Leaf Village: I, Uchiha, am Done Lying Flat!

Yes.

Although it was only a very small shop, with just a row of seats by the entrance that could probably fit no more than five people at once.

In the hearts of netizens from his previous life, its owner was known as Otsutsuki Ichiraku!

That might have been an exaggeration, but neither the Nine-Tails Rebellion nor the later Six Paths of Pain had affected Ichiraku Ramen.

That was a fact!

Even in the later Boruto: Naruto Next Generations era, this little shop was still around and had even expanded its premises.

"Yo, Jin!"

"Today's your graduation day, so you've got to celebrate properly."

"Today, I'm treating you to a serving of chashu and tempura!"

Teuchi narrowed his eyes, a warm smile on his face.

Ayame, who had been busy in the shop, came out upon hearing that and began chatting with Uchiha Jin with a smile as well.

Uchiha Jin smiled.

As he waited for his meal, he casually chatted with the father and daughter.

Just then, a masked ninja walked in.

"One extra-large tonkotsu ramen."

His expression was icy.

With a head of white hair and a black face mask, he gave off an unmistakable air of keeping strangers away.

Yes.

He was Kakashi Hatake.

Uchiha Jin's classmate in name.

After speaking.

He went straight to sit beside Uchiha Jin, even casting him a discreet glance.

A trace of puzzlement surfaced deep in his eyes.

Kakashi did not know this old classmate of his.

But the Uchiha Clan's Flame Uchiha Fan was something everyone in Leaf Village—and even the entire Ninja World—knew about.

What Kakashi could not understand was this: weren't most members of the Uchiha Clan arrogant and unruly, acting as if they looked down on ordinary people?

This Uchiha in front of him was truly strange.

He had not expected it.

Aside from Obito, who followed him around every day and constantly shouted all sorts of nonsense, there could actually be such an oddball among the Uchiha.

Meanwhile.

As Kakashi observed Uchiha Jin, Uchiha Jin was silently observing Kakashi as well.

He truly had not expected to run into him here.

But thinking about it carefully, it seemed perfectly normal.

Anyone with even a little fame in the original story generally liked coming to Ichiraku Ramen.

Still.

He had no intention of acknowledging Kakashi. He simply continued chatting with Ayame while wolfing down his dinner.

After all, the two were not close.

Uchiha Jin only wanted to lie low, and the system he had awakened today was a useless deadbeat shut-in that only wanted to slack off.

Under those circumstances, he had even less desire to interact with these plot characters.

Because they represented trouble!

"Teuchi, Ayame, thanks for the meal."

"I'm heading back."

After finishing his meal, he smiled and called out a greeting.

He stood up, stretched lazily, then turned and left the ramen shop.

Meanwhile.

As Kakashi ate, his mind continued turning over matters concerning Uchiha Jin.

"Kakashi, why aren't you eating?"

"Does it not taste good today?"

Ayame walked over, arms crossed as she stared at Kakashi with an unhappy expression.

Clearly.

If Kakashi didn't give her an explanation, she would be very angry.

Kakashi could only give an awkward smile.

He hurriedly ate while offering an apology, then asked about Uchiha Jin.

Ayame did not hide anything when she heard that.

"You mean Jin-kun!"

"He really is an unusual Uchiha. He started eating at our shop seven or eight years ago, so he counts as one of our little shop's regulars."

"Jin-kun speaks very gently and is very polite. He's quite a good person."

"..."

Kakashi's expression relaxed slightly at her words.

To be honest, when he first saw Uchiha Jin, he had instinctively assumed that Jin had deliberately approached him.

Because of his teacher, Minato Namikaze!

Ordinary people might not know, but he was well aware that his teacher was a strong contender for the position of Fourth Hokage.

Kakashi also understood the Uchiha Clan's issues very well.

So when he saw Uchiha Jin, he naturally assumed that this guy might be trying to get close to his teacher through him.

Fortunately.

Ayame's words dispelled his doubts.

The man had been coming here continuously for seven or eight years. He was unquestionably an old regular.

Thinking of this, he shook his head.

"What a strange Uchiha!"

Chapter 3: Rewards for Lying Flat, Preparing an Escape Route in Advance

Uchiha compound.

At its outskirts stood a shabby two-story building. This was Uchiha Jin's home in this world.

It had to be said.

Though the house was somewhat dilapidated, its location was quite good, very close to Konoha Commercial Street.

After all, the Nine-Tails Rebellion had yet to break out, and the Uchiha compound had not yet been relocated.

As one of Konoha's founding clans, the land they occupied was naturally not bad.

As Uchiha Jin walked along, quite a few clansmen rolled their eyes at him, provoked him, humiliated him...

But in response.

Having long grown used to it, he merely let his face droop, yawned, and began his talk-no-jutsu.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes!"

"You're absolutely right. I'm a coward, I'm trash!"

"You're awesome, you're amazing, you're the GOAT!"

"..."

That was right.

When he had first transmigrated here, he might have felt anger and resentment.

But now?

He had long since grown accustomed to it, become numb, and developed a thick skin.

He even found these clansmen laughable and pitiable.

They clung to the shabby signboard of "Konoha's Top Clan," unaware that they had long become a dish on someone else's table.