Meeting Tenten

After leaving the Konoha Ninja Academy, Tianyun Hyuga asked a passerby where Ichiraku Ramen was and soon found the shop.

Looking at the sign outside Ichiraku Ramen, Tianyun Hyuga recalled the plot of Naruto. After a moment of reflection, he was ready to head inside.

Just as Tianyun Hyuga was about to enter Ichiraku Ramen, a familiar voice came from behind him. "You're just a little kid yourself. Why are you acting like an adult reminiscing about something? Is there something wrong with you?"

Tianyun Hyuga immediately turned around and greeted the girl with a smile. "Oh, it's you, Tenten! How did you know I was here? Did you come just to hang out with me? I'm so happy..."

Tenten rolled her eyes at Tianyun Hyuga and answered bluntly, "Don't flatter yourself. I'm only here to buy lunch for my parents. They're really busy today and don't have time to go home for lunch..."

"Come on, Tenten, can't you make me feel a little better?" Tianyun Hyuga grumbled, somewhat speechless.

"Hurry up and move. I need to get inside. Stop wasting my time. I still have to take their food back," Tenten said, shooing Tianyun Hyuga aside without hesitation.

"Fine, fine, fine. You go first..." Tianyun Hyuga stepped aside to let Tenten enter Ichiraku Ramen, then followed her in.

The ramen shop wasn't very spacious inside, with seating for only about ten people. But considering how close it was to the Hokage Building, Tianyun Hyuga could understand why. Land here was worth its weight in gold. If the shop were too large, it wouldn't turn a profit.

After entering the ramen shop, Tenten ordered from Teuchi with practiced ease. "Boss, three extra-large bowls of Udon Chicken Bone Ramen..."

"Oh, Tenten! Here to pick up lunch for your father again?..." Teuchi clearly knew Tenten well. He didn't even need to ask whether she wanted takeout to know she was taking the food home.

After speaking, Teuchi glanced at Tianyun Hyuga behind Tenten. "What's this, Tenten? You brought a friend along too?..."

Tenten raised her chin. "He's not my friend. He's a student who just transferred into our class. I hardly know him. Don't mind him, either. Just hurry up with my ramen. I need to get lunch back to them."

Teuchi smiled and shook his head before addressing Tianyun Hyuga behind her. "What would you like, young man? Take a look first. I'll make Tenten's ramen now, so please wait a moment."

As Tianyun Hyuga studied Teuchi's face, some strange ideas began running through his mind, such as the bizarre theories that Teuchi was the big boss of Naruto and had deliberately hidden himself in Konoha.

Now that he had actually met Teuchi, Tianyun Hyuga knew those claims were nonsense. Judging by his eye for people, Teuchi was at most as strong as a Genin. There was no way he was some hidden powerhouse.

Hearing Teuchi's question, Tianyun Hyuga snapped out of his thoughts and pointed at the menu on the wall. "I'll have that Three-Flavor Seafood Ramen! Let me see how good your ramen is..."

The ramen shop owner, Teuchi, paused, looking a little surprised. "All right, then let me show you what Ichiraku Ramen can do. If you like it, remember to spread the word for us."

"You certainly know how to do business..." Tianyun Hyuga cast Teuchi a sidelong glance.

To Tianyun Hyuga, Teuchi hadn't looked down on him because he was young, and had even asked him to help promote the shop. He really knew how to handle people. No wonder his ramen business was doing so well.

Amused by Tianyun Hyuga's little-grown-up manner, Teuchi smiled. "All right, dear customer, please wait a moment. Your Three-Flavor Seafood Ramen will be ready soon. Have a seat in that corner for now."

Tianyun Hyuga glanced at Tenten and saw that she still didn't want to acknowledge him. Shaking his head, he walked over to the corner and sat on the high seat reserved for children, waiting for his Three-Flavor Seafood Ramen to arrive.

While Tianyun Hyuga waited for his ramen, Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan, was very busy. He had already received word that Tianyun Hyuga had used a New Gentle Fist to defeat every student in the Konoha Academy's Elite Class. Even his genius nephew, Neji Hyuga, apparently hadn't dared to fight Tianyun Hyuga.

A New Gentle Fist? Hyuga Hiashi frowned slightly, finding the claim hard to believe. The Hyuga Clan's fist techniques had been honed countless times. Creating a new style wasn't easy. Now that a five-year-old child had learned a new style, he felt that an adult must have created it and then passed it on to Tianyun Hyuga.

With that in mind, Hyuga Hiashi gave the same order as the Third Hokage: have someone investigate which clan members Tianyun Hyuga had been in contact with recently. At the same time, he ordered his guards to send another generous gift to Meicun Hyuga's home.

Hyuga Hiashi did this because he felt that Tianyun Hyuga's ability to defeat the Elite Class students was enough to prove he had some talent. He wasn't a completely useless disciple who couldn't awaken his eyes, and was worth investing in.

Another reason was that Tianyun Hyuga belonged to the Hyuga Clan. Now that he had proven he had some talent, Hiashi didn't want the Third Hokage to sweet-talk him away. It would be a problem if Tianyun Hyuga ended up loyal only to Konoha rather than the Hyuga Clan, so he had to make some gesture.

After issuing these orders, Hyuga Hiashi spoke to the guard beside him. "Nisshu, go find Neji Hyuga and ask him about what happened today. Find out whether Tianyun Hyuga really used some new fist technique."

Nisshu Hyuga was a jonin who served as Hyuga Hiashi's personal guard, as well as his cousin. Naturally, he knew that Hyuga Hiashi and Neji Hyuga had a terrible relationship, so he understood why Hyuga Hiashi had sent him to see Neji Hyuga.

Still, Nisshu Hyuga sighed and said, "Clan Head, you didn't do what you did back then willingly. Why not take this opportunity to explain things to Neji? You could bring him back into the clan that way, too. Neji is a genius himself, and he could still be useful to the clan."

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head. "Forget it. He's still too young. No matter what I say now, he won't understand. Once he's older and can tell right from wrong, I'll explain everything to him."

Nisshu Hyuga fell silent for a moment, then said, "All right. I'll take Neji a few things and ask about Tianyun Hyuga while I'm there. But I'm not particularly close to him either. He may not tell me."

"I know, but out of everyone in the clan, you get along with him a little better. If I send anyone else, I'm afraid Neji will throw them out. Thank you for making the trip," Hyuga Hiashi said with a sigh.

"I'll be off, then..." Nisshu Hyuga said.