Ichiraku Ramen

For the next two days, Konoha carried on as if nothing had happened. Everything was as usual, and Might Guy's desperate resolve completely fizzled out.

Unless Takuya went wild after taking power like Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Hokage controlled by Obito, some Jonin loyal to the village, including Might Guy, could still endure it.

The village had not changed much from before; it had merely gained a new Hokage. It did not have much impact on them, so they could still accept it.

"Hokage-sama, tomorrow's ceremony..."

"Mm, I'll prepare. Thanks for your trouble, Advisor Shikaku."

Takuya agreed with a smile.

Nara Shikaku smiled and returned to the office next door.

His office as the Hokage's advisor was right beside the Hokage's office.

Next to his office were the offices of the two Hokage advisors, Uchiha Sihu and Hyuga Hiashi.

He had come this time regarding the Hokage inauguration ceremony.

Most of the arrangements had already been made. He informed Takuya of the progress and also asked whether he needed a speech prepared.

When Takuya said he did not, Shikaku was somewhat surprised. The Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage had both asked him to arrange their speeches for important occasions.

But since this Uchiha Hokage did not need a speech, Shikaku was happy to take it easy.

After watching Nara Shikaku leave, Takuya leaned over his desk, thought for a moment, then began writing furiously.

Wasn't it just a speech? How hard could that be?

A moment later, Takuya looked at the draft that filled over half a page and smiled with self-satisfaction.

Done!

Takuya set down his pen and rubbed his stomach. "I'm hungry. Time to eat."

He had been busy at noon and eaten the packaged ramen delivered by his direct ANBU. Now that he had some free time, he wanted to eat at Ichiraku Ramen itself.

He would try a different flavor this time.

In his previous life, someone had opened a restaurant using the gimmick of Naruto's Ichiraku Ramen. Not only had they recreated the exterior pretty faithfully, but the staff had even cosplayed Naruto characters.

It had been fairly convincing, though the person cosplaying Tsunade had not looked much like her, because the difference in size had been far too great!

Takuya strolled leisurely toward Ichiraku Ramen, thinking about such random things, when his heart suddenly stirred.

Come to think of it, how would Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, those three rebellious disciples, react when they heard that their teacher had been killed and replaced by him?

Would they come back?

Orochimaru probably would not. Even if Takuya had not acted, Orochimaru would soon carry out a Konoha Crush Plan and personally send his teacher on his way.

Tsunade still suffered from hemophobia and could not fully use her strength. Even if she returned, he would not fear her.

Jiraiya would be a little troublesome, but he was reasonable. Even if he rushed back, it would not be much of a problem.

More importantly, he had the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. That was the foundation of his confidence.

At worst, they could fight.

Who was afraid of whom?

Kakashi had said last night that spies from other villages had fled. News of him leading the Uchiha coup and seizing power would probably take another two days to spread.

Lost in thought, he soon arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.

Takuya lifted the curtain and glanced around. It was past five in the afternoon, and there were not many people in the shop yet.

He remembered that when he got off work last night, it had been around six or seven. The ramen shop had been much more crowded then, nearly full.

There was only one person sitting in the shop now.

"Customer, what would you like?"

Takuya looked up. A man of about thirty-seven or thirty-eight was smiling at him. He had a short buzz cut, wore a white work uniform and white cap embroidered with the words Ichiraku, and had a white towel draped over his shoulder.

This must be Teuchi, the most mysterious old man in Naruto.

A small group of people on Naruto forums had mysteriously claimed that Uncle Ichiraku was the strongest being in Naruto, capable of punching Six Paths Madara and kicking Otsutsuki around.

Takuya examined him carefully for a moment but found nothing unusual. He could not even sense Chakra in his body. He was just an ordinary person.

"Mm..." Takuya glanced at the menu Teuchi had placed on the counter and casually chose a ramen to try.

He sat down on a stool and quietly waited for the ramen to be made.

At that moment, a young girl of around fourteen or fifteen emerged from the kitchen. Like Teuchi, she wore white clothes and a cap.

Her identity was obvious: she was Teuchi's daughter, Ayame.

Takuya studied her curiously for a few moments. She was quite delicate and pretty, with a decent appearance.

But she was only slightly above average, far inferior to Mikoto.

After two glances, Takuya lost interest.

Takuya put down his bowl in satisfaction. He had eaten every last noodle, leaving only the broth.

It had to be said that Ichiraku Ramen tasted excellent. He had no idea what special secret recipe Teuchi used.

It was countless times better than the noodles served at breakfast shops in his previous life.

Of course, perhaps the ingredients in this world were simply better?

After all, there was no pollution here, and technology had barely developed. These ingredients were all natural and unpolluted.

"Here's the money."

Takuya placed the payment for the ramen on the counter, tapped it twice, and stood up.

"Thank you! Please come again!"

Teuchi said with a smile.

He was merely an ordinary resident of Konoha. How could he know that this imposing-looking man before him was the current Fifth Hokage?

Otherwise, he definitely would not have been so casual.

After eating, Takuya returned to the Hokage Building.

Once he confirmed there was nothing else to handle, he got off work and went home.

Checking the time, he saw that Ninja Academy would be letting out in a few minutes, so he made a detour to the Konoha Ninja Academy.

By the time he arrived, school had already ended, and many children were walking out.

Quite a few parents had also gathered at the gate to pick up their children.

Perhaps he had arrived at just the right time. Not long after getting there, he spotted Sasuke and Naruto in the crowd.

Sasuke wore a cold expression and walked briskly outside, ignoring everything around him.

Naruto, meanwhile, noisily walked beside Sasuke. Sometimes he overtook him, sometimes he faced him while walking backward and chattered away. Takuya had no idea what he was saying, but he clearly had a powerful urge to talk.

Sasuke wanted nothing more than to cover his ears with both hands, but with so many people around, he could not bring himself to do that.

Fortunately, once they reached the school gate, Sasuke noticed Naruto's voice growing quieter before falling completely silent.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yet as he listened to the parents at the gate speaking without the slightest restraint, the brow he had just relaxed furrowed again.

Although he hated Naruto, weren't these people speaking far too harshly?

He did not even realize why he was standing up for that annoying Naruto.

Normally, he would leave as soon as school ended and had rarely experienced leaving the school gate with Naruto.

This time, Naruto was following him because he wanted to pester Sasuke into going home with him.