Ramen That Always Brings People Joy

By the time the training ended, the horizon had already been dyed a shade of orange red.

Shinnosuke put away his wooden sword, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and turned to look at Kakashi.

"The Silver Haired Uncle went on a mission, so what are you going to do for dinner? Are you cooking for yourself?"

Kakashi's movements paused, and he didn't answer.

"Come to my house for dinner," Shinnosuke suggested.

"No need."

"Why?"

"It's a hassle."

Shinnosuke blinked his eyes: "What's so troublesome about eating? You just sit down, open your mouth, chew, and swallow. I do it every day, it's not troublesome at all."

Kakashi fell silent.

"Besides, there might be Fried Shrimp today," Shinnosuke added.

Kakashi still didn't speak.

Shinnosuke waited for two seconds, and when he saw there was no reaction, he tried a different angle: "And you were sparring for so long just now, aren't you hungry?"

"I'm fine."

Shinnosuke leaned in and raised an eyebrow: "Your stomach growled."

Kakashi instinctively looked down at his own stomach.

"Let's go, let's go." Shinnosuke pushed him forward.

Kakashi sighed: "Understood, I'll go."

The two of them walked along the street toward the Nohara House.

When they passed by a small alley, Shinnosuke suddenly stopped.

"Huh?"

Kakashi followed his gaze and looked over.

There was someone standing in the alley.

A teenage youth wearing a white Chef's Uniform was standing by the wall with his head hung low. His hands were hanging at his sides, his fingers still stained with flour. He looked as if all the strength had been drained from his body, leaning against the wall, motionless.

The setting sun shone on his face, revealing those vacant, unfocused eyes.

Shinnosuke tilted his head and watched for two seconds.

"That person... looks so sad."

Kakashi didn't say anything.

Shinnosuke walked up to the youth and looked up at him.

"What's wrong?"

The youth was startled by the sudden voice. He looked down and saw a Child in Red Clothes.

"It's nothing."

Shinnosuke stared at him for two seconds.

"You're lying."

The youth choked on his words.

Shinnosuke pointed at his face: "Here, here, and here, it's all written that 'I am so sad'."

The youth's expression froze. Looking at this child in front of him, he suddenly didn't know what to say.

Silence lasted for two seconds.

Then, he slowly slid down, squatted on the ground, and held his head in his hands.

"The things I make... don't taste good at all." His voice was very muffled, "My Master said I have no talent and will never be able to make food that people like."

Shinnosuke squatted in front of him, resting his chin on his hands as he watched him.

"What do you make?"

"Ramen," the youth said, "The broth is always lacking in flavor, the noodles are always overcooked, and the chashu is always too tough..."

The more he spoke, the more dejected he became, burying his head even lower.

"I've practiced for such a long, long time, but I just can't get it right."

Shinnosuke listened earnestly.

After listening, he tilted his head and thought for a moment.

"Then do you like making ramen?"

The youth was stunned for a moment.

"I do."

Shin Nohara nodded, then stood up and intended to pat him on the shoulder, but since he couldn't reach, he settled for patting his arm instead.

"Then just keep doing it. My Mother's cooking is often not very good either; sometimes it's too salty, sometimes too bland, but she makes it every day, and after doing it for a while, it started to taste good."

After thinking for a moment, Shin Nohara added, "Though it still gets burnt quite often."

The corner of the Youth's mouth twitched.

Shin Nohara continued, "Besides, even if it doesn't taste good, Father and I will still finish it, because it's something my Mother made."

He looked at the Youth and said earnestly:

"Someone will definitely eat the ramen you make, too."

The Youth looked at this Child.

The setting sun behind him gilded his silhouette with a layer of gold.

"What's your name?" The Youth suddenly smiled.

"Shin Nohara." Shin Nohara gave a thumbs up, "I'm five years old this year."

"My name is Teuda." The Youth turned to look at the closed restaurant, "Don't worry, I won't give up."

"Go for it!" Shin Nohara waved at him.

Teuda was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and stopped, "Are you two hungry?"

"Hungry!" Shin Nohara's eyes lit up.

Teuda smiled and said, "Then I'll make something for you to eat, even though Master says I don't make it very well."

He pushed open the shop door and walked inside.

The shop was small, with a few tables and chairs, all kept quite clean.

Teuda tied on an apron and began to busy himself.

Shin Nohara sat on a chair, his legs swinging back and forth.

Kakashi sat beside him, observing the small shop.

After a while, two bowls of ramen were brought out.

The broth was clear and bright, the noodles were neatly arranged, topped with a few slices of char siu, half a soft-boiled egg, some nori, and chopped green onions.

"Give it a try." Teuda watched them, looking a bit nervous.

Shin Nohara picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a mouthful of noodles, and slurped them into his mouth.

Teuda stared at him nervously.

Shin Nohara chewed, swallowed, and his eyes lit up: "Delicious!"

Teuda was stunned.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Shin Nohara grabbed another mouthful, "It's even better than what Miya makes."

Kakashi also picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.

Teuda watched him nervously.

Kakashi swallowed and set his chopsticks down.

"The broth is decent, but the firmness of the noodles could be adjusted; they are a bit overdone right now. The char siu isn't flavorful enough, it could be marinated a bit longer."

Kakashi took another bite and continued, "But overall, it's not bad."

Teuda stared blankly at this five-year-old Child.

This critique... was it a bit too professional?

Shin Nohara was eating quickly, his mouth still full of noodles as he mumbled unclearly: "When you open your shop, I'm going to be the first one to come eat!"

Teuda smiled and nodded: "Alright, the first one will be free for you."

"Really?"

"Really."

Shin Nohara's eyes shone like lightbulbs: "Then can I bring my friends?"

"You can."

"Bring lots and lots of friends?"

"That's fine too."

"Then can I..."

"Alright, alright." Teuda smiled and interrupted him, "Finish your noodles first, they won't taste good if they get cold."

Shin Nohara lowered his head and continued to eat.

Kakashi finished his meal as well and set down his chopsticks.

"Thank you for the meal."

Teuda nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on Shin-chan.

The child held the bowl with both hands, drank the very last drop of soup, set it down, patted his stomach, and flashed a radiant smile.

"Eating something delicious makes you happy, right?" Shin-chan patted his belly. "I'm really happy right now."

Teuda froze for a moment.

Happy?

He looked at the child before him, suddenly remembering what Master had once said: that cooking was meant to make people feel happy and content.

Yet, he had been so focused on the soup base, the noodles, and the chashu that he had completely forgotten this.

After resting for a while, Shin-chan hopped off his chair and said to Kakashi, "Let's go. If we don't get back soon, Miya is going to worry."

Teuda stood at the entrance of the shop, watching that small red figure disappear around the corner of the alley.

Ramen that makes people happy, huh...

Teuda turned to look at the empty tables and chairs inside the shop, and a thought suddenly struck him.

One day, he would open a shop of his own.

He would make a bowl of ramen that could bring people happiness.