It was still early, and the ramen shop had no other customers, making it feel a bit deserted.The rich aroma of pork bone broth permeated the air, making one's mouth water.
The soul of the noodle shop, Teuchi, was busy behind the stove, apron on, skillfully kneading dough and preparing ingredients for opening.Beside him, a young man with black hair and black eyes, wearing a similar apron, was methodically washing bowls and chopsticks and wiping down the counter, his movements swift and practiced.
It was Aren.
"Yo! Naruto!" Aren heard the commotion at the entrance, looked up, and seeing Naruto and his team, a teasing smile appeared on his face as he greeted them familiarly, "I could hear your loud voice from far away. Why are you here so early today?"
"Hehe! Aren-nii!" Naruto was also very happy to see Aren. He directly plopped down on the tallest stool at the counter and excitedly replied, "We're going on a mission today, and Kakashi-sensei is treating! I want a super-large bowl of luxurious Chashu Miso Ramen!"
As he spoke, he skillfully picked up the menu and added, "Oh, by the way, Aren-nii, where's Ayame-nee? How come I haven't seen her today?"
Aren, while wiping the counter, casually replied, "Ayame-nee? She went to get supplies."
In Konoha Village, Teuchi of Ichiraku Ramen, Ayame-nee, and Aren, who was adopted later, were among the very few people who didn't look at Naruto with strange eyes.
Especially Aren—he never discriminated against him.When the shop wasn't busy, Aren would often sneak out to play with Naruto, teaching him strange games or listening to his troubles.
Therefore, Naruto trusted Aren very much.
Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura also found seats and casually ordered the ramen they wanted.
Kakashi ordered a regular bowl of Miso Ramen, Sasuke ordered Tomato Ramen, and Sakura hesitated for a long time, finally struggling between "maintaining her figure" and "not wasting the sensei's treat," and ordered a relatively light Vegetable Ramen.
"All right! One super-large Chashu Miso, one Miso Ramen, one Tomato Ramen, one Vegetable Ramen!" Aren noted down the orders one by one, then skillfully walked to the stove and began to boil noodles, prepare the broth, and add ingredients.
He had been helping in the kitchen here for several years, and Teuchi had already taught him all his ramen-making skills. While he hadn't surpassed his master, he had at least learned seventy to eighty percent of the true art.
Sigh... To think I, a distinguished psychological counselor from the 21st century, transmigrated to the Ninja World, didn't learn Flying Thunder God or Rasengan, but the first skill I maxed out was... cooking Ichiraku Ramen? What kind of situation is this?!
Although he was complaining wildly in his mind, Aren's movements were not slow at all.
Soon, four steaming, fragrant bowls of ramen were ready.
"Here you go! Your noodles, esteemed guests!" Aren placed the ramen bowls one by one onto the counter.
"Wow! It smells so good!" Naruto looked at the super-luxurious ramen in front of him, piled high with chashu, soft-boiled eggs, narutomaki, bamboo shoots, and seaweed, and his mouth was practically watering.
He clasped his hands together and, full of energy, said, "Itadakimasu!"
Then, he impatiently picked up the bowl, which was larger than his face, buried his head in it, and began his slurp, slurp storm-eating mode, splashing broth everywhere, his eating manners indescribable.
"Hey, Naruto, your eating is too unsightly." Sakura, next to him, immediately showed a disgusted expression and didn't forget to turn to Sasuke on the other side, praising him with a sickeningly sweet voice, "Sasuke-kun is so elegant; even the way he eats is so handsome. He truly lives up to being a young master of the prestigious Uchiha clan."
Sasuke ignored Sakura's infatuation, merely picking up a small bundle of noodles with his chopsticks like a nobleman, bringing them to his mouth with standard, elegant movements, chewing slowly and deliberately.
Naruto, hearing Sakura's words, looked up in displeasure, his mouth full of noodles, and retorted indistinctly, "Mmph mph, annoying guy, always trying to act cool. Ramen tastes best when you eat it in big bites, I tell you."
As he spoke, he took another big slurp of the noodle soup, making a loud noise deliberately to annoy Sakura.
"You..." Sakura's forehead veins throbbed with anger.
Kakashi looked at the three energetic youngsters in front of him, shaking his head helplessly, feeling his stomach begin to ache a little.
He silently ate the ramen in his bowl while his exposed eye subtly observed Naruto, who was devouring his food.
The time... was almost right.
Kakashi put down his chopsticks and, feigning nonchalance, began, "Speaking of which, Naruto..."
"Hmm?" Naruto looked up, soup still clinging to the corner of his mouth.
Kakashi looked at him and asked in a tone that tried to sound as casual as possible, "Do you... remember what your parents looked like?"
"Eh?"Naruto froze, startled by the question.His bright blue eyes, which had been sparkling with delight from the food, instantly dimmed.The entire atmosphere of the ramen shop seemed to grow heavy because of Kakashi's question.Sakura and Sasuke also stopped eating, looking at Kakashi with some surprise, not understanding why their sensei would suddenly ask such a question.
Naruto lowered his head, staring at the remaining noodles in his bowl, and stayed silent for a moment.He looked at Kakashi with confusion and bewilderment."Ka-Kakashi-sensei... wh-why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Everyone today feels strange.First, Sakura inexplicably punched me. Then Sasuke looked at me with strange eyes. And now even Kakashi-sensei is asking such a weird question...
He pursed his lips, his voice dropping, carrying a hint of imperceptible loss and confusion."My parents' appearance... How could I possibly know... I..."
He paused, as if remembering something, then shook his head hard, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying."Ever since I can remember... I've always been alone... I've never... seen them."
Kakashi looked at Naruto's expression, pretending to be strong but unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes, and his heart clenched tightly.He realized that his question just now might have been too direct, too cruel.
"Ah... Sorry, Naruto." Kakashi quickly apologized, his voice a bit dry. "Sensei was just... asking casually. No other meaning."
"N-no, it's fine!" Naruto immediately looked up, giving Kakashi a carefree, brilliant smile, and waved his hand vigorously."I'm used to it already. Anyway, I don't know who they are, so there's no point in thinking about it. Eating ramen is more important! Hehe!"
Although he said that, the loneliness hidden deep within that smile did not escape Kakashi's eyes.Naruto was naturally optimistic, or rather, he had grown used to using a big, cheerful smile to cover his inner pain.It wasn't his first day not knowing who his parents were. Although he occasionally felt sad and envious, he always adjusted quickly.
He lowered his head, no longer dwelling on the question, and continued to heartily eat his favorite ramen, as if only the delicious flavor could fill the emptiness in his heart.
Kakashi looked at Naruto, who was engrossed in eating his noodles, and his expression grew even more grim.
Sure enough… He doesn't know what his parents looked or sounded like at all.Then what I saw, what I heard in that dream last night, absolutely couldn't have been a subconscious projection from Naruto.
This completely shattered one of Kakashi's earlier assumptions.
So then…What kind of entity could replicate Kushina-senpai's appearance and voice so vividly in a dream?And what exactly was its intention?
One question after another stacked in his mind like gathering storm clouds. The more he thought, the heavier the feeling became, until even the warm bowl of ramen in front of him began to lose its taste.
…
Behind the counter, Aren methodically cleaned the bowls and chopsticks, quietly observing everything.
He saw the deep furrow in Kakashi's brow, the solemn glint in his eye, and that fleeting flicker of suspicion and vigilance. Aren couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Tsk tsk… As expected of the man destined to become the Sixth Hokage. Former Anbu captain, Copy Ninja, Konoha's technician Gojo… That insight, that sharpness—impressive as always.
But still…
Go ahead and investigate. Even if you're Detective Kakashi, using your Sharingan like a magnifying glass, you'll never uncover anything out of the ordinary in this plain, humble ramen shop.
Thinking of this, the corners of Aren's mouth curved into a pleasant and mysterious arc once again.Kakashi's efforts were destined to be in vain.
…
A breakfast laced with an odd atmosphere came to an end.
Kakashi paid the bill, still deep in thought.The three young members of Team 7, now full and satisfied, stood up from their seats.
"Aren-nii, we're heading out!" Naruto rubbed his round belly, stood up proudly, and called out to Aren, who was still wiping down the tables. "We're about to go on a super awesome, super dangerous mission that only real ninja can do! Just wait here for my glorious return, hahaha!"
Aren looked at his excited expression—like he was about to save the world—and couldn't help but smile. He raised a hand in farewell."Alright~ Be careful out there."
Silly boy… a dangerous mission, huh?More like chasing cats, walking dogs, and pulling weeds...
But as Aren watched Naruto's energetic back walking out the door, his eyes grew a little more contemplative.
Today may seem ordinary to you. But tonight… tonight you'll finally know…
What your parents truly looked like.