The next morning at dawn.
Yawning, Uchiha Kai pushed open the door and stepped outside. Breathing in the fresh air, he couldn't help but sigh—another day, full of vitality.
After a quick wash, he headed once more to Ichiraku Ramen. First things first, he had to fill his stomach.
"Ugh, what bad luck."
"Ran into that disgrace of the Uchiha again. Why doesn't he just hurry up and die?"
"Forget it, don't bother with him."
"..."
Along the way, clansmen sneered and spat insults at him.
But—
None of them actually came charging up to demand a duel.
Not that they didn't want to. They just couldn't.
Uchiha Kai's face was so thick it was like a fortress wall. No matter how they mocked him, it had zero effect.
Pick a fight and challenge him to a duel?
Before they even made a move, he would immediately surrender, utterly shameless.
Damn it!
And they couldn't just attack him without reason—that would tarnish the clan's pride. Uchiha pride wouldn't allow them to do something so disgraceful.
So they were stuck.
The most they could do was curse from a distance, but even that happened less and less often these days.
Uchiha Kai: "..."
His eyes narrowed slightly. Looking around at his clansmen, the smile on his face grew even brighter.
He loved this. That look on their faces—furious at him but unable to do a thing about it—it was deliciously satisfying.
So long as no one actually stepped up, he couldn't be bothered to stir the pot. Curling his lips in disdain, he strolled on and arrived at Ichiraku.
"Uncle Teuchi, I'm back again."
"Just whip me up something, I'm starving here."
Uchiha Kai plopped down without the slightest restraint, calling out toward Teuchi inside.
Teuchi chuckled, gave him a nod and a word of greeting, then went back to cooking.
Ayame, however, came storming out, cheeks puffed with anger.
"Uchiha Kai, you're too much!"
"My dad pitied you back then, but you can't just come here every morning freeloading meals!"
"This is just outrageous!"
That's right.
Ichiraku Ramen only opened for lunch and dinner. In the mornings, it was closed.
But seven or eight years ago, right after crossing over, Kai had approached Teuchi with a deal:
He would eat here every lunch and dinner, but in return, Teuchi should make a little extra breakfast when cooking for himself.
Of course, Kai offered to pay.
Teuchi had looked at this orphan—alone, pitiful, with no parents—and sighed. For a kid like that to come negotiate with him face to face took real guts.
So, with a wave of generosity, Teuchi had agreed—waiving his breakfast fee entirely.
Lunch and dinner? He charged only the bare cost.
Even when Kai couldn't pay until the end of the month, Teuchi would still slash the bill down.
In short, Kai had been practically eating here for free all these years.
So when faced with Ayame's anger, Kai suddenly lost his usual bravado.
Awkwardly scratching his head, he quickly spoke up.
"Don't be mad, Ayame!"
"I've graduated now—I'm a proper shinobi. I'll be making money on missions."
"From now on, Uncle Teuchi is my dad, and you're my little sister. I swear I'll take care of you two for life!"
"When Uncle Teuchi retires, his old age is on me!"
Kai puffed out his chest, speaking with unusual seriousness.
And he meant it.
The kindness Teuchi's family had shown him over the years was carved deep in his heart. He wasn't some ungrateful leech. When he had the ability, he'd repay them.
Ayame: "..."
Listening to his shameless words, her eyes rolled so hard they almost stuck.
Unbelievable!
She instantly snapped back.
"Brat, you're thinking way too much."
"I'll be the one taking care of Dad's old age. Who needs a shameless brat like you?"
"Wait—that's not right!"
"I'm older than you by a few months. How did I suddenly become your little sister?!"
Kai burst out laughing.
The two of them bickered back and forth, and before long, the shop was filled with laughter and banter.
For the first time in a while, Kai felt a trace of ease here, a bit of the warmth of a home.
As for the Uchiha clan?
Heh. Not worth mentioning.
"Alright, enough already." Teuchi came out with the food, shaking his head. "Both of you, wash up and eat."
Seeing him intervene, the two immediately broke off, exchanging a last glare before obediently going to wash their hands.
An hour later.
After the three finished their meal, Kai stayed behind to help. Together with Teuchi and Ayame, he got the shop ready for the lunch rush.
Only when noon drew near, after he had wolfed down his lunch, did he finally leave, rubbing his full stomach as he headed home.
Truth be told, he had wanted to keep helping out.
Before, he always left right after eating—because without the system, he had to grind endlessly just to survive.
Now, things were different. The system trained for him.
But unfortunately, Teuchi had disagreed.
"You're a ninja now. In a few days, you'll be sent to the war front. You should be home preparing."
And that was that.
Kai could only shrug. Some things couldn't be explained, so he had no choice but to leave.
Yet as he walked the streets, his brow furrowed slightly.
Since the morning, back when he first arrived at Ichiraku, he had felt it—that faint trace of someone watching him.
And even now, it hadn't gone away.
Who could it be?
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Or Danzo?
Perhaps even Orochimaru?
Several names flitted through his mind, but none stuck.
He'd kept himself so low-key—it made no sense for anyone to pay him attention.
Still, after a moment's thought, he reached a decision.
The best strategy: do nothing.
He was just an Uchiha good-for-nothing. If he acted like he hadn't noticed, then fine.
Before, being tailed might have made him nervous. After all, he used to train in secret every day, terrified of exposure.
But now? Different story.
With his "Lie Flat & Slack Off System," he didn't need to train at all.
Even if they spied on him—what could they see? Nothing!
Realizing this, a faint smile curved his lips.
Calm as ever, he yawned and kept walking home.
Ten minutes later.
Back home, Kai stretched out on the sofa, closed his eyes, and prepared for an afternoon nap.
It was a good habit from his previous life. He hadn't dared before, but now he could bring it back and enjoy it fully.
Swoosh!
Just then, outside the small courtyard, a figure emerged.
Dressed in a black combat suit with a green flak jacket over it, the Uchiha clan crest was stitched onto his sleeve.
Red and white—the flaming fan.