Konoha.
Ichiraku Ramen.
Even if the Ninja World turned upside down, business here remained booming.
Naruto sat at the counter, with seven or eight empty bowls stacked high in front of him.
He was slurping down noodles in huge mouthfuls.
Uzumaki Kushina sat beside him.
She had not ordered anything, merely propping her cheeks up with both hands as she watched her son with a gentle smile.
"Mom!"
"I learned another new ninjutsu yesterday!"
"What do you think? Aren't I amazing?"
"..."
Naruto spoke indistinctly while eating.
He desperately searched for topics, speaking at an extremely rapid pace.
It seemed that as long as he kept talking, this meal would never end.
"Naruto, you've grown up."
Kushina reached out and ruffled Naruto's spiky blond hair.
Naruto suddenly stopped eating.
He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling faintly.
Plop.
A tear fell into the noodle soup, sending ripples across its surface.
"Mom..."
Naruto set down his chopsticks and turned to look at Kushina.
"Are you really leaving tomorrow?"
Kushina fought back the ache in her nose.
Feigning ease, she flicked Naruto's forehead.
"You brat."
"How can a boy cry so easily!"
"Mom has watched you grow up safely in the Pure Land and make so many good friends like Sasuke and Sakura."
"Mom is already satisfied."
She pulled Naruto into her arms.
"Listen."
"From now on, eat properly and don't be a picky eater."
"Bathe on time every day and keep yourself nice and clean."
"And stop eating ramen all the time. Eat more vegetables."
Naruto nodded desperately in her embrace, his tears soaking Kushina's clothes.
"Mom..."
"I will... I'll listen to everything you say..."
Kushina closed her eyes, hiding the overwhelming reluctance in them.
She silently murmured in her heart.
"Minato."
"Our son is truly strong."
Hatake Residence.
Within