"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 220: Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku
In the final moment before his left eye lost its sight, Yūshin glanced toward a certain summable "starlight."
If the brightest starlight represented Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, then the similarly brilliant star appearing almost simultaneously on the timeline was easily identifiable.
In short, Yūshin confirmed that Sasuke Uchiha was currently in a state where he could be summoned by Umashikami. This validated some of Yūshin's theories...
First, the timeline's observer cannot observe themselves.
Second, during the initial summoning, the Sage of Six Paths had indeed tampered with Indra's chakra vessels... This meant he had detected Black Zetsu's activities, suspected his mother might break free from her seal, and begun making certain preparations.
The deceased Sage of Six Paths was by no means omniscient, but as the Shinobi World's guardian, he certainly possessed considerable abilities.
"Summoning... no rush. Better safe than sorry—at minimum, I should wait until my ocular power recovers."
Having confirmed his target, Yūshin felt no urgency to proceed. Though he viewed Ōtsutsuki clan members as stepping stones to the Six Paths level, proper caution was still warranted. Making an operational error and being counter-killed would be quite the spectacle.
This differed from dealing with Kinshiki Ōtsutsuki. Though Kinshiki was powerful, his methods were extremely straightforward and easily countered. Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, however, while relatively weak, still possessed the Rinnegan... Yūshin maintained healthy respect for the Rinnegan.
After years of "taking root and sprouting," Yūshin finally left his alternate dimension, returning to the real world to assess changes in Konoha and the Shinobi World during his absence.
Yūshin reappeared in Konoha Village, materializing—quite coincidentally—directly atop the Second Hokage's carved face on Hokage Rock... Pure coincidence, absolutely—he'd simply manifested there instinctively.
Returning from solitary training space to the bustling human world, Yūshin felt momentarily disoriented. Only after considerable adjustment did he depart Hokage Rock and walk Konoha's streets.
Unlike his previous "resurrection," when he'd carried an otherworldly, transcendent aura, Yūshin now appeared utterly ordinary. Strolling through the streets, he seemed no different from any common person, drawing virtually no special attention.
Walking onward, Yūshin again passed the Yamanaka flower shop from his previous visit. This time he didn't enter—merely happened to pass by.
Unexpectedly, Yūshin observed a middle-aged man emerging from the shop, carrying a bouquet of white flowers.
"Hmm? What's this about?"
Yūshin quickened his pace, approached from behind, and tapped the man's shoulder.
The man violently startled, nearly launching a reflexive counterattack before remembering his location on Konoha's public streets... Being startled like this was serious—no ninja, regardless of circumstances, should allow silent approach from behind.
The man spun around. Recognizing Yūshin's familiar face, his tense posture relaxed, and rare joy appeared on his typically expressionless features.
"Lord Yūshin, it's been far too long."
"Shūji, carrying flowers? That's unlike you."
Shūji offered no explanation, as he was heading to the Memorial Garden.
"Lord Yūshin, let's talk while walking... I have good news: 'Shūji' is now history—I've returned to being Nara Shūji."
Essentially, he'd completed his retirement process. As the saying goes, subordinates follow their superiors' example—Yūshin pursued retirement, so naturally his successor did likewise.
"Indeed good news. Life requires rest periods."
Yūshin's response matched Nara Shūji's expectations perfectly.
"Yes, I've transferred all organizational duties, internal and external. I've also relinquished my Konoha advisor position—Konoha has entered a new era, and I have no reason to cling to the past... Regarding organizational matters, my trained successor is quite capable. The Fireflies are now in his hands."
For ninja who'd survived the warring era, modern Konoha felt increasingly alien. Various factors left Nara Shūji feeling progressively powerless, making retirement preferable.
"Unfinished business? No regrets?"
Yūshin needn't ask specifics—he knew anyone stepping down from power harbored regrets about things they'd wanted to accomplish but never could.
Nara Shūji pondered, his thoughts wandering. After a moment, he sighed:
"Rather, life is perpetually filled with regrets. Since regrets are inevitable, there's nothing to lament."
Someone like him had undoubtedly dreamed of transforming Konoha into an ideal nation, but ultimately had to abandon such aspirations.
The further he progressed, the more he felt surrounded by no like-minded individuals... Only Lord Yūshin saw things clearly—never indulging in such fantasies.
Having survived warfare and life's vicissitudes, Nara Shūji returned to ordinariness. Meeting Lord Yūshin again amidst mundane existence was already satisfying enough.
"Incidentally, Lord Yūshin, would you like to meet the current Fireflies leader? Among his generation, he's quite exceptional."
"The next leader? That would be..."
"Hatake Sakumo. Though whether he's truly from the Hatake clan remains questionable."
Hmm? Clearly, he still couldn't forget Gan Wenrui.
Yūshin considered briefly, then shook his head:
"Now isn't the time to meet him."
Yūshin had no connection with the younger Hatake Sakumo—only familiarity with the older version. Their meeting should coincide with Sakumo's "thawing"... See? Yūshin truly respected transmigration and timeline logic.
Observing Nara Shūji's direction, Yūshin already knew their destination. Since he had no particular goal, he simply accompanied Shūji on this stroll.
However, while walking, Yūshin suddenly halted, having spotted something shocking on Konoha's streets.
"Wait—what is that?"
Nara Shūji followed Yūshin's gaze but couldn't understand his surprise. Those were merely ordinary shops and eateries—what warranted such reaction?
"Lord Yūshin, shall we grab something to eat first?"
That was Nara Shūji's only interpretation.
"Let's go."
Yūshin headed over without hesitation. Eating mattered little to him—across millennia, his meals were countable on one hand.
What shocked him was seeing a shop called "Ichiraku Ramen."
The shop itself was irrelevant—the person inside mattered... The ramen chef certainly wasn't some "Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku," but such tongue-in-cheek designation wasn't far from accurate.
Yūshin and Nara Shūji sat at the deserted counter and ordered directly:
"Two bowls of clear broth noodles."
Seeing Yūshin, the chef vaguely sensed changes in him but showed no surprise... Understandable, given he was a "future person."
The ordinary-looking ramen chef adjusted his cooking hat and began working the dough.
"Your customer service skills are essentially nonexistent. More practice needed."
"...You make a valid point."
The ramen chef replied, kneading dough silently—definitely not proper customer service.
"Why come to Konoha? Settling down?" Yūshin asked.
"I'm here to wait for someone... I suppose it counts as settling. The Shinobi World has little happening currently," the chef answered.
"Still, such disguise is unnecessary. Too abstract."
"This approach is optimal—I recall neither seeing nor sensing myself."
The ramen chef appeared even more respectful of timeline logic than Yūshin.
Ahem, the young ramen chef might not be "Ōtsutsuki Ichiraku," but he was definitely "Kurama Ichiraku."
The "millennium-long wait for reunion" drama continued, with Act Two—"XX, Love Me Once More"—about to premiere.
"Even so, it remains quite abstract."
Nine-Tails Ramen Shop? Yūshin found this difficult to accept. Even Kurama frying tofu would be more reasonable than entering the noodle business.
"Please enjoy."
Kurama ignored Yūshin, simply placing two ramen bowls before them.
Yūshin lifted his chopsticks, sampled several bites, and immediately understood why "Kurama Noodles" lacked customers.
"Your technique is inadequate. The flavor is problematic. More practice required."
"Deliberately nitpicking? I've heard service industry workers face various harassment. Are you testing my stress tolerance? Rest assured, I won't cause trouble—I'm too old for that."
Kurama seemed confident in his culinary skills, thus missing Yūshin's point.
"That's not my intention. Is it possible I'm simply stating your noodles taste terrible?"
Kurama retrieved Yūshin's bowl, sampling it with fresh chopsticks.
"I think it's acceptable."
"Not about what you think—about what I think. If it were acceptable, why do you have zero customers?"
Yūshin offered sincere advice: "Practice your ramen technique diligently. Poor taste means no customers, and no customers... means no special customers."
This time Kurama finally understood, taking Yūshin's opinion seriously.
"I'll study hard."
Yūshin nodded approvingly. Glancing sideways, he noticed Nara Shūji had finished his noodles—at least he didn't waste food.
"Shūji, settle the bill."
Nara Shūji checked the wall menu and paid accordingly.
However, after receiving payment, Kurama shook his head at Yūshin:
"Yūshin, insufficient."
"Hmm?"
"I want to purchase this establishment, but I lack funds."
Good grief, you certainly know whom to approach. Just because you're broke doesn't mean I'm wealthy.
Yūshin nearly swatted Kurama's extended paw away, but reconsidering, he realized Kurama wanting to handle things monetarily was positive.
"Shūji, my accumulated salary..."
"All stored with the Fireflies, Lord Yūshin."
"Then have that money delivered to him."
"Yes, Lord Yūshin."
Yūshin certainly drew Konoha's highest salary. Life-risking ninja earned well, so his funds could easily purchase this location—he could probably finance entire real estate projects.
After experiencing Kurama's cuisine, Yūshin and Nara Shūji departed, continuing toward the Memorial Garden.
"Lord Yūshin, that ramen chef is...?"
"Terrible technique, right? How dare he open shop with such skills... He's a 'longing stone'—consider him someone awaiting the new era's arrival."
Nara Shūji frowned. For a retiree, "new era" sounded somewhat jarring... What constituted a new era—did this imply future upheavals?
"He's very powerful?"
"Extremely powerful. Currently, no one in Konoha could defeat him. Yet he's essentially negligible, since he'd never actually intervene."
Nara Shūji frowned again—wasn't this equivalent to a ticking time bomb?
"Lord Yūshin, should we monitor him?"
"Huh? Aren't you already retired? Stop worrying unnecessarily."
Nara Shūji understood—Lord Yūshin was telling him not to fret. No need to concern himself with mysterious individuals' strength. In Konoha, this person was merely an incompetent ramen chef.
Shortly after, they arrived at the Memorial Garden. Nara Shūji offered flowers at the memorial stone, then toured, paused at, and cleaned the graves of fallen Fireflies members.
Yūshin's eyelid twitched—he nearly spoke up several times... Many of these individuals had been revived by him millennia ago. Compared to Konoha ninja's harsh lives, their existences were quite comfortable.
Forget it—this was unexplainable. Better let Nara Shūji continue his reminiscing.
Walking onward, the previously silent Nara Shūji suddenly spoke:
"Lord Yūshin, I haven't replaced my heart in ten years."
This statement somewhat surprised Yūshin. Was Nara Shūji indicating he'd resolved to face death calmly?
"Your life, your decision. Don't overthink it—you still have opportunities for reconsideration."
Nara Shūji could choose heart replacement to extend life or accept fate without replacement. His current decision wasn't irreversible... If approaching death made him realize life's value, he could certainly change his mind.
Yūshin reflected—could Nara Shūji be suffering from retirement syndrome? Feeling unneeded, experiencing late-life loneliness... Despite possessing multiple hearts, they collectively felt insufficient for strength.
Human emotion and rationality cannot achieve complete unity. Those seeking retirement still require adjustment time after actually retiring.
"Speaking of ten years ago, Shūji, I have a question... What's the current date?"
This question made Nara Shūji stare blankly at Yūshin's face... He hadn't expected Lord Yūshin to develop senility so young.
"Don't be surprised—I fell into deep sleep recently for certain reasons."
Oh, so that explained it.
Nara Shūji began counting on his fingers in elderly fashion:
"My last meeting with Lord Yūshin was seven years ago, which was... Hmm, currently it's exactly Konoha's fortieth year."
"So the ramen chef still has time to master his craft. The new era? That's still far off."
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