"Sorry for the wait, Naruto! One Miso Chashu Ramen, coming right up!"
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, hot steam filled the air along with a rich, fragrant aroma. Teuchi, the owner, placed a steaming bowl of ramen before him with a cheerful smile. Thick slices of golden-brown chashu pork covered the noodles, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg, cut into a flawless half-moon, glistened invitingly.
"Thanks, Old Man," Naruto said, taking the bowl with both hands and trying to maintain a calm expression. He stared at the soup's surface, struggling to control his facial muscles.
Just as I thought! Just as I thought! Just as I thought!
Nope, can't smile yet... gotta hold it in until I get home!
Just a moment ago, the instant Naruto had stepped into Ichiraku Ramen, a crisp notification sound had echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host: You have established a bond (Level 5) with the original character "Teuchi (Ichiraku Owner)"!]
[Points Awarded: 500!]
I knew it!
He fought back the urge to punch the air in celebration and instead buried his face in the bowl, slurping up a mouthful of noodles. The piping hot broth exploded on his tongue, and a familiar sense of happiness filled his chest—but what made his heart race even more was the soaring number on his system interface.
I can't believe this bond was already at Level 5... and worth 500 points!
Indeed, if one were to list Naruto's earliest bonds, Teuchi would undoubtedly be at the top. Since he was a child ostracized by the villagers, this small ramen shop had been the only place that didn't look at him with disgust.
It seems the deeper the impact on the story, the more points you get, and the bond level is essentially a reflection of favorability.
Although Teuchi's bond level was high at Level 5, five times that of Satsuki's, the points awarded were the same 500. But thinking about it, in terms of influence on the original story's plot, no one could compare to his future rival and best friend—Sasuke Uchiha... or Satsuki Uchiha, as she was now.
In this world, besides his deceased parents Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, Teuchi was the first person to show Naruto kindness willingly and without asking for anything in return.
In an era where even some ninja who didn't know the full story treated Naruto with aversion, Teuchi, an ordinary person, never believed the rumors about the "demon fox." He simply warmed the lonely Naruto with his own kindness.
It could be said that besides Iruka, Teuchi played a significant role in preventing Naruto from going down a dark path.
Despite having already eaten his bento, Naruto continued to shovel ramen into his mouth. The hot noodles were coated in the rich broth, and the chashu pork was tender and flavorful. It was truly worthy of being a Konoha institution, a place even the Hokage frequented. The taste was impeccable.
However, for a three-year-old who had just eaten, finishing a whole bowl of ramen was a bit of a struggle. Halfway through, Naruto's pace slowed considerably, his small belly already round and full.
Teuchi peeked out from the kitchen, his eyes narrowed into slits. "What's wrong, Naruto? You're struggling a bit. Is today's ramen not to your liking?"
"No, that's not it!" Naruto quickly shook his head. "Your ramen is as delicious as ever, Old Man! It's just..." He scratched his head in embarrassment. "I brought a bento today, but I still felt hungry after eating it, so now..."
Teuchi smiled knowingly and said kindly, "I see, so you misjudged the portion size of your bento. Well, as long as the ramen tastes fine. If you really can't finish it, it's okay to leave some. It's not good to stuff yourself."
But Naruto shook his head firmly. "No, I'm going to finish it."
Teuchi seemed a bit surprised, though it was hard to tell from his squinted eyes. Naruto buried his head in the bowl again, eating in big mouthfuls. Although he had to pause for a few seconds after each swallow, he persisted until the very last drop of broth was gone.
"Thank you for the meal!"
Naruto patted his bulging belly with satisfaction and skillfully counted out 75 Ryo from the small coin purse at his waist, placing it neatly on the counter.
As Teuchi collected the empty bowl, he said in a slightly scolding tone, "Naruto, it's really bad for a child to binge-eat like that. Why didn't you leave some? It's just a bowl of ramen."
Naruto looked down. "...Because it was delicious, so I didn't want to waste any."
"Well, that's a reason that makes me happy," Teuchi said, wiping his hands, his narrowed eyes filled with concern. "But you can't use that as an excuse to mistreat your body."
"Mmm..." Naruto looked up, his blue eyes shining with sincerity. "Well, your ramen is healing, Old Man. Can that be an excuse?"
"Healing?" Teuchi chuckled helplessly and shook his head. "That's quite an exaggeration. My ramen is delicious, but it's not quite at that level."
"No, I'm serious." Naruto suddenly sat up straight, his face full of solemnity. "Because your ramen really is healing, Old Man Teuchi."
His voice grew softer. "The first time I came here... back then, for some reason, no one in the village would sell me anything. It was even raining that day, and they wouldn't even let me take shelter..."
Teuchi's movements paused. The memory surfaced clearly in his mind: that tiny, rain-soaked figure, standing alone outside the shop, golden hair plastered to his pale cheeks, looking utterly pathetic.
"My stomach was hurting from hunger, and I was shivering from the cold..." Naruto continued. "You were the one who called me into the shop. You even treated me to a hot bowl of ramen..."
His voice suddenly became cheerful, and a bright smile bloomed on his face. "That's when I discovered that ramen eaten on an empty stomach is the most amazing thing in the world!"
"So—" Naruto placed his hands on the counter, his eyes sparkling, his voice filled with unconcealed joy, "every time I eat your ramen, I feel incredibly happy and warm inside! That's why I will never, ever waste a single drop of any bowl of ramen you make for me!"
After he finished speaking, Teuchi turned his back to Naruto, his shoulders trembling slightly. He deliberately used a helpless yet doting tone. "Alright, alright, you've convinced me. When you put it like that, I guess you really can't leave any ramen behind..."
Out of Naruto's sight, Teuchi raised a rough hand and quickly wiped at his teary eyes. Then, he pulled a small card from his apron pocket and carefully wrote a line on it with a ballpoint pen.
"Here, Naruto." He turned back around, handing the card to Naruto, his narrowed eyes crinkling with a smile. "Take this."
Naruto's eyes widened. "This... could it be!"
Teuchi nodded, his voice gentle. "That's right. As a chef, there's nothing that makes me happier than someone loving my ramen this much. Think of it as... a special gift for a customer who truly appreciates good food."
Written on the card in clear script was:
[Ichiraku Ramen Special Treat Voucher]
Miso Chashu Ramen (One serving)
Expiration: Permanent
It was Naruto's absolute favorite.
-------
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