinctively moving towards the stall but resisted to help his new friends.

"Come on, this will be the perfect place to set up and start," he told the twins.

To carry their load, the twins used an old wooden wagon from early childhood for all the snack bar boxes. One brother stood behind the wagon to make sure nothing fell, the boxes stacked as high as his head, and the other pulled the wagon's metal handle in front.

"But we can't sell our stuff in the park without the papers to show that we're allowed."

"Even without a stall."

"That's why we're selling them out here," Boruto said, spreading his arms wide to gesture to the long line of customers waiting to get in. "All these people waiting in line are bound to be hungry and will want to buy some snack bars to tide them over until they can get into the festival."

"That does seem like a good move."

"You sure that's ok?"

"I'm positive," Boruto said with confidence.

More and more people were starting to line up along the stone wall enclosing the park. Some even had fussy children asking repeatedly if the festival was open yet. This seemed like a good place to start.

"Excuse me," Boruto said, stepping up to a man carrying a child on his shoulders and another at his hip. "Would you like to buy a snack bar?"

"A snack bar, huh?" The man gave the cart a suspicious look. "Did you make them yourself?"

"Well, I did help with some of the work."

"Sorry," he said. "I don't know if I should buy something you made yourself."

Boruto frowned. "It's not like I poured cereal on toast and called it a pie. You really think kids can't cook?"

"Sorry, not interested."

The girl at his hip tugged on his shirt. "Is the festival open yet? I'm hungry."

"It's not like Boruto made this himself," said one of the twins. "He assisted us in our dad's kitchen."

The other twin peered around the tower of boxes to speak. "We were going to be in the festival but they ran out of room. We got all the papers to prove it."

"A passing grade from the health inspector and everything."

The man seemed more interested. "This is your family's product? Made in a real kitchen? Your family runs a food service?"

"Yes, yes. But since there's no room for us in the festival this year, with it filling up so fast, the only way for us to get our product out there is to sell off our wagon."

"We can't go in and disrupt the festival, so we have to sell it out here. They're just snack bars."

"Little somethings to munch on while you wait."

"Or you can save it for later."

"Please, sir?"

"If you don't want to, that's ok, too."

The girl at his hip tugged again. "Daddy, I'm hungry."

The man sighed and took out his wallet. "I'll take two, please. How much will that be?"

They decided to sell them for cheap because they were small snack bars. A little less than the price one would pay for a candy bar in the store.

They moved down the line, trying to sell to other customers. Some refused no matter the sales pitch but there were some who took pity on the boys and bought one. They were less than halfway down the line when the gate to the park opened and the people filed inside.

Boruto called out to the people going in, hoping someone would look his way and buy a bar but no one did. The rush of people entering the park pushed against the side of their wagon which started to tip over. The twins held up the tipping boxes with both arms as Boruto called to the crowd. Within moments, the boys were left standing outside the park with only a handful of bars sold and no one around.

They waited outside the park for a little while, asking people entering the park if they wanted to buy a snack bar. Most didn't even look at them and others gave a quick decline as they hurried inside. A child reached for their boxes but their mother held them back, telling them there was better food in the festival and not to fill up on snacks.

The twins sat on the ground with their heads in their arms, the woman's comment stinging.

"She'll eat her words once she tastes the snack bars and see how good they are," Boruto assured them.

"Why bother?" asked one twin. "We can't make her eat it."

"She's more interested in the food at the festival," said the other. "The 'better' food's in there. You heard her."

"Let's face it. That's what people came here for. They're not going to want our stuff unless it's part of the festival."

"Selling outside the door will do nothing."

"And waiting around for people to finish will be a waste, too. They'll fill up on their food and be too full to buy our stuff."

Boruto looked around, knowing they were right. Getting food after a big meal didn't appeal to him because he was too full to even think about food. These people were probably the same way.

"Ok," he said. "Then we do the door-to-door thing, like we talked about. There's bound to be people who aren't interested in going to the festival. People who can't leave their businesses, you know. They're bound to want some of this to eat while they work. Plus, they can't get away."

"Because they're stuck at work," said a twin. "That is a good idea."

"I'm in," said the other.

They started to go around the village, asking people on the street or at their place of business if they wanted to buy any snack bars. Occasionally they were chased away, owners screaming that they couldn't sell outside products on their property. Some turned them away, telling them sternly but calmly that children weren't allowed to wander around their building and they couldn't sell things during business hours and distract the workers.

Boruto looked to the side and found a promising place to try selling their product.

The bell above the door to the flower shop chimed and Ino looked up from her water. "Oh? What's all this? Boruto, I thought you'd be at the festival today."

"Would you like to buy a snack bar?" Boruto asked, cutting right to the chase. "You can buy them by the bar or get a box of twelve."

Ino looked at the wagon parked outside her shop. "Is this a charity thing?"

"I guess you could say that," Boruto said, eyes drifting to the side.

Ino put her hand on her hip. "Oh? And what are you raising money for?"

He sighed. "Those twin brothers out there really need the money so I'm helping them sell these snack bars. They were supposed to be part of the food festival but they ran out of space for them."

"Did you get the paperwork in on time? It's always best to do it early."

"I know," Boruto growled. "I've heard it from Shikamaru over and over. Do you want to help us out or not?"

Ino giggled, finding it amusing that Shikamaru and Boruto were equally torturing each other over the matter. "Well, since it's for a worthy cause, I'll take a box."

Boruto's face lit up. "You will? Great!"

After the flower shop, they started going door to door to sell the snack bars. Many of the buyers were older women. Boruto could tell that several of the people they sold to only bought a pity bar. They went to the front gate of the village hoping to catch a few shinobi leaving on missions, telling them all about their snack bars. Every shinobi they spoke to at the gate bought one. The guards at the gate bought a whole box since they would be on duty all day with few breaks.

They went to the school, hoping there would be someone there to buy but the building was locked. Thankfully, they ran into Shino and Iruka outside the building and struck up a conversation.

"Snack bars, huh?" Iruka said with a smile. "Alright. I'll buy one. Shino? What do you say?"

As Boruto handed Iruka his bar, Shino eyed the wagon scrupulously. "I don't know… What exactly are they made of?"

"All natural ingredients."

"Yes, but what are they made of?" Shino repeated his question. "Or don't you even know?"

"Of course, we know," said Boruto. "I helped them with the recipe."

"Then you'd know what went in them."

"Of course."

"Which is?"

"… Stuff."

"Stuff?"

"And things."

Shino sighed. "If you can't even tell me the basic ingredients, I-"

"Mm! These are really good." Iruka was already eating his bar. "I mean it, Shino. You have to taste this."

Shino still seemed unsure. "I have to be careful about what I put into my body."

"Nonsense. I've seen you eat questionable things for lunch."

"My insects can break down certain poisons but that doesn't mean…"

"You think we're selling poison?" Boruto said, outraged.

"No. I'm just saying…"

"I'll take a box of these," Iruka interrupted. "Actually, make it two."

"Two?"

"I can share these with the teachers in the office. I insist, Shino. You have to try this."

Shino sighed. "There's no alcohol in them, right?"

"Of course not." Boruto looked back at the twins. "Right?"

They shook their heads.

"Of course not," Boruto said more confidently.

Shino's mouth formed a straight line as he reached into his wallet. "One bar, please."

"He'll take a box," said Iruka.

"Huh?" Shino looked at him in surprise.

"Trust me. Once you taste this, you'll want a box of them."

Shino whimpered as Iruka took money from Shino's wallet to give to the boys.

"Thanks, Shino-sensei! Iruka-sensei."

Shino whimpered again.

Arriving at the Hokage building, it seemed the place was just as chaotic as ever. They could hear phones ringing in different rooms and constant chatter from all directions. Some shinobi moved at their own pace while others rushed from one hall to the next.

"These. These. And then these. All to the Hokage to be signed."

"On it," said Shikamaru holding the stack of papers in front of his chest. He heaved a groan as he turned and left the room to go to the Hokage's office.

"Hey, Shikamaru!" Boruto called.

Shikamaru moaned. "If this is about the festival, you're too late. It's already started and there is no room."

"Yeah, I know and I made peace with it. And speaking of peace…" Boruto held up a snack bar. "How would you like a piece of this snack bar?"

Shikamaru lowered his arms to see over the pile of papers. "No, thanks."

"These kids are selling them for a worthy cause. Ino's already bought a box. Don't let her get ahead of you."

"I'm not going to complete over who bought the most boxes of snacks. How Ino spends her money is none of my business."

"Shikamaru, I have these reports to file with the other department," said a woman sticking her head into the hall.

"I'll take care of it. Just…" Shikamaru looked from side to side. "Just… put them on here." He gestured to the papers in his arms. The woman placed them on top and Shikamaru's arms visibly sank under the added weight.

"Come on, please? It's for a good cause." Boruto was still adamant about selling these bars. They had only made a dent in their supply and he had hoped to have a lighter wagon by now.

"Let me guess," said Shikamaru. "The family couldn't get into the festival because of the papers being late so you decided to help them sell their goods door-to-door like cookies."

"How did…? What are you, psychic?"

"It's pretty obvious if you think about it."

Boruto held up the bar again. "Well, in that case… How about it?"

"I don't really approve…"

"You know they passed their inspection. All their papers are in order. What's the problem? Are they breaking any rules by doing this?"

"Well, technically no, but…"

"Then what's the problem?"

Shikamaru's stomach started growling. He still hadn't had lunch yet and all this running around was making him hungry.

Boruto smirked and held up the bar. "Sounds like you could use a snack."

Shikamaru rested his chin on top of the papers in his arms. "Fine, fine."

"Maybe the other people in the office would like some, too?"

"Whatever gets you out of here faster."

Since Shikamaru couldn't reach his wallet, Boruto offered to do it himself. When he tried to take a little extra, Shikamaru used his shadow to stop Boruto and emphasized that he only wanted to purchase one box and would only pay for one box. Boruto put the money back, only taking what Shikamaru agreed to and left the building.

Shikamaru delivered the papers to Naruto's office and cracked his back. "Are they getting heavier or am I getting older?"

His stomach growled again and his eyes went to the box of snack bars. Giving in to his hunger, Shikamaru took one bar from the box, unwrapped it and took a bite.

This flavor… This texture…

"What do you know? It's good." Shikamaru took another bite. And then another, finishing it.

He was surprised by how good it was. Maybe he was so hungry, anything would have tasted good.

He looked at the box on the desk. Maybe another one couldn't hurt. He took another bar and started eating it. Holding it between his teeth, Shikamaru loaded his pockets with a few other bars for later.

The sun was going down and the food festival was over. Boruto and the twins managed to sell half of their wagon, which wasn't bad but Boruto had wanted to sell them all.

They set up outside the park, hoping to get some to the vendors to purchase some of their product. They ran into the same man from before who wanted to buy a box, saying how his children loved their snack bars. A few other people said the same, buying boxes of their product. Some vendors were hungry after all that work and agreed to buy some snack bars.

Choji and Chocho were leaving the park with their arms loaded up with take-out containers. When they spotted the wagon, they offered to purchase half a dozen boxes. The twins weren't sure they heard them right but they insisted that was what they wanted.

"That's just how they are," said Boruto. "They don't even have to taste it to buy a bunch of it."

Sai found the wagon and asked for two boxes, saying that Ino sent him to find them after eating halfway through the box she had already purchased.

"These must be good if she's this desperate to get her hands on them," he commented. "I haven't had any. She slapped my hand away when I tried."

"Then take a little extra," Boruto insisted, tempting him with a third box.

Sai paid for the three boxes and hurried away.

It wasn't long before more people came asking for extra. Some circled back to get even more before they had even finished their previous box. By the time the sun had set, their wagon was completely empty.

"I can't believe it," said one twin. "We sold them all."

"We made so much money for our dad," said the other. "Thank you, Boruto."

"Yes, thank you."

"We never could have done this without your help."

Boruto walked them to their door, pushing the empty wagon against the side of the building. "No problem. Hope your dad's happy about the money you got."

The twins looked at each other sheepishly.

"Well…"

"Whatever's left after…"

"… we replace all the ingredients we used up…"

"… to make the snack bars."

Boruto remembered the empty jars they had left on the shelves and the empty bags in the garbage. "Yeah, might want to replenish those before he notices… Or before you get a big order. Those people seemed to really like your stuff."

"Yeah, that's great!"

"Feel free to stop by, Boruto. We'll treat you to something good."

"Sure thing." Boruto waved to them. "See you later."

Boruto walked home under the street lights by himself, though, for some reason, felt like he wasn't alone. He frequently looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was following him but he never saw anyone. He hurried to his house and got inside, peering cautiously out the window to see if anyone was there.

"Boruto?" came his mother's voice. "Are you alright?"

"Huh? Uh, yeah. Fine." Boruto closed the curtain and went inside.

"You missed dinner. Were you at the festival?"

Boruto gave the door another look before answering. "Uh, yeah. Sort of. I was with friends."

"That's nice." Hinata ushered him towards his room. "It's getting late. And your father still isn't home."

"Yeah, what else is new?"

Against the street lights outside, two shadows moved against the large windows of the Hokage's office, hunched over something on the desk, chewing noisily.