Chapter 44: Three Heads and Six Arms? One Head, Two Arms!
"It's actually gathering dust..."
After seeing off Hyuga Hiashi and his daughter, there were no more customers in the shop, so Haruko lay directly on the rocking chair behind the house.
"Thinking about it, I've been quite busy lately. Ever since I ran into that bunch of lunatics in the Land of Hot Springs, I haven't really been able to relax... It's all Uchiha's fault..."
Fortunately, the goal of finding a way out has basically been achieved.
The anxiety that had been plaguing my heart finally subsided, and as the rocking chair swayed back and forth, my consciousness gradually drifted away...
"...Big Brother! Big Brother!"
Haruko was shaken awake rather roughly.
Opening his eyes, he saw Tayuya vigorously shaking the rocking chair. He had slept straight through until dusk.
"Stop shaking it!" Haruko gave Tayuya a chop to the head. "What is it?"
"A pair of brothers came to the shop. Teuchi told me to come get you."
"Ha... Can't you let me rest for a single day..." Haruko felt a headache coming on. "I got it. Go to the kitchen and help Feng, and don't come to the front for now."
There were very few people who could make Teuchi come to get him, and he could guess with his feet that it must be Uchiha Itachi.
Bringing Uchiha Sasuke along... he was probably just showing him the place, so that if anything happened in the future, he could help look after him.
'That guy is looking for a way out too... He's overestimating me."
...
Haruko returned to the shop, and as expected, it was Uchiha Itachi, followed by a little bean sprout—Uchiha Sasuke.
Uchiha Sasuke looked reluctant, muttering, "Brother, why come to this shop? That dead last comes here often..."
"Uchiha Sasuke." Uchiha Itachi's voice was very soft, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
Uchiha Sasuke immediately shut up, but the displeasure on his face became even more obvious.
The two sat at the counter. Uchiha Sasuke was still sizing up the shop's environment, his eyes full of "Is this it?", while Uchiha Itachi's eyes were full of exhaustion.
"My younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke, this is the one I told you about..."
"You're Haruko?" Uchiha Sasuke suddenly spoke up.
"Yeah."
"Are you and my brother classmates? Brother mentions you often." Uchiha Sasuke looked Haruko up and down. "You don't look like anything special."
Haruko rolled his eyes. "Then what were you expecting to see? Three heads and six arms?"
"Do you really have them?" Uchiha Sasuke's eyes lit up, looking at Haruko with anticipation.
???
Haruko squinted at Uchiha Itachi, who averted his gaze.
"I never said that."
"I didn't ask anything..." Haruko replied casually. "The usual?"
"Yeah." Uchiha Itachi nodded, then looked at Uchiha Sasuke. "Get one for Uchiha Sasuke too."
"I don't care." Uchiha Sasuke was more interested in the previous topic than what he was eating. "Hey, do you really have three heads and six arms? Can you show me?"
'I think you're the one with one head and two arms!"
Haruko rolled his eyes, not wanting to deal with this two-pillar.
"Uchiha Sasuke... I meant that Haruko is as capable as if he had three heads and six arms, not that he actually has them..."
Watching Uchiha Itachi practically digging a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with his toes, Haruko found it quite amusing.
Haruko began preparing the ingredients, and Uchiha Sasuke's eyes were involuntarily drawn to Haruko's movements.
As Haruko performed hand seals with one hand, the flame was precisely controlled to the appropriate temperature.
The meat skewers sizzled over the flame, and the aroma wafted out.
"Is this... Fire Release?"
"Daily life Ninjutsu, Fire Release: Barbecue."
"Tch~ That's just a Fire Release of this level. I can release a huge fireball." Uchiha Sasuke said unconvinced.
"Oh."
Uchiha Sasuke was angered by this perfunctory attitude. "What do you mean? You don't believe I can do it?"
"I believe you." Haruko plated the grilled skewers. "But if you used that to grill skewers, they'd just be burnt on the outside and raw on the inside."
"What?"
"Using Chakra to create fire isn't difficult; what's difficult is controlling the heat. Controlling it to Haruko's level is very difficult." Uchiha Itachi explained from the side.
"Mm~ Brother, Brother could definitely do it too."
Haruko placed the skewers in front of Uchiha Sasuke. "Eat while it's hot; it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Uchiha Sasuke hesitated for a moment, then picked up a skewer and took a bite.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, the meat juices exploded in his mouth. The flavor of the spices was just right—not overpowering the meat's natural flavor, but enhancing the overall taste.
"How is it?" Haruko looked at him with a smirk.
Uchiha Sasuke was still stubborn. "It's... it's just okay..."
Then he quickly took a second bite.
Uchiha Itachi watched his younger brother's reaction from the side, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Soon, the ramen was served as well.
"Brother, this shop... is not bad."
Although Uchiha Sasuke said it was "not bad," he ate with more gusto than anyone. A bowl of noodles was soon scraped clean, and the gyoza and skewers were also completely devoured.
"Yeah, so we can come here often." Uchiha Itachi said gently.
When Haruko heard this, his hand paused, but he quickly returned to normal.
During the meal, Uchiha Itachi tried to say something several times, but each time he opened his mouth, he swallowed it back.
Haruko certainly noticed, and he also noticed that there were more people monitoring this time than when Hyuga Hiashi came at noon.
The guy smoking against the wall in the alley across the street could just see Uchiha Itachi's back; he had already smoked three cigarettes in a row. And behind the house, it had been dead silent since the two of them entered—not a sound.
"Lately, Uchiha..." Uchiha Itachi finally made up his mind to speak—
"Lately, Old Man Teuchi has been researching new ramen flavors. Come by and try them another day."
—but was directly interrupted by Haruko.
Haruko picked his ear and signaled with his eyes.
"Yeah, I'll definitely come when I have the chance." Uchiha Itachi nodded in understanding, stood up to pay, "Let's go, Uchiha Sasuke."
"Eh? Are we leaving already?" Uchiha Sasuke hurriedly followed.
Uchiha Itachi stopped suddenly at the door. "Speaking of which, there are more people in the shop. That lady is..."
Following Uchiha Itachi's gaze, it was Feng, who had come out to clear the bowls and chopsticks.
'Does he think Feng is Anbu?"
Haruko shrugged. "Our shop's newly hired beautiful employee and'security guard." Pretty, right?"
"Very pretty." Seeing that Haruko knew what he was doing, Uchiha Itachi didn't pry further. "Then I won't disturb your rest."
"Take care."
Watching the two leave, Haruko leaned against the counter and let out a long sigh.
"Not many peaceful days left..."
Feng sidled up and hugged Haruko's arm.
"Does Lord Haruko really think I'm pretty?"
The soft sensation made Haruko's mind wander; the scent of hormones stimulated his biological instincts.
"Remember those two, especially the older one. Stay away from them. Don't have any relationship beyond customer and shopkeeper, otherwise, it will bring big trouble."
Haruko didn't respond to her question; instead, while they were pressed together, he lowered his voice to instruct Feng.
"...Yes, I understand."
Enjoying it only slightly, Haruko pulled his arm away.
"Alright, go back to work."
"Eh— Lord Haruko hasn't answered me yet—"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, you're the most beautiful in the world, okay? Hurry up and go back to work!"
After struggling to push Feng back into the kitchen, he turned around, and there was an old man in the shop.
The Sandaime Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Haruko's muscles instantly tensed up, but he forced himself to relax.
'He came as soon as Uchiha Itachi left... I hope it's a coincidence."
Harboring unrealistic hopes, Haruko put on a stiff smile and greeted him: "Welcome. What would you like to eat, Hokage-sama?"
"I heard the ramen here is quite good. Give me a bowl." The Sandaime sat at the counter, smiling kindly.
"By the way, shall we have a chat?"
Hope shattered.
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