Ichiraku Ramen Restaurant.
Noon is the busiest time of business and the restaurant is packed with diners.
When he opened the door curtain, the aroma of hot soup accompanied by the heat wave hit him in the face, making Naruto feel even hungrier.
He jumped onto the high stool in front of the counter and sat down, shouting in a carefree manner: "Uncle Shouda, three bowls of ramen first, and double the barbecued pork!"
"Okay!" A cheerful response came from behind the stove.
On the side, Ayame also smiled sweetly and said, "Naruto, it's really early today."
Naruto grinned and scratched his head, "Hey, since someone is treating me, of course I have to eat a few more bowls!"
"Don't listen to him, Sister Ayame." Sakura also sat down next to Naruto and smiled helplessly, "Naruto can eat so much no matter who treats him."
"That's true." Acorus covered her mouth and chuckled.
She turned around and continued to help her father prepare ramen skillfully. Her slender back in an apron exuded a sense of tranquil beauty.
At this time, a clear and gentle voice interrupted: "What good thing happened, Naruto, are you in a good mood today?"
Naruto turned around at the sound and saw a familiar face leaning out from behind the counter of the ramen shop.
He was a boy of about fourteen years old, with a clean and handsome face, looking at them with a smile.
Seeing that it was an old acquaintance, Naruto smiled even more, "Hey, of course I'm happy today! Because--"
He lowered his voice mysteriously and drew out his words, then he straightened his back suddenly, waved his fist excitedly and announced, "I'm about to learn a super powerful ninjutsu! Then I'm going to surprise you!"
Aren was stunned when he heard that, then he raised his eyebrows with interest and said, "Oh? Super powerful ninjutsu? It sounds powerful. What is the move? Can you tell me?"
Naruto puffed out his chest and smiled triumphantly: "Hehe, let's keep it a secret for now! But the power must be amazing! Anyway, just wait and see, I will definitely make you - well, make your jaw drop!"
Those deep blue eyes were burning with fighting spirit and expectation, and you couldn't tell at all that he was frowning because of failure at the training ground just now.
Aren looked at the confident blond boy in front of him and couldn't help but be infected by his emotions and smiled sincerely.
"Really? Then I'll have to wait and see."
"Humph, you're bragging again."
Haruno Sakura, who was standing by, crossed her arms and said mercilessly, "Naruto, you are so bad at controlling the basic chakra. Don't let yourself get blown away when you fail to practice."
"I won't!" Naruto retorted with a red face, "This time it's really different! Sakura, just wait and see!"
Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Kakashi, who was sitting on the other side, coughed helplessly: "Ahem, Naruto, let's not talk about training while eating."
Naruto muttered and closed his mouth.
In fact, he was really hungry, and if he continued arguing, he would have no time to enjoy the food.
At this time, three bowls of steaming ramen had been served on the counter.
The fragrant soup and the white and tender ramen made Naruto's eyes widen.
He cheered and immediately started eating. He could hardly see the noodles in the bowl as his chopsticks flew around, and soon he finished a whole bowl in no time.
"Another bowl please!"
He raised the empty bowl, licked the soup with satisfaction, and shouted loudly.
After a while, another full bowl of ramen was placed in front of Naruto again.
Naruto immediately lowered his head and started sniffing again.
Looking at Naruto's intoxicated look as he wolfed down the food, Aren and Ayame couldn't help laughing.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto coldly, as if thinking about something.
At this time, Kakashi's nonchalant voice sounded: "Naruto, the ninjutsu you just mentioned...was it taught to you by someone?"
With his mouth full of noodles, Naruto answered vaguely, "Gulp gulp... eh? Yes... ah, no, I was practicing on my own."
Kakashi's eyes flickered slightly when he heard that, and he looked at the ball in Naruto's hand again.
In such a short time, Naruto has entered the second stage of training. This is too fast.
Not long after, Naruto burped contentedly after eating three large bowls of ramen.
Naruto stretched comfortably, then belatedly remembered something and turned to Kakashi and asked, "By the way, Kakashi-sensei, what mission are we going to do this afternoon?"
Kakashi lazily flipped open the book "Intimate Paradise" and said nonchalantly, "It's the same mission as yesterday."
"What--?!" Naruto nearly fell off his chair when he heard that. "Another job of helping people with yard repairs, finding lost kittens, or something like that?"
Kakashi glanced at him and said, "What else? As a Genin, these most basic commissions are also part of your training."
"Tsk..." Naruto pouted and complained dejectedly, "It's so boring... I might as well practice more ninjutsu..."
"Naruto! Stop complaining!" Sakura knocked his head and frowned as she lectured him, "We are ninjas, and we must take even the odd jobs seriously."
Naruto covered his head and muttered reluctantly: "I know, I know, I was just talking casually..."
Kakashi smiled silently, closed the book and stood up, saying, "Okay, everyone, it's time to get going. The location of this afternoon's commission is a bit far from here."
Several people stood up and Kakashi paid the money.
Naruto rubbed his stomach contentedly and followed him out of the ramen restaurant. He waved to the hand-beating uncle and Aren and the others: "Boss, Sister Ayame, Brother Aren, we are leaving! Thank you for the hospitality!"
"Be careful in your mission, Naruto." The hand-beating uncle poked his head out and said with a smile, "Come back to eat next time."
"Yeah! Definitely!" Naruto nodded vigorously and gave a big thumbs up with full of enthusiasm.
After watching Naruto and the others leave, Aren's friendly smile gradually faded.
"Things are becoming more and more interesting..."