Chapter 7: Selling the Stall, Returning to the Ramen Shop to Relax
As the night grew deeper, Haruko packed up his stall and returned.
Lifting the familiar curtain, he saw Ayame wiping down the counter, while Teuchi was busy in the back kitchen.
The familiar scene caused his nerves, which had been on edge for days, to relax involuntarily.
"Old man, Ayame, I'm back." Haruko greeted them lazily.
"Brother Haruko, why are you back so early today?" Ayame looked up and saw Haruko, breaking into a sweet smile.
"I closed up early today." Haruko found a seat and sat down. He looked toward Teuchi, cleared his throat, and said, "Old man, there's something I want to talk to you about."
Teuchi stopped his work and moved to the front counter, his face still wearing that kind smile. "Oh? What is it?"
He detected a hint of something unusual in Haruko's tone, but he didn't pry, simply gesturing for him to continue.
"I want to transfer everything from the snack stall to you, including the recipes for those snacks and the preparation processes."
"Why, Brother Haruko? Isn't your snack stall doing very well?" Ayame asked, looking surprised.
Teuchi's expression turned serious: "...Did something happen?"
Haruko briefly and nonchalantly recounted the incident with the Military Police Force visiting earlier that day.
"...Anyway, I feel like this stall has been targeted. Besides, when it comes down to it, the stall was only a temporary measure. Once my team starts going on missions, I'd have to stop anyway; this is just happening a little earlier."
Teuchi carefully observed Haruko. Although his tone was light, the exhaustion and weariness in his eyes were genuine.
He knew that this child was someone who deeply craved peace and quiet in his bones, and today's incident was just the final straw.
"Alright then, how do you plan to sell it?"
"Hmm... let's say 100,000 ryo."
"100,000 ryo?!" Ayame exclaimed.
Teuchi was also stunned.
He was well aware of the value of Haruko's stall; those recipes alone were worth at least a million ryo if sold elsewhere. 100,000 ryo was practically giving it away.
He knew Haruko wasn't greedy for money, but this was just too...
"I will teach you versions of those snacks that don't require Ninjutsu. Although they might be slightly more troublesome than the Ninjutsu versions, once you get the hang of them, you can achieve a similar level."
"This way, Ichiraku Ramen Shop can not only continue selling ramen but also add so many specialty snacks, and business will definitely reach new heights. By then, you and Ayame will be able to earn more money and live a better life."
"And as for me, I'll be able to get rid of those annoying matters, return to the shop to work for you, or find some other way to make money."
Teuchi fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"You brat! So after all that, you just wanted to be lazy!"
He scolded him with a laugh, but his eyes were filled with relief.
Ayame also chuckled, her tense nerves finally relaxing completely.
She knew that Brother Haruko had returned to her side, back to that familiar, lazy, yet reliable Brother Haruko she knew.
"Alright then. We'll do as you say. As for the money, take it now." Teuchi said, pulling a thick money pouch from the counter and stuffing it into Haruko's hand.
"As for the recipes, just come back to work. You can teach me slowly during that time."
Haruko didn't refuse, simply smiling as he accepted it.
The next morning, a small wooden sign appeared at the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen Shop: "Haruko's Snacks have been merged into Ichiraku Ramen! Limited daily supply!"
And on the Ichiraku Ramen menu, a few new items quietly appeared: Ichiraku Gyoza, Secret Grilled Skewers, and Refreshing Mung Bean Soup.
Just like that, Haruko's life returned to his familiar rhythm.
However, although he had closed the snack stall, the snacks were still currently prepared by his own hands.
Fortunately, this work was much easier compared to the day-to-day busyness of running the stall.
During gaps when there were no customers, he would patiently teach Teuchi and Ayame how to make the snacks.
Of course, since neither of them were Ninjas, he taught them the versions that ordinary people could handle.
...
That evening, a special guest arrived at the shop.
"Two bowls of Chashu ramen."
A familiar voice rang out, and Itachi walked in wearing casual clothes.
Following behind him was a middle-aged man with a composed face and an air of natural authority; it was Uchiha Fugaku.
"Captain Fugaku, Itachi, please come in." Teuchi greeted them with a smile.
Itachi walked to the counter and sat down, while Uchiha Fugaku sat beside him.
"Haruko, your snack stall... why did you close it?" Itachi asked with a hint of apology, "Is it because of the incident with the Military Police Force last time?"
"Hmm... that doesn't have much to do with it." Haruko replied casually while clearing the bowls and chopsticks, "Actually, I've wanted to close it for a long time."
"Why?"
"You know me, I don't have any grand ambitions; I just want to live a comfortable life."
"I set up the stall to make money easily. But what happened? Business was booming, sure, but I was busy from morning till night every day, exhausted like a dog. I had no time to rest, let alone enjoy life."
Haruko shrugged. "Isn't that putting the cart before the horse? So I gave the recipes to the old man, and I'm quite relaxed here. Isn't that great?"
To Uchiha Fugaku's ears, these words sounded like gibberish.
A business that could make money hand over fist, and he just closed it because he found it "troublesome"?
As the head of the Uchiha Clan, he bore the weight of the clan's rise and fall, so he naturally could not understand Haruko's philosophy of lying flat.
But looking at Haruko's relaxed and comfortable appearance, he inexplicably felt a hint of... envy?
"Do you... really think this is better?" Uchiha Fugaku finally couldn't help but ask.
"Of course. You can never finish earning all the money in the world, but life is your own. Why should I make myself so exhausted for those worldly possessions?"
"I see." Uchiha Fugaku picked up his ramen and ate in silence.
Although this young man's words were casual, the philosophy contained within them touched him.
He sensed a unique sense of detachment from Haruko.
After leaving Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Uchiha Fugaku walked on the road back to the Uchiha Clan compound, Haruko's words echoing in his mind.
"Worldly possessions... huh."
Uchiha Fugaku repeated the words softly, his eyes filled with confusion.
He thought of the Uchiha Clan's predicament, the responsibilities he carried, and the choices he had to make for the sake of the clan.
He shook his head, feeling that Haruko's way of thinking was somewhat absurd.
Yet, he vaguely felt that there seemed to be something important hidden there that he had been ignoring all along.
...
Over the next few days, Ichiraku Ramen Shop was bustling with activity.
Haruko unreservedly taught Teuchi and Ayame all the snack recipes, preparation processes, and the subtle tricks that only he had mastered, one by one.
Although the snacks prepared by Teuchi and Ayame were slightly different in taste from Haruko's "original version," they were still perfectly suited to the ramen.
The Ramen Shop's business reached new heights, with customers filling the place every day and an endless stream of diners queuing up.
And Haruko, as the creator of these hit snacks, returned to being that lazy, life-enjoying Ramen Shop employee.
In his spare time, he would bring out his homemade rocking chair, lie under the eaves in front of the shop, and squint his eyes to enjoy the afternoon sun. Occasionally, he would go fishing by the river, sitting there for the whole day.
Natural Energy once again began to silently nourish his body, sweeping away all exhaustion.