The ramen shop was still early and devoid of other customers, giving it a somewhat deserted feel. The air was filled with the rich aroma of pork bone broth, which made one's mouth water.
Teuchi, the soul of the noodle shop, was wearing an apron and was busy behind the stove, kneading dough skillfully and preparing ingredients.
Next to him, a young man with black hair and black eyes, wearing the same apron, was washing dishes and wiping the counter in an orderly fashion, his movements quick and skillful.
It was Shigure.
"Hey! Naruto!" Shigure heard the movement at the door, looked up, and saw that it was Naruto and the others. A teasing smile appeared on his face, and he greeted them familiarly, "I heard your loud voice from so far away. Why did you come so early today?"
"Hey, Shigure!" Naruto was also overjoyed to see Shigure. He plopped down on the highest stool at the counter and excitedly responded, "We're going on a commission today. Kakashi-sensei is treating, and I want a super-large portion of deluxe chashu miso ramen!"
He familiarly picked up the menu and added, "By the way, Shigure-san, where's Ayame-san? Why didn't I see her today?"
Shigure casually replied while wiping the counter, "Ayame? She's out getting some stock."
In Konohagakure, the handyman at Ichiraku Ramen, Ayame, and Shigure were the few people who didn't look at Naruto with any skepticism.
Shigure, in particular, never discriminated against him. When the shop wasn't busy, Shigure would often sneak out to play with Naruto, teach him quirky games, or just listen to his troubles. As a result, Naruto trusted Shigure immensely.
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura each found a seat and casually ordered their own bowls of ramen.
Kakashi went for a regular miso ramen, Sasuke went for tomato ramen, and Sakura hesitated for a moment, finally, torn between "staying in shape" and "not wanting to waste the teacher's treat," choosing a relatively bland vegetable ramen.
"Okay! One extra-large chashu miso! One miso ramen! One tomato ramen! One vegetable ramen!" Shigure wrote down the orders, then expertly walked over to the stove and began cooking the noodles, mixing the broth, and adding the toppings.
He'd been helping out in the kitchen for years, and the old man had taught him everything he knew about ramen. While he might not have surpassed him, he'd at least mastered it.
"Sigh... I'm a distinguished 21st-century psychologist, but I've traveled to the Ninja World, and instead of learning Flying Thunder God Jutsuor the Rasengan, my first skill maxed out is... cooking Ichiraku ramen? What the hell!"
Although he was complaining madly in his heart, Shigure's hands did not slow down at all. Soon, four bowls of steaming and fragrant ramen were ready.
"Here it is! Noodles for guests!" Shigure brought bowls of ramen to the counter.
"Wow! It smells so good!" Naruto looked at the super luxurious ramen in front of him that was piled with barbecued pork, soft-boiled egg, narutomaki, dried bamboo shoots, and seaweed, and his mouth was almost watering.
He put his hands together and said with full energy: "I'm starting!"
Then he couldn't wait to pick up the bowl of noodles that was bigger than his face, buried his head in it, and started the "slurping" storm inhalation mode, splashing the soup everywhere, and the way he ate was hard to describe.
"Hey, Naruto, you're eating so ugly!" Sakura, standing next to him, immediately flashed a look of disdain. She turned to Sasuke on the other side and praised him in a sickly sweet voice, "Sasuke-kun is so elegant. Even the way you eat is so handsome. You're truly worthy of being a young master of the prestigious Uchiha family."
Sasuke ignored Sakura's infatuation and, like a nobleman, scooped up a handful of noodles with his chopsticks and placed them in his mouth with perfect grace, chewing them slowly.
Naruto, hearing Sakura's words, raised his head in dissatisfaction, his mouth full of noodles as he mumbled a retort, "Ugh, you annoying guy, trying to be cool again! Ramen is supposed to be eaten in big mouthfuls, I tell you." He slurped another huge mouthful of broth, making a loud noise, deliberately irritating Sakura.
"You..." Sakura's forehead throbbed with anger.
Kakashi looked at the three energetic brats before him and shook his head helplessly, feeling his stomach begin to ache. He silently ate the ramen in his bowl, while his one exposed eye calmly observed Naruto, who was also engrossed in his eating.
The time... was almost right.
Kakashi put down his chopsticks and, pretending to be nonchalant, asked, "Speaking of which, Naruto..."
"Hmm?" Naruto looked up, soup still smeared around his lips.
Kakashi looked at him and asked in a tone that tried to sound casual, "Do you... remember what your parents... looked like?"
"Huh?"
Naruto was stunned at the words. His azure eyes, which had previously sparkled with the delicious food, dimmed in an instant. The atmosphere of the entire ramen shop seemed to have become somewhat heavy because of Kakashi's question.
Sakura and Sasuke also stopped eating and looked at Kakashi in surprise, wondering why their teacher would suddenly ask such a question.
Naruto lowered his head, looking at the remaining noodles in his bowl, and was silent for a moment. He looked at Kakashi, bewildered and puzzled. "Kakashi-sensei...w-why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"Everyone... feels strange today. First, Sakura inexplicably hit me, then Sasuke looked at me strangely, and now even Kakashi-sensei is asking such a strange question..."
He pursed his lips, his voice lowered, with a hint of subtle loss and bewilderment in his voice. "My parents' appearance...how could I possibly know...I..."
He paused, as if remembering something, and shook his head vigorously, forcing a smile, though it looked uglier than crying.
"Ever since I can remember... I've always been alone... I've never... seen them."
Kakashi's heart clenched as he watched Naruto's expression, feigning strength but unable to conceal his disappointment. He realized his question had been too direct, too cruel.
"Ah... sorry, Naruto," Kakashi apologized hastily, his voice a little dry. "Sensei was just... asking casually. I didn't mean anything by it."
"No, it's okay!" Naruto immediately looked up, flashing a heartless, bright smile at Kakashi, waving his hands vigorously. "I've gotten used to it. I don't know who they are anyway, so there's no point trying to figure it out. Eating ramen is more important! Hehe!"
Despite his words, the desolation etched beneath his smile didn't escape Kakashi's notice. Naruto was naturally optimistic, or perhaps he was used to masking his inner pain with a carefree smile. It wasn't the first day he hadn't known who his parents were. While he still occasionally felt sad and envious, he quickly adjusted.
He lowered his head, no longer dwelling on the question, and continued to devour his beloved ramen, as if only the delicious taste of food could fill the emptiness in his heart.
Kakashi's expression darkened as he watched Naruto, absorbed in his ramen.
"Sure enough... he has no idea what his parents look like or sound like... Then what I saw... and heard in my dream last night... couldn't possibly be a reflection of Naruto's subconscious!"
This completely overturned one of his previous assumptions.
"So... what exactly is that being who can accurately recreate Kushina-senpai's appearance and voice in dreams? And what is its purpose?"
Question after question weighed heavily on Kakashi's heart, making the ramen in his bowl seem bland.
Behind the counter, Shigure, who was methodically clearing the dishes, took in all this. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly at Kakashi's furrowed brow, his solemn gaze, and the flicker of inquiry and fear in his eyes.
"Tsk tsk... As expected of a man who could become the Sixth Hokage, a former Anbu captain, a copy ninja, and a Konoha technician... Such sharpness, such analytical ability, tsk tsk tsk... But..."
"Go ahead, go ahead! Even if you were the famous detective Kakashi, using your Sharingan as a magnifying glass, you'd never find the clue to a mediocre ramen shop."
At this thought, Shigure's lips curled up once again in a delighted and mysterious arc. Kakashi's efforts were destined to be in vain.
The somewhat strange breakfast atmosphere quickly ended. Kakashi paid the bill with a heavy heart. The three young members of Team 7 also ate and drank their fill.
"Shigure, we're leaving," Naruto said, contentedly standing up and rubbing his round belly. He announced triumphantly to Shigure, who was wiping the table, "We're off on a great ninja mission. The kind only a true ninja can undertake. It's incredibly powerful and dangerous. Just wait here for my triumphant return, hahaha."
Shigure couldn't help but smile at his excitement, as if he were about to save the world. He waved goodbye. "Okay, be careful."
"Silly boy... a dangerous mission... just wait to catch cats, walk dogs, and weed. But..."
Shigure's gaze fell on Naruto's energetic figure, a look that grew meaningful.
"Today isn't all bad for you. At least... tonight you'll finally find out..."
"What your parents... are really like."
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Early chapter @ patreon.com/Reborn_noob