Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Konoha's nights were never truly quiet.

Beneath moonlight and scattered stars, this was instead the perfect time for people to gather and relax together.

After their small reunion, Team Seven naturally headed toward Ichiraku Ramen for a proper celebration.

Naruto looked completely at home there.

The moment he sat down, he immediately shouted his usual order toward Teuchi before turning enthusiastically toward the beautiful older woman sitting gracefully beside them.

"Mei-neechan, I highly recommend the pork-bone chashu ramen!"

"It's absolutely delicious!"

"Is that so?"

Mei Terumī smiled softly.

"If Naruto-kun recommends it so confidently, then it must be good."

"In that case, I'll take one too."

"Mm!"

"And this clear soup is really tasty too!"

"And the tempura here's amazing!"

"And this thing also—"

At first, Mei simply listened patiently to Naruto's excited recommendations.

She assumed it was just a child proudly showing off how much food he'd eaten before.

Then suddenly—

She realized Naruto wasn't merely introducing the dishes.

He was directly ordering every single item from the menu beside him.

"Wait wait wait!"

Mei immediately stopped him.

"That's enough!"

"One bowl of the pork-bone ramen is fine!"

"Hm?"

Naruto looked confused.

"Will that fill you up?"

"Don't be shy!"

"Whenever we eat at Ichiraku, Kakashi-sensei pays anyway!"

Hearing Naruto say that, Hinata instantly turned her head away guiltily.

Back then, she only invented that excuse in a hurry…

Meanwhile, the beautiful and perceptive Mei immediately understood the situation after observing Hinata's reaction and Naruto's behavior.

Looks like this little girl once ate slightly too much, so she invented some excuse that accidentally made Naruto misunderstand…

Thus, Mei kindly stepped in to help Hinata recover.

"Naruto-kun."

"Girls mature earlier than boys."

"So naturally girls eat more at this age. That part is true."

"However…"

Mei suddenly leaned slightly forward.

"I'm already twenty-five."

"I finished developing a long time ago, so there's no need to worry about me."

As she deliberately emphasized "finished developing," she subtly straightened her impressive figure even further.

Poor Naruto had absolutely no experience facing attacks like this.

His face instantly turned bright red while he stammered awkwardly.

So Naruto-kun likes… this type?

Hinata silently observed Naruto's reaction thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Sasuke quietly turned his head away as though uninterested.

Yet the faint redness near his ears clearly revealed he absolutely noticed everything too.

However—

When Mei finally looked toward the one person whose reaction she actually cared about—

She discovered Kakashi wasn't even paying attention.

Instead, he quietly muttered toward his wallet while calculating something miserably.

Surely…

A few bowls of ramen can't possibly bankrupt him…

Yet several moments later—

Mei finally understood.

First, she received her own bowl.

Then Teuchi continued skillfully delivering bowl after bowl after bowl after bowl…

One bowl for Naruto.

One bowl for Sasuke.

One bowl for Kakashi.

And five bowls for Hinata.

Mei's beautiful green eyes instantly widened in shock.

Her gaze repeatedly moved back and forth between everyone's faces.

All of them looked completely accustomed to this.

Meanwhile—

After only a few bites, Hinata already quietly placed one empty bowl aside.

Even the soup was gone.

Mei slowly lowered her head and stared at her own bowl of ramen.

The massive serving floating within the broth suddenly caused her to question reality itself.

Wait.

Don't tell me Konoha's ramen somehow doesn't fill people up?

Or am I trapped in genjutsu right now?

"Go ahead and start eating."

Kakashi silently handed her chopsticks and a spoon while sighing softly at her completely confused expression.

"We're only just beginning."

"Thank you for your patronage!"

Teuchi cheerfully shouted while he and Ayame enthusiastically waved goodbye toward their "important guests."

"Whew! So satisfying!"

Naruto rubbed his completely swollen stomach before letting out a deeply content sigh.

Then immediately turned toward their guest excitedly.

"So? Mei-neechan, Ichiraku Ramen's amazing, right?!"

"(I'm absolutely stuffed.)"

Mei nodded rapidly.

"Yes, extremely delicious. Thank you."

Still—

She couldn't stop herself from glancing toward Hinata beside her.

Then toward Naruto's stomach.

Then back toward Hinata's.

Eventually, curiosity completely defeated her.

"Umm…"

"Not to sound rude, but…"

"Every time you all come here…"

"This is your 'usual order'?"

"Of course!"

Naruto nodded proudly.

"Otherwise how would it count as the 'usual order'?"

After receiving the answer, Mei suddenly felt deep sympathy toward Kakashi standing nearby.

The man who had stared blankly toward the night sky ever since paying the bill.

No matter how calm his expression remained, his soul clearly looked devastated.

"Alright, let's split up for today."

Kakashi finally pulled himself together and addressed Team Seven.

"Once I finish settling the current matters, I'll contact you all again."

"Oh right."

"I'll also prepare some information documents for everyone."

Then Kakashi turned toward Mei.

"And you."

"My suggestion is that Miss Mei Terumī should return directly to the hotel."

"It'll be better for everyone that way."

Originally, Mei still planned to keep bothering Kakashi a little longer.

But after seeing the tragic state of his wallet earlier, she lost motivation.

Not that Kakashi intended restricting her freedom.

If she truly wanted to continue sightseeing, Kakashi would still have to accompany her.

"... Fine."

Mei lazily waved her hand.

"I won't wander around tonight."

Afterward, Kakashi and Mei bid everyone goodbye.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke very naturally escorted Hinata back toward the Hyūga estate together.

Yet even after arriving, Hinata didn't immediately enter the compound.

Instead, she quietly stood outside the gate watching the two boys leave together until they completely disappeared around the corner.

For some reason—

Every time Hinata watched those two walking side by side, strange emotions surfaced within her heart.

The scene always looked incredibly harmonious somehow.

And deep down—

A tiny part of her felt slightly jealous.

After all—

Naruto and Sasuke lived right beside each other.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke continued walking silently through the streets.

Neither said anything.

Yet at some point, one of them slightly accelerated ahead.

The other instantly overtook him without a word.

Then got overtaken again moments later.

Back and forth.

Neither willing to lose.

The two gradually transformed their casual walk into an intense speed competition.

Before they realized it, they had already completely passed their apartments.

Yet neither stopped.

Soon—

The competition escalated further.

Water surfaces.

Rooftops.

Nothing mattered anymore.

The two raced wildly across Konoha, practically circling the entire village before finally returning home.

"Hehe!"

Naruto arrived half a step earlier.

Wiping his nose proudly, he grinned toward Sasuke.

"Post-meal exercise!"

"I win again!"

"... Childish."

Sasuke coldly turned away and headed upstairs.

Yet completely opposite to the dismissive attitude shown outwardly—

Inside his heart, he silently updated the score.

0 wins.

198 losses.

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