Teach sons in public, teach wives in private. But how should one teach a daughter?
Uncle Teuchi pulled his daughter into the back, then began earnestly lecturing her through the curtain. Unfortunately, his voice couldn't escape Uchiha Itachi and Kitahara's ears... Who knew whether this counted as public or private?
As expected of the owner of Ichiraku Ramen—he had some skill...
"Ayame, if you think helping out at the shop is too tiring, you don't have to come help anymore."
"Dad, you're doing it again..." The little girl pouted and timidly retorted, "You obviously think staying open until late every night is exhausting too!"
"But seeing customers enjoy the ramen makes me happy." Uncle Teuchi spoke earnestly. "Being able to eat a steaming bowl of noodles late at night warms people's hearts."
"But, Dad..."
Uncle Teuchi suddenly smiled. "No buts... I understand how a daughter wants to help her father. When I was little, I even deliberately threw away Dad's hoe so he wouldn't have to go work the fields!"
"Tch, then why do you still argue with me..."
"Wasn't it because you kept threatening to run away from home..."
"Sooner or later, I'm still going out to study!"
"We'll talk about that after you've grown up... Honestly, what a headache. How long has young Itachi been a ninja? If we're hiring someone for Ayame's request, we should find a reliable ninja too!"
"It's precisely because Uchiha Itachi is young and only just became a ninja that private commissions are cheap... After all, I haven't saved up much pocket money..."
Though the father and daughter inside were still bickering, the tension had already vanished, replaced by the warmth of ordinary family squabbles... But... could they spare a thought for that cheap little ninja's feelings?
Uchiha Itachi didn't look very happy.