In the afternoon, as the flow of customers thinned out, Ruichi lay half-reclined on a rocking chair, letting the gentle breeze brush against his cheeks.
Comfortable.
Relaxing.
This was the life.
Two familiar small figures—one fat, one thin—walked into the shop.
"Yo, isn't that Choji and Shikamaru? Skipping class again?" Ruichi sat up and yawned.
"School let out early today, Brother Ruichi," Choji Akimichi said with a grin as he ran to the counter and skillfully pulled out a chair. "I actually finished all my classes!"
Shikamaru Nara strolled over at his usual lazy pace, sat beside Choji, and slumped against the counter.
"Classes today were boring as hell."
Ruichi glanced behind them, but didn't see anyone else.
"Where's Naruto? Isn't he usually with you two?"
"That guy took off the moment school ended," Shikamaru replied.
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji—the infamous troublemaker trio of the Ninja Academy.
Back when Ruichi was still a student himself, he'd skipped class just as often. These three brats had followed right behind him.
Ruichi had been the senior who taught them how to dodge teachers, and their "standing companion" when they were caught and punished together.
"Uncle Teuchi! Two bowls of miso ramen!" Choji raised his hand and shouted.
"Coming right up!" Teuchi's booming voice rang out from the kitchen.
Ayame approached with a bright smile. "We've added some new items to the menu. Want to try them?"
Choji's eyes instantly lit up. "New food?! Then I have to try it! Um—five skewers, one order of fried dumplings, and a cup of mung bean soup!"
Before long, the ramen and snacks were served.
Choji inhaled the aroma of the ramen first, then impatiently picked up a golden, crispy dumpling.
"Mmm—so good!"
The bottom of the gyoza was fragrant and lightly charred, while the wrapper stayed soft. The filling was tender and juicy, and when he bit into it, the hot broth burst across his tongue, blending with the fresh sweetness of the vegetables.
"These dumplings go perfectly with ramen broth!" Choji finished one in a few bites and immediately grabbed a skewer.
The grilled meat glistened under the light, the aroma of the secret sauce and rendered fat wafting straight into his nose.
"This is even better!"
The surface of the skewer had a hint of crisp char, but the inside was unbelievably tender. The savory flavor carried a faint, almost unnoticeable sweetness that balanced the richness perfectly.
And washing it down with ramen broth afterward?
Heavenly.
Choji tore through the food like a storm, finally lifting the mung bean soup and gulping down more than half the cup in one go.
The cool, lightly sweet soup slid down his throat, instantly clearing away the heat and greasiness, leaving his mouth refreshed.
"Ha…" Choji leaned back, utterly satisfied. "Brother Ruichi, how is the outside of the skewer so charred, but the inside still that tender? Teach me!"
Ruichi shrugged. "Already sold the secret recipe to the old man."
"You sold it?!" Choji froze. "Brother Ruichi, weren't these from your snack stall? I was planning to buy some a few days ago, but the stall was gone."
He looked genuinely regretful. "Such good business… why close it?"
Before Ruichi could answer, Shikamaru—who had been quietly slurping noodles—looked up.
"What's there to regret? Running a stall means working from dawn till night. No matter how much money you make, you'll be dead tired. It's way more comfortable lying around like this."
"Shikamaru gets me," Ruichi said, giving a thumbs-up. "Truly my fellow lazy soul."
"I opened the stall to make life easier. If it ends up making me more tired, isn't that just backwards?"
Shikamaru nodded deeply. "Exactly. What a drag."
Choji scratched his head, half understanding. It still felt like a shame, but seeing Ruichi's relaxed, carefree demeanor, he had to admit it made sense.
Besides, as long as he could eat these snacks at Ichiraku Ramen, who cared who made them?
With that settled, Choji finished the rest of his mung bean soup.
…
In the afternoon, Ruichi carried his fishing rod down to the riverbank.
He liked fishing—not for the fish, but for the peace.
Going home empty-handed? Impossible. A fisherman never goes home empty-handed.
He didn't need to think or do anything. Body and mind melted into nature, sensing the flow of the wind and the murmur of the water—
Splash!
An ill-timed splash shattered his "immortal cultivation."
Turning his head, Ruichi saw a spiky-haired blond brat splashing wildly in the water, trying to catch fish.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Tsk. No wonder I haven't seen him lately. Looks like our Child of Destiny is broke again.
"Earth Release: Colander."
A large, perforated stone ladle rose from the riverbed, scooping several fish onto the shore where they flopped helplessly.
Naruto froze, then scrambled onto land to grab them.
"Thanks, Brother Ruichi!"
Ruichi waved without turning around. "Take them and go. You're scaring away my fish."
Naruto quickly tied the fish together with grass and glanced at Ruichi lying by the river.
"Brother Ruichi."
"Hm?"
"If you can catch fish so easily, why do you still use a fishing rod?"
"The fish aren't important. I'm enjoying the process."
"But I've never seen you catch anything…"
"Don't want the fish anymore?"
Naruto immediately bolted, clutching his catch.
"Heh. Empty-handed? Impossible."
As Naruto disappeared, the faint sensation of being watched also vanished.
Ruichi adjusted his posture and continued lounging.
As the sun dipped westward, he glanced at his still-empty fish basket.
"…Lightning Release: Ground Run!"
A fisherman never goes home empty-handed!
…
That evening, someone he hadn't seen in a while walked into the shop, looking travel-worn.
"Ruichi? What… what are you doing here?"
Anko Mitarashi stared in disbelief as she watched him casually wiping tables with Water Release.
Last time she saw this kid, he was dominating the street-stall scene. And now he was back here as a ramen shop waiter?
"Oh, Teacher Anko. I'm working here now. Sold the recipes and business to the old man and came back to live the easy life."
Anko's eyes widened. She pointed at the long line of customers, then at Ruichi. "You sold that profitable business?!"
Her worldview wobbled.
After ordering a bowl of Ichiraku's signature ramen and a plate of fresh fried dumplings, she devoured everything in record time.
Wiping her mouth, she suddenly remembered something. "Right—almost forgot the important part. That team you're in? There's news."
Ruichi paused, a bad feeling creeping up.
"The candidates are finalized. The official team notice and your first mission should come down in the next few days," Anko said, patting his shoulder with obvious schadenfreude. "Kid, your good days are over. Be ready—you could be sent out any time."
Clatter.
The chopsticks slipped from Ruichi's hand and hit the table.
He froze, eyes wide with despair.
Already?!
This "lying-flat" trial card was way too short!
In his mind, he could already see a miserable future—sleeping outdoors, endless travel, nonstop fighting.
"Hey? Ruichi?" Anko waved a hand in front of his face. "You okay?"
Ruichi slowly turned toward her, eyes hollow.
"Teacher Anko… this mission… is it really unavoidable?"