“Brother Makoto, where on earth is the big feast you mentioned?”
Obito followed behind Uchiha Makoto, looking around as he walked, his mouth practically watering.
“That’s right, Brother Makoto, my stomach is already growling!” Guy also sniffed, his eyes shining.
Uchiha Makoto walked in front without looking back: “What’s the rush? We’ll be there in a second.”
In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure himself.
Ichiraku Ramen—he had only ever seen it in the anime and had never been there in reality.
But since they were already here, not eating there once made it feel like something was missing.
“The number one must-visit attraction in the Hokage world,” Uchiha Makoto muttered inwardly, “If I don’t check in here, I’d be too embarrassed to call myself a transmigrator.”
Both of their performances in the preliminary exams had been quite eye-catching, so Makoto decided to spend a bit of money to treat the two of them to a celebration.
After turning three streets, an old, small building appeared before their eyes.
Four large characters were written on the curtain: Ichiraku Ramen.
“This is it.” Uchiha Makoto stopped in his tracks.
Obito and Guy exchanged glances, their expressions a bit subtle.
“Ramen?” Obito said quietly, “Brother Makoto, is this the big feast you were talking about?”
“What’s wrong with ramen?” Uchiha Makoto pushed open the door, “Ichiraku Ramen is a Konoha specialty; everyone who eats it says it’s great.”
“But…” Guy scratched his head, “Isn’t ramen… very cheap?”
“Cheap doesn’t mean it’s not delicious.” Uchiha Makoto lifted the curtain, “Come on in.”
The three of them walked into the shop.
The storefront wasn’t large, with only seven or eight seats, but it was very clean.
The tables were wiped to a shine, and the bowls and chopsticks were neatly arranged.
A middle-aged man wearing a chef’s hat was boiling noodles.
Hearing the noise, he raised his head.
“Welcome!” He beamed with a full face of smiles, “Three little guests, what would you like to eat?”
Uchiha Makoto glanced over.
Teuchi.
He looked to be about thirty years old, with a smile on his face and a gleam in his eyes.
He looked exactly the same as in the anime.
“Three bowls of ramen,” Uchiha Makoto said, “The signature ones.”
“Coming right up!” Teuchi acknowledged and started bustling about.
Obito and Guy sat down, their eyes fixed on the price list.
“Tonkotsu ramen…
miso ramen…
soy sauce ramen…” Obito muttered quietly, “They’re all so expensive.”
“Even the cheapest plain noodles cost fifty ryo.” Guy lowered his voice, “Brother Makoto, why don’t we just have the plain noodles?”
Uchiha Makoto glanced at them.
Obito was an orphan, making a living off his grandmother’s pension and clan relief funds.
Guy’s father was an eternal Genin with meager income.
Ordinarily, let alone eating out at restaurants, the two of them didn’t even have much pocket money.
“It’s fine,” Uchiha Makoto said, “My treat today, order whatever you like.”
“But Brother Makoto, you’re also…” Obito didn’t finish his sentence.
“I have money,” Uchiha Makoto interrupted him, “Really.”
“I’ll have the soy sauce ramen.” Guy also chose a cheap one.
Uchiha Makoto didn’t speak.
He knew the two of them didn’t want to cause him to spend too much.
“Three bowls of signature ramen,” he said to Teuchi, “Add chashu, add eggs, add seaweed.”
Teuchi was stunned for a moment and glanced at Uchiha Makoto.
“Little guest, the signature ramen is quite expensive,” he reminded.
“I know,” Uchiha Makoto nodded, “Just the signature ones.”
Teuchi looked again at Obito and Guy.
The two kids had clothes washed until they were faded, but they were very clean.
Their eyes revealed yearning, yet they were somewhat restrained.
He understood.
“Alright,” Teuchi smiled, “Three bowls of signature ramen with extra toppings, coming right up!”
He turned around to boil the noodles.
His movements were fast and practiced.
Ten minutes later, three steaming bowls of ramen were served.
The broth was milky white, the noodles golden, the chashu thick, the eggs soft-boiled, and the seaweed emerald green.
Fragrant.
Truly fragrant.
Obito and Guy’s eyes went straight.
“Dig in,” Uchiha Makoto picked up his chopsticks.
The two exchanged glances and then lowered their heads simultaneously.
“Slurp—”
“Slurp slurp—”
“Delicious!” Obito said vaguely, “Brother Makoto, this is really delicious!”
“Mhm mhm!” Guy nodded fiercely, “Much better than what my dad cooks!”
Uchiha Makoto smiled.
He also picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.
The broth was fresh, the noodles were chewy, and the chashu melted in the mouth.
It was indeed delicious; no wonder Naruto loved coming here so much.
The three of them buried their heads and ate heartily.
Teuchi stood behind the counter, watching them, the smile on his face never stopping.
At this time, Uchiha Makoto also noticed that in his, Obito’s, and Guy’s bowls, the meat and eggs were much more than normal.
But he didn’t say much about it.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, Obito and Guy stroked their bellies with faces full of satisfaction.
“Brother Makoto, I’ll come again next time,” Obito said.
“Me too,” Guy nodded, “When I save up enough money, I’ll treat you.”
“Alright,” Uchiha Makoto smiled, “Then I’ll be waiting.”
“Boss, check.”
Teuchi wiped his hands and walked over, “Three bowls of signature ramen with extra toppings, in total…”
“Wait,” Uchiha Makoto interrupted him, “Boss, calculate the money for the extra toppings together.”
Teuchi was stunned for a moment.
“Little guest, the extra toppings are on the house, no charge.”
“They need to be counted.” Uchiha Makoto took out money from his pocket and placed it on the counter, “Charge whatever it should be.”
Teuchi looked at the money, then looked at Uchiha Makoto.
This kid from the Uchiha family was a bit different.
Other Uchihas who came to eat were either arrogant and conceited or picky and critical.
But this child was very quiet and very polite.
And…
very sensible.
“Alright then,” Teuchi accepted the money, “Thank you for your patronage.”
“I should be the one saying thank you,” Uchiha Makoto bowed slightly, “The ramen was delicious.”
After finishing, he turned around and walked away.
Obito and Guy followed behind him.
Teuchi looked at their retreating backs and smiled.
“An Uchiha who doesn’t look like an Uchiha.”
Walking out of the ramen shop, Obito and Guy were still reminiscing.
“Brother Makoto, that chashu was really good,” Obito said.
“The soup was also good,” Guy added.
Uchiha Makoto didn’t speak; he was thinking about other things.
Ichiraku Ramen—he had eaten it, and the taste was indeed not bad.
But what left an even deeper impression on him was the person Teuchi.
Kind, enthusiastic, and a bit…
stubborn.
Clearly he could charge more money, yet he insisted on giving it away.
Clearly he could give less meat, yet he insisted on adding more.
“People like this are not many in Konoha,” Uchiha Makoto thought.
Just as he was thinking, a commotion came from ahead.
“Let go of me! I didn’t even break the law!”
“Didn’t break the law? You were cursing in the street and disturbing the peace. Come back to the Military Police Force with me!”
Uchiha Makoto looked up.
A member of the Uchiha clan was grabbing a commoner by the collar.
That commoner was a middle-aged man wearing coarse cloth clothes, with an angry look on his face.
A circle of people had gathered around, pointing and whispering, but no one dared to step forward.
“It’s Toka,” Obito said quietly, “From our clan.”
Uchiha Makoto knew Toka.
A Chunin who worked in the Military Police Force.
Usually quite domineering, looking at everyone with dissatisfaction.