"Sorry for the wait, Naruto! One miso tonkotsu chashu ran coming up!"
Inside Ichiraku Ran, steaming hot vapors carried rich aromas that hit him full force. Teuchi-ojisan cheerfully set down a bowl of ran wreathed in white steam, thick slices of golden chashu pork arranged generously over the noodles, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg cut into a crescent moon that glead enticingly at the edges.
"Thanks, old man."
Naruto accepted the bowl with both hands, thanking him while trying to appear calm. He stared at the gently swaying noodles in the broth, struggling to control his facial muscles.
Just as I expected! Just as I expected! Just as I expected!
No, he couldn't start grinning yet... at least not until he got ho!
Just monts ago, the instant Naruto had stepped into Ichiraku Ran, a crisp notification had chid in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host: Bond established with canonical character "Teuchi (Ichiraku-ojisan)" - Level 5!]
[Points obtained: 500!]
Jackpot!
He suppressed the urge to pump his fist in celebration and buried his face in a massive slurp of noodles. The scalding broth exploded across his tongue, familiar happiness instantly filling his chest—but what made his heart race even faster was the skyrocketing number on his system interface.
Who would have thought this bond was already at Level 5... worth five hundred points!
That's right—if he had to list Naruto's earliest bonds, Ichiraku-ojisan would definitely rank first. Ever since he was a child rejected by the villagers, this little ran shop had been the only place that wouldn't look at him with disgust.
It seed the deeper the impact on the story, the more points he'd receive. Bond levels were essentially a asure of emotional connection.
Although Ichiraku-ojisan's bond was Level 5—five tis higher than Satsuki's—they gave the sa 500 points. But thinking about it carefully, in terms of impact on the original plot, no one could compare to his future rival and best friend—Uchiha Sasuke... now Uchiha Satsuki.
In this world, aside from his long-deceased parents Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, Ichiraku-ojisan was the first person to actively show Naruto unconditional kindness.
You had to understand—in an era when even so uninford shinobi displayed disgust toward Naruto, this ordinary civilian had never once believed the malicious rumors about the "demon fox." He simply ward the lonely Naruto with pure kindness.
It could be said that besides Iruka, Ichiraku-ojisan's contribution to preventing Naruto from walking a dark path absolutely couldn't be overlooked.
Despite having already eaten his bento, Naruto continued stuffing ran into his mouth with gusto. The steaming noodles wrapped in rich broth, the fatty but not greasy chashu—this really was Konoha's ti-honored establishnt, a shop even the Hokage frequented regularly. The taste was truly impeccable.
However, for a three-year-old who had just finished a bento, consuming an entire bowl of ran was quite the challenge. Halfway through, Naruto's pace noticeably slowed, his little belly already round as a drum.
Teuchi-ojisan poked his head out from the kitchen, his perpetually squinting eyes crinkling with concern. "What's wrong, Naruto? You're eating so slowly—is today's ran not to your taste?"
"No, no!" Naruto quickly shook his head. "Ojisan's ran is as delicious as always! It's just..." He scratched his head sheepishly. "I brought a bento today and ate it first because I thought I wasn't full, but now..."
Teuchi-ojisan chuckled understandingly. "Ah, so you misjudged the portions. Well, as long as the ran tastes right. If you really can't finish it, leaving so is fine—better than making yourself sick."
But Naruto firmly shook his head. "No, I'll finish it all."
Teuchi seed slightly surprised, though it was hard to tell with his perpetually squinting eyes. Naruto dove back into his bowl, and despite needing to pause for several seconds with each swallow, he persisted until every last drop of broth had been consud.
"Thanks for the al!"
Naruto patted his bulging little belly with satisfaction, skillfully counting out 75 ryo from his small wallet and arranging the coins neatly on the counter.
As Teuchi collected the dishes, his voice carried a hint of reproach. "Naruto, children really shouldn't overeat like this. You could make yourself sick. Why didn't you just leave so? It's only one bowl of ran."
Naruto kept his head down. "...Because it was too delicious, so I didn't want to waste any."
"That's certainly a reason that makes happy," Teuchi wiped his hands, concern evident even through his squinting eyes, "but you can't use that as an excuse to hurt your body."
"Mm..." Naruto looked up, his azure eyes sparkling with sincerity. "Then, what if I said ojisan's ran is healing? Would that work as an excuse?"
"Healing?" Teuchi laughed helplessly, shaking his head. "Now that's quite an exaggeration. The ran is delicious, sure, but it's not that miraculous."
"No, I'm being serious." Naruto suddenly straightened up, his small face solemn. "Because Ichiraku-ojisan's ran really is healing."
His voice grew quieter: "The first ti I ca to eat ojisan's ran... back then, for so reason, none of the villagers would sell anything. It was raining that day, and they wouldn't even let take shelter anywhere..."
Teuchi's movents froze. The mory surfaced clearly—that tiny figure soaked by rain, standing alone outside his shop, golden hair plastered to pale cheeks, looking utterly pitiful.
"My stomach hurt from hunger, and I was shivering from the cold..." Naruto continued. "But ojisan called in on your own. You even treated to a hot bowl of ran..."
His voice suddenly brightened, his face blooming with a radiant smile: "That's when I discovered what an amazing thing it was to eat ran when you're truly hungry!"
"So—" Naruto planted both hands on the counter, his eyes sparkling as his voice filled with barely contained joy, "every ti I eat ojisan's ran after that, I feel especially happy and warm inside! That's exactly why I never want to leave even a single drop of any ran you make for !"
When he finished speaking, Teuchi turned away, his back to Naruto, shoulders trembling slightly. He deliberately used a tone that was helpless yet tinged with affection: "Alright, alright, I guess you've convinced . When you put it that way, there really is no way to leave ran unfinished..."
At an angle where Naruto couldn't see, Teuchi raised his weathered hand and quickly wiped at his slightly heated eyes. Then he pulled a small card from his apron pocket and carefully wrote sothing with a ballpoint pen.
"Here, Naruto." He turned around and handed the card to Naruto, his squinting eyes brimming with warmth. "Take this."
Naruto's eyes widened. "This is... could it be?!"
Teuchi nodded, his voice gentle. "That's right. When soone appreciates my ran this much, there's nothing that makes a chef happier. Consider it... a special gift for a custor who truly understands good food."
The card bore clear writing:
[Ichiraku Ran Special Guest Pass]
• Miso Tonkotsu Chashu Ran (One Serving)
• Valid: Forever
It was Naruto's absolute favorite flavor.
As Naruto clutched the precious card with trembling hands, his heart swelled with an emotion that transcended the simple joy of free ran. This wasn't just a al ticket—it was proof that soone in this village saw him as worthy of kindness, worthy of a gift given freely without expectation of return.
[Ding!]
[Bond with "Teuchi (Ichiraku-ojisan)" has deepened!]
[New bond level: 6]
[Additional points obtained: 100]
Six hundred points total, Naruto thought, his adult mind quickly calculating while his six-year-old body practically vibrated with excitent.
Just one more bond like this and I'll have enough for my first ten-pull draw.
But more than the system rewards, more than the promise of power and jutsu, what filled his chest with warmth was sothing simpler and more precious—the knowledge that in this world of suspicion and hatred, there were still people like Teuchi-ojisan who chose to see a lonely child instead of a monster.
"Ojisan," Naruto said softly, his voice thick with emotion he couldn't quite hide, "thank you. For everything."
Teuchi's smile was visible even through his perpetual squint. "Don't ntion it, Naruto. Just... try not to overeat next ti, alright?"
As Naruto stepped out into the evening air, the precious guest pass safely tucked in his pocket, he couldn't help but grin. The system was just the beginning—but bonds like this? These were what would truly make this second life worth living.
Now... he thought, his mind already racing with possibilities.
Let's see what other connections I can build. This world is about to beco a lot more interesting.
The Hokage Monunt lood in the distance, and sowhere in this village, a certain Uchiha girl was probably practicing her shuriken throws, unaware that she'd just helped activate sothing that would change both their destinies forever.
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