Chapter 9: MeetingIchiraku Ramen—a place that could almost be called a weapon of cause and effect!
Its rise from a small roadside stall to one of the most famous ramen shops in Konohagakure in the future was more than enough proof of its quality. Even during major crises like the Konoha Crush and later invasions, Ichiraku remained open, as if untouched by fate itself. Chika had to admit—she had never tasted ramen this good before.
"By the way, Uncle, give me extra Naruto rolls."
"Huh? Oh… okay, okay!"
Teuchi paused for a moment, then quickly nodded and went back to the kitchen, bringing out a generous portion of narutomaki and adding it into her bowl.
Not only was Teuchi surprised, but Naruto Uzumaki, who was sitting beside Chika, also froze slightly. His name was Naruto, and this fish cake topping was called narutomaki. Because of the coincidence—and because of how the villagers treated him after the Nine-Tails Attack on Konoha—people rarely ordered it anymore, as if even the name itself carried bad luck.
This older sister… is different from other adults!
In Naruto's heart, Chika's importance was rising rapidly. Yet Chika herself remained completely unaware, her only focus being to finish her bowl of Ichiraku ramen.
Slurp~ Slurp~ Slurp~ Bang~
Chika lifted the bowl and drank every last drop of the broth before placing it down with satisfaction.
"Hiccup~ That was amazing! Uncle Teuchi, your shop is definitely going to become the best in Konoha. I have to get going now, so I'll be leaving."
After speaking, Chika stood up, steadying herself against the table as she prepared to leave.
Both Teuchi and Naruto reacted at the same time.
"Huh?!"
"Just one bowl? And all this money…" Teuchi looked at the thick stack of bills Chika had handed him, completely baffled.
"This? I told you, it's for you. If it's not used today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then later~"
Chika waved casually at Naruto, then turned and stepped out of the ramen shop, heading quickly toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.
After she left, Naruto lowered his head to look at the ramen in front of him. After only a second of hesitation, he began eating at the fastest speed he had ever shown, finishing the bowl in no time.
"Uncle! I'll come back tomorrow!"
Naruto jumped down from his seat and dashed out of Ichiraku, leaving behind Teuchi—who had already prepared multiple extra bowls—standing there in stunned silence.
"Can I even finish all this myself…? No, my ramen is delicious. Of course I can!"
Teuchi took a deep breath and began eating with determination. Unfortunately, despite his confidence, he wasn't someone with Choji Akimichi-level appetite. By the third bowl, his stomach was already protesting.
The time was barely early morning. Ichiraku Ramen closed not long after opening that day.
Meanwhile, Chika walked swiftly through the streets of Konoha. As expected, whispers and gossip followed her—after all, she belonged to the Uchiha Clan, and the shadow of the massacre had not yet faded—but she ignored all of it.
A few hundred meters behind her, Naruto was sneakily following, hiding behind corners and walls as he moved.
Of course, Chika had already noticed him. His behavior was obvious with even basic perception—let alone someone accustomed to using the Sharingan. Still, she didn't stop him. If anything, she deliberately slowed her pace.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Before long, Chika arrived at the entrance of the Uchiha compound. Standing at the gate was Sasuke Uchiha, anxiously looking around. The moment he saw her, he rushed forward without hesitation.
"Sister!!!"
"Oh… so you noticed after all. Sasuke, I only went out to eat. Don't worry."
Chika had assumed that her short absence wouldn't be discovered. Clearly, she had underestimated Sasuke's current mental state.
After witnessing the destruction of his clan at the hands of Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke had become extremely sensitive to losing the people he cared about.
It wasn't an exaggeration—his emotional state had already begun shifting toward obsession.
After finishing his earlier meal, Sasuke had gone to train the Great Fireball Technique, but he quickly stopped when he realized Chinatsu hadn't returned.
He searched the house, then her room, and eventually the entire compound. At one point, he even considered running into the village to find her.
But he stopped himself.
Not out of fear—but because he understood his own weakness.
Compared to his sister, who was already capable of fighting like a shinobi, he knew that rushing out blindly could only create trouble. If something happened to him, it would only burden her further.
So he waited.
And waited.
Until now.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you before leaving… or at least left a note."
Chika did her best to comfort him. She truly was trying—after all, before transmigrating, she had never dealt with children like this.
Thankfully, Sasuke was not a troublesome child. Compared to the chaotic "bratty kids" she had seen online, he was quiet—just… emotionally fragile.
Sasuke gradually calmed down.
Just as he was about to take Chika's hand and return inside, his expression suddenly changed.
Something felt wrong.
His gaze shifted past Chika—toward the distance behind her.
A small figure in orange stood there.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
In the next instant, a blood-red hue appeared in his pupils.
The one-tomoe Sharingan—activated.
His vision sharpened instantly. The blurry silhouette became clear.
It was Naruto.
Sasuke frowned.
"That person… looks familiar. But following my sister like that… he can't be trusted."
Meanwhile, Naruto, now realizing he had been noticed, froze slightly. His blue eyes flickered with hesitation as he stared at the gates of the Uchiha compound.
He had heard of this place.
The Uchiha clan—the strongest clan in Konoha, now reduced to almost nothing after the massacre. Even now, villagers still talked about it in hushed voices.
Naruto clenched his fists slightly.
"Uchiha… so that big sister… was actually from the Uchiha clan…"