The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, Raftra and Kakashi were already at Raftra Kitchen. The place was still quiet, the village streets were not yet crowded—only a few vegetable vendors and bakers passed in the distance.
In the kitchen, Raftra was slightly busy. He opened baskets of ingredients, checked the stock of chicken, vegetables, rice, eggs, and more. His hands moved deftly—slicing onions, grating spices, and preparing batter for the egg martabak.
Occasionally he paused to jot something in the small notebook he carried—whether it was quantities used or an idea that had just surfaced in his mind.
Out in the front room, Kakashi moved with calm efficiency. He wiped the wooden tables, making sure no dust or stains remained. He rearranged the chairs so the space looked orderly and ready for guests.
Although he was not accustomed to this kind of work, Kakashi did it without much comment.
"The front tables are clean," Kakashi said, his voice as flat as ever. "Do you want me to open the window curtains now or later?"
"Now," Raftra replied, tasting the batter. "Let the morning light in. People passing by can see inside. It's free advertising."
Kakashi nodded and pulled the curtain cord. The first pale rays slowly lit the room, warming the modest interior.
A short while later, all preparations were complete. The scent of sautéed garlic drifted out of the kitchen, mingling with the smell of batter-fried chicken being drained.
Raftra stepped out of the kitchen, clapping his slightly floury hands. "Alright, everything's ready. Now we wait for the first customer."
Kakashi folded his arms and stood leaning near the entrance. "Are you sure about this? No more doubts about starting?"
Raftra raised an eyebrow, a thin smile appearing. "Still nervous, but not to the point of being paralyzed—confident, but cautious."
Kakashi watched him for a moment before looking out the window again. "If your cooking is the same as last night, I think they'll like it."
Raftra laughed softly. "Let's hope so."
Minutes later the sun climbed higher and the streets began to bustle with Konoha residents. Children ran about laughing, mothers carried baskets of produce, a few young shinobi strolled in groups toward the mission headquarters.
Raftra Kitchen finally opened. He threw the front door wide, hung the wooden sign with the shop's name on a cord so it swinging gently in the morning breeze.
Raftra stationed himself behind the register while Kakashi remained on the chair by the door like an unofficial guard. The two of them simply waited—waiting to see who would be the first to enter.
Soon the door creaked open. A middle-aged woman came in holding the hand of a small boy. Raftra, who had been seated behind the register, rose immediately to greet them warmly.
"Good morning. Please come in," he said with a slight bow.
Kakashi only glanced briefly, remaining seated by the door.
The woman and her child took a table by the window and began to read the simple menu Raftra had placed on each table. Raftra approached with his small notebook and pencil.
"What would you like to order, ma'am?" he asked in a calm voice.
The woman glanced at her son and smiled. "I'll have the fried rice. For my son… spaghetti."
Raftra jotted it down and nodded.
Before he left, he asked politely, "If you don't mind me asking, what brought you in? We only opened five minutes ago, so I'm a little surprised to have a guest so early on our first day."
The woman chuckled softly. "Yesterday I saw the Hokage and Lady Tsunade eat here."
"Although, as far as I knew, this stall hadn't officially opened. I was curious… so I decided to try it today."
Raftra nodded, the smile remaining on his face. Inside, however, he felt a wave of relief and satisfaction.
'So it worked… that dinner invitation yesterday was not an accident. I invited them not just for pleasantries, but to arouse the village's curiosity,' he thought.
'And now… that strategy is paying off.'
"Thank you for coming," he said briefly, then stepped into the kitchen.
Inside, Raftra began preparing the order. In the front room, Kakashi sat calmly, his eyes occasionally following the restless child tapping the table with his fingers.
Not long after, Raftra emerged with a large tray—not only carrying the fried rice and spaghetti, but also small portions of other items: sweet-sour-spicy chicken, breaded fried chicken, and a serving of egg martabak. He placed them neatly on the woman's table.
She looked surprised, her eyes widened. "Oh—I didn't order all of this."
Raftra smiled lightly. "That's correct, ma'am. This isn't your order. But, consider it a small bonus from me for being the first customer."
The woman paused, surprised, then nodded with a pleased smile. "Oh my, thank you."
"And you were quick too. I just took your order and the food arrived in less than five minutes." she added.
"That's how we operate here," Raftra explained calmly. "I intentionally set up a workflow different from other places. The concept is more like fast food—customers don't have to wait long."
The woman looked a little puzzled by "fast food," but she didn't press further. She simply smiled, nodded, and began helping her son cut the spaghetti into smaller bites.
The boy tried it and his face lit up. "Delicious!" he said innocently, shoveling the noodles into his mouth.
The mother tasted the fried rice, her eyes widened in surprise at the seasoning. She said nothing, only glanced at her son tearing into his meal.
Seeing their reactions, Raftra felt quietly satisfied. He didn't linger long at their table—only offered a short smile before returning to the register. From there he could keep an eye on them while jotting notes in his small book.
Kakashi remained seated in the corner, watching without speaking.
After the mother and son finished, they rose and approached the cashier. The child still had sauce on his lips and was reluctant to stop eating. The woman paid with a contented expression.
"All the dishes I tried today were delightful," she said, smiling. "The fried rice here tastes different from others, the spaghetti is truly fresh, the egg martabak is delicious despite its humble ingredients."
"The sweet-sour-spicy chicken is just right, and the breaded fried chicken… that's the most unique dish. I've never tasted that texture before. Everything tastes new and different."
She glanced at her son who still gazed longingly at the table, then turned back to Raftra. "We'll definitely come again. Next time, I'll bring my husband."
Raftra returned her smile. "I'm glad you and your child enjoyed it. Of course, I'll happily welcome you back with your husband."
The woman nodded and left with her son holding her hand.
As the door shut, Raftra leaned back briefly against the register chair. Kakashi, who had been sitting idly, turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Satisfied?" he asked.
Raftra glanced up and gave a thumbs-up. "Of course. Now we wait for more customers."
Kakashi nodded, saying nothing more.
In a short time, the atmosphere in Raftra Kitchen shifted from quiet to lively. The wooden door swung open repeatedly as one customer after another entered. Raftra rushed between kitchen and tables, delivering dishes and wiping stray sauce from tabletops.
Each diner who finished a meal wore the same expression—satisfaction, often accompanied by an impressed remark. Some praised him directly at the register, others simply nodded with wide smiles.
Within the first two hours, fifteen customers had come. Almost all of them cited the same reason for trying the new place: they had heard that yesterday Hokage Hiruzen and Tsunade had eaten here. That alone was enough to entice them.
Raftra smiled inwardly. 'Just as I expected. Their names are the most effective promotion.'
But as noon approached and the sun passed its zenith, the pattern of customers shifted. Now visitors arrived because of word-of-mouth from those who had already eaten.
"My neighbor said the food here is good, so I was curious," one said.
"My friend ate here this morning and said it was unique, so I wanted to try," another added.
Raftra grew busier, yet his smile never left. He could see the domino effect of recommendations taking hold faster than he had anticipated.
Kakashi sat in the corner observing all interactions. He did not help, but his eyes were sharp. In his mind he cataloged how this foreign teenager managed to fill the shop so quickly with a simple strategy.
Around one pm, Raftra Kitchen was packed. Almost every table was occupied, the clatter of cutlery and conversation filled the room. The aromas of fried rice, egg martabak, spaghetti, sweet-sour-spicy chicken, and breaded fried chicken permeated the air.
Beads of sweat dotted Raftra's temple, but his face remained spirited. He approached Kakashi, who had been sitting idle.
"Kakashi-san," Raftra said quickly, carrying a tray of plates, "help me at the register. I need someone to keep orders neat, I'll be overwhelmed otherwise."
Kakashi regarded him for a moment, then rose without protest. "Very well."
From then on their roles were clear. Kakashi took the register, writing orders in short, legible notes. He served new arrivals with composed courtesy, his face the same imperturbable mask.
Raftra continued to deliver each plate with a warm smile, occasionally asking customers, "How is it? Anything missing?"
In his mind he understood this was not merely about serving food. He was building an image.
'This place is called Raftra Kitchen, people must know who Raftra is. They must see my face and feel my hospitality in person,' he reasoned.
'Only then will this shop's reputation grow—not just for its flavors, but for the person behind it.'
Kakashi observed discreetly, he recognized the pattern. He could see how Raftra used his own presence as the shop's "face."
'He said he was doubtful last night, yet from opening until now he's handled everything well,' Kakashi thought.
Soon after Raftra set down food at a table, the door opened again. Naruto entered cautiously, waving a little toward Kakashi with a bright smile.
But the cheerful buzz in the shop shifted instantly. Some diners fell silent mid-bite, their spoons and chopsticks paused. One by one, glances turned sour and hostile toward Naruto. Faces that had been pleasant moments before now registered dislike.
Naruto could feel it. His smile faded and he took a half-step back, looking at the floor—clearly uncomfortable.
Raftra, carrying a tray from the kitchen, noticed the scene at once. He placed the plates on a table with a courteous smile and then went to Naruto without hesitation.
"Maybe I should go home, I left something there," Naruto muttered.
"Why leave already? You just arrived," Raftra replied warmly.
Naruto lifted his head slightly, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something but stopped. The hostile stares made him want to run.
Raftra sighed softly and, without ceremony, reached for Naruto's hand. "Come with me."
Naruto was startled, then complied. Raftra led him past the stares to sit beside Kakashi at the register. Kakashi only glanced once, offering no comment.
Raftra crouched to be level with Naruto and asked gently, "What would you like to eat?"
Naruto shook his head quickly. "I... I'm not hungry. I just came to visit."
Raftra studied him for a long moment. From Naruto's expression he guessed the truth. 'He just doesn't have the money, not that he isn't hungry,' Raftra thought.
He smiled and patted Naruto's shoulder. "Then don't worry. It's free."
Naruto froze for a beat, his eyes widened and the gloom on his face turned into sparkling delight. "Really?!"
"Yes, really," Raftra said with casual assurance.
Naruto bowed quickly, beaming. "Thank you so much!"
Raftra returned to the kitchen and in no time prepared a plate of warm fried rice and crisp breaded chicken. He set it on a tray and placed it before Naruto at the register.
"Eat," Raftra said with a faint smile.
Naruto didn't need to be told twice. He dove in, tasting the fried rice and biting into the chicken with evident relish. His face lit up.
Kakashi sat beside him, relaxed but watchful, as if on guard.
Raftra sat across from Naruto with his arms folded. No new customers arrived for a moment, giving them a short breather and a chance to observe the shop's rhythm.
Mouth full, Naruto managed to speak through a mouthful, somewhat messy, "Your cooking… it's really good! Just like before."
Raftra chuckled and nodded. "Of course it's still good. Do you think I'd lower the quality?"
He tapped his chest confidently. "I'm skilled at this."
Naruto glanced at him and laughed softly. "Heh… yeah." He then returned to his meal, spoon moving between plate and mouth.
When Naruto swallowed the last bite, Raftra spoke in a relaxed tone. "From today on, you can eat here for free. Three meals a day, up to two dishes at each meal."
Naruto stopped mid-chew, staring in surprise.
Kakashi turned his head slightly, curious.
"Free?! Every day?!" Naruto blurted, eyes wide. "You don't have to do that. You could end up losing money!"
Raftra shook his head serenely. "I won't lose. Actually… the Hokage and I made an agreement."
He reached into his pocket and produced a sheet of paper with a forged signature. "Each week, he'll 'pay' for your meals according to how many portions you eat."
Naruto's eyes popped, he grabbed the paper. "What!? Seriously!? So… he made a contract like this?"
"Yes," Raftra nodded firmly. "But it's a secret. Don't tell anyone. The Hokage doesn't want you to know he's being kind in secret. So pretend you don't know."
Naruto studied the paper, a mix of joy and bewilderment warming his chest. "But… why would he do this for me?"
Raftra regarded him kindly. "Because Hokage considers you his grandson. Isn't it natural for a grandfather to care for his grandchild?"
Naruto froze, then his cheeks flushed. A strange, comforting warmth swelled in his chest. He lowered his head, his lips trembling.
Raftra reached out and tousled Naruto's hair. "Remember, don't let the Hokage know about this."
Naruto looked up, his grin wide, eyes squinting with happiness. "Okay! I'll pretend I don't know!"
Kakashi, sitting beside them, remained silent with narrowed eyes behind his mask. He knew the paper was fake. Yet seeing Naruto's genuine smile, he chose to stay quiet, allowing the small lie to live.
'A fake contract, huh… what are you planning now, Raftra?' Kakashi mused.
Raftra watched Naruto clutch the paper, his smile unguarded and sincere. The warmth around the register felt real.
But inside Raftra, a plan formed. 'With this fake contract I can make Naruto come here every day. If he comes regularly, the bond between the three of us—me, Kakashi, and Naruto—will grow stronger.'
He crossed his arms, feigning ease while his mind spun. 'Moreover, the fake contract will be a bridge. If Naruto comes to believe Hiruzen cares for him as a grandfather, my next task will be to reinforce that belief—make Hiruzen see Naruto as a true grandson.'
'If that succeeds… their bond will strengthen further.'
Raftra tilted his head toward Kakashi, who sat composed with folded arms. Behind the mask, Kakashi seemed calm, but Raftra knew better than to judge by appearances.
'As for Kakashi… he's probably already aware. I'm certain he knows the contract is bogus.'
A faint smile lifted Raftra's lips. 'If so, my approach with Kakashi must be different. Not deceit, but rather open manipulation—honesty will be far more effective.'
Raftra patted Naruto's shoulder as if nothing were amiss, eyes casually flicking to Kakashi to gauge any small reaction from the sharp-eyed shinobi.
'Forgive me, everyone… from today I will begin to play you all.'
'But I have to prepare myself because I'm sure this will be difficult and has a 90% chance of failure.'