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Chapter 7: The Bond of Ramen
"Sorry for the wait, Naruto! One miso tonkotsu chashu ramen coming up!"
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, steaming hot vapors carried rich aromas that hit him full force. Teuchi-ojisan cheerfully set down a bowl of ramen wreathed in white steam, thick slices of golden chashu pork arranged generously over the noodles, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg cut into a crescent moon that gleamed enticingly at the edges.
"Thanks, old man."
Naruto accepted the bowl with both hands, thanking him while trying to appear calm. He stared at the gently swaying noodles in the broth, struggling to control his facial muscles.
Just as I expected! Just as I expected! Just as I expected!
No, he couldn't start grinning yet... at least not until he got home!
Just moments ago, the instant Naruto had stepped into Ichiraku Ramen, a crisp notification had chimed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host: Bond established with canonical character "Teuchi (Ichiraku-ojisan)" - Level 5!]
[Points obtained: 500!]
Jackpot!
He suppressed the urge to pump his fist in celebration and buried his face in a massive slurp of noodles. The scalding broth exploded across his tongue, familiar happiness instantly filling his chest—but what made his heart race even faster was the skyrocketing number on his system interface.
Who would have thought this bond was already at Level 5... worth five hundred points!
That's right—if he had to list Naruto's earliest bonds, Ichiraku-ojisan would definitely rank first. Ever since he was a child rejected by the villagers, this little ramen shop had been the only place that wouldn't look at him with disgust.
It seemed the deeper the impact on the story, the more points he'd receive. Bond levels were essentially a measure of emotional connection.
Although Ichiraku-ojisan's bond was Level 5—five times higher than Satsuki's—they gave the same 500 points. But thinking about it carefully, in terms of impact on the original plot, no one could compare to his future rival and best friend—Uchiha Sasuke... now Uchiha Satsuki.
In this world, aside from his long-deceased parents Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, Ichiraku-ojisan was the first person to actively show Naruto unconditional kindness.
You had to understand—in an era when even some uninformed shinobi displayed disgust toward Naruto, this ordinary civilian had never once believed the malicious rumors about the "demon fox." He simply warmed the lonely Naruto with pure kindness.
It could be said that besides Iruka, Ichiraku-ojisan's contribution to preventing Naruto from walking a dark path absolutely couldn't be overlooked.
Despite having already eaten his bento, Naruto continued stuffing ramen into his mouth with gusto. The steaming noodles wrapped in rich broth, the fatty but not greasy chashu—this really was Konoha's time-honored establishment, a shop even the Hokage frequented regularly. The taste was truly impeccable.
However, for a three-year-old who had just finished a bento, consuming an entire bowl of ramen was quite the challenge. Halfway through, Naruto's pace noticeably slowed, his little belly already round as a drum.
Teuchi-ojisan poked his head out from the kitchen, his perpetually squinting eyes crinkling with concern. "What's wrong, Naruto? You're eating so slowly—is today's ramen not to your taste?"
"No, no!" Naruto quickly shook his head. "Ojisan's ramen is as delicious as always! It's just..." He scratched his head sheepishly. "I brought a bento today and ate it first because I thought I wasn't full, but now..."
Teuchi-ojisan chuckled understandingly. "Ah, so you misjudged the portions. Well, as long as the ramen tastes right. If you really can't finish it, leaving some is fine—better than making yourself sick."
But Naruto firmly shook his head. "No, I'll finish it all."
Teuchi seemed slightly surprised, though it was hard to tell with his perpetually squinting eyes. Naruto dove back into his bowl, and despite needing to pause for several seconds with each swallow, he persisted until every last drop of broth had been consumed.
"Thanks for the meal!"
Naruto patted his bulging little belly with satisfaction, skillfully counting out 75 ryo from his small wallet and arranging the coins neatly on the counter.
As Teuchi collected the dishes, his voice carried a hint of reproach. "Naruto, children really shouldn't overeat like this. You could make yourself sick. Why didn't you just leave some? It's only one bowl of ramen."
Naruto kept his head down. "...Because it was too delicious, so I didn't want to waste any."
"That's certainly a reason that makes me happy," Teuchi wiped his hands, concern evident even through his squinting eyes, "but you can't use that as an excuse to hurt your body."
"Mm..." Naruto looked up, his azure eyes sparkling with sincerity. "Then, what if I said ojisan's ramen is healing? Would that work as an excuse?"
"Healing?" Teuchi laughed helplessly, shaking his head. "Now that's quite an exaggeration. The ramen is delicious, sure, but it's not that miraculous."
"No, I'm being serious." Naruto suddenly straightened up, his small face solemn. "Because Ichiraku-ojisan's ramen really is healing."
His voice grew quieter: "The first time I came to eat ojisan's ramen... back then, for some reason, none of the villagers would sell me anything. It was raining that day, and they wouldn't even let me take shelter anywhere..."
Teuchi's movements froze. The memory surfaced clearly—that tiny figure soaked by rain, standing alone outside his shop, golden hair plastered to pale cheeks, looking utterly pitiful.
"My stomach hurt from hunger, and I was shivering from the cold..." Naruto continued. "But ojisan called me in on your own. You even treated me to a hot bowl of ramen..."
His voice suddenly brightened, his face blooming with a radiant smile: "That's when I discovered what an amazing thing it was to eat ramen when you're truly hungry!"
"So—" Naruto planted both hands on the counter, his eyes sparkling as his voice filled with barely contained joy, "every time I eat ojisan's ramen after that, I feel especially happy and warm inside! That's exactly why I never want to leave even a single drop of any ramen you make for me!"
When he finished speaking, Teuchi turned away, his back to Naruto, shoulders trembling slightly. He deliberately used a tone that was helpless yet tinged with affection: "Alright, alright, I guess you've convinced me. When you put it that way, there really is no way to leave ramen unfinished..."
At an angle where Naruto couldn't see, Teuchi raised his weathered hand and quickly wiped at his slightly heated eyes. Then he pulled a small card from his apron pocket and carefully wrote something with a ballpoint pen.
"Here, Naruto." He turned around and handed the card to Naruto, his squinting eyes brimming with warmth. "Take this."
Naruto's eyes widened. "This is... could it be?!"
Teuchi nodded, his voice gentle. "That's right. When someone appreciates my ramen this much, there's nothing that makes a chef happier. Consider it... a special gift for a customer who truly understands good food."
The card bore clear writing:
[Ichiraku Ramen Special Guest Pass]
• Miso Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen (One Serving)
• Valid: Forever
It was Naruto's absolute favorite flavor.
As Naruto clutched the precious card with trembling hands, his heart swelled with an emotion that transcended the simple joy of free ramen. This wasn't just a meal ticket—it was proof that someone in this village saw him as worthy of kindness, worthy of a gift given freely without expectation of return.
[Ding!]
[Bond with "Teuchi (Ichiraku-ojisan)" has deepened!]
[New bond level: 6]
[Additional points obtained: 100]
Six hundred points total, Naruto thought, his adult mind quickly calculating while his six-year-old body practically vibrated with excitement.
Just one more bond like this and I'll have enough for my first ten-pull draw.
But more than the system rewards, more than the promise of power and jutsu, what filled his chest with warmth was something simpler and more precious—the knowledge that in this world of suspicion and hatred, there were still people like Teuchi-ojisan who chose to see a lonely child instead of a monster.
"Ojisan," Naruto said softly, his voice thick with emotion he couldn't quite hide, "thank you. For everything."
Teuchi's smile was visible even through his perpetual squint. "Don't mention it, Naruto. Just... try not to overeat next time, alright?"
As Naruto stepped out into the evening air, the precious guest pass safely tucked in his pocket, he couldn't help but grin. The system was just the beginning—but bonds like this? These were what would truly make this second life worth living.
Now... he thought, his mind already racing with possibilities.
Let's see what other connections I can build. This world is about to become a lot more interesting.
The Hokage Monument loomed in the distance, and somewhere in this village, a certain Uchiha girl was probably practicing her shuriken throws, unaware that she'd just helped activate something that would change both their destinies forever.
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