Fated Ramen

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a highly revered Hokage in Konoha's history. With him guarding Konoha Village, it had practically become the number one ninja village, and the Land of Fire stood head and shoulders above the rest as well.

Such a figure was iron-fisted toward outsiders yet quite kind within the village. Hiruzen Sarutobi did not make things difficult for Tianming. Instead, he taught Tianming a few lessons and also settled his enrollment.

At a certain age, ninjas were sent to the Ninja Academy to study. After graduating from the academy, they became genin.

But Tianming could not sense chakra. He had spent several muddleheaded years like that and had not even registered for the Ninja Academy.

Although Tianming knew that Rock Lee also relied on taijutsu rather than ninjutsu, Rock Lee simply was not suited for ninjutsu; that was different from Tianming having zero chakra. Besides, Rock Lee had inherited Might Guy's teachings and would become the top taijutsu user in the future.

Lying on the large bed in the Qingchuan home, Tianming stared at the ceiling.

The new school year at the Ninja Academy began tomorrow, and thanks to the Hokage's arrangements, he could join Team 7 midway through the term.

That was certainly something to be happy about. Team 7 had the protagonist lineup: their instructor was Hatake Kakashi, while the students were the two strongest ninjas of the future and the super-strong Sakura Haruno. If Tianming became the fourth member, he would basically be able to swagger through the ninja world.

"I'm kind of looking forward to it."

Though Tianming had met several of Konoha's Rookie Twelve, he had barely interacted with any of them. The only one he could probably call a good friend was Rock Lee, with whom he practiced taijutsu.

"Whatever. When the cart reaches the mountain, there'll be a road around it!" Tianming muttered before going to sleep.

Now that his cheat had arrived, his chakra was fully maxed out! And the curtains had risen on everything.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Tianming rose early. After washing up, he left the Qingchuan home.

Not long after stepping outside, Tianming heard a commotion coming from the small woods nearby.

"You useless dead-last! Who told you to stick your nose into our business?!"

"You monster, trying to play the hero and save the damsel?"

"You dare get in our way? You're asking for a beating!"

Several children cursed as they kicked and punched the person on the ground.

"You bastards, what kind of skill is it to bully a girl? Let's see whether Naruto Uzumaki is afraid of you!" Naturally, the one getting beaten up was the young prince himself.

Naruto had it rough too. Minato Namikaze had died in Konoha's forty-eighth year. For the village's safety, he had ultimately sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto. One would have thought Konoha Village would take especially good care of Naruto, but ever since childhood, he had been bullied under the name of "monster."

"Still talking tough!" The chubby kid leading them rolled up his sleeves, gathering wisps of chakra in his palm. "I'll show you what ninjutsu is!"

"Stop right there!" At that moment, a sharp shout rang out, followed by a pebble striking the chubby kid's calf.

"Waaah!" The chubby kid immediately fell flat on his face.

"Who was that?" The underlings helped the chubby kid up. Furious, he said, "You want to meddle too? Do you think you can interfere in the affairs of Lord Kameda?"

Tianming's mouth twitched. This kid had gained nothing but weight.

"I didn't want to interfere either, but so many of you ganging up on one person—is that really right?" Tianming said righteously. It was true that he could not stand the sight of it, and it was also true that he wanted to use this opportunity to get on Naruto's good side.

"So you're with that piece of shit Naruto!" The chubby kid clenched his fists and suddenly said, "Since you're with that piece of shit Naruto, you must be a war orphan too—some bastard with no father or mother!"

"Hahaha! Without parents, doesn't that make you a wild bastard?"

The group immediately broke into malicious laughter.

Tianming's expression darkened. Although he had no real memories of Qingchuan Daihui, Li Tianming had indeed transmigrated into a descendant of the Qingchuan family. Moreover, for twelve years, everything he ate, drank, and used had been paid for by the Qingchuan family's pension.

So insulting the Qingchuan family was the same as insulting him.

"Enough talk. If you want to fight, then fight!" Naruto immediately sprang up from the ground. The one he had been shielding was Hinata Hyuga.

"Please stop fighting." Hinata was a gentle girl.

But Naruto, whose eyes had already turned red with rage, charged forward.

"It's too late for apologies now," Tianming said coolly. Then he scattered a handful of pebbles.

"I won't fall for the same move twice!" The chubby kid nimbly dodged the pebbles as he rushed forward.

But he had no idea what they were facing!

The chubby kid unleashed his clumsy ninjutsu, but before he could even get close to Tianming, he was sent flying back.

And in a fight? Tianming had not practiced taijutsu for nothing!

Before long, the chubby kid was beaten black and blue and fled with his hands over his head. Naruto was chasing after the others and beating them too.

"Just you wait!" After tossing out that utterly toothless threat, the chubby kid led the others away.

"I'll be waiting, you little brat!" Naruto spat, then turned back around. "Thanks for helping me out. I'm Naruto Uzumaki. What's your name?"

"Qingchuan Tianming!" Tianming held out his hand.

Naruto Uzumaki paused, then held out his own hand. "How about I treat you to Ichiraku Ramen?"