Chapter 8: The Ramen Shop and the Problem Children
In the afternoon, customers thinned out. Haruko, having some free time, lay half-reclined on a rocking chair, feeling the breeze brush against his cheeks.
Cozy, comfortable.
This is what life is all about.
One fat, one thin, two familiar little figures walked in.
"Yo, isn't that Choji and Shikamaru? Skipping class again?" Haruko sat up and yawned.
"School let out early today, Brother Haruko." Choji Akimichi ran up to the counter with a chuckle, expertly pulled out a chair, and sat down. "I finished my classes properly!"
Shikamaru Nara strolled over slowly, sat down next to Choji, and slumped onto the counter listlessly.
"Today's class was boring to death too."
Haruko looked behind the two of them; there was no sign of anyone else.
"Where's Naruto? Not with you guys?"
"That guy disappeared the moment school ended."
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji—the Ninja Academy's trio of problem children.
Back when he was still in the Ninja Academy, Haruko often skipped class to slack off, and these three little brats did the same.
Haruko was the senior who taught them how to evade teachers' pursuits, and also a "standing buddy" who had skipped classes and stood in punishment together with them.
"Uncle Teuchi, two bowls of miso ramen!" Choji shouted, raising his hand.
"Coming right up!" Teuchi's loud, clear voice came from the kitchen.
Ayame walked over with a smile: "We have new items in the shop, would you like to try them?"
Upon hearing there was new food, Choji's eyes lit up instantly: "New items? Then we must try them! Hmm... five skewers, an order of pan-fried dumplings, and a cup of green bean soup to start!"
Soon, the ramen and snacks were served.
Choji first took a deep breath of the ramen's aroma, then impatiently picked up a golden, crispy pan-fried dumpling.
"Mmm... delicious!"
The bottom of the dumpling was charred and fragrant, while the wrapper remained soft. The meat filling inside was tender and juicy. With one bite, the piping hot broth exploded in his mouth, mixed with the sweet freshness of vegetables, creating a rich layering of textures.
"These pan-fried dumplings go so well with the ramen broth!" Choji finished one in a few bites and picked up a meat skewer.
The skewer glistened temptingly under the light, and the aroma of the secret sauce and fat drilled straight into his nose.
"This is even better!" Choji's eyes widened even further.
The outside of the meat skewer had a hint of crispiness, while the meat inside was incredibly tender and smooth. The savory flavor carried an imperceptible touch of sweetness, perfectly neutralizing the greasiness of the grilled meat.
Most importantly, drinking a sip of ramen broth after eating the skewer—that taste was simply amazing.
He devoured all the food like a whirlwind, finally picking up the green bean soup and chugging down more than half the cup in one go.
The cool, sweet green bean soup slid down his throat, instantly washing away the heat and greasiness from the ramen and skewers, leaving only a refreshing sensation in his mouth.
"Ha..." Choji exhaled in satisfaction, leaning back in his chair with a look of bliss.
"Brother Haruko, this skewer, the outside is grilled so crispy and fragrant, how can the meat inside still be so tender? Teach me, will you?"
Haruko shrugged: "I've already sold the secret recipe to the old man."
"Sold it?" Choji was stunned. "Brother Haruko, aren't these things from your snack stall? I wanted to go buy some from you a couple of days ago, but I found the stall was gone."
A look of regret appeared on his face: "It was such a good business, why did you close it just like that? What a pity."
Before Haruko could speak, Shikamaru, who had been slowly slurping his noodles, looked up.
"What's there to regret? Running a stall means working from dawn till dusk every day. Regardless of whether you make money or not, you end up exhausted. It's not as comfortable as lying around like this."
"Shikamaru really understands me." Haruko gave a thumbs up. He truly was his "lazy buddy."
"I set up the stall to make my life easier, but if it ends up making me even more tired than before, isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"
Shikamaru nodded in deep agreement: "Exactly, it's such a drag."
Choji looked at Haruko, then at Shikamaru, scratching his head as if he half-understood.
He still felt it was a bit of a pity, but seeing Haruko's leisurely and carefree appearance, he felt that what he said made some sense.
Anyway, as long as he could eat these delicacies at the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, what did it matter who made them?
Having figured this out, Choji drank the remaining half cup of green bean soup until it was empty.
In the afternoon, Haruko carried his fishing rod and strolled to the riverbank.
Haruko liked fishing. Not for the fish, but purely to enjoy the tranquility without being disturbed.
"Skunked"? Impossible! A fisherman never gets skunked!
No need to think about anything, no need to do anything, body and mind become one with nature, feeling the flow of the wind, the whispers of the water...
Splash—
An untimely splash interrupted Haruko's "Training" process.
Turning his head, he saw a little brat with bright blond spiky hair splashing in the water, trying to catch fish.
Uzumaki Naruto.
"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder I haven't seen Naruto lately. It seems our Child of Prophecy is out of money again."
"Earth Release: Colander."
A large rock spoon with holes rose from the bottom of the water, and several fish were flung onto the shore, flopping about.
Naruto was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly climbed ashore to catch the fish.
"Thank you, Brother Haruko!"
Haruko waved his hand without turning his head: "Take them and leave quickly; you've scared all my fish away."
Before long, Naruto had strung the fish together with a straw rope.
He looked at Haruko, who was lying by the riverbank holding a fishing rod, and tilted his head.
"Brother Haruko."
"Hmm?"
"I've never understood, since you can catch fish so easily, why do you still use a fishing rod?"
"The fish aren't important; I'm enjoying the process of fishing."
"But I've never seen you catch anything..."
"Don't want the fish?"
Naruto picked up the fish and turned to run, fearing that Haruko would take them back.
"Heh... skunked? Impossible!"
As Naruto went further away, the faint, lingering sense of being watched also disappeared.
Haruko changed his posture and resumed enjoying the leisure.
The sun slanted to the west, Haruko looked at his empty fish keepnet...
"Lightning Release: Earth Flash!"
A fisherman never gets skunked!
In the evening, Anko, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, walked into the shop, looking travel-worn.
"Haruko, what... what are you doing here?"
Seeing Haruko, who was slowly wiping the table using Water Release, Anko looked surprised.
The last time she saw this kid, he was dominating at his roadside stall. How did he end up back at the Ramen Shop as a waiter?
"Oh, Anko-sensei. I'm working here. I sold the recipe and business model to the old man, and came back to be a relaxed employee."
Anko's eyes widened. She pointed at the customers lining up to buy snacks, then pointed at Haruko, her tone filled with indignation: "You! You sold such a profitable business?!"
She felt her worldview had been shaken.
Ordering a bowl of signature ramen and an extra serving of freshly baked pan-fried dumplings, Anko sat at the counter and wolfed down the food.
After eating her fill, she wiped her mouth. As if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Haruko, who was clearing the bowls and chopsticks, and said: "Right, I almost forgot the important matter. That team assignment thing of yours, there's some progress."
Haruko's movements paused, and he had an ominous premonition.
"The candidates have been selected. It should be a matter of these few days. The official team notification and the first mission should be coming down soon." Anko said, patting Haruko on the shoulder with a bit of schadenfreude, "You kid, your good days are over. Get ready, you might have to start going on missions at any time."
Clatter—
The chopsticks in Haruko's hand dropped onto the table, making a crisp sound.
He froze in place, his usually half-closed eyes now wide open, filled with despair.
How could it be ending already?! This "lying flat" trial card was way too short!
Haruko felt his vision go dark, as if he could already see the miserable future of sleeping in the open, rushing about, and fighting and killing.
"Hey? Haruko? Are you okay?" Anko looked at his instantly petrified state and waved her hand in front of him.
Haruko slowly turned his head, looking at Anko with hollow eyes: "Anko-sensei... this mission... is it absolutely necessary to go?"