"Just as I thought, he's fast."
Uchiha Fugaku looked at the ramen that had just been set in front of him and smiled.
Before long, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly walked into the ramen shop.
Uchiha Fugaku naturally didn't wait for him to question him and spoke first.
"Lord Hokage, you're here?"
"Boss, another bowl of deluxe ramen."
"Lord Hokage, have some ramen first. Whatever you need to discuss can wait until you've finished."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback by Uchiha Fugaku's words, then sat down between Uchiha Fugaku and Naruto Uzumaki.
When Naruto Uzumaki saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, he hurriedly swallowed the mouthful of ramen he'd stuffed into his mouth and said,
"Grandpa Third, what brings you here again?"
"Uncle Fugaku just treated me to the most expensive ramen."
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude left Naruto Uzumaki a little confused. He could also sense that something was off. After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was acting differently from usual today. Whenever Grandpa Third came to see him before, he was always cheerful and gave Naruto a warmth he'd never felt anywhere else.
Naruto Uzumaki slowly stopped wolfing down his ramen and asked, his face full of confusion,
"Grandpa Third, what's wrong? Why do you seem unhappy?"
Uchiha Fugaku, who had already started tasting his ramen, spoke up.
"What could Lord Hokage possibly be unhappy about?"
"Maybe because we started eating this delicious ramen without waiting for him."
????
Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly baffled.
What do you mean, why am I unhappy? You know perfectly well.
If you hadn't suddenly approached Naruto Uzumaki, would I have taken this so seriously and dropped everything to come running?
But this wasn't something he could say here, especially with Uchiha Fugaku sitting right beside him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen could only go along with Uchiha Fugaku's words.
"How unfair! You're eating such delicious ramen and didn't even invite me."
Naruto Uzumaki chimed in, too.
"Don't be mad, Grandpa Third. I'll stop eating and wait for you, okay?"
After all, Naruto had only just started at the Ninja Academy. He hadn't entered his rebellious phase yet or started playing pranks to get attention.
At this point, Naruto's life still depended entirely on the food the Third gave him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was touched by how considerate Naruto was.
But this was no time to get sentimental. The greatest threat, Uchiha Fugaku, was still sitting right beside him.
Uchiha Fugaku paid Sarutobi Hiruzen no mind and quietly ate his ramen. After all, his only goal had been to get him to come and pay.
Before long, Teuchi served Sarutobi Hiruzen's ramen.
Teuchi was a little excited the moment he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Hokage had never eaten at his ramen shop before.
Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed his excitement and gestured for him to return to the kitchen.
When Naruto Uzumaki saw that Sarutobi Hiruzen's ramen had arrived, he couldn't help swallowing. He'd only gotten halfway through his own before he'd been forced to stop.
Uchiha Fugaku noticed, of course, and smiled as he said,
"Why are you nervous, Lord Hokage? I really did just come here for a bowl of ramen."
"Relax. You'll understand why I came once you've finished eating."
????
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't sure whether to believe him.
He slowly picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
As soon as Naruto Uzumaki saw Sarutobi Hiruzen start eating, he dug in again, too.
Before long, Naruto Uzumaki was the first to finish his Ichiraku Ramen.
He let out a satisfied burp.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was still eating, then spoke.
"Naruto, Clan Head Fugaku and I have some things to discuss. Why don't you head home and play?"
Naruto Uzumaki thought it over, then agreed.
"Thanks for the meal, Uncle Fugaku. I'm heading out now, Uncle Fugaku, Grandpa Third."
With that, Naruto Uzumaki darted off and vanished in an instant. The reason he ran so fast was simple: he'd skipped class to come here today.
He didn't know why Grandpa Third hadn't scolded him, but he knew he'd better make a quick getaway.
It would be bad if Grandpa Third remembered and changed his mind.
After Naruto Uzumaki left, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally relaxed and started eating his ramen.
After all, Uchiha Fugaku had said he'd understand his purpose once he'd finished eating.
Uchiha Fugaku finished his ramen before Sarutobi Hiruzen did.
"Just as delicious as ever. Ichiraku Ramen really lives up to its reputation."
Hearing that, Teuchi couldn't help replying,
"Thank you for the kind words. Please come again."
Uchiha Fugaku burped and said,
"Of course. The Third will pick up the bill this time."
With that, Uchiha Fugaku vanished without a trace.
????
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Otsutsuki Ichiraku were both dumbfounded when they saw Uchiha Fugaku disappear.
What was Uchiha Fugaku up to? (Wasn't this customer supposed to be treating us?)
Could he really have just wanted someone else to pay? But he was the head of the Uchiha Clan!
How could he be short the money for three bowls of ramen?
After Uchiha Fugaku left, the two Anbu who had been keeping him under surveillance told Sarutobi Hiruzen what they'd seen.
Once Sarutobi Hiruzen had heard the whole story, he finally relaxed a little.
Uchiha Fugaku really had come just to eat a bowl of ramen.
After thinking it over, the reason he'd approached Naruto Uzumaki left Sarutobi Hiruzen at a loss for words.
Maybe he really had invited Naruto to eat because he'd come out for ramen without bringing any money.
Wait. Could it be because of that hundred million ryo?
Was he pretending he couldn't pay because the hundred million ryo hadn't been approved for him yet?
That had to be it. Otherwise, how could the head of a clan not have enough money for a bowl of ramen?
Once he'd figured it out, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to leave at once.
He took three hundred ryo from his wallet and handed it to Teuchi.
Teuchi stared at the money in surprise, then hesitantly said in a quiet voice,
"Lord Hokage, you haven't given me enough. It doesn't cover the bill."
????
Sarutobi Hiruzen had already started to leave, but when he heard that it wasn't enough, he awkwardly pulled his foot back and asked,
"How much is a bowl of ramen? How much more do I owe?"
Only after Sarutobi Hiruzen asked did Teuchi explain,
"Lord Hokage, that gentleman ordered the deluxe ramen set."
"One set costs 400 ryo. You still owe 900 ryo."
????
400 ryo? How could it cost so much?
That was a hundred ryo more than an Explosive Tag!
At that thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly realized that maybe it wasn't impossible to eat ramen and be unable to pay.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly returned to his seat, finished his ramen at a leisurely pace, then paid the bill with a pained expression before leaving.
After all, he'd spent 1,200 ryo. He might as well finish his meal rather than let it go to waste.
Before you continue