They were now sitting in one of the most famous ramen restaurants in the entire village—Ichiraku Ramen.
The familiar red curtains swayed gently as the evening breeze drifted through, carrying with it the mouthwatering scent of broth and spices that had comforted countless shinobi through the years.
Lantern light bathed the wooden counter in a soft golden hue, reflecting off the steam rising from freshly made bowls.
Behind the counter, Teuchi stood with his ever-welcoming smile, wiping down bowls while Ayame cheerfully served another pair of customers at the far end.
The sound of laughter and clinking utensils filled the small shop, creating a homely warmth that wrapped around them like a blanket.
For a brief moment, Naruto just sat there quietly, taking it all in.
"Naruto, my boy! How have you been?" Teuchi called out, his voice hearty and full of genuine joy as he noticed his favorite customer back at the counter.
Naruto looked up, grinning widely. "I've been alright, old man. Seems like you kept the place running great all these years," he said, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.
Teuchi chuckled, wiping his hands on a towel. "Well, business has been booming lately! I'm even thinking of opening a chain of restaurants someday," he said proudly, puffing out his chest a little.
Naruto laughed warmly. "Well, I'm sure you will. If anyone deserves it, it's you."
Sakura smiled softly beside him, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the exchange. "You still love ramen huh Naruto?"
"Definitely," he replied with mock seriousness, earning a laugh from everyone at the counter.
Soon, the bowls arrived—perfectly steaming, filled to the brim with rich, golden broth, tender slices of pork, soft-boiled eggs, and vibrant green onions floating on top. The scent hit Naruto instantly, a divine blend of salt, spice, and warmth that made his mouth water.
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. 'Man, it's as heavenly as the anime showed,' he thought, inhaling the aroma deeply before clasping his hands. "Itadakimasu!"
The first bite was pure bliss. The noodles were firm yet soft, perfectly soaked in the flavorful broth.
The moment the taste hit his tongue, his body seemed to react instinctively—his chakra flared faintly, a gentle pulse of energy rippling through his arms as goosebumps ran down his skin.
'Fuck the other cuisine,' he thought as he slurped down another mouthful. 'This will be my lifeline.'
Teuchi laughed as he watched Naruto practically melt into his food. "Still the same as ever," he said proudly. "Some things never change."
Naruto looked up between bites, eyes shining. "And they shouldn't, old man. This right here—" he raised his chopsticks for emphasis, "—is happiness in a bowl."
Temari chuckled softly from her seat, shaking her head. "You sure get emotional over noodles," she said teasingly.
Naruto grinned, not missing a beat. "That's because these aren't just noodles—they're fuel for the soul."
Shikamaru sighed, leaning on his elbow. "Troublesome as always."
Sakura laughed, nudging him. "You're just mad because you didn't order the miso special."
While Naruto practically made love to his food—his eyes half-lidded, lips curved in pure bliss as he slurped the last strand of noodles—Sakura leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the counter. Her emerald eyes glimmered under the warm light of the shop, filled with both amusement and curiosity as she watched him devour his meal.
"So," she began, tilting her head with a teasing smile, "how was traveling with a Sannin?"
Naruto paused mid-bite, noodles dangling from his chopsticks.
Before he could answer, Temari, who had been quietly observing, raised a brow in surprise.
"Wait, you were training with one of the Legendary Sannin?" she asked, genuinely intrigued. The respect in her tone was unmistakable.
Naruto exhaled through his nose in mock annoyance, setting his chopsticks down for a moment.
"Man, you guys just had to interrupt my love story," he muttered playfully, earning a small laugh from Ayame, who overheard from the counter. After swallowing his mouthful, he finally answered.
"Yeah, I was," he said, his tone shifting slightly—still light, but carrying a sense of reflection. "It was exciting at first, y'know? Learning new things, seeing new places, training till I dropped. But in the end…" He leaned back a little, his expression softening. "I had to figure things out on my own. That part wasn't fun—but it was worth it."
The words carried weight, quiet but honest. For a moment, even Sakura looked at him differently—like she was seeing a little more of the man behind the boy she used to know.
Temari studied him too, her chin resting on her hand. There was a quiet respect in her gaze, though she didn't say it aloud.
Naruto turned to her, his curiosity returning. "By the way," he said, "when did Gaara become Kazekage?"
Temari's lips curved into a faint, proud smile. "A year ago—when he was fifteen," she said, her tone filled with quiet pride.
Naruto blinked in disbelief. "For real?" He turned toward Shikamaru instantly, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey, Shikamaru, you think I'm qualified to be Hokage right now?"
Shikamaru didn't even look up from his bowl. "No."
The answer was flat, instant, and merciless.
"Damn," Naruto muttered, slumping forward slightly. The others burst out laughing—Sakura giggling behind her hand, Temari hiding a smile as her shoulders shook.
Shikamaru gave him a sidelong glance, lips twitching. "You're still too loud for politics."
Naruto grinned again, undeterred. "Guess I'll just have to prove you wrong."
Temari smirked, her eyes softening just a little as she watched him talk so confidently. 'I can see why Gaara likes him,' she thought. 'That kind of optimism… it's contagious.'
The night carried on with warm laughter, the sound of clinking bowls, and the smell of broth filling the air.
TO BE CONTINUED