After Team Seven left, Ichiraku didn't instantly get swamped, but customers gradually started coming in.
Shigure tied his apron properly and began another day of being "Ichiraku Ramen's model employee."
Honestly, the Basic Physique Enhancement Lv.1 he'd redeemed last night from the Dream Master System was ridiculously effective.
He could feel it clearly—this once frail body of his had been injected with brand-new vitality overnight.
When he'd first crossed over, in that whole first year, it wasn't just kneading dough or working the stove.
Even washing the mountains of dishes every day left him exhausted, wheezing, back aching, collapsing into bed feeling like his bones weren't his anymore.
Back then, almost everything in the shop had been carried by Uncle Teuchi and Ayame.
Shigure had felt guilty about it. He tried to train, tried to get stronger so he could help more, but this body's foundation was pathetic—his efforts did almost nothing.
Once, he'd even stubbornly insisted on carrying a sack of flour from the storeroom and nearly threw out his back. Ayame had freaked out and wouldn't let him touch anything heavy for days afterward.
But today was different.
He felt like he had endless strength.
Whether it was kneading dough, lifting a stockpot of broth that weighed dozens of pounds onto the stove, or chopping vegetables and prepping ingredients at high speed… he did it all easily, almost gracefully.
Not only was he not tired—he felt… more energized the more he worked.
This is just Lv.1?
If I got to Lv.10, could I start dancing in the kitchen?
"Hm? Shigure, you're pretty quick today, huh?"
After the lunch rush, when the shop finally quieted down, Uncle Teuchi wiped sweat from his brow and looked at the tidy kitchen Shigure had organized, genuinely surprised.
"Not bad, not bad. You been secretly training lately?"
"Hehe…" Shigure couldn't exactly tell him about the system, so he gave a bashful smile. "Yeah, I have been working out a bit on the side. Thought I should help more… and it seems like it's paying off."
"Oh?" Teuchi blinked, then smiled with quiet pride.
He'd always treated Shigure like his own son. The kid might act jumpy and goofy, but deep down he was thoughtful.
A good kid.
Teuchi stepped forward and gave Shigure's shoulder a solid pat, eyes warm with approval.
"Good boy. You're finally looking out for your old man and your sister."
"But training alone isn't enough—you need proper nutrition too. How about this? Tonight, I'll cook something special for you. We'll get you well fed."
"Really? That'd be amazing. Thanks, old man!"
Shigure's eyes lit up the instant he heard "extra food."
Just then, the curtain at the entrance rustled as someone came in.
"I'm back! Dad, Shigure!"
It was Ayame.
She carried a bamboo basket that looked pretty heavy.
Seeing Teuchi and Shigure smiling at each other, she tilted her head. "Huh? What are you guys so happy about?"
"Ayame-neechan, you're back." Shigure immediately dropped his rag and went over. "Dad said we're having a special dinner tonight."
As he spoke, he naturally reached over to take the basket from her. "Let me carry it, sis. You look wiped."
"You?" Ayame gave him a skeptical look and hugged the basket closer. "Can you even lift it? Don't go showing off and wreck your back again!"
Clearly, Shigure's previous "heroic moments" still haunted her.
"Relax, sis." Shigure flexed an arm confidently. "This much is nothing."
"Hahaha, exactly." Teuchi laughed, chiming in proudly. "Ayame, don't worry. Shigure's gotten a lot sturdier. He's a real man now."
Ayame hesitated, then finally let go.
Shigure caught the basket easily—an easy thirty or forty pounds—and set it firmly inside the storeroom.
When he came back out, he lifted the curtain and sure enough, a little horse cart was parked outside, stacked with more than a dozen heavy crates of vegetables and supplies.
Ayame watched, stunned, as Shigure walked up, inhaled, grabbed two of the biggest crates, and lifted them straight off the cart.
"Wha…" Ayame's jaw dropped. "Shigure… when did you get this strong?!"
Teuchi crossed his arms, beaming smugly. "Told you. The kid's grown."
Shigure carried the crates into the back and set them down.
Back and forth, in no time at all, he moved every single one of the heavy boxes from the cart into the storeroom.
The whole time, he barely even breathed hard.
Ayame stared at his busy, energetic figure and that confident, sunny grin, a warmth filling her chest.
Yeah…
He really had grown up.
No longer the little runt they had to take care of everywhere three years ago.
She was genuinely happy for him.
Shigure set down the last crate and looked at Uncle Teuchi still working and Ayame getting ready to help. A quiet warmth rose in his heart too.
…Being cared for so wholeheartedly for three years by Teuchi and Ayame… no wonder they can treat Naruto without any prejudice.
Living with them had really shown him how kind and simple they were.
Life was plain, but they always treated people around them with their best goodwill—him, a random orphan with no background, and even the fox-brat shunned by the whole village.
Still…
After three years of observation, Shigure was basically sure of one thing.
Uncle Teuchi wasn't some secret Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku.
He wasn't Six Paths Teuchi either.
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