Teuchi's Ichiraku Ramen!

"We finally made it!"

Hyuga Setsuna looked at the ordinary ramen shop before him and smiled.

Inside the Sealing Space, Otsutsuki Kaguya, who had just been comforted, also looked curiously at the tiny ramen shop before her.

"Setsuna, why did you come here?"

"Of course, because the ramen here is delicious!"

Hyuga Setsuna replied with a smile.

After all, this was the most famous Ichiraku Ramen in all of Naruto. How could he come to the Naruto world without having a bowl of authentic Ichiraku Ramen?

After hearing Hyuga Setsuna's simple and straightforward answer, Otsutsuki Kaguya fell silent. She had thought there was something here that interested this child.

She had not expected it to be just a tiny ramen shop!

Walking into Ichiraku Ramen, Hyuga Setsuna chose an empty seat and sat down.

So this was Ichiraku? (His actual name was Teuchi... but Ichiraku was better known, after all.)

Looking at the still-young Teuchi, who had yet to become a middle-aged man, Hyuga Setsuna realized that Uncle Teuchi had been quite handsome when he was young!

No wonder his daughter Ayame would grow up to be so beautiful!

Young Teuchi warmly addressed Hyuga Setsuna as he entered.

"Oh! Hello, customer. What would you like to order?"

"Hmm, I'll have an extra-large bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen!"

"Certainly, customer. Please wait a moment!"

With that, young Teuchi went off to make the ramen, a warm smile on his face.

Sitting in his seat, Hyuga Setsuna looked around the tiny ramen shop and sighed inwardly.

Who would have thought that this little Ichiraku Ramen shop would run through the entire storyline of Naruto?

In the future, it would not just be Naruto who came here to eat. Iruka, Kakashi, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, Kushina, Obito, and Rin would all become customers of this ramen shop as well.

Just then, the curtain outside the ramen shop was lifted, and Kakashi walked in with a mask covering his face.

"Kakashi? Why are you wearing a mask now?"

Hyuga Setsuna looked at Kakashi, whose face was hidden, and asked.

Kakashi had not been wearing one before. Why had he suddenly put one on now?

Kakashi, who had just entered the ramen shop, also spotted Hyuga Setsuna. The eye visible above his mask immediately turned deadpan.

"You're here too, Setsuna."

"Ha, of course I am! And why do you get dead fish eyes the moment you see me?"

"I'm not, I didn't, don't make things up!" Kakashi immediately denied it three times in a row.

"Forget it, let's drop that topic."

"What I'm more interested in is why you suddenly started wearing a mask."

"Wearing a mask is just a hobby!"

As he answered Hyuga Setsuna's question, Kakashi spoke to young Teuchi.

"Boss, one large bowl of Soy Sauce Ramen!"

"Certainly, customer! Please wait a moment!"

Young Teuchi, who was cooking the noodles, called back loudly with a warmly welcoming smile.

"Come on, Kakashi. If you're going to make up an excuse, at least make it a better one. Don't give people such a half-hearted answer!"

"No, I'm telling the truth. Wearing a mask really is my hobby!"

Kakashi answered as he sat down beside Hyuga Setsuna.

Hyuga Setsuna stroked his chin, pondering why Kakashi wore a mask.

He remembered that Kakashi seemed to wear one because he was imitating his father, White Fang. The person Kakashi admired most was White Fang.

And it seemed that White Fang had always worn a mask whenever he went on missions.

In other words, Kakashi had put on a mask to imitate his father, White Fang.

Having figured that out, Hyuga Setsuna said with a strange smile on his face.

"Kakashi, don't tell me you're wearing a mask because you admire your father, White Fang, and want to imitate him?"

Kakashi, who had been quietly spacing out beside him, immediately denied it when he heard Hyuga Setsuna's words.

"No! I already told you, it's my hobby!!!"

Hearing Kakashi's emphatic denial from beneath his mask, Hyuga Setsuna stopped teasing him. He had already more or less guessed the reason anyway.

At that moment, Kakashi's face beneath the mask was already extremely embarrassed. He had never expected Hyuga Setsuna to figure it out. It was far too surprising!

Just then, two large bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen and Soy Sauce Ramen were brought over and placed in front of them.

Young Teuchi gave them a thumbs-up and said with an enthusiastic smile.

"Your ramen is ready, gentlemen!"

"Oh, thanks, boss! ×2"

"Let's dig in! ×2"

With that, Hyuga Setsuna picked up his chopsticks and prepared to eat. Kakashi beside him also secretly pulled down his mask and began eating his ramen!

"Kakashi, I thought you wouldn't take off your mask even when eating ramen. Hahaha."

"How could that be? It's not like I'd cut a hole in my mask."

Hmm? Hearing Kakashi's words, Hyuga Setsuna froze for a moment. He seemed to remember that when the four members of Team 7 ate ramen together in the original anime, Kakashi had cut a hole in his mask.

But the memory was too distant, and he could not remember clearly. Still, that probably had happened.

"Hey, Kakashi, maybe someday you really will cut a hole in your mask so you can eat!"

"Ha, that's impossible. How could I be stupid enough to do something like that?"

"You never know!"

After saying that, Hyuga Setsuna stopped talking and raised his chopsticks to eat his extra-large bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen.

The moment he took the first bite, Hyuga Setsuna realized that the texture was simply incredible. If this world followed the rule where eating delicious food made your clothes burst off—

Then without a doubt, eating this bowl of Ichiraku Ramen would definitely make your clothes burst off!!

Picking up a slice of pork from the Tonkotsu Ramen and putting it into his mouth, Hyuga Setsuna somewhat regretted not coming to eat Ichiraku Ramen sooner.

The past few years of his life had truly been... He decided that he would come eat at Ichiraku Ramen much more often from now on.

"Mm, slurp... slurp... Boss, your ramen is seriously delicious!"

Hearing Hyuga Setsuna's praise, young Teuchi's eyes filled with happiness.

"Because this dish contains the flavor of emotion, that's why it tastes so good!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Only by using the finest ingredients, skilled techniques, and heartfelt emotion every day can one create a flavor that brings people happiness!"

After finishing every last bite of the Tonkotsu Ramen in his bowl, Hyuga Setsuna raised a hand and gave young Teuchi a thumbs-up.

"Boss, many, many people will definitely come here in the future to taste your delicious ramen!"

"Haha, is that so? Then I'll have to put even more care into making it."

Bang!

Kakashi lightly set his bowl down on the table and praised him as well.

"Boss, your cooking is excellent."

"Haha, thank you for the compliments!"

After finishing their ramen, the two stood and bade young Teuchi farewell.

"Boss, the money is on the table."

"If we have time later, we'll come back to eat again!"

"Is that so? Then I'll give you a discount next time."

"Then thank you, boss!"

"It's nothing. That's the special price for regular customers, hahaha!"

After saying goodbye to young Teuchi, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi left Ichiraku Ramen and stepped onto the streets of Leaf Village beneath the night sky.

Whew, second update complete!