"Let's eat!" ×3
The three little ones picked up their chopsticks and began eating.
Iruka smiled as he watched the three children dig into their ramen, some of the thoughts in his heart quietly fading.
He even began reflecting on how, as an educator, he could blame a child out of hatred.
He deftly picked up his chopsticks, lifted some ramen, and slurped it into his mouth.
Mm, that familiar flavor. So delicious.
Iruka slowly savored the ramen's spicy, refreshing flavor, losing himself in it until...
"Miss, two more bowls of tonkotsu ramen, please!"
Iruka's eyes flew open. Naruto and Hinata had already finished the noodles in their bowls and even drunk half the broth.
"That's okay, right, Iruka-sensei?"
(✪ω✪)
Looking at the shocked Iruka, Naruto wriggled like a snake and batted his eyes at him.
Hinata sat beside him, poking her index fingers together as she tilted her head up to gaze at Iruka.
Very cute.
"Of course! It's my treat. Eat as much as you like."
"Would you like more too, Sasuke?"
Iruka thought that, since he had brought his students out for noodles, he certainly couldn't send them home hungry.
So, although he was a little shocked by how much the two could eat, he readily nodded and asked Sasuke as well.
Sasuke rubbed his already rather full stomach with some reluctance and helplessly shook his head.
Damn it, this useless stomach of mine! You must be the reason I can't beat those two!
Neji gave you a thumbs-up.
"I'm pretty much done, but those two might need a teeny-tiny eternity."
Iruka nodded, while Ayame went to tell her father, Teuchi, to make two more bowls of tonkotsu ramen.
Children really do have smaller stomachs, but eating too quickly isn't a good thing. It's bad for their stomachs.
I'll tell them once they're finished.
Hmm, should I have another bowl too?
Iruka ate as he thought, plenty running through his mind.
Two minutes later.
"Miss, two more bowls!"
Naruto raised his right hand and called Ayame over again.
Ayame was a little shocked. Could children these days all eat this much?
Neither of these children had the surname Akimichi.
Sasuke covered his face, sorely tempted to tell Ayame she would get used to it, but he kept quiet for the sake of his dignity.
Iruka had only just slurped up his last mouthful of noodles and was about to order another bowl when he heard Naruto asking for two more again.
He rubbed his eyes and discovered that the two little ones' bowls really were empty again.
Unbelievable!
Their stomachs hadn't even noticeably grown!
"Bring... bring them more. It's fine. It's my treat, so eat without worrying."
Iruka felt the wallet in the pocket at his waist. School had only just started, and he hadn't received his salary yet. His savings ought to be enough, right?
Feeling the thickness of his wallet, Iruka regained his confidence.
It's just a few bowls of noodles, isn't it? Eat. Eat all you want.
Your teacher is going to join in too!
"Ayame, another bowl for me too."
Iruka called out to Ayame as she was about to head into the kitchen.
"All right, got it. Looks like you're in a good mood today, I-ru-ka-sensei~"
After all, she had once been Iruka's student. Although she hadn't become a ninja after graduating, she still knew him quite well.
Sure enough, Iruka-sensei was probably feeling rather pleased with himself right now.
"Dad, more noodle orders!"
Ayame turned and went back into the kitchen, returning shortly afterward with three more bowls of ramen.
Naruto was already full after finishing his third bowl of ramen and was trying to figure out how to bring a bowl back for his teacher.
Doesn't seem very likely tonight. Iruka-sensei has felt his wallet so many times already.
Hinata had also finished her third bowl of noodles and drunk nearly all the broth.
"Sensei, I'm full."
Hinata set down her chopsticks and spoke to Iruka a little shyly.
That was a lie!
Hinata was merely embarrassed to eat too much in front of Iruka. Besides, her father had saved food for her at home, which was why she had said that.
Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a look. Nothing needed to be said.
Iruka didn't understand Naruto and Sasuke's secret exchange, but hearing that Hinata was full and seeing that Naruto wasn't ordering more either, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Thank goodness. Thank goodness. No big problem.
"Ayame, the bill!"
Iruka waved to Ayame, who was helping Teuchi over there, and called out.
"Okay~ Seven bowls of tonkotsu ramen and two bowls of spicy miso ramen. That's 200 ryo altogether."
Iruka had already prepared himself mentally, so he didn't embarrass himself in any way.
He grandly took all 230 ryo out of his wallet, counted out 200 ryo for Ayame, then put the remaining 30 ryo back.
When the three little ones and the one big one walked out of the ramen shop, two people jumped out.
Yes, one with pink eye and one with cataracts.
Joking aside, the arrivals were Itachi, there to pick up his little brother, and Tōru, there to pick up the young lady.
Itachi and Tōru both politely thanked Iruka before taking the two little ones away.
"Naruto, see ya~"
Sasuke waved goodbye to Naruto.
"See you tomorrow, Naruto-kun."
Hinata also said goodbye to Naruto beneath the setting sun. Orange-yellow light shone from behind her, and her faint smile was very cute.
Tch, blondie.
Those were Hyuga Tōru's thoughts.
"Yeah, Sasuke, Hinata, see you tomorrow."
Naruto waved goodbye to the two.
Seeing Naruto walking home by himself, Iruka hurried after him.
"Hey, Naruto, let me walk you home. You're just a little kid, after all..."
Iruka trailed off.
Dummy No. 1 let out a cry of anguish, and Dummy No. 4 covered his crotch.
A certain Mēidémìngzǐ, whose name Iruka didn't know, expressed that this was pretty damn awful.
This is a child?
Naruto: How am I not?
Naruto turned to look at the frozen Iruka and smiled.
"Then could you walk me home, Iruka-sensei?"
Given a way out, Iruka nodded.
"All right, let's go home."
"Speaking of which, where do you live?"
"You idiot, Iruka-sensei!"
"Hey, hey, hey, give me directions, Naruto!"
Beneath the setting sun, Naruto's small shadow and Iruka's large one stretched endlessly.
Watching through his crystal ball, the Third nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand, approving the academy's reimbursement.
Iruka: Hooray!
Meanwhile, Sasuke walked home with Itachi.
After some thought, he moved closer to his big brother and said proudly.
"Big brother, I beat Naruto today."
Yes, compared to awakening his eyes, he felt this was more important.
"Oh?!"
"You're amazing, Sasuke. That's my little brother."
Itachi affectionately stroked Sasuke's head. Although the matters involving the clan and the village had left him overwhelmed lately, his love for his little brother hadn't diminished in the slightest.
"Mm-hmm! I'm a genius of the proud Uchiha Clan!"
Sasuke happily planted his hands on his hips, utterly pleased with himself.
"Oh, right, there's something else. I almost forgot."
Sasuke suddenly remembered that he seemed to have awakened his eyes.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Itachi answered everything Sasuke said, though his mind was still on the plan Shisui had mentioned.
"I awakened my eyes."
"Oh, amazing. That's my little brother."
Itachi praised him as usual.
A few seconds later, Itachi stopped walking.
"Wait, you awakened your eyes?!!!"
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