Pushing aside the heavy noren curtain, a rich, savory aroma surged forward, instantly dispelling the biting chill of the Konoha night. The interior of Ichiraku Ramen was a bastion of warmth and golden light, standing in stark defiance of the bleak, snowy world outside.
"Yo! Naruto, you're here early!"
Teuchi, the shop's owner, greeted him with a practiced, fatherly smile. Behind his steam-fogged apron, he moved with the efficiency of a veteran, his eyes crinkling as he spotted his most frequent customer.
Naruto, moving with the ease of one in his own home, hopped onto the center stool at the counter. "Teuchi-ossan! One bowl of Miso Tonkotsu—extra narutomaki and bamboo shoots!"
It was his signature "luxury" configuration. In his previous life, Naruto hadn't cared much for bamboo shoots, but in this world, they were a textured delicacy he had grown to crave. Bamboo shoots are the soul of the bowl, he mused, a small, genuine spark of joy in his eyes.
He turned to Hinata, who was perching tentatively on the stool beside him, her posture rigid. His voice softened, taking on a lighter, more inviting cadence. "What about you, Hinata? The Miso and Chashu here are top-tier. You won't find better in the Land of Fire."
Hinata's hands were clamped neatly over her knees. Feeling the curious, albeit kind, gazes of Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, a faint crimson bloom spread across her cheeks. She lowered her head, her voice a mere whisper that somehow carried through the steam.
"I'll... I'll have the same as Naruto-kun."
"You heard her, old man. Make it two!"
"Coming right up! Two specials, extra naruto and bamboo!" Teuchi gave Naruto a meaningful, sidelong glance—a silent "look-at-you" that spoke volumes. Naruto had brought Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, and even that quiet Aburame boy here before, but this was the first time he had arrived with a girl in tow.
As the steam rose in fragrant clouds, the ambient warmth began to melt Hinata's icy reserve. For a fleeting moment, the ramen shop felt like a sanctuary—a hidden pocket of peace where the heavy expectations of the Hyuga Clan could not reach her.
Outside, the wind howled, whipping snow against the streetlamps. At a nearby corner, two figures materialized from the gloom. Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Noble House, walked with a measured, imperial gait toward the light of the shop. His expression was a mask of cold stone, his Byakugan scanning the heat signatures within.
He had taken only a few steps when a hand, gnarled but steady and holding a long-stemmed pipe, blocked his path.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood there, a thin layer of snow clinging to the brim of his Hokage hat. He looked as though he had been part of the landscape for hours.
"Lord Third," Hiashi said, his eyes flickering. He and the clansmen behind him immediately dropped into a respectful bow.
The Sandaime reached out, his hand resting firmly on Hiashi's arm to arrest the gesture. "No need for formalities, Hiashi."
Hiashi straightened, his gaze drifting back toward the noren curtain. "That boy's identity is... unique. It is politically unwise for my daughter to be seen in such proximity to him. I will take her home now."
"Hiashi."
The word was quiet, but it carried the absolute gravity of the "Professor" of Shinobi. Hiruzen took a deep draw from his pipe, the cherry-red ember glowing brightly in the dusk before he exhaled a long, swirling plume of smoke.
"We should not interfere too heavily in the affairs of children," Hiruzen said, his gaze distant. "Naruto carries a heavy burden, yet he remains remarkably cheerful. Because of his 'status,' few in this village have the courage to approach him. And yet, the Nara boy has already accepted him. Why do you still hesitate?"
He turned his gaze fully onto Hiashi, the depth of his experience reflecting in his dark eyes. "I recall your daughter Hinata is quite introverted. She struggles to find her footing among her peers at the Academy, does she not?"
Without waiting for a response, the Hokage continued, his voice a silken blend of persuasion and authority. "Look at them. Two lonely souls have found a point of contact. One stepped forward to protect, and the other offered sincere gratitude. If they forge a bond now, it could become the very strength that supports them on their respective paths."
The orange light of the pipe highlighted the deep furrows in Hiruzen's brow. "Isn't that a good thing? For both of them?"
Hiashi's Byakugan hummed. He could "see" through the walls of the shop. He saw the slight curve of Hinata's eyes—the relaxed set of her shoulders. It had been years since he had seen his daughter look so... unburdened.
Seeing Hiashi remain silent, Hiruzen sighed inwardly. The Hyuga were peerless in their loyalty, but their adherence to tradition was a cage that often blinded them. He put the pipe back to his lips and spoke again, his tone peaceful but now carrying a sharp, undeniable edge.
"Let them finish their ramen in peace, Hiashi." He paused, letting the cold wind emphasize his next words. "Consider this a Hokage's order."
The finality of the statement hit Hiashi like a physical weight. He stiffened, the political reality of the command overriding his clan instincts. He bowed once more, his voice low.
"Yes, Lord Third."
The meal was a success. With the hot broth warming his core, Naruto felt his very fingertips tingling with life. He pulled out his small, frog-shaped wallet, carefully counting out the ryo with a practiced hand.
"Teuchi-ossan, Ayame-neechan, thank you for the food!"
"Come back soon, Naruto!" Ayame chirped, her eyes dancing between the shy heiress and the golden-haired boy.
As they stepped back into the night, the snow had lessened, though the cold remained biting. Naruto adjusted his scarf, his analytical mind already mapping the route ahead.
"I know where your compound is," he said firmly. "I've seen it during my morning laps. It's dark and the streets are slick—I'll walk you to the gate."
Hinata looked up at him. Under the pale glow of the streetlamps, Naruto's hair seemed to radiate its own light. He looked like a small, defiant winter sun. She wanted to protest, to tell him she didn't want to be a bother, but the sincerity in his blue eyes was an anchor she wasn't ready to let go of.
"I... I would like that, Naruto-kun."
They walked in a comfortable silence, the crunch of their boots on the fresh powder the only sound in the sleeping village. But as they turned the final corner toward the imposing gates of the Hyuga Estate, Naruto's stride came to an abrupt halt.
Standing directly beneath a flickering streetlamp were two figures. Hiashi Hyuga stood with his arms crossed, his traditional robes shifting slightly in the wind. His Byakugan eyes were cold, fixated on the two children with the predatory stillness of a high-ranking shinobi. Beside him, a grim-faced guardian stood like a statue of ice.
The atmosphere shifted instantly, the warmth of the ramen shop replaced by the oppressive gravity of one of the world's most powerful clans.