Seeing Kakashi really answer his question, Naruto grew even more excited.
"Big brother, do you come here often? I've never seen you before."
"This…" Kakashi scratched his silver hair and said, "I do come here often, but it's been a while since I've been back. Do you come here often?"
"Yes, I come here all the time. As long as I have money, I come. The ramen here is so delicious, it's the best thing I've ever eaten."
Naruto said excitedly, as if he had suddenly found someone to talk to. He wanted to say everything in his heart.
"That's right, I also think the ramen here is delicious," Kakashi said with a smile.
"Right, right! I knew you were a person of taste, big brother! The ramen here has such a special flavor."
Hearing Kakashi's recognition of the ramen, Naruto's eyes became even more intense.
"Yes, there is something unique about it."
Kakashi's words weren't random. The handmade ramen did have a distinct flavor, something in the broth and the temperature that made it stand out.
Food made with sincerity holds a kind of warmth, a comfort that goes beyond taste.
"Naruto, your ramen is ready," came the call from Uncle Hand Beat as he placed a steaming bowl in front of Naruto.
At the sight of the ramen, Naruto's stomach growled. He couldn't hold back. He picked up his chopsticks and began devouring the noodles with reckless abandon.
He was starving. The small living expenses Konoha provided him were barely enough to get by, and he'd already spent it all. He hadn't eaten for two whole days.
Today, his stomach had reached the limit. If he didn't eat soon, he wondered if he would pass out from hunger.
And Naruto realized that the only person who helped him out, aside from the Third Hokage, was Uncle Hand Beat. The Hokage had been busy lately, forgetting to check in on him. If the Third Hokage didn't come to visit, Naruto would never have gone looking for him. After all, getting into the Hokage's office was no simple task.
Out of desperation, Naruto had come to find Uncle Hand Beat. But, of course, it had started raining midway, and Naruto got drenched in soup.
He thought about going back halfway, but the hunger pushed him forward.
As he slurped down the ramen, Naruto's heart was filled with a bittersweet joy.
Sure enough, ramen was the best food, and Uncle Hand Beat was the best person.
Naruto ate and ate, tears streaming down his face uncontrollably.
Why? Why is everyone so cruel to me?
What did I do wrong? Why do they avoid me? Why don't they want to play with me? Why don't they want to sell me things?
Why doesn't anyone smile at me?
Who are my parents, and why don't they care about me?
The bitterness in Naruto's heart surged. But for a brief moment, the warmth of the ramen offered him solace.
Seeing Naruto cry, Uncle Hand Beat paused for a moment, taken aback.
"Naruto? What's wrong? Why are you crying? Isn't the ramen delicious?" he asked with concern.
Naruto quickly wiped the tears from his eyes and gave a wide, almost forced smile. "No, no, Uncle! Your ramen is the best! It's so delicious that I'm crying!"
Looking at Naruto's forced smile, Uncle Hand Beat could see through him. Poor kid.
A deep sigh escaped Uncle Hand Beat's chest.
Kakashi, too, felt a twinge of discomfort upon seeing Naruto's tears.
This is the child of the Fourth Hokage… The hero who sealed the Nine-Tails to protect Konoha…
Why does he have to suffer like this?
Kakashi clenched his fist in frustration. The life of a Jinchuriki was one of hardship—Naruto's childhood had been far from kind, and Kakashi knew the pain of living in the shadow of a monster.
Is this world so wrong? Kakashi didn't know the answer.
Under Naruto's relentless assault, the bowl of ramen disappeared in no time.
"Thank you for the ramen, Uncle! It was so delicious," Naruto said, his stomach still growling as he set down his chopsticks.
Kakashi watched him carefully. Naruto's tongue was still licking his lips, and his hand was rubbing his stomach. He definitely wasn't full.
Kakashi wasn't sure how long Naruto had been hungry, but based on what he knew of Naruto's incredible appetite from the original series, he could tell the kid was probably only three-quarters full at best.
Naruto wasn't full, but he didn't dare say so. He didn't want to burden Uncle Hand Beat, nor did he want to seem like he was taking advantage.
Though he knew that Uncle Hand Beat would happily serve him more if he asked, Naruto didn't dare risk it. The ramen was too precious to him, the only bright spot in his otherwise dark world.
Seeing Naruto's hunger, Kakashi felt even more sympathy.
"Ah, Naruto, right?"
Hearing Kakashi call his name, Naruto quickly turned his head, his eyes wide. "Yes, I'm Naruto!"
"I'm glad to meet you. I don't have a gift for you, but how about I invite you to another bowl of ramen? What do you think?"
"Really? Brother White Hair!" Naruto said, his voice filled with excitement.
"Brother White Hair?" Kakashi was slightly speechless. Naruto, could you not give people such strange nicknames?
"Ah, you can call me Kakashi, not 'Brother White Hair,'" Kakashi said, correcting him.
But Naruto didn't seem to hear him. Instead, he turned to Uncle Hand Beat and said, "Uncle! Brother White Hair said I can have more ramen! I want the biggest bowl of miso ramen!"
"Alright, alright! I'll make you the biggest bowl of miso ramen!" Uncle Hand Beat said, rolling up his sleeves and flexing his muscles as if ready to take on a challenge.
"Dad, let me help you," said the little girl, Calamus, who had been quietly watching.
"A good, sensible girl. Let's do it together!"
"Okay!" Calamus cheerfully replied.
Kakashi sighed with a smile, watching the scene. Naruto still didn't hear what I said. Brother White Hair? What kind of name is that?!
Sensei, it seems your son inherited your strange naming habits, but his are much simpler to remember.
"Brother White Hair, are you a ninja? I can see your forehead protector," Naruto said, pointing at Kakashi's headband.
Kakashi sighed inwardly. Seems like I'm stuck with this name now.
"Yes, I'm a very powerful ninja."
"Really? Brother White Hair, can you teach me ninjutsu?"
Naruto's eyes sparkled with pure, unreserved excitement.
"Well… this…"
Kakashi hesitated, but Naruto's hopeful expression tugged at something in his heart.
"Of course I can teach you," Kakashi said with a smile.
"Really?" Naruto exclaimed, his face lighting up in surprise.
"Of course."
"That's awesome!" Naruto leaped out of his chair in pure joy.
Kakashi watched him with a smile. Such an energetic kid.
"Naruto, your super-miso ramen is ready!"
Uncle Hand Beat returned with a giant bowl of miso ramen. When Naruto saw it, his eyes widened in pure delight.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his chopsticks and dug into the steaming bowl of noodles.
"Ah! This is so good!"
Indeed, nothing could compare to the warmth of a good bowl of ramen.
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