"This..."
Watching Qingyu pull out his patently empty pockets, Minato felt his soul crumble. His defenses were breached in a single, tragic moment.
No money!
This man had absolutely no money! And he still offered to treat!
Heaven help me! Minato stared at Qingyu, who managed to look entirely innocent despite the daylight robbery he had just committed. Was this person sent by the heavens specifically to punish me?
"Um... if you didn't have any money, why on earth did you agree to treat?"
Minato wore a look that sat somewhere between laughter and tears as he reluctantly reached for the shriveled wallet tucked inside his ninja tool pouch. His budget was already overextended this month, which was why he had tried to "scam" a meal out of Qingyu in the first place.
But the tables had turned. The hunter had become the prey.
"You didn't exactly give me a chance to say no..." Qingyu scratched his head, his expression remaining maddeningly guilt-free.
"I..." Minato's lip twitched again.
Recalling the scene from a few minutes ago, he realized Qingyu was right. He had demanded the treat, turned around, and ordered the noodles before they even stepped inside. Not once had he checked if Qingyu actually had a single ryo to his name.
But you didn't say you were broke, either! Minato squinted at his friend. He had a sneaking suspicion he was being played, but he lacked the evidence to prove it.
"Hahaha! You pay this time, and I'll get the next one. Next time for sure!"
Qingyu laughed heartily. He couldn't remember the last time he had laughed like this—it felt like a lifetime ago, back before the transmigration, when he used to go out with his best friends.
The boy in front of him was the future Fourth Hokage, yet in their interactions, there was no air of superiority, no "genius" ego. All Qingyu felt was genuine concern and a smile that carried actual warmth. It made him realize that, whether he wanted to admit it or not, he truly viewed Minato as a friend.
The banter, the "accidental" wallet failure—these were things you only did with a true comrade. You don't play these kinds of games with strangers.
"Fine..." Minato sighed, defeated. He pulled out his thin wallet and began counting out coins to pay the bill.
"No need for that."
Suddenly, Teuchi spoke up, his voice sounding like music to Minato's ears. The ramen master made a grand, sweeping gesture with his hand, a squinty-eyed smile stretching across his face. For a moment, the word "Free" flashed through both of their minds.
"Big brother Teuchi! You're treating us? You're the best!" Minato cheered. It wasn't his first time getting a freebie, but "free" always tasted better.
"Thank you," Qingyu added, bowing in gratitude.
"You've misunderstood," Teuchi said, his smile tightening slightly as he shook his head. Under their confused gazes, he explained, "I heard your conversation."
"When I said 'no need,' I didn't mean you don't have to pay."
He shifted his gaze from Minato to Qingyu and pointed his noodle strainer directly at the latter like a judge's gavel.
"I meant he doesn't have to pay right now. I'm putting this on your tab, Qingyu! You'll pay for both next time you come in!"
Teuchi looked immensely satisfied with himself, acting as the "Avatar of Justice" to punish Qingyu's stingy behavior. His smile returned, so wide his eyes vanished completely.
"O-oh... okay..."
Qingyu's smile froze. The debt had come full circle. He had been counter-scammed by the ramen man himself. His mental state? Collapsed.
"Hahahahaha!"
Minato clutched his stomach and roared with laughter. His mood did a complete 180 as he savored the sweet taste of cosmic karma.
"Do you see that? Teuchi's eyes are sharp! That's what you get for trying to trick me! But hey... since you said 'next time for sure,' that means the next meal is still on you, right?"
Minato grinned, a pure and radiant expression that carried an almost healing power. Looking at him, Qingyu felt the lingering darkness he had absorbed since arriving in this world begin to dissipate.
There is darkness where there is light—like a shadow that the sun cannot reach. But the inverse is also true: where there is darkness, light must exist. Qingyu realized that this yellow-haired boy was the very light meant to illuminate the shinobi world. Maybe, just maybe, the world wouldn't need Minato's son to change it after all.
"I heard that too! He said 'next time for sure,' no taking it back!" Teuchi added a "God-tier assist," though for Qingyu, it was more like a "God-tier backstab."
"Fine!" Qingyu gritted his teeth, feigning deep financial pain as he spat out the word.
"Hahaha!" Minato's joy was complete.
"It's getting late. I should head back. I'll treat you next time we cross paths!" Qingyu said, consciously creating a bit of distance.
Even though he accepted Minato in his heart, he was still cautious about deep emotional bonds. He wasn't sure what "causality" would be triggered if Minato actually survived the Nine-Tails' incident. He had to remain careful.
"Just remember to bring your wallet next time!" Minato teased, winking.
"Yeah, yeah..." Qingyu looked at Minato's smug face and couldn't resist one last jab. "Since I'm treating, feel free to bring a 'plus one' next time."
Whoosh!
Minato's smile vanished instantly. He looked at Qingyu as if someone had just stepped on his tail.
"Don't even think about it!"
Minato knew exactly who that "plus one" would be. Kushina. This was a high-level threat! He had to be on guard!
As the saying goes... Watch out for fires, thieves, and your own best friends!
Okay, "best friend" wasn't quite the right word for the proverb, but the sentiment was the same. Minato glared playfully at Qingyu; when it came to Kushina, he wasn't giving an inch!
"Hahahaha!"
Qingyu felt much better seeing Minato's flustered reaction. He turned and walked away, a victor in the battle of wits.
Nice try, Minato. But I still win this round!