Under the scorching sun, several youths sweated and spent their youth in an open field.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
Water and fire mingled, and a large amount of steam permeated the air.
"No more fighting, that's enough for today."
Ren waved away the steam that floated in front of him. He looked at the two who had stopped in the field and said.
Uchiha Ryufeng and Uchiha Shisui looked at each other, then nodded and walked towards him.
"Shisui, it seems you're adapting well, so I don't have to worry."
Ren smiled as he looked at Uchiha Shisui.
After an afternoon of training, Uchiha Shisui could barely keep up with the pace.
This also made Ren sigh, as expected of a genius from the Uchiha Clan.
"Yes, Ren, I will continue to work hard in the future."
Uchiha Shisui rubbed the back of his head and responded to Ren with a smile.
"Let's go get some late-night ramen. It's on me, to celebrate Shisui's joining."
Ren put his arms around their necks, dragging them out of the open field.
"No need, Ren, how can I let you? I'll treat you guys."
Shisui quickly waved his hands, then turned to Ren and said.
"Don't be polite with him. It's rare for him to treat, so you might as well eat."
Uchiha Ryufeng patted Shisui's shoulder, indicating not to be polite with Ren, as Ren's chances of treating were few.
Before long, the three arrived on Konoha Main Street. It was already getting dark, and the shops on both sides of the street had lit up with scattered lights.
Most of the shops had already closed, with only a few scattered stalls still open.
Ren ignored the roadside stalls and led the two straight to Ichiraku Ramen.
"Ren, where are we going for late-night ramen?"
Shisui looked at Ren in confusion, not knowing their destination.
"You'll know when we get there. It'll leave a deep impression on you."
Ren chuckled, simply leading the way.
"This route… are we going to Ichiraku Ramen?"
Ryufeng, who was beside him, glanced at Shisui and answered lazily.
"ramen, huh…"
Although Shisui was still a bit curious, he didn't ask further. He would know once they arrived anyway.
"We're here!"
After turning a corner, a simple, single-story building came into view. The bright light from inside shone through the door curtain, casting beams of light onto the street.
"Let's go, I can't wait to eat ramen!"
Ren licked the corner of his mouth, pulling the two and quickly walking towards the shop.
"Welcome! Oh, it's Ren, good evening!"
Teuchi, hearing the commotion, turned his head to welcome the customers. After seeing their faces, he realised it was his regular customer, Ren.
"Uncle Teuchi, I brought my friends to support your business."
Ren said with a wide grin.
For the past few years, Ren, after every training session, always liked to come to Ichiraku to eat a bowl of hot ramen, giving his body a relaxing process after training.
Gradually, he became familiar with Ichiraku.
Occasionally, Teuchi would even add an extra slice of char siu for Ren.
"What would you like to order, customers?"
"I'll have a large miso ramen."
"I'll have a large soy sauce ramen."
"I'll have a large tonkotsu ramen."
"Please give me a large salt ramen, thank you."
Hmm? Something seemed off?
The three suddenly turned their heads, only to see a person already sitting in the adjacent seat, smiling at Uncle Teuchi.
"Alright, please wait a moment, customers."
Teuchi took the menu and walked to the back kitchen, starting to cook the ramen.
"You are?"
Uchiha Ryufeng looked at the smiling stranger with some caution.
"Hello, my name is Minato Namikaze. I'm not an enemy. I just passed by and wanted some late-night ramen. No ill intentions."
…
Oh my god!
Ren internally exclaimed, "Oh my god, what's wrong with this Ninja World? Why have I been encountering these big shots these past two days? My heart can't take it anymore."
He looked at the golden-haired handsome man across from him, whose blue eyes blinked as he gazed their way. His golden hair fell to his collarbone, he wore a Konoha Jonin vest, and his smile made people feel sunny and warm.
Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
The Fourth Hokage of the Leaf Village, the Fourth Hokage of the Leaf Village of the Land of Fire, a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, and the father of the protagonist Uzumaki Naruto.
He succeeded to the position of Hokage shortly after the Third Shinobi World War ended. Due to his frequent victories through speed in battles, he earned the title of "Yellow Flash" and became famous throughout the Ninja World. He was one of Konoha's heroes during the Third Shinobi World War. After sacrificing his life to seal the Nine-Tailed and save the Village, he was hailed as the hero who protected Konoha. The Fourth Hokage.
He possessed a tolerant and gentle personality, a sunny, handsome, and kind man. He was shy, but also had a serious and cautious side when dealing with enemies. He was a bit of a natural airhead and liked to give his techniques exceptionally long names.
Currently, he was already an elite Jonin of Konoha. As a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, he was already quite well-known in Konoha.
Having just returned from a mission, he passed by Ichiraku and thought of having a bowl of ramen, thus coincidentally meeting the three.
"Hello, Jonin Minato, I am Hoshimi Ren, and these are Shisui and Ryufeng. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ren was the first to greet him and introduced the three of them.
"Hello, everyone."
Minato Namikaze responded with a smile, his smile never fading, as if he treated everyone with the same gentle and sunny demeanour.
However, only his comrades knew that his gentleness was reserved for them. On the battlefield, Minato Namikaze was the renowned "Yellow Flash."
Every title was accompanied by a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
"Sage Jiraiya"
"Cold Lord Orochimaru"
"Ninja World Shura Uchiha Madara"
"Ninja God Senju Hashirama"
And countless other titled masters.
"A combination of two Uchiha youths and one civilian youth, huh?"
Looking at the clan crests on the backs of Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Ryufeng, Minato Namikaze subtly shifted his gaze.
"Hoshimi? This surname sounds familiar. May I ask your father's name?"
Minato Namikaze looked at Ren with some confusion, seeking an answer.
"My father is Hoshimi Miaten, Jonin Minato, do you know my father?"
Ren looked at Minato with a puzzled expression and then answered.
"So it was Senior Miaten. Yes, I once performed a mission with Senior Miaten. He was a very reliable senior, but it's a pity…"
Minato suddenly remembered that Senior Miaten had sacrificed himself two years ago, and quickly stopped himself.
"Is that so…?"
Ren looked a bit downcast. Minato Namikaze, realising his slip of the tongue, quickly apologised.
"I'm sorry, I spoke out of turn."
"It's alright, Jonin Minato. I have already inherited my father's and mother's will. I will strive to become stronger with their expectations and live happily."
Ren swept away his previous downcast expression, raised his head, and revealed a sunny smile just like Minato Namikaze's.
"Is that so…? I understand, Ren-kun."
Minato Namikaze paused for a moment, then looked at Ren and also showed a smile.
"Ramen's here!"
At this moment, Teuchi brought out four bowls of ramen.
As a steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of each of them, all of them involuntarily swallowed their saliva.
"Let's eat! X4!"
The four said in unison.
Then, at the same time, they picked up their chopsticks and began to devour their food.
In the dark corner, under the small shop.
The silent night quietly arrived…