Ramen Next Generation

The century-old shop, Ichiraku Ramen.

Naruto and Hinata were regular customers, and as soon as they stepped inside, they were warmly welcomed by Teuchi, the uncle at Ichiraku Ramen.

"Uncle Teuchi, two large bowls of miso ramen." Naruto asked with a puzzled look, "Why isn't Ayame-san here?"

Teuchi looked troubled, speaking as he worked, "Naruto, as people grow up, there is always a rebellious phase."

Hinata smelled the fragrant broth and her appetite was piqued, "Uncle Teuchi, could it be that Ayame-san doesn't like ramen anymore? The ramen you make is so delicious; I don't think I could ever get tired of it even if I ate it for a lifetime."

Naruto, however, understood Teuchi's frustration, "Uncle Teuchi, please try to be more open-minded. Ayame-san has a strong sense of self; she won't be led astray by bad people."

Teuchi secretly hoped for Ayame to inherit the family business and, ideally, expand it by opening two or three more branches in Konoha.

Everyone had their own troubles.

A few dozen meters down the back alley of the ramen shop was the home of Sakura Haruno.

Graduating from the Ninja Academy was, by any measure, a happy occasion for Sakura Haruno.

However, upon returning home, Sakura Haruno was met with a drunken father and a mother with disheveled hair.

They were arguing again.

Sakura Haruno did not want to stay in the house, so she let out a shout and ran out, first finding Ino, and the two played until nightfall before parting ways.

"I need to be independent sooner. Once I finish a mission and save up some money, I'll move out on my own. I never want to hear their bickering again." Sakura Haruno, fuming, decided to cut through a dark, unlit path.

"Yo!"

Three men blocked Sakura Haruno's path. Two of them were holding wine bottles, and the man in the middle wore a Konoha forehead protector, reeking of alcohol just the same.

"Where did this little girl come from? Why are you alone so late? Why don't you come play with us brothers?"

One man suddenly grabbed Sakura Haruno's shoulder.

Sakura Haruno pushed him away in fear, "I'm almost home, you guys need to move aside right now."

Drunken men have no self-restraint; their brains are fueled by amplified emotions.

"Don't be ungrateful. Grab her and force her to drink."

The man with the forehead protector had the strength of a chunin. He lunged forward, grabbed Sakura Haruno's arms with both hands, and then swung her, pinning her firmly against the brick wall to the side, letting out a wheezing laugh.

There was no light.

Sakura Haruno's feet dangled in the air, her arms twisted behind her back, causing a constant, throbbing pain.

A cold wine bottle was pressed against her mouth; fear left her unable to resist.

"Help! Help!"

The alcohol filled Sakura Haruno's throat, and she couldn't make a sound.

"You're blocking my path."

The three men turned around to see Sasuke, who was carrying the Scroll of Seals, and began to mock him, "Kid, you need to show some respect when talking to us. We brothers don't have the best temper. If we beat you up in a moment, what are you going to do?"

Sakura Haruno's eyes were blurred with tears, making it hard to see, but she could still hear. She struggled, trying to call for help from anyone passing by.

Sasuke had only wanted to take a shortcut to the back gate of Konoha and hadn't expected to run into three pieces of Konoha trash, "Without the Uchiha clan's Military Police Force, the public order in Konoha is an absolute mess. Your actions have annoyed me."

One man angrily smashed his wine bottle toward Sasuke, "Kid, looking for a beating?"

A flash of a blade.

The man's arm was severed, and he screamed in terror, "I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"

The other two hadn't fully processed their companion's transformation before they felt a loss of weight at their shoulders, followed by total darkness before their eyes.

Sasuke coldly sheathed his Kusanagi Sword. He did not kill the three, merely severing an arm from each and blinding them.

"Do you still want to block my path?"

Facing the threat of death, the three men dared not stay where they were. They huddled together and scrambled away along the wall, shouting, "Murder! Murder!"

Sakura Haruno collapsed to the ground, retching up the alcohol. Her throat burned, and her face was scraped red.

Sasuke did not stop, walking further and further away.

Sakura Haruno regained her senses and looked up, trying to see who it was. Through her hazy vision, she saw the Uchiha Gunbai crest.

Uchiha?

Was it him?

Sakura Haruno's heart was in turmoil, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind.

Two steaming bowls of miso ramen were ready.

Naruto had just picked up his chopsticks when a figure vanished from the stool.

A moment later, Naruto dragged someone in—it was Sasuke, who had just been passing by.

"Sasuke-chan, what a coincidence! Don't act cool in front of me; let me treat you to ramen." Naruto said generously, "Uncle Teuchi, one more bowl."

Such powerful chakra sensing ability. Sasuke felt a bit tense; Naruto had appeared suddenly, yet he hadn't sensed a thing.

Hinata asked in surprise, "Are you Uchiha Sasuke?"

Sasuke could not refuse Naruto, so he sat down beside him and nodded, saying, "Yeah, long time no see."

"Have you been home yet?" Naruto stirred his noodles in a circle.

Sasuke replied, "I saw them, and I saw Shin. Where is my brother? Do you know?"

Naruto took a sip of broth, feeling wonderful. "How would I know? Even Shisui doesn't know. The Akatsuki is currently the most mysterious faction in the ninja world; no one knows what they are up to. It's probably not easy for Itachi to pass on important information. Sasuke-chan, how did Orochimaru lure you in? You could have stayed in Konoha, and I could have taught you!"

Before long, a bowl of fragrant ramen was placed in front of Sasuke.

"Naruto, you were stronger than me from the very beginning, so I have to chase after you. But I don't want to be a step behind you forever, which is why I chose to learn from Orochimaru. Over these years, I have mastered all the ninjutsu in the ninja world, and it is possible to cultivate a power different from the chakra within the body—a power belonging to nature itself. That will make me even stronger. By then, even without relying on the power of the Sharingan, I will still be stronger than you." Sasuke encouraged himself, then began to eat the ramen in large mouthfuls.

Since Naruto was treating, he might as well eat more.

Naruto looked at the lean Sasuke and shook his head, saying, "Sasuke-chan, you can't even imagine my strength. However, with Orochimaru focusing all his energy on you these years, it has actually saved the ninja world a lot of trouble. You deserve some credit for that, too."

Hinata raised her hand. "Naruto, can I have another bowl?"

"All you can eat." Naruto exchanged a look with Uncle Ichiraku, the tab to be settled later.

Uncle Ichiraku, who held Naruto in high regard, nodded slightly and agreed to his request.

Sasuke finished his soup. "I have to leave in a while. This is the Scroll of Seals. It records the unknown forbidden techniques and powerful ninjutsu of Konoha. Do you want to learn them?"

"Open it up and take a look. Hinata, you should learn them too." What reason did Naruto have to refuse Sasuke's good intentions?

Forbidden techniques don't necessarily have to be used; one can learn about them first.

If he ever encounters an enemy using a forbidden technique in the future, he won't be caught off guard, right?