Chapter 15: How to Redo a Ruined Sand Sculpture
"Chōchō, is the ramen here really as good as you say it is?"
Boruto followed behind Akimichi Chōchō as he spoke. Beside him were Sarada, Mitsuki, and Hinata Hanabi, who was sticking close to Boruto's side.
"Of course! It's as delicious as chips and burgers."
Akimichi Chōchō, a major patron of the Shunhi shop, was also the daughter of Akimichi Chōji, one of the Twelve Little Heroes of Konoha.
"I don't think anything my idiot old man likes could taste better than a burger."
Boruto replied indifferently.
"Eh? The Seventh likes ramen too?"
Sarada asked curiously. Ever since the incident involving Shin Uchiha, her interest in both her father and Naruto had deepened.
"Yeah, that idiot often skips dinner at home to eat ramen instead."
Boruto nodded.
"Boruto, don't talk about your brother-in-law like that."
That was Hanabi speaking. After the older generation either passed on or went through… physical changes, Hanabi had become the beauty representative of Boruto.
"Come on, I just don't think that idiot's some great ninja. He's always spacing out, sleeps in late, and even puts on the wrong shoes. If you ask me, Uncle Sasuke is the real deal."
Compared to his own father, Boruto idolized Sasuke more.
Mysterious.
Powerful.
Cool.
Chōchō led the way up front, fantasizing about the delicious ramen. Mitsuki walked at the rear, smiling as he watched Boruto.
"Eh? Lord Hokage is here too?"
As they stepped into the second branch of Ichiraku Ramen, Chōchō was surprised to see Naruto.
"Idiot old man!"
That was Boruto.
"Dad."
That was Sarada.
"Brother-in-law."
That was Hanabi.
"..."
That was Mitsuki.
"Hey, listen—you could at least learn from Sarada and properly call me 'Dad,' couldn't you?" Naruto turned around to look at his son, then shifted his gaze to Hanabi. "Hanabi, you're here too."
"Idiot old man, what are you doing here?"
Boruto still insisted on calling Naruto that.
Looking at his son, Naruto could only sigh helplessly. "We came to ask Uncle Shunhi some questions, and grabbed some ramen while we were at it."
"Uncle Shunhi? Isn't that the Uchiha clan's Sharingan?!"
Chōchō looked at Shunhi with surprise, catching sight of the single tomoe Sharingan in his eye. Sarada, hearing Chōchō's voice, immediately turned her attention to Shunhi as well.
"Dad, is he also…?"
Sarada quickly asked Sasuke.
"Yeah, he's a survivor of the Uchiha clan."
Since Shunhi only had a one-tomoe Sharingan and not a Mangekyō, they could safely rule out that he was the Flaming Cloud Evil God from S.H.I.E.L.D.
"So, there are other Uchiha clan members left."
Sarada said with awe.
She had been told since childhood that she and her father were the only ones left of the Uchiha.
Sarada had always been curious as to why the Uchiha had been reduced to just the two of them.
"I wouldn't really call myself an Uchiha. I gave up the Uchiha name a long time ago."
No matter the time, the Uchiha name carried baggage. Shunhi had no desire to be associated with it. Even in today's relatively peaceful shinobi world, there was no telling when a hidden villain might suddenly pop out of nowhere.
"A surname can be given up, but blood can't be. Your Sharingan is the best proof of that."
"If you want to use the Uchiha name, you're free to do so."
Sasuke followed up. He was genuinely glad to find another survivor of the Uchiha clan. And now, as the clan head—since there were only three Uchiha left including Shunhi—it still counted.
Since Sasuke had given his blessing, Shunhi using the Uchiha name again wouldn't be a problem.
"Wait a minute, brother-in-law—there's someone else in the house."
Hanabi suddenly spoke. As a member of the Hyuga clan with the Byakugan, her ability to sense chakra was extremely keen.
Many people misunderstood the Byakugan, thinking it was some kind of x-ray or pervy vision, but in reality, it only allowed one to see chakra flow and tenketsu points.
For instance, when Naruto was at rest, his chakra would be evenly distributed throughout his body. But when he prepared a Rasengan, his chakra would begin to flow toward his hand.
The Byakugan's power lay in predicting an enemy's next move by following their chakra flow—letting the user prepare accordingly.
Through her Byakugan, Hanabi could clearly see the chakra of Uchiha Itachi hiding in the bedroom behind Shunhi.
Hearing Hanabi's words, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kakashi immediately assumed battle-ready stances, subtly encircling Shunhi.
Since Shunhi was Uchiha, there was a chance he might know the suspected Uchiha—Flaming Cloud Evil God.
"...Sigh. So you found him after all. Come on out."
Shunhi sighed.
A 13-year-old Uchiha Itachi stepped out.
"His face…"
Kakashi murmured as he looked at the boy.
"That's right—looks just like me at that age. He's my son, Shuyu."
Shunhi said this while sneaking a glance at Sasuke.
What a sin. Not only was he taking advantage of Itachi's name, but he was also taking advantage of Sasuke's too. Sasuke must never find out.
"Shunhi, this is your son? He's already this big? I had no idea you even had a son. So, where's your wife? I've never met her."
Seeing that it was just a child, everyone relaxed their guard.
"My wife died giving birth to Shuyu. And ever since you became a ninja, you haven't kept in touch—of course you wouldn't know I had a kid."
"Speaking of which, today is my son's birthday. Got anything for him?"
Shunhi smoothly added.
Seeing someone her age who was also Uchiha, Sarada happily walked up beside Itachi.
"Really, Shunhi? You're not just making this up, right? We just found out he exists and it's already his birthday? Bit too convenient, don't you think?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"Well then, Kakashi, why don't you make up for all the New Year's money you've owed my son over the years?"
"Don't worry—when you have a son, I'll give him red envelopes too."
Kakashi looked off into the distance at that.
A son?
No wife, where would the son come from?
"Naruto, I've got a favor to ask. My son Shuyu—he's about the age to start school…"
Shunhi began, intending to enroll Uchiha Itachi into the Ninja Academy, but Kakashi cut him off.
"Shunhi, let me handle that."
Kakashi jumped in, mainly to shut Shunhi up before he tried to claim more back pay in red envelopes. Besides, arranging school admissions was hardly difficult for the Sixth Hokage.
"How about putting him in our class?"
Sarada suggested.
"Of course, Sarada."
Naruto readily agreed.
"It's just… the squad's still short a member."
Hanabi pointed out.
"That's okay. I can manage alone."
Uchiha Itachi, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
He naturally understood Shunhi's intent in enrolling him, and as for Shunhi using him like this—he didn't really mind.