Uchiha Genya held his head high amid the disgusted stares of Konoha's unruly civilians, the corners of his mouth even curling into a confident smile.
Not only was he not hurt by it, he was actually quite proud.
"Uchiha... Genya, that's your name, right?"
Suddenly, a little white-haired boy blocked his path.
Genya was not at all surprised to see Kakashi appear.
Hatake Sakumo and Obito were the two thorns Kakashi could never remove from his heart. Even Rin ranked below them in importance to him.
Kakashi had no reason not to come see him.
Just as Kakashi was about to say something, Genya raised a hand to stop him and pointed at Ichiraku Ramen nearby.
"Want a bowl of ramen? My treat."
Kakashi: "..."
He could not understand why this young Uchiha seemed so calm and composed, as though he had him completely figured out.
Without waiting for Kakashi's answer, Genya stepped into Ichiraku Ramen first.
He said to Uncle Teuchi behind the counter, "Two large bowls of tonkotsu ramen."
"Coming right up!"
Upon receiving the new order, Uncle Teuchi immediately got to work with a broad smile.
He held no prejudice against the Uchiha, and that naturally included Kyuubi Naruto in the future.
Before long, two steaming bowls of tonkotsu ramen were served.
Although he had eaten it plenty of times already, even Genya had to admit that Ichiraku Ramen had lasted on this street for so many years for good reason.
While Genya immediately dug in with gusto, Kakashi did not touch the ramen before him. Instead, he stared intently at Genya with his one visible eye.
It was as if he would not let the matter rest unless Genya gave him a reasonable explanation.
"I suggest you eat something. Otherwise, after I tell you what comes next, you probably won't have the appetite to eat for the rest of the day."
After a moment of silence, Kakashi suddenly asked, "What do you want from me?"
No favor came without a price.
Even if Uchiha Genya had the truth he wanted, why would he tell him?
Until he figured that out, Kakashi could not trust a single word Uchiha Genya said.
Genya snapped his fingers. "Talking to smart people is refreshing. I'll be blunt, then. I want your Chidori development scroll."
Kakashi frowned.
Chidori was an A-rank ninjutsu of tremendous value, nearly qualified to be included in the Scroll of Sealing.
He had been developing this technique all along, intending to pair it with the Sharingan's superior dynamic vision and bring out its greatest power.
Yet he had never used this technique in front of anyone. In all of Konoha, fewer than five people knew he possessed this move and could specifically call it Chidori.
How did Genya know?
Kakashi was just about to refuse when Genya, as if he had anticipated his response, raised a hand and cut him off.
"Why not listen to what I have to say first, then decide whether to give it to me or not?"
Deliver first, pay later. The terms were so generous they were practically no terms at all.
Even if Genya ultimately told him the truth he wanted, Kakashi could simply go back on his word and say he would not hand it over.
Genya did not seem like such a generous person.
In their brief contact, Genya had left an extremely deep impression on him.
He had used his father's suicide to throw him off balance, then extended an invitation.
Every step had been tightly linked to the next, and now Genya was offering terms generous enough to be practically free.
Kakashi could not help suspecting that what Genya was about to tell him was his true objective. Whether he got Chidori or not was only secondary.
He had made the dumplings just for the vinegar.
Kakashi did not know whether he should keep listening. He was afraid of hearing something that would completely throw him into disarray.
But just as he hesitated, a commotion suddenly broke out outside, accompanied by loud shouting and the sounds of smashing.
Genya glanced at Kakashi, straightened his clothes, and said, "Sorry, but duty calls. I need to handle some official business."
"You can think it over slowly here. Just give me an answer before I return."
With that, Genya ignored Kakashi and walked out of Ichiraku Ramen.
The shopping district was also one of the places where disputes were most likely to occur. With the war having just ended, some shinobi who had suffered psychological trauma on the battlefield sometimes could not distinguish reality and would act excessively on the streets.
Commonly known as PTSD.
The Uchiha Security Force members were quite dutiful. The instant that injured Genin prepared to hurt someone, they rushed forward and restrained the Genin who was trying to cause trouble.
However, that Genin's companion refused to let the matter go and even tried to shove the Uchiha Security Force members.
Whenever such incidents happened in the past, the Uchiha Security Force members would generally do their best to explain matters while dutifully arresting the offender and locking him in the Security Division's prison.
But this approach of arresting people without a word often stirred up public resentment.
The Genin's companion was a middle-aged woman, not even a shinobi. She appeared to be his wife or something similar.
When she saw the Uchiha arrest her husband, she immediately sat on the ground and began kicking up a fuss, displaying the temperament of Konoha's unruly civilians to the fullest.
"The Uchiha are beating people again! Is there no justice left?!"
This had happened more than once or twice. The Uchiha Security Force always explained after making the arrest, but the result was often that neither side appreciated it.
Just as the middle-aged woman was about to rush up and grab at a Security Division member's clothes, an icy voice rang out through the crowd.
"Attacking the Konoha Military Police Force in broad daylight—are you trying to rebel?"
At the sound of that voice, the crowd automatically opened a path.
Genya walked in, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan revealed in his eyes as he swept his gaze over everyone present.
Everyone caught by those blood-red eyes immediately lowered their heads, as if they had been targeted by a great beast.
That included the woman who had just been throwing her tantrum.
But the next second, embarrassment turned into rage. Her anger even overwhelmed her fear and took control of her mind.
"Why do you Uchiha get to arrest people? Release my husband right now, or I'll report you to Lord Hokage!"
Genya suddenly revealed a cruel smile.
"Publicly threatening the Konoha Military Police Force established by the Uchiha Family under the appointment of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama? Are you placing yourself above Konoha's hero, the Second Hokage?!"