The Manga Plot Namikaze Minato Had Been Looking Forward to Went Completely Off the Rails

As Fugaku was about to leave, he happened to run into the still-very-young Ino-Shika-Cho Trio. Looking at the pineapple head, the shortest among them yet standing squarely in the center, he raised an eyebrow.

"Are you here to see that idiot Nawaki again?"

"Yes, senior student Fugaku."

Looking at the black-haired boy with fierce eyes before him, the precocious Shikaku wisely lowered his stance and nodded politely.

This respectful attitude greatly pleased Fugaku, and even his naturally intimidating gaze softened.

"You... eaten yet?"

"Uh..."

Shikaku froze at the unexpectedly domestic question. He clearly had no contingency plan for it.

"No!"

Before he could come up with a flawless answer, Choza Akimichi answered first. Clutching a bag of snacks in his hand, he really had not had the chance to eat yet.

"What about you?"

Fugaku shifted his gaze to the thin, tawny-haired boy among the three, his eyes full of inquiry.

"Mm!"

The current Yamanaka Inoichi had yet to grow into the dependable clan leader he would become in the future. A little introverted by nature, he looked timid under Uchiha Fugaku's condescending gaze and shyly hid behind Shikaku, who was half a head shorter than him, seeking a sense of security.

"Bastard, don't bully them!"

"Idiot."

Hearing the roar from behind him, Fugaku rolled his eyes and continued examining the trio before him.

Sure enough, birds of a feather flocked together. What a bunch of oddballs. No wonder they could get along with an idiot like Nawaki.

Shaking his head lightly, Fugaku continued.

"I'm in a good mood today. If none of you have eaten, let's go have ramen together."

Having happily acquired a high-quality new underling, Fugaku decided to hold a grand feast at Ichiraku and treat everyone.

"Ah, senior student, you're too kind. We really don't need