Eating Ramen with the Hokage

"Your speed is truly impressive."

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the ramen that had just been placed before him and smiled.

Not long after, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked slowly into the ramen shop.

Uchiha Fugaku naturally did not wait for him to start an interrogation, speaking first instead.

"The Hokage has arrived?"

"Boss, another bowl of deluxe ramen, please."

"Hokage-sama, let's eat first. Whatever business you have can wait until we've finished our meal."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback by Uchiha Fugaku's words, then sat down between Uchiha Fugaku and Uzumaki Naruto.

When Uzumaki Naruto saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, he struggled to swallow the mouthful of ramen he was chewing and said, "Third Hokage-gramps, why are you free to come here again?"

"This Uncle Fugaku just treated me to the most expensive bowl of ramen."

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude left Uzumaki Naruto feeling somewhat puzzled. At the same time, Naruto sensed that the atmosphere was off; after all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not his usual self today. Whenever the Third Hokage came to see him in the past, he was always very cheerful, providing a warmth that Naruto never felt anywhere else.

Naruto slowly set down the ramen he had been devouring and asked with a confused expression, "What's wrong, Third Hokage-gramps? Why do you seem so unhappy?"

Uchiha Fugaku, who had already begun tasting his ramen, spoke up.

"What could the Hokage possibly be unhappy about?"

"Perhaps it's because we didn't wait for the Hokage to eat his ramen first."

????

Sarutobi Hiruzen was left momentarily stunned.

Nonsense. You know exactly why I'm unhappy, don't you?

If you hadn't suddenly approached Uzumaki Naruto, would I have taken this so seriously and dropped everything to rush over here?

However, this was not the place to discuss such things, especially with Uchiha Fugaku sitting right beside him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to play along with Uchiha Fugaku's words.

"How truly excessive of you, eating such delicious ramen without even calling for me."

Uzumaki Naruto chimed in, "Don't be angry, Third Hokage-gramps. I'll stop eating and wait for you, okay?"

After all, Naruto had only just entered the Ninja Academy and had not yet reached his rebellious phase or started pulling pranks to attract attention.

At this point in time, Naruto's life still depended entirely on the food provided by the Third Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a touch of emotion at Naruto's thoughtfulness.

But now was not the time to be sentimental, not with his greatest threat, Uchiha Fugaku, sitting right next to him.

Uchiha Fugaku ignored Sarutobi Hiruzen and continued to eat his ramen quietly; his only goal was simply to make the man pay the bill.

Before long, Teuchi brought out Sarutobi Hiruzen's ramen.

Teuchi looked visibly excited the moment he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the Hokage had never once come to his shop to eat before.

Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed the man's excitement and gestured for him to return to the kitchen.

Seeing the Hokage's ramen arrive, Uzumaki Naruto couldn't help but swallow his saliva, having been forced to stop halfway through his own meal.

Uchiha Fugaku naturally noticed this and said with a smile, "Hokage-sama, why are you so nervous? I really am just here to eat a simple bowl of ramen today."

"Rest assured, once you finish your ramen, you will understand my purpose."

????

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained skeptical.

He slowly picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen start, Uzumaki Naruto immediately dove back into his own bowl.

It wasn't long before Uzumaki Naruto was the first to finish his ramen.

He let out a satisfied burp.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, still eating, spoke up.

"Naruto, I have some matters to discuss with Clan Head Fugaku. Why don't you head back now?"

Hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto thought for a moment and agreed.

"Thank you for the treat, Uncle Fugaku. Uncle Fugaku, Third Hokage-gramps, I'm leaving now."

With that, Uzumaki Naruto bolted out the door and vanished in a flash. As for why he was running so fast, it was naturally because he had skipped class to be here today.

Although he did not know why his Third Hokage grandfather had not scolded him, he knew he had better slip away early.

After all, it would be bad if his Third Hokage grandfather suddenly remembered him.

After Uzumaki Naruto left, Sarutobi Hiruzen also relaxed and began to eat his ramen.

After all, Uchiha Fugaku had said that once he finished the ramen, he would know his purpose.

Uchiha Fugaku finished his ramen one step ahead of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Truly delicious, as expected of Ichiraku Ramen."

Upon hearing this, the owner, Ichiraku, could not help but speak up.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir. You are welcome to come again."

Uchiha Fugaku let out a satisfied burp and said.

"That goes without saying. The bill for this meal will be covered by the Third Hokage shortly."

With that, Uchiha Fugaku vanished without a trace.

????

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku disappear, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Otsutsuki Ichiraku were both stunned.

What is this Uchiha Fugaku trying to pull? (Isn't this guest supposed to be the one treating?)

It couldn't possibly be that he just wanted to find someone to pay the bill, right? But he is the head of the Uchiha Clan!

How could he possibly be short on the money for three bowls of ramen?

Just after Uchiha Fugaku left, the two Anbu who had been monitoring him reported everything they had seen and heard to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Having understood the entire process, Sarutobi Hiruzen relaxed a little instantly.

It turned out that Uchiha Fugaku really had just wanted to come and eat a bowl of ramen.

And after analysis, the reason for his contact with Uzumaki Naruto left Sarutobi Hiruzen unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

It was actually possible that he had invited Naruto to eat ramen simply because he had come out to eat without bringing any money.

Wait, no? Could it be because of that 100 million ryo?

Was he acting like he couldn't afford the meal because that 100 million ryo hadn't been approved for him yet?

That must be it; otherwise, as a clan head, how could he possibly lack the money to pay for a bowl of ramen?

Having figured out the reason, Sarutobi Hiruzen chose to leave immediately.

Sarutobi Hiruzen then pulled 300 ryo from his wallet and handed it to Ichiraku.

Ichiraku was stunned after taking the money, then hesitated and whispered.

"Lord Hokage, you haven't given enough. It's not enough."

????

Hearing that it was not enough, Sarutobi Hiruzen awkwardly retracted the foot he had just stepped forward with and asked.

"How much is a bowl of ramen? How much is still owed?"

Only after hearing the Hokage's inquiry did Ichiraku reply.

"Lord Hokage, that gentleman ordered the most luxurious ramen set meals."

"Each set is 400 ryo, so you are still short 900 ryo."

????

400 ryo? How could it be so expensive?

One had to know that this price was 100 ryo more expensive than an explosive tag!

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly felt that it was not impossible for someone to be unable to afford a bowl of ramen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly returned to his seat, finished his noodles slowly, and only then paid the bill with a pained heart before leaving.

After all, he had spent 1,200 ryo of his own money; he couldn't let it go to waste, could he?