Did he really have to read out their names?
Kakashi felt his head ache.
Worse still, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an old acquaintance nearby: Might Guy.
Could anything be more aggravating?
The chill radiating from Uchiha Itachi was practically solid.
How do you deal with a little brother who won't listen?
One good beating should straighten him out.
The four exchanged glances. Nothing more needed to be said.
"Are you really announcing the list?"
"Call my name first!"
"I'm definitely going to win!"
Naruto had no idea what was going on, and he said it with absolute confidence.
Uchiha Satoru's cryptic remarks had already left the crowd bursting with curiosity.
Nobody even cared that a member of the Uchiha Clan was hosting the event.
Every last one of them strained their ears, waiting for him to continue.
Just who had the guts to take on the Giant Ramen?
That serving size was no joke.
Uchiha Satoru didn't keep them waiting long before continuing.
"Our contestants are Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Kakashi Hatake."
The moment he rattled off those names, the crowd fell silent, peculiar expressions spreading across their faces.
Members of the Uchiha Clan actually came to compete with other people over ramen?
These Uchiha are surprisingly easygoing.
Kakashi Hatake didn't look particularly out of place among them.
But why did you come join the fun too, buddy?
As for Naruto Uzumaki's name, everyone stuck to their usual approach: avoid mentioning it if possible.
"My dear friend! Kakashi!"
"Youth is burning bright!"
"As your dependable friend, I have to cheer you on!"
"Give it everything you've got, Kakashi!"
Might Guy flashed a dazzling grin full of gleaming white teeth and shouted toward Kakashi.
The man he'd called out raised a hand to adjust his eye covering, pretending not to hear.
Right. I asked too soon.
There's something even more aggravating after all.
His silver hair seemed to lose all its energy at once, drooping limply against his scalp.
"Haha, these youngsters are quite entertaining together." The Third Hokage chuckled as he watched the group below.
"With all your official duties, Lord Hokage, how did you find the time to watch such a trivial little event?" Uchiha Fugaku asked abruptly.
"How is this trivial? It's quite lively."
"Besides, aren't you here too, Fugaku?"
"What brings you here, then?" Still smiling, the Third Hokage turned the question back on him, giving nothing away.
What brought me here?
That wonderful son of mine, Uchiha Satoru, tricked me into it, of course.
A little while ago, his precious son had shown up and immediately asked him to judge the Ramen Contest.
The only reason he hadn't beaten the brat half to death on the spot was the patience he'd cultivated as a father.
If he hadn't discovered that his son and those other clan members had gotten involved with the jinchūriki,
and that even the Hokage and Torifu Akimichi would be coming, he would never have agreed.
How did this bunch end up together, anyway?
Fugaku cut off that train of thought, changed his expression, and answered the Hokage.
"I had no choice. The children insisted that their father put in an appearance." Fugaku smiled too, revealing nothing in either his words or his manner.
The Third Hokage's smile became inscrutable at that answer.
You slippery old fox. Do you even believe that excuse yourself?
Could Uchiha Fugaku, who rules his household with an iron fist, really be such an attentive father?
Neither pursued the subject any further, quietly turning their attention back to the contest.
"Now, I declare the contest officially underway!"
Uchiha Satoru delivered that last announcement briskly, sweeping his gaze across everyone's faces.
Looks like everyone's getting along splendidly.
Seeing how fired up Kakashi, Shisui, and the others looked, Uchiha Satoru pressed his palms together, feeling assured.
The system notifications were still chiming incessantly in his ears.
[Ding! Roleplay points +100!] [Ding! Roleplay points +100!]
Bowl after bowl of ramen arrived at the table, the eye-popping portions piled up in front of the five contestants.
"So this is the Giant Ramen!"
Naruto stared wide-eyed at the bowl of noodles that was almost as tall as he was.
"All right, I'm digging in!" He grabbed his chopsticks, ready to eat.
The three Uchiha beside him were nowhere near as comfortable, their necks stiff under Fugaku's stare.
All three shoved noodles into their mouths without tasting a thing.
Given the choice, fleeing at the last moment would have been better than staying here and making fools of themselves.
If the Third Hokage and their father hadn't been standing there watching, they might all have left by now.
Once was more than enough to suffer through this.
Uchiha Satoru.
You'd better remember what you owe us, brat.
Before you continue