Seeing Uchiha Madara's sudden appearance, every shinobi present involuntarily took a step back, their bodies tensing reflexively.
This was because the aura radiating from Madara was far too overwhelming!
Having just fought Senju Hashirama, even though Madara had restrained his terrifying presence, the residual intensity from the fierce battle still made every shinobi feel fear and awe.
Madara's cold gaze swept over the crowd.
"Where is Yuto?"
He turned to the Mist shinobi, his tone detached.
Facing Madara's query, the Mist shinobi at the front shuddered.
Just as he was about to answer…
"Hm? Over there?"
Madara seemed to sense something, eyes narrowing slightly.
In the next instant, his figure moved and vanished.
The shockwave from his movement forced every surrounding shinobi back another step.
Only after Madara had completely disappeared from view did the crowd slowly recover.
"Terrifying aura."
"Just standing before him made my body tremble."
Murmurs of lingering fear rose among them.
Inside Ichiraku Ramen…
Yuto, Terumi Mei, and Haku were eating ramen, satisfaction on their faces.
"As expected of Konoha's Ichiraku Ramen."
Yuto sipped the broth, exhaled a breath of steam, and sighed in appreciation.
At that moment, Terumi Mei and Haku simultaneously changed expression. They jerked their heads up, rose quickly, and turned toward the entrance.
Both wore expressions of unprecedented gravity and caution, ready to fight at any moment.
Meanwhile, Yuto, sitting to the side, merely glanced up, then let out a soft sigh. A hint of regret crossed his face.
But that expression lasted only an instant before disappearing.
Yuto continued eating his ramen, looking perfectly at ease.
Clang… clang…
A figure lifted the curtain at Ichiraku Ramen's entrance and stepped inside, causing the bells on either side to chime.
Uchiha Madara!
Had Senju Hashirama lost?
Seeing the figure enter, Terumi Mei and Haku's pupils contracted simultaneously, their bodies tensing.
Madara entered bare-chested, his pants tattered, shoes gone at some point, walking barefoot on the floor.
Strangely, Madara's body showed not a single wound.
But both Terumi Mei and Haku could clearly see the fatigue etched between his brows.
Madara's gaze landed directly on Yuto, who was hunched over his bowl eating.
"Seems your side of the battle was far easier than expected."
Madara's voice was flat as he walked toward Yuto.
As for Terumi Mei and Haku standing on either side, Madara's eyes never once touched them, as if they did not exist.
He strode casually past them, ignoring their wary stares, pulled up a chair beside Yuto, and sat down.
"Among those in Konoha worth calling an opponent, only Senju Hashirama qualifies."
Yuto chewed his ramen while speaking casually.
"You two find somewhere to sit. No need to be so tense."
Yuto wore a helpless expression, his tone relaxed.
Terumi Mei and Haku's lips twitched simultaneously.
Facing Uchiha Madara without tension – in the entire shinobi world, only you could do that.
"Bring me one as well."
Madara looked at the trembling father and Ayame, his face expressionless.
Facing Madara's gaze, the father's heart lurched with a feeling of facing death.
"What kind of ramen would you like, sir?"
He trembled slightly, voice quavering.
Madara frowned slightly, then looked again: "Just give me the same as theirs."
The father nodded quickly, pulling Ayame toward the kitchen.
"So you won against Senju Hashirama in the end."
Yuto's eyes held a trace of curiosity as he looked at Madara.
"No. I lost."
A flicker of memory crossed Madara's eyes, then he spoke evenly.
"You lost?" Yuto's eyes widened, surprise filling his face.
"However, I was the one who survived."
Madara continued in a flat tone.
"Cough… cough."
Yuto nearly choked on Madara's follow-up.
"Can you finish your sentences in one go?"
"What a shame. I was hoping to fight Senju Hashirama myself."
Yuto's face held an inscrutable expression as he spoke softly.
"Hmph!" Madara snorted lightly, turning to look at Yuto, eyes sharp:
"You're next!"
At those words, the atmosphere inside Ichiraku Ramen instantly grew tense.
"All right, all right. Got it."
Yuto waved his hand and bent over his ramen again.
Soon, a steaming bowl of ramen was prepared, carried trembling from the kitchen, and placed before Madara.
Madara glanced at the ramen, picked up his chopsticks, and devoured it in large bites.
In moments, only the sound of slurping filled the shop.
Seated behind them, Terumi Mei watched with an odd expression as Yuto and Madara ate.
Madara wasn't eating so much as swallowing – shoveling ramen into his mouth without regard for taste, eating purely for the sake of eating.
Yuto had started at a normal pace, but as Madara's speed increased, he matched it.
A minute later, Yuto and Madara set down their bowls simultaneously, then looked up:
"Another bowl!"
"Another bowl!"
The father, startled by their sudden voices, nodded hastily and continued cooking.
Clang… clang…
Just then, the entrance bells chimed again. The curtain lifted, and Uchiha Obito and Sasuke stepped inside.
The moment they entered, they saw Yuto and Madara wolfing down ramen at the counter.
The empty bowls stacked before them made Obito and Sasuke freeze.
But like Terumi Mei and Haku, they found seats on the other side and waited quietly.
Half an hour later, over twenty empty bowls stood before Yuto and Madara.
"I can't eat anymore…"
Yuto looked at the half-eaten ramen before him, burped, and rubbed his stomach helplessly.
Based on the current score, he was three bowls behind Madara.
Madara was simply too much of a glutton. He couldn't win this.
[
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