Ichiraku Ramen

After leaving the Yamanaka Clan flower shop, Tokiju carried three bunches of flowers in his arms and headed for Konoha's cemetery.

Tokiju was the grandson of Konoha's First Hokage, so every year he would visit his grandfather's grave with his grandmother.

As a result, he still had some memory of how to get to the cemetery.

Before long, Tokiju arrived at the cemetery he remembered.

It was still as gloomy as ever, and there were many more graves than he remembered.

When he reached his grandfather's grave—the First Hokage's—he found a new grave beside it.

"So they really were buried together..."

Tokiju murmured. Beside his grandfather's grave stood the gravestones of his grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, and Nawaki.

As for where his parents were buried?

Well, Tokiju's mother had been the younger sister of the previous Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

After his parents had both passed away, they were buried together in the cemetery in the Land of Fire's capital.

So his parents' graves could not be found in Konoha.

After placing a bunch of flowers in front of each of the three graves, Tokiju sat cross-legged and began chatting with them about everyday things.

In his heart, he told his grandfather that although he was an outsider, his life here since childhood had made him accept this place as his own. He would do everything he could to protect Konoha.

He told his grandmother, "I'm sorry I couldn't be there to see you off. I'll make sure the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu flourishes."

He told Nawaki, "Little bro, there's something very suspicious about your death. I'll get to the bottom of it and avenge you."

Tokiju talked there for a long time. Some things he said outright, while others he left unsaid.

Before he knew it, the sun had climbed high overhead.

Feeling hungry, Tokiju finally stood up and said, "All right, Great-Grandpa, Grandma Mito, Nawaki. I'll come visit you again next time."

As Tokiju left the cemetery, he saw a white-haired boy approaching, radiating the air of a lazy slacker.

The moment he saw him, Tokiju recognized him. Wasn't this the Leaf's Copy Ninja, a fan of little Jiraiya's books, the legendary Copycat Ninja—Hatake Kakashi?

The boy was holding a bunch of flowers too, so he had probably come to pay his respects to his former teammates, Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin.

Tokiju didn't go over to greet him. They had no connection at the moment, and striking up a conversation out of the blue would invite suspicion.

Seeing Kakashi also reminded Tokiju of a scene from the original story.

Apparently, Obito found out Kushina's due date because Kakashi accidentally let it slip at the cemetery.

After all, Obito was a pervert who liked to spy on Kakashi in the Kamui Dimension whenever he had nothing better to do.

Thinking that Obito might already be watching Kakashi from somewhere nearby, Tokiju shuddered. Goosebumps prickled all over him.

The thought made Tokiju hurry away from the cemetery.

Kakashi, watching him go, scratched his head in confusion. Why had that kid suddenly run off?

He knew that kid. He was the one who had come to the Senju Ancestral Residence yesterday to call someone.

That was why Kakashi had paid a little more attention to Tokiju earlier.

After Tokiju left, Kakashi first went to the First Hokage's grave. When he saw the three bunches of flowers resting there, he checked them carefully to make sure nothing was wrong. Only then did he return to Obito and Rin's graves and begin paying his respects.

Tokiju, of course, had no idea what Kakashi was doing at the cemetery.

He was hungry and needed to find somewhere good to eat.

Soon, he spotted a little shop with the words "Ichiraku Ramen" on its sign.

The moment he saw the sign, Tokiju perked up. This was one of the must-visit spots for anyone who got transported into the Naruto world.

The only reason he hadn't come before was that Ichiraku wasn't even born yet, and there hadn't been any sign of a ramen shop.

Now that it was here, he had to go in and try it.

Without hesitation, Tokiju lifted the noren hanging outside the shop and stepped inside.

The moment he pushed aside the curtain, he heard a cheerful greeting. "Welcome! What can I get for you?"

Tokiju followed the voice and immediately spotted a familiar figure with narrowed eyes.

It's you, Otsutsuki Ichiraku! No, wait—it was Uncle Ichiraku.

Uncle Ichiraku looked younger than Tokiju remembered, with hardly any wrinkles on his face. He looked quite youthful.

After all, this was thirteen years before the original story began, so it made sense that Ichiraku was younger.

Tokiju glanced at the menu on the wall. There were quite a few options.

"Then I'll have a large tonkotsu chashu ramen."

"Coming right up! One large tonkotsu chashu ramen. Please wait a moment!"

After ordering, Tokiju picked a seat at random.

It was already well past noon, so the ramen shop was empty and very quiet.

Before long, Ichiraku brought Tokiju a steaming bowl of tonkotsu chashu ramen and said with a smile, "Your large tonkotsu chashu ramen is ready. Enjoy!"

Tokiju took the bowl. The rich aroma made his mouth water.

He took a sip of the broth, and his eyes lit up. As expected of the legendary Ichiraku Ramen—it really was delicious.

He tried a bite of the noodles. They were smooth and springy, and every mouthful was deeply satisfying.

After finishing his meal, Tokiju felt thoroughly satisfied. He paid cheerfully and said, "Boss, your ramen is great. I'll be back next time."

In other words, Tokiju had marked down a new place to eat.

Ichiraku smiled and said, "A satisfied customer is the best reward I could ask for. I hope you'll come again."

Tokiju left Ichiraku Ramen in high spirits and headed home.

When he passed through the shopping district, Tokiju went in again and began buying things according to plan.

First, he bought a notebook and a few pens from a general goods store.

Then, at a fabric shop, he bought some black, loosely woven, translucent fabric, along with needles and thread.

Once he had bought everything he needed, Tokiju left the shopping district, satisfied, and headed home.

The Anbu and Root agents hidden in the shadows had naturally recorded everything Tokiju had done that day in detail.

By evening, their reports would find their way onto the desks of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō.

When Tokiju got home, he immediately found Uzumaki Miku and asked, "Miku, do you know how to sew? I want to ask you to make me a veil I can wear over my eyes and still see through."