Chapter 194: The Usual Place
Meanwhile, at Naka Shrine.
Sasuke stood there, frowning as he stared at the stone tablet.
During the earlier battle, he had accidentally glanced at it while his Sharingan was active and discovered that he could actually understand part of the writing on it.
But once he deactivated his Sharingan, the characters on the tablet became completely unreadable again.
"This place is indeed near the clan grounds. Is this also one of the Uchiha Clan's secrets...?"
"I can read part of it, but it only seems to record the origins of the Uchiha Clan. No... there's clearly more after that. Why can't I see it?"
Sasuke was puzzled.
Was it related to the Sharingan's ocular power?
Or something else?
Itachi had once displayed that ability called the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Naruto also said he had been controlled by Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan ability.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
What exactly is it?
Is it the final stage of the Sharingan?
Would Kakashi know something?
Unfortunately, Kakashi had already left on a secret mission.
And because Naruto, the chūnin of Team Seven, was technically "injured," Hinata was taking care of him.
That left Sasuke alone, forced into an unexpected break.
"What about you? Can you see anything?"
Sasuke turned to the companion beside him.
The white-eyed boy wearing a Konoha forehead protector and a white training outfit withdrew the veins around his eyes and shook his head.
It was Hyūga Neji, whom they had not seen in some time.
Compared to a year ago, Neji had grown taller, and his gaze had become even more resolute.
"No. It's probably something only the Sharingan can read. At least under my Byakugan, the stone tablet shows no visible change. But I can see chakra fluctuations within it."
"Is that so?"
Sasuke fell into thought.
"And strangely, there isn't only one type of chakra."
Neji added.
"What does more than one type of chakra mean?"
"I don't know. Maybe it means the tablet contains more than one layer of information. Or perhaps the tablet itself is simply special."
Neji paused.
"It is unusual, though. If the contents change depending on whether it's viewed through the Sharingan, then this should be a secret of your Uchiha Clan. Is it really fine for me to see it?"
Sasuke looked at Neji.
He did not explain much.
He only said calmly:
"...It's fine."
"If we can't confirm anything else, let's go back."
Under the village's current orders, movement through most non-residential areas required approval, and at least two people had to travel together.
Naruto was in his current state, so Sasuke did not want to disturb him.
Coincidentally, Neji had just returned from a mission, so Sasuke had dragged him here.
On the night the Uchiha Clan was massacred, Sasuke had still been too young.
And the inheritance Itachi originally intended to leave him regarding the Uchiha Clan had later been burned by Itachi himself after his thinking changed upon meeting Minato.
Because of that, Sasuke truly did not know what legacies his clan had left behind.
Even this Naka Shrine was something he had only just learned about.
He did not even know this place had once been one of the Uchiha Clan's secret meeting sites.
The fact that his clan had secrets he knew nothing about made Sasuke anxious.
And if he counted the days, it was almost time for the appointment Naruto had made with him to search for his surviving clansmen.
But given Naruto's current condition, Sasuke felt too embarrassed to bring it up.
Especially since Naruto had ended up like this because of someone from the Uchiha Clan.
"Your mind is unsettled."
Neji suddenly spoke from beside him.
"Want to relax a little?"
"...Where?"
"The usual place."
Neji gave him a look that said, you know.
Then Neji led Sasuke with practiced ease to—
Ichiraku Ramen.
"..."
Sasuke stared silently at Hyūga Neji.
Was this condition contagious?
"Naruto used to bring me here all the time. Hinata also said she liked it. Before I knew it, I occasionally wanted to come here for a meal too."
Neji sat down in the shop with familiarity.
"Besides, you two have eaten here no fewer times than I have. Is calling it the usual place wrong?"
Neji greeted Teuchi.
"Boss, herring soba."
"Coming right up!"
"...You ordered soba at a ramen shop?"
"Hmm? They have it."
Neji pointed at the menu hanging on the wall.
Sasuke looked over and found that they really did.
When Naruto first invited him to this shop, Ichiraku had still been a small place with only a few ramen flavors to choose from.
Only now did Sasuke notice that Ichiraku's storefront had become much larger than before.
The menu had expanded considerably too.
It seemed their business had been thriving.
Thinking about his own team, Sasuke felt that most of the credit probably belonged to their team leader.
"Sasuke-kun, what about you? What would you like?"
Since they were regulars, Ayame smiled at Sasuke directly.
"The usual."
"Coming right up!"
After a burst of busy movement, two bowls of noodles were quickly served.
Neji was about to eat when he noticed Sasuke staring at him.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. Can you get full from just one bowl?"
"?"
Neji froze and pointed at the bowl in front of him.
"With a portion this large, you can't get full?"
"Oh. Never mind."
Sasuke looked away.
So it wasn't a Hyūga family tradition.
"By the way, Sasuke-kun. Since you're in the village, what about Naruto? He's in the village too, right? Why hasn't he come by these past few days?"
Teuchi wiped his hands on his apron and looked at the two of them.
His hands felt itchy, like he had not been able to use his full skill.
Normally, whenever they came, Naruto and Hinata would usually be with them.
Or rather, mainly Hinata.
Every time she came, he had to unleash his full strength.
This time, only two bowls.
It felt unsatisfying.
Teuchi felt that his heavily tempered skill had not even reached one percent of its full potential.
What a pity.
"...He's a little injured. He's resting at home."
"Injured? Is it serious?"
"Not serious. He said he'll recover soon."
"Oh, good. That's good."
Teuchi and Ayame both breathed a sigh of relief.
They had known Naruto for many years.
He had been one of their loyal customers since childhood.
And not only had he supported them when he was little, after growing up he had brought them plenty of new customers too.
In the earlier years, villagers would occasionally speak ill of him.
Nowadays, such words were heard less and less.
Instead, most of the ninja who came here to eat, whenever they mentioned Naruto, talked about how incredible he had been since his academy days.
After the two finished eating and prepared to leave, Teuchi called out to Sasuke.
"Hey, wait a moment."
"I'll prepare Naruto's favorite tonkotsu chashu ramen. Take it to him for me. Consider it our get-well gift."
The fragrant ramen was packed tightly and carefully.
Clearly, Teuchi had timed it perfectly.
It was still steaming hot.
Sasuke instinctively accepted it.
Teuchi did not mention payment.
After all, these few were yearly unlimited-meal customers.
Automatically renewed by Kakashi.
"In that case, I'll go visit Naruto too."
Neji said.
"Guy-sensei and Lee originally wanted to go yesterday, but Tenten and I stopped them because we were afraid they'd be too noisy and disturb him. I happen to be free today."
"Let's go."
Sasuke nodded.
The two soon arrived at Naruto's apartment.
"Come to think of it, Hinata should be there too, right?"
"She's been taking care of Naruto these past few days. She should be—"
Before Sasuke could finish, a violent sound of a door being flung open exploded above them.
Almost in the blink of an eye, Naruto, still in pajamas and without even changing clothes, leapt down from upstairs with Hinata in his arms, his expression filled with anxiety.
He looked ready to sprint in a certain direction.
Then he suddenly seemed to remember that he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He stopped.
And vanished instantly.
"Something happened!?"
Both Sasuke and Neji's expressions changed.
But since Naruto had left using Flying Thunder God, neither of them knew where he had taken Hinata.
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> [email protected]/AiraTales7 (replace @ with a)