Ichiraku Ramen

Dense vines wrapped tightly around Orochimaru. From a distance, they looked like a thick tree trunk standing upright, except there was a figure in the middle.

Under Yemo's control, the stiff roots became incredibly flexible. In moments, they climbed up from beneath Orochimaru's feet and raced toward the bell at his waist.

They covered the short distance in an instant. The next second, the trunk had climbed to Orochimaru's waist, and a flexible root curled around the bell and easily took it.

"This..."

Yemo was astonished and found it hard to believe. He felt none of the excitement or happiness he should have felt. Getting the bell had been far too easy-unnaturally easy.

Yemo was confident that his dense vines could restrain a Chunin without a problem, but restraining a Jonin would be impossible. Someone as strong as Orochimaru would be even harder. Breaking free of the roots would surely be easy for Orochimaru, though Yemo didn't know what method he would use.

From the start, Yemo had never expected to get the bell. Yet he had, and through it all, Orochimaru hadn't made the slightest move, as though he had deliberately let Yemo take it.

Just then, Orochimaru's body twisted, and he slipped through the gaps between the vines like flowing water. Yemo stared in disbelief. It was as if every bone in Orochimaru's body had vanished, leaving him just like a supple snake.

Seeing that, Yemo became certain of his suspicion. Orochimaru had obviously let him take the bell on purpose. Although Yemo knew that, with his abilities, taking the bell from Orochimaru would have been absolutely impossible, he still felt a little uncomfortable that Orochimaru had deliberately gone easy on him.

Yemo stepped forward and asked, "Teacher Orochimaru, there's something I don't understand. Since you wanted me to take the bell, why did you deliberately let me have it...?"

With a faint smile, Orochimaru explained, "Taking the bell was the first lesson the Third taught us back then. Besides letting him learn about each of our personalities and abilities, it was also meant to teach Jiraiya, Tsunade, and me the importance of working together."

"But I've never taken on a disciple before. You're my first. I already have a very clear idea of your strength, and as for the teamwork that comes afterward, there's no need for it when you're on your own."

After hearing Orochimaru's explanation, Yemo felt a little calmer. "So, all in all, taking the bell was just a formality, and this was the first lesson you taught me, Teacher Orochimaru."

"You could see it that way," Orochimaru said with a slight nod.

Remembering the bell in his hand, Yemo held it out to Orochimaru. "Teacher Orochimaru, here's your bell back!"

Orochimaru shook his head with a smile. "There's no need to give it back. Teacher Sarutobi gave me this bell back then, and today I'm giving it to you. When you become a teacher someday, give it to an outstanding disciple and keep passing it down."

"All right, Teacher Orochimaru. I'll pass this bell down."

Even Yemo didn't expect that his completely unconscious answer would really come true in the future.

After a pause, Yemo said eagerly, "Teacher Orochimaru, now that I've taken the bell, what are we going to do next?"

Orochimaru was naturally pleased by his student's diligence, but it didn't seem to be time for studying. "Next, it's time to eat. Even when you're studying, you need to fill your stomach first."

Yemo was taken aback. He looked up and saw that, at some point, the sun had risen high in the sky. It was noon.

"It's already noon? Time went by so fast I didn't even notice. Now that you mention it, I really am hungry," Yemo said, rubbing his somewhat hungry stomach.

"Come on. I'll treat you to a feast for lunch today as a gift for our first meeting!"

In the gentle breeze, Yemo looked up at the four large characters for Ichiraku Ramen fluttering in the wind. He felt dumbfounded. He hadn't expected Teacher Orochimaru to bring him to Ichiraku Ramen for a meal.

Though Ichiraku Ramen was a perfectly ordinary little shop, it ran through almost the entire story of Naruto. It had been a place countless Naruto fans loved to talk about, hailed as the most mysterious place in Konoha.

Yemo pushed aside the curtain and followed Orochimaru into the shop. It was already past mealtime, and there were no other customers inside.

"Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen." Seeing someone come in, Teuchi hurriedly looked up. When he saw Orochimaru, the owner greeted him with obvious familiarity. "Lord Orochimaru, what brings you here? It's been a while since you came by for ramen."

Yemo was surprised. Judging by how familiar Teacher Orochimaru and Teuchi were with each other, Teacher Orochimaru obviously came here for ramen often. That had never appeared in the anime. Teuchi was still young at this point, rather than the middle-aged man he had been in Naruto.

"I've been busy lately and haven't had the time. I finally managed to get a couple of days off," Orochimaru replied just as familiarly.

"In that case, Lord Orochimaru, the usual!"

"Yeah, a large bowl of pork rib ramen, with an extra serving of chashu and an egg!" Orochimaru was a regular here and had tried basically every kind of ramen in the shop, but pork rib ramen was still his favorite.

"Oh, right, Yemo," Orochimaru said, looking down at him. "What kind of ramen do you want?"

Hearing Orochimaru call out, Teuchi finally noticed Yemo behind him and immediately smiled. "Yemo, you're here today too. What would you like? The usual?"

"Right, I'll have a large bowl of chashu ramen, with an egg and a serving of beef."

Yemo was evidently a regular here too and knew Ichiraku Ramen's offerings well. Seeing him order so readily, Orochimaru looked at him curiously.

Perhaps noticing Orochimaru's curiosity, Teuchi said with a smile, "Yemo's a regular here. Ever since he first came a few months ago, he's been coming in for ramen every day or two."

As a Naruto fan, how could Yemo not visit Konoha's legendary Ichiraku Ramen? He had eaten there on his very first night in Konoha. Teuchi was a being said to surpass the Sage of Six Paths.

"But I didn't expect you to like the ramen here too, Teacher Orochimaru," Yemo said, smiling at Orochimaru.

"It's all right," Orochimaru said mildly. "I didn't know about this ramen shop at first, but later, Jiraiya kept dragging me here. Tsunade came too, and the three of us would eat here from time to time. Later, we got busier and busier, so I only came for ramen when I had the time."

From Orochimaru's even tone, Yemo could sense his nostalgia for the old days, when he and his two good friends, Jiraiya and Tsunade, ate ramen and bantered in this little shop.

Unfortunately, those days existed only in memory now. Time couldn't be turned back. Tsunade had left, and only two of the Sannin remained in Konoha.

Perhaps the Orochimaru of the future would become utterly cold-blooded, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals and even betraying his teacher and ancestors, but the Orochimaru of the present was still someone who sometimes missed the friendships of the past.

Unfortunately, the deaths of his companions and the cruelty of war sent the already negative Orochimaru farther and farther down that path, until it was ultimately hard for him to turn back.

"All right, a large bowl of pork rib ramen with chashu and an egg, and a large bowl of chashu ramen with an egg and beef. Please enjoy!" Teuchi emerged from the kitchen carrying two steaming bowls of ramen.

"Then we won't stand on ceremony. Let's eat!"

With that cry, Yemo turned his attention to the delicious ramen, which looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful.