The Taste Was Average

A flute was silently placed around Naruto's neck, Tayuya's cold voice reached his ears.

"If you dare to go out, I'll kill you right now."

"Then I won't go out." Naruto immediately raised his hands in surrender.

"Beef rice".

"Then I'll go out and buy it."

"I'll kill you."

"Then just kill me, but when you bury me, make sure the pit looks nice," Naruto said helplessly.

In the end Tayuya compromised.

Naruto carried two bowls of beef rice back to the abandoned building using the Flying Thunder God Kunai left behind. On the way, he bought a lot of food and other items, and when no one was around, he put them all into the Sealing Space.

The Nine-Tails Sealing Space, listened to the commotion outside the fence without even lifting its eyelids, with a small mountain of DVDs beside it.

"Where did you get these things from?" Tayuya, somewhat surprised.

Watching Naruto conjure up a whole bunch of things out of thin air like Doraemon, he blinked and relaxed his guard a little.

Naruto roughly guessed Tayuya's purpose in staying in Konohagakure; it was probably to facilitate her capture of Sasuke. Orochimaru couldn't possibly abandon Sasuke; he was simply waiting for an opportunity.

"Just Ninjutsu," Naruto clapped his hands and said, "These things should last you a while. If you need more, I'll come back."

Tayuya was stunned, and raised her dirty face to ask.

Why did you help me? Don't you have any questions for me?

"Not interested at all." Naruto waved his hand and said, "You have your own mission, and it's not appropriate for me to ask so abruptly."

He knew, of course Sound Four had come to take Sasuke away, but he didn't have the time to meddle. This was the path Sasuke was going to take, and he wouldn't stand in his way.

Itachi Uchiha is terrifying. If I had a brother like that, I'd definitely stab him a couple of times for fun. If I can't beat Itachi Uchiha in a head-on fight, I'll just sideline him and help his brother get revenge in a more relaxed and enjoyable way.

He didn't stay long; after exchanging a few pleasantries, he left.

Two days later.

Naruto's life returned to its usual peaceful state. Naruto no longer wanted to cook and would go to Ichiraku Ramen every day while yawning.

Night falls at the ramen shop.

Under the bright yellow light, Naruto slurped up mouthfuls of ramen.

The Teuchi- aged man stood behind the counter, squinting his eyes with a satisfied expression, and asked with a smile.

"Naruto, you seem to be coming here more often these past few days?"

"Uncle."

"What's wrong, Naruto?"

"Besides the surname 'Teuchi,' do you have any other surnames?" Naruto asked while eating ramen.

"What nonsense are you talking about, kid?" Teuchi Ichiraku let out a hearty laugh, completely ignoring Naruto's offense.

"Uncle, I've run into some trouble lately."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Teuchi Ichiraku's expression turned serious.

Naruto looked up at Teuchi Ichiraku, blinked, and asked hesitantly.

"Perhaps, sir, could you offer them a deal they can't refuse?"

"A bowl of ramen?" Teuchi Ichiraku asked, puzzled.

"Never mind then," Naruto sighed. "I hope the Ramen God will bless his devout followers and give me good luck."

Teuchi Ichiraku didn't understand, frowned but didn't take it to heart. A boy of this age is already at the age of daydreaming, so there's nothing to be surprised about.

Summer brings frequent rain. When Naruto opened his eyes again, a heavy downpour was falling outside the window, leaving a gray and gloomy sky.

He stared helplessly at the ceiling, pondering what kind of ramen he should eat today. Lately, Naruto had been eating ramen with more devotion than burning incense at a temple; it was the only thing he could do right now.

That is waiting.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Naruto was lying on the bed like a corpse, suddenly widened his pupils and gripped his Uchigatana in a flash.

Thump thump thump!

The dull knocking continued. Naruto, gripping his slender Uchigatana, silently stepped onto the floor barefoot. He slowly opened the door, and the knocking became clearer.

The sound echoed in the living room, sounding quiet and cold.

The torrential rain howled outside the door. Naruto wondered what might be knocking on his door at a time like this. The Anbu guys never knocked, Kakashi went to the window.

Sasuke injured, Sakura is training in the Medical Unit.

Is there really only one possibility left?

Naruto gripped his Uchigatana tightly, planning to suddenly open the door, pinpoint his target, deliver a fatal blow, and then escape. In this torrential rain, the sound of an explosion might not travel very far.

Moreover, the system-provided Explosive Tag have all been used up.

He didn't usually buy ninja tools; a moment of laziness can be fatal. You only realize how little you know when you need it; it's too late to sharpen your spear before battle.

Damn it.

The god of ramen should be able to Qidian; liars will go to hell.

Never mind!

Naruto flung open the door, and a gust of wind and torrential rain rushed in. Naruto gritted his teeth, ready to fight, but what he saw was a head of blond hair.

"Huh?"

Naruto looked completely bewildered, his eyes instantly becoming vacant.

Soaked to the Ino, Ino shivered in the rain-soaked corridor, carrying what looked like a food box. Her blonde hair clung tightly to her pale face.

The purple dress clung to her body after being soaked by the rain, revealing faint traces of the fabric.

What are you doing here?

"What are you doing with that knife?" Ino, soaked to the Ino, shivered from the cold.

"Well... it's a long story." Naruto stared intently at Ino, making sure her eyes were clear, before tossing the sword aside.

"Anyway, come in first."

Naruto leaned against the bathroom door, knocked, and asked.

"So you braved the downpour just to bring me some food?"

Ino didn't answer directly, and a moment later, her frantic voice came from the bathroom.

"Aaaaaah!!!! How was I supposed to know it would pour rain, you idiot! You've completely forgotten what just happened!!!"

"Sorry, I saw everything."

"Go to hell!!!"

The bathroom door was suddenly pulled open a crack, and a fair hand grabbed Naruto's clothes. Ino poked half her head out, staring intently at Naruto, and then threw him out.

Naruto got up, shrugged, sat down in the living room, and opened the food box, which contained food that had been soaked by the rain.

Naruto didn't mind since he hadn't eaten breakfast.

After taking a spare toothbrush from the cupboard and washing my face, I sat on the carpet and ate what I could. The taste was so-so; it had been soaked in rainwater and was a bit soft and greasy.

After silently giving the food a six out of ten rating for friendship, I heard the bathroom door open.

Naruto was about to turn around when he was yelled at and sent back.

Don't turn around, you idiot!

Wrapped in a bathrobe, Ino sat on the sofa, her slender, small hands, slightly smaller than Naruto's, fiddling with the food box a few times, and asking Naruto incredulously.

"You ate it all?"

"Ah, the taste is so-so." Naruto lay down on the carpet.

Ino's expression immediately turned strange, and she said somewhat awkwardly.

"This isn't for you, it's for Akamaru."