Konoha, Ichiraku Ramen.
"Hey! Old Man? Old Man Ichiraku?"
A few traces of confusion and impatience flickered in Uzumaki Naruto's blue eyes as he looked at Old Man Ichiraku—one of his favorite people in all of Konoha in a certain sense—who had turned halfway around, gotten only halfway through "Welcome," and then frozen in shock. Naruto urged him several times.
But his urging seemed not to draw any attention from Old Man Ichiraku, who stood blankly staring at the entrance. Still holding a ladle in one hand and a noodle strainer in the other, his eyes filled with surprise, alarm, faint suspicion, and disbelief as he stared wordlessly at the white-flecked-haired youth Naruto had dragged inside.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Haruno Sakura and Second Pillar entered one after the other. Hearing Uzumaki Naruto's impatient shout and seeing Ichiraku's strange behavior, both of them turned their gazes toward Hada Ichiba from Kusagakure, who stood beside Naruto.
At that very moment, this youth from Kusagakure, who had displayed tremendous strength, was staring blankly at Old Man Ichiraku. He clearly did not understand why the man looked as though he had seen a ghost.
Uh...
Actually, it was not quite the look of someone seeing a ghost. It was more like the look of someone seeing something that should have been impossible.
Smack!
At that moment, Uzumaki Naruto, having completely run out of patience, snatched every coupon from Hada Ichiba's hand that could be exchanged for any bowl of ramen and slapped them heavily onto the Ichiraku Ramen counter.
"Old! Man! Ichiraku! Ramen!"
Then he shouted the words he called out every time he came to Ichiraku Ramen.
"Ah? Ah!"
At that familiar voice, which had rung out for years, Old Man Ichiraku finally came back to his senses after staring at Hada