Itachi: My brother defected?

The noren curtain of Ichiraku Ramen swayed gently in the night breeze, and the bell on the doorway had already fallen silent.

Inside the shop, the only sounds left were the tonkotsu broth bubbling on the stove, the dull thuds of Uncle Teuchi kneading dough, and the faint clinks of chopsticks against bowl rims.

"Time to eat."

Ringo Ameyuri pressed her palms together, fingers neatly aligned, her movements brisk.

She picked up her chopsticks, lowered her head close to the bowl, lifted a mouthful of noodles, and slurped them into her mouth together with the soup.

When she bit through the noodles, they made a crisp, springy snap that sounded especially loud in the quiet little shop.

She chewed twice, her eyes widening slightly as a flicker of surprise passed through them.

"Slurp... mm~~" She swallowed the noodles in her mouth, lifted another mouthful with her chopsticks, lowered her head to look at the broth clinging to the strands, and tilted her head. The sharp little teeth at the corners of her mouth flashed under the light.

"The ramen at this place has real character. The noodles have a great chew, and the tonkotsu broth has its own special flavor."

Uncle Teuchi was just slapping a lump of dough hard onto the counter. Hearing the praise, he raised his head, his smile creasing the corners of his eyes.

He wiped his hands on his apron and said with a chuckle, "As long as you like it, dear customer."

"This tonkotsu broth is our family's secret recipe. We started simmering it fresh last night. All the marrow in the bones has melted into the soup. The noodles are kneaded, proofed, and cut fresh every morning too."

Itachi sat to the side, holding his chopsticks in both hands. He tapped the tips