Chapter 41: Kurama's Warning, Unpleasant Lunch
At noon, Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Tonan were seated inside Ramen Ichiraku, waiting for Namikaze Minato to arrive. Tonan's gaze wandered across the shop's humble layout—small, rustic, and far from flashy. He recalled some crackpot rumor he'd once read in his past life about the shop owner being some god-tier alien named Otsutsuki Teuchi or whatever. Honestly, if that were even remotely true, he had zero intention of finding out the hard way.
Soon enough, Minato appeared at the shop's entrance, accompanied by a red-haired kunoichi in a standard-issue flak jacket.
Minato smiled and gestured toward her. "Tonan, Kakashi, let me introduce you—this is Uzumaki Kushina."
Kushina didn't bother with modesty. Practically elbowing Minato aside, she stomped forward, eyeing the two boys like they were mystery scrolls she was dying to unseal.
"So these are Konoha's so-called new genius brats, huh?" she said with an impish grin. "Nice to meet ya! I'm Uzumaki Kushina."
Kakashi responded with his usual disinterested nod. Tonan gave a small, composed smile and responded politely, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Tonan. Minato-sensei's student."
Minato chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Alright, alright, enough standing around—let's sit."
"Everyone here? What'll it be?" Teuchi called from the kitchen, already sliding menus down the counter like a practiced jōnin throwing kunai.
Kushina didn't even glance at the menu. "Large tonkotsu ramen!"
Then she threw a look at Minato and added, "Make that two bowls!"
Tonan didn't even open the menu. He offered a soft smile and said, "I'll have the same. But could you lighten the seasoning? I prefer milder flavors. Sorry for the trouble."
Kakashi didn't lift his eyes from the counter. "Same as him."
"Alrighty." Teuchi scooped up the menus and returned to the kitchen. Moments later, four steaming bowls of fragrant tonkotsu ramen arrived, practically glowing.
"Let's eat!" Kushina announced, cracking her chopsticks.
But just as she went for the noodles, a familiar, growling voice echoed in her mind.
"Kushina."
"Huh? Kurama? What is it?"
"That Uchiha kid. I'm sensing something dark in him… something very dark."
Her chopsticks hovered midair. She side-eyed Kakashi—but Kurama corrected her sharply.
"Not the white-haired brat. The other one."
She blinked at Tonan, who was gently stirring his ramen, looking like a monk savoring a final meal before enlightenment.
"…He looks as harmless as Minato."
"My chakra sense isn't about 'looking.' That boy's chakra is crawling with darkness—and his thoughts reek even worse."
At that moment, Tonan looked up, his eyes meeting hers. "Is something wrong, senpai? Do I have something on my face?"
"He's watching you. And he's thinking something twisted."
Unaware of the internal conversation, Tonan dabbed at his cheek with a napkin. But in his mind…
"If she dies, could I inherit her chakra? Or… her Tailed Beast? If I collect them all… Wouldn't that make me a natural Ten-Tails? Could I… loop power endlessly?"
As that thought passed through Tonan's head, a glint of unspoken calculation briefly flashed across his gentle expression.
Kushina's jaw clenched.
Then, pretending to recall something, she said casually, "You know, Tonan… people in the village have been talking about you lately."
Clatter. Tonan's chopsticks dropped.
His head lowered slowly, shadowing his eyes. His voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. "…Is that so?"
Minato calmly handed him a fresh pair of chopsticks. "Eat while it's hot. It won't be the same once it's cold."
Tonan accepted the chopsticks and dug in. But as he slurped the noodles, tears slid silently into the bowl.
Kushina blinked, stunned. "W-What's wrong?"
Tonan looked up, red-eyed, a wavering smile stretched across his face.
"Huh? Oh… it's just… it's so good. I've never had ramen like this before."
Then he looked down again and resumed eating like a man escaping reality one noodle at a time.
"You want another bowl?" Minato asked, patting his back comfortingly.
But Tonan abruptly stood. "No. I'm full. I've got to clean my house today. If it's alright, I'll excuse myself."
And without waiting for a response, he activated Earth Style: Ground Travel and sank into the dirt like a guilt-ridden earthworm.
He didn't forget to discreetly wipe his tears on the way down.
Minato raised a hand, wanting to call after him, but the words stalled in his throat. As Tonan emerged onto a nearby street, Minato finally shouted, "Meet me in front of the Hokage Residence tomorrow morning—eight o'clock sharp!"
Tonan paused, gave a faint nod without looking back, and disappeared into the Uchiha District.
Kakashi set down his own chopsticks and gave Kushina a frosty look. "I'm done too."
And he left, just like that.
Minato looked down at their bowls. Nearly untouched.
Neither he nor Kushina had much appetite left. They quietly finished what little they could and paid before leaving the shop in silence.
On the way back, Kushina couldn't take it anymore. "Minato… Did I say something wrong?"
He sighed. "Probably not intentionally. But just be mindful of how things come across next time."
"But… all I said was that the villagers are talking about him."
"What were they saying?"
"They called him a genius. That he graduated the academy in just one year. Isn't that a compliment?"
Minato gave a tired smile and shook his head. "We all misunderstood."
Kushina still looked confused, hesitant. "…By the way, the Nine-Tails can sense the evil intent in people around me."
Minato's expression darkened. "What are you saying?"
"Kurama says Tonan's heart is twisted. That his chakra feels… wrong."
Minato fell silent for a beat. Then he shook his head. "Maybe. But based on what I know—and what I saw today—he didn't seem like a bad person."
Kushina frowned, but ultimately nodded. "I hope Kurama's wrong."
Minato sighed again. "Tonan's been through a lot. In just half a year, he's lost a fellow clan member, his parents… even his girlfriend."
Kushina blinked. "Wait, what? What happened?"
Minato recounted the tragic chain of events that had followed Tonan like a cursed shadow. As Kushina listened, her shoulders gradually slumped.
"…After all that, it makes sense. Anyone would have darkness in their heart."
Minato nodded. "When I met him yesterday, he told me he wants to be recognized—by more people. And I believe he meant that."
Kushina glanced at him, lips pursed. "So he's one of those… sunlight-on-the-outside, thunderstorm-on-the-inside types."
"Hiruzen-sama told me he needs someone right now. Someone who can anchor him."
Kushina gave Minato a thoughtful look. "So that's why you got promoted to jonin and assigned a team so fast. Not just your skills—but your heart."
Minato smiled, but behind his eyes, concern lingered. Because even he wasn't sure… if someone like Uchiha Tonan could really be pulled back from the edge.