"Konoha Iron Mountain Lean!!"
Might Guy shouted.
He had learned this move from Uchiha Gin and found it incredibly useful. It was a perfect fit for his Konoha Steel Fist.
He seized his chance when Uchiha Gin left himself open. Guy wanted to slam into him and knock him right out of the wires' range.
"Oh no!"
But Guy immediately realized he'd been tricked.
Uchiha Gin, who should have been panicking, suddenly curled his lips into a smile.
Guy had seen that smile plenty of times before. It always appeared when Uchiha Gin was about to pull some dirty trick on him.
Uchiha Gin had taken one of his punches and was stumbling backward, but the toe of his right foot hooked around the ankle of Guy's planted right leg.
That hook sapped most of the force from Guy's unstoppable charge. Uchiha Gin had been unable to withstand the impact, but now he blocked it, grabbed Guy's clothes with both hands, and suddenly leaned backward, throwing Guy straight out of the wires' range.
"Damn it, I fell for it again!"
Guy complained as he flew through the air.
Unless he used a ninja tool or summoned a Ninja Turtle in midair to push off of, there was no way to stop himself.
So Guy was thrown right out of the wires' range.
"I lost!"
"But next time, I won't fall for that trick again!"
After landing, Guy could only put up a brave front.
"You're buying Ichiraku Ramen this time."
Uchiha Gin didn't mind.
A fixed move was a weakness in actual combat. The best move was one you used flexibly.
"I'm eating ten bowls!"
Unwilling to accept defeat, Guy was determined to beat Uchiha Gin in the number of bowls of ramen they ate!
The Hero's Fate
Uchiha Gin and Might Guy took Sasuke with them and headed to Ichiraku Ramen.
Sasuke was very excited along the way. He had witnessed a real fight and grown interested in learning. He kept asking Uchiha Gin and Might Guy about the moves they had used at the start of the fight, wanting to show them to his parents and brother when he got home.
"Teuchi, I'll have the deluxe seafood ramen."
Uchiha Gin unhesitatingly ordered the most expensive item.
Guy had a feeling his wallet was going to take a hit today, but he didn't hold back when ordering.
"Three bowls of tonkotsu ramen to start!"
Guy chimed in.
"Uh, I'll have tonkotsu ramen too."
Sasuke didn't feel shy and spoke up.
"Sure, coming right up!"
The Ichiraku owner said with a cheerful smile.
He began kneading the dough with care and making the noodles on the spot. His daughter, Ayame, prepared the bowls, chopsticks, and side dishes nearby.
The aroma gradually spread. Sasuke was excited, thinking the day had gone even better than he'd expected. He happily swung his little feet.
But just then, Uchiha Gin and Might Guy both frowned and turned to look beyond the curtain. It was the aura of murderous intent that ninja couldn't help but give off.
But after one glance, the two of them understood what was going on. It was Naruto Uzumaki, the Fox of Konoha, who had appeared outside Ichiraku Ramen at some point.
He wore dirty, old clothes. His eyes were full of confusion and longing as he leaned on the shop's doorframe and peered inside.
Seeing this, Guy knew things might get troublesome.
Teuchi had also noticed Naruto. Seeing how pitiful he looked, he was just about to speak.
"Boss, bring this kid a bowl of tonkotsu ramen. He's paying."
"Kid, you're in luck today. This guy won the lottery and is treating everyone to free ramen."
Uchiha Gin suddenly spoke up.
Aside from the possibility that he might need Naruto's genes in the future, the kid really had a miserable life. Besides, the Fourth Hokage had been kind to the Uchiha Clan.
So there was no reason to hold back when it came to treating him to a bowl of ramen. The aftermath might be troublesome, but Uchiha Gin didn't care.
And he didn't have to pay for it himself.
Might Guy was stunned by Uchiha Gin's words. He clearly hadn't expected him to get involved, since the Uchiha Clan was rather sensitive about this sort of thing.
Even he, who knew little about anything outside Taijutsu, understood that much.
"Right, it's my treat today. If you'd like, come have a bowl of ramen!"
But Guy wasn't afraid of trouble.
He trusted Uchiha Gin, and after hearing what he said, Naruto was looking at him with burning eyes. Guy couldn't bring himself to refuse.
"Thank you!"
Naruto thanked him sincerely.
He felt that these two were different from the people he usually met.
Then Naruto hurriedly climbed onto the last empty chair nearby, grinning with delight.
"Captain!"
The Anbu hidden nearby saw Naruto sit down and immediately panicked.
After all, the person most strictly forbidden from getting close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was Uchiha Gin.
Under the usual arrangements, this wouldn't have happened. If Naruto approached Uchiha Gin, they would immediately create a distraction and hold Naruto back.
Naruto had been hungry today, but he didn't have enough money in his pocket. He'd been lingering around Ichiraku Ramen for a long time, and Uchiha Gin had suddenly shown up with Might Guy and Sasuke. They hadn't had time to stop him.
If they deliberately caused trouble, Uchiha Gin might notice. That would only give him an opening, so they could only watch from the side.
"We can't drag him away by force. I'll go over."
Kakashi said.
It was his turn to watch Naruto today. Anbu who returned from missions rarely got time off; they were usually assigned to watch the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
He was still wary of Uchiha Gin, but with Might Guy there, he thought things should be safe.
Then Kakashi took off his mask, quickly changed into a disguise, and headed straight for Ichiraku Ramen.
"Beef ramen, please."
Kakashi expertly lifted the curtain. Minato-sensei had often brought him here for ramen in the past.
Teuchi recognized Kakashi and asked Ayame to bring out another chair. They squeezed together a little. Since two of the customers were children, five chairs could fit across the front.
"Kakashi!"
"When are we going to have a red-hot showdown?!"
The moment Might Guy saw Kakashi, he perked up as if he'd eaten a Snickers.
He knew Kakashi might have come because of the Nine-Tails, but he didn't care.
Kakashi had rarely seen Guy since joining the Anbu. Guy was always the one who went to Kakashi's house to look for him.
"Maybe next time."
Kakashi brushed him off.
Lately, he'd been rather listless. Aside from his missions, he couldn't find much meaning in life. Every day, he went home and sank into a funk.
"I've learned plenty of great moves from Gin lately. I've been saving them up to use against you!"
Guy said eagerly.
Meanwhile, the ramen was served to everyone one bowl after another. Kakashi had arrived later, so he still had to wait a little.
"Guy, to beat Kakashi, all you have to do is get the latest edition of Icha Icha Paradise. During your match, spoil the story for him. He'll cover his ears and close his eyes, and then you can take the opportunity to beat him up as much as you like."
Uchiha Gin suddenly cut in.
Kakashi's right pupil instantly widened.
"You're terrifying, Gin!"
He stared at Uchiha Gin in horror. He couldn't believe his one weakness had been exposed.
"Really?!"
Might Guy was very interested.
After all, he and Kakashi were eternal rivals. In all these years, he'd never found a suitable weakness, and now he'd finally discovered one.
"Captain Gin, what's Icha Icha Paradise?"
Sasuke suddenly asked. He thought it was some kind of powerful move and wanted to learn it.
"You can read it when you're sixteen."
Uchiha Gin didn't answer directly. He used the all-purpose line for kids: You'll understand when you're older.
Nearby, Naruto envied the lively atmosphere. He also made a note of the name Icha Icha Paradise, thinking that when he grew up, he would definitely learn that move.
Then everyone bent over their bowls and slurped up the noodles. From time to time, Guy chatted with Kakashi. The mood was relaxed, completely unlike the tense standoff outside between two Anbu squads and a squad from the Uchiha Police Force.
"Sasuke, I'm here to take you home."
When they were nearly finished eating, Itachi appeared. He was worried about Sasuke being out for so long, since he was still so young.
When Uchiha Gin had come for ramen, he'd sent a crow to inform Itachi that they'd changed locations.
Sasuke hurriedly finished his last few bites, then jumped down from the chair and held his stomach as he excitedly ran to Itachi, telling him what had happened that day. He was in high spirits.
"Don't forget to pay."
Uchiha Gin stood up to leave too. Before going, he patted Might Guy on the shoulder and reminded him.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. It was best that nothing had happened.
But when he glanced sideways and saw the envious look Naruto gave Sasuke, he felt uneasy.
He'd already tried to numb himself to it, but he still had special feelings for Naruto.
"This is the fate of a hero."
The words suddenly reached Kakashi's ears. Might Guy heard them too.
Both of them went rigid for a moment. They recognized Uchiha Gin's voice and were shocked he dared to bring up the matter.
But soon they fell silent. The Uchiha Clan really was that brazen; otherwise, they wouldn't be targeted so much.
Kakashi clenched his fist, wanting to say something, but he saw Uchiha Gin leaving with Itachi and Sasuke.
"Sensei... what should I do?"
Confusion filled Kakashi's eyes.
The Chakra Armor Flight Test
Many people had gathered at the Ninja Tool Development Department today.
A newcomer had joined, and in just half a month, they had improved the Chakra Armor and completed a prototype of the first generation.
Uchiha Gin and Orochimaru had both come today to test the prototype.
"The armor is equipped with a Chakra Shield and can cut through specially made wings. Chakra Metal has been incorporated into these thin wings, with Wind Release Cursed Seals engraved on them. When gliding, the user can channel chakra into them and fly through the air."
Itachi explained the details to Uchiha Gin and Orochimaru.
Before you continue