After Hiashi Hyuga took his seat, he didn't rush to order. Instead, he quietly observed for a while.
He quickly noticed something strange—his eldest daughter, who was usually timid and restrained, seemed different the moment she stepped into this place.
She was still shy, but the tension that came from deep in her bones was gone.
When she stole glances at Ruichi, there was a brightness in her eyes—something he had never once seen at home.
"You are Ruichi?" Hiashi finally spoke.
"Yes." Ruichi replied calmly, neither respectful nor arrogant—more like he simply couldn't be bothered.
"Hinata comes here often."
It sounded like a statement, yet carried the weight of interrogation.
Ruichi glanced at Hinata Hyuga, who looked so nervous she was about to combust.
"Yeah. A regular."
"Why?"
"B-Because…" Hinata hurriedly spoke up, "because the ramen here is delicious…"
Hiashi turned to look directly into his daughter's eyes.
"Just because the ramen is delicious?"
As the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family, what delicacies hadn't she eaten? Why would she be attached to a small commoner ramen shop?
Hinata lowered her head, cheeks burning red, yet her eyes couldn't help drifting toward Ruichi.
Hiashi shifted his gaze back to Ruichi.
"She comes here often because of you."
Ruichi thought for a moment, then answered honestly.
"Probably because she can eat her fill here."
"…Eat her fill?" Hiashi frowned, a dangerous pressure leaking out. "Explain."
"Exactly what it sounds like." Ruichi ignored the pressure completely and turned to Hinata.
"The usual?"
Hinata peeked nervously at her father and whispered,
"Y-Yes… four Ichiraku deluxe set meals, and four bowls of miso ramen."
"…How many?"
Hiashi stared at his daughter, who wasn't even as tall as the counter.
"Coming right up! Four deluxe sets, four miso ramen!"
Ruichi called out while grilling skewers, then casually explained:
"The Ichiraku deluxe set includes one bowl of ramen, pan-fried dumplings, five skewers, and a cup of mung bean smoothie. Want one too, Lord Hiashi?"
"…I'll have the same." Hiashi replied stiffly, clearly still in shock.
"The usual… means she always…?"
He slowly turned toward Hinata.
"Yes. And when she's tired from training, she sometimes adds more."
Hinata's head dropped even lower, fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, but she didn't deny it.
"Hinata, you—"
"I-I'm sorry!"
She suddenly stood up and bowed deeply.
"I didn't mean to hide it!"
Hiashi finally understood.
At home, his daughter had been pretending to eat a normal amount—never actually eating her fill. No wonder she'd always been thin and frail.
And the reason her physical condition had improved so much over the past few years…
"You child…" Hiashi laughed bitterly. "Why didn't you eat enough at home?"
"B-Because…" Hinata stammered, unable to finish.
"Because the eldest daughter of the main family has to maintain etiquette," Ruichi said calmly for her.
"Eating too much would invite gossip."
Hiashi fell silent.
For the first time, he realized that as a father, he understood his daughter less than an outsider did.
"So… you come here because he lets you eat your fill?"
Hinata nodded, voice barely audible.
"Brother Ruichi never laughs at me… and he even helps me add more noodles…"
The food was quickly served.
Under Hiashi's stunned gaze, Hinata pressed her hands together.
"Thank you for the meal."
Then she ate.
No etiquette. No restraint. Cheeks puffed out, face glowing with pure satisfaction.
That was the feeling of being alive.
Hiashi finally understood.
What his daughter found here wasn't just a full stomach.
Here—before this young man named Ruichi—she wasn't the Hyuga clan's eldest daughter.
She was just a little girl with a slightly big appetite.
No pretending.
No suppression.
No fear of judgment.
That was why.
The "fullness" wasn't only of the stomach—but of the heart.
Hiashi took a deep breath and looked at Ruichi.
"Thank you… for taking care of Hinata."
"It's nothing." Ruichi replied.
"Eat while it's hot. Cold ramen doesn't taste good."
Hiashi's mouth twitched.
This kid really didn't care about status at all.
But maybe that was exactly why Hinata felt so relaxed around him.
Hiashi finished his meal in silence.
The food tasted good. The portions were generous.
When it was time to pay, Hiashi gave Ruichi a long look.
This Ruichi—still in his teens—showed neither fear nor flattery, and remained unmoved even under his pressure. Someone like this was bound for greatness.
The laziness was a flaw—but not a fatal one. Once responsibility weighed on him, he would naturally change.
In that regard, he was even better than his own eldest daughter.
Though diligent, Hinata was too gentle, her talent limited. Hiashi had once even considered bypassing her.
He glanced at Taketori Kaede, who was quietly clearing dishes with a faint smile, never once interrupting.
As for the internal affairs of the Kaguya Clan, that wasn't his place to interfere.
But Hinata having a place where she could rest—
That wasn't a bad thing.
Perhaps it was even…
---
After seeing the father and daughter off, Ruichi stretched lazily.
"Finally gone… When the Third Hokage reads this report, his expression should be priceless."
As the two had entered earlier, an unremarkable man had followed them in. When they paid, he left shortly after as well.
Even with his eyes closed, Ruichi knew the man was monitoring him—but he didn't care.
As long as they didn't interfere, he could live his life peacefully.
Whatever Hiruzen Sarutobi or Hiashi thought didn't matter.
Lying flat was still lying flat.
---
Hokage Office
The Third Hokage stared at the ANBU report, utterly baffled.
He recognized every word—yet together, they made no sense.
"What do you mean Hinata Hyuga doesn't eat her fill at home? What do you mean Hiashi Hyuga only found out today? Were you hit by a Genjutsu?"
Only after the ANBU recited the entire ramen shop conversation word for word did he sigh and toss the report onto the desk.
"What kind of mess is this… Forget it. Continue monitoring. Today's matter stays confidential."
"Yes!"
After the ANBU left, the Third Hokage picked the report back up.
Ruichi. Again.
Uchiha. Hyuga. Nara. Akimichi. Jinchūriki. Taketori Clan.
A civilian-born Genin who had somehow built ties with so many key figures.
"…Perhaps," the Third Hokage muttered,
"I should see this child with my own eyes."
------
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