"Uncle, two large bowls of chashu ramen, please~"
"I'll have the special tomato ramen."
"Um, Kurama, is chashu okay?"
"I'll think about double chashu."
Kurama spoke in human language, his tone unusually tsundere. Naruto glanced at his empty wallet, then turned to Ichiraku's owner with a bright, sunny smile.
"Uncle, one bowl with double chashu, the other regular!"
"Oh~"
Busy as always, Ichiraku's owner quickly got to work.
Sasuke crossed his arms and gave Kurama, who was wobbling atop the table, a cold glance.
"A pet wants to sit at the table and eat too."
"What's the matter, Sharingan brat? Got a problem with that?"
"Well, Kurama isn't a pet~"
"Hmph!"
That idiot tail-end genin…
The steaming ramen was served, both bowls with double chashu. Ichiraku's owner waved it off, indicating the extra chashu was free. Naruto's eyes sparkled like stars, Kurama huffed proudly and snatched a slice of pork. Sasuke lightly snorted and began enjoying his tomato ramen.
Just after taking a bite, the curtain was lifted again. Peeking in was a pink-haired girl, Haruno Sakura, wearing a red sleeveless vest and gray skirt, clutching a thick stack of documents.
"Ah, Naruto, Sasuke, Kurama—you're back already?"
"Hey, Sakura-chan~ Come eat ramen with us~"
That voice could only be Naruto's, while Kurama didn't even bother to acknowledge her. Sasuke swallowed his bite and noticed the documents Sakura held, skipping greetings.
"What's up? Something wrong?"
"Nothing much. I was looking for Kakashi-sensei. Didn't you see him when you got back?"
She had gone to the reception but hadn't seen him. After asking the staff, she learned they had gone out shopping earlier that morning.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto sounded puzzled. "He didn't have a mission? Gah! No mission, and he still doesn't come with us—so unfair!"
"Idiot. That guy has his own missions. You're just a genin; you expect two jonin to babysit you?" Sasuke teased maliciously. Before the two could start fighting, a vein popped on Sakura's forehead, and she delivered a powerful punch to each of them.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"
"Why am I getting hit too?! Sakura, you—"
"Not reporting to Tsunade-sama after a mission, jonin Sasuke—isn't that reason enough?!"
Sasuke scowled and muttered, "So what?"
"By the way, Kakashi just left." Ichiraku's owner interjected. Sakura's eyes brightened, reverting to her gentle demeanor.
"Really? He went alone?"
"No, not exactly—"
"Which direction did they go?"
Before he could answer, Sakura interrupted. Ichiraku shook his head.
"I don't know, but when Naruto and Sasuke arrived, they had just left."
"I see, thank you, Uncle." She left a few coins on the table for the chashu and dashed out. Kurama's double chashu… I can't afford that yet after just training…
Naruto's eyes sparkled again. He clasped his hands together, shouting after her departing figure,
"Sakura-chan! Uwu, you're the best!"
"Idiot tail-end genin, eat quickly! After that, report on the mission."
"Mm, I've decided. I will make Sakura my girlfriend!"
"You've said that hundreds of times. First become a Chūnin, you bottom-ranking genin!"
"Ahhh, Sasuke!!!"
Busy looking for Kakashi and the others, Sakura had no idea what Naruto had decided. In fact, she didn't need to—daily refusals of Naruto's advances had become routine. But after ramen and a trip to a dessert shop? Impressive.
According to Konan, sweets required a "second stomach," a sentiment Obito fully agreed with.
"Exactly, you with one stomach are pathetic," she said, stuffing a red bean dumpling in her mouth. On the table were not just Itachi's favorite three-color dango, but also Konan's preferred yokan, and red bean pastries sold only in Konoha. Kita, though she had eaten a bowl of ramen, felt as if she really did have another stomach, as Konan said.
"No wonder Karin said you're a flatterer. You really are good at it," Kita remarked, noticing Obito's obsequious demeanor.
Obito pouted, looking disdainfully at her, then jabbed Kakashi, saying,
"Hey, did you know? This guy shamelessly says she doesn't want red bean pie, but every time, it ends up in her stomach! One her, one Orochimaru— you two are something else!"
Konan kicked Obito's leg. He yelped in pain.
"Ouch! Ouch! You're wearing those shoes, big sis!"
"Serves you right! Don't mention Orochimaru in front of me!"
Finally, Kakashi realized where Obito's incessant requests for red bean desserts were going.
At that moment, Sakura entered.
"Finally found you, Kakashi-sensei, Konan-sama, Miss Kita, Mr. Obito."
The titles were correct. Kakashi invited her to sit. The sixteen-year-old was slightly out of breath, a hint of sweat on her face. Konan stopped joking and asked,
"What's the matter?"
"The basic data is ready. Next, I'll handle Miss Kita's hospitalization paperwork. Before that, please sign here."
Sakura spread out some forms. The patient field already had Kita's name but the family/guardian field was blank. Konan carefully read through it and noticed the attending physician field was empty, and that the responsible nurse field had Sakura's name. She glanced at the serious, responsible Sakura, picked up a pen, and signed her name in the guardian field, returning the form to Sakura.
Sakura separated the carbon copies, giving the original to Konan and keeping a backup. She bowed slightly to Kita.
"I'm Konoha Medical Ninja Haruno Sakura, responsible nurse for this case. Please take care of me, Miss Kita."
Kita's lips curved into a faint smile and she nodded.
"Pleased to meet you, Sakura."
The girl was small, the same age as Karin.
Kakashi's gaze lingered on Sakura's name in the responsible nurse field. Hesitating, he stopped her as she collected the papers.
"Are you sure it's okay to sign here? Does the Hokage know?"
Sakura paused, then nodded.
"Yes, I know. Why, Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi didn't answer. Even a simple question drew three sets of eyes: Konan's unreadable gaze, Kita's faintly smiling look, and Obito's crimson Sharingan reflecting disdain—all of which weighed heavily on him.
"No, it's nothing."
"Kakashi, if you think we came here to joke about our comrades' lives, you're very wrong."
Sakura was puzzled. Kakashi was not.
Obito wanted to say something, but Kita lightly patted his slightly lowered head and smiled.
"Obi… Obito, it's okay."
Beneath the mask, her handsome face was pale, but hidden. Sakura didn't fully understand the situation but sensed something was stirring beneath the surface. She looked at Konan, then at the patient she would care for, and asked cautiously,
"Um… what's wrong?"
Kita shook her head, smiling reassuringly.
Konan's expression was cold. When Konan didn't smile, her calm face was intimidating. Kita nudged her arm.
"Relax. She's just a young girl; she doesn't know anything."
Konan glanced at her and said lightly,
"When did you start caring so much for the younger ones?"
Kita gave a wry smile.
"Well… I have a student too."
With that, Konan's expression softened. She glanced at Kakashi, then punched Obito squarely in the arm.
"Eh? Why'd you hit me?!"
"Why? Scum!"
Obito understood immediately. Glancing at Kakashi, who was slightly tense, he pouted, rubbed his arm, and whispered,
"Sorry."
"It's fine."