He smiled, amused, and thanked her warmly.
As she set the bowl down, she glanced around to make sure her father wasn't watching, then subtly pointed to the noodles and gave him a quick, mischievous grin before turning back to the kitchen.
Curious, Arata used his chopsticks to gently lift the noodles.....only to reveal a surprise hidden underneath.
The bowl was packed with extra toppings: thick slices of pork, rolled meat, and more eggs than he could count. His eyes widened slightly.
Even for the "extra-large deluxe ramen" he'd ordered, this was way over the top.
Panicking slightly, he quickly lowered the noodles back down, afraid Teuchi would notice and scold her.
A moment later, Ayame glanced back at him, and when Arata discreetly gave her a thumbs-up, she stuck out her tongue playfully before returning to work.
Thanks to that little secret exchange, the second bowl somehow tasted even better.
Though eating two extra-large deluxe portions was already a challenge, the sheer amount of hidden toppings nearly did him in.
Still, with sheer determination, Arata managed to finish every last bite.
Setting the bowl down with a satisfied sigh, he let out a small burp of contentment, paid his bill, and waved goodbye to Teuchi and Ayame before heading toward the door.
That was when he noticed a small figure standing hesitantly at the entrance.
The child was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit, his blond hair messy, his clothes dirty, and his face smudged with grime.
His wide, blue eyes peeked inside longingly, full of hunger and yearning.....but also fear.
Arata recognized him instantly.
The child at the door was none other than Uzumaki Naruto.....the so-called Child of Prophecy, the son of the Fourth Hokage, and the current Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
Right now, though, he was just a frail, malnourished boy.
The Third Hokage had hidden his parentage, leaving only the truth of his burden as the Nine-Tails' host to circulate among the villagers.
And because of that, hatred followed him wherever he went. The food he bought was always expired. No one showed him kindness.
He lived without parents, without love, shrouded in loneliness and fear, quietly enduring abuse in silence.
A hero's son.....treated like a prisoner.
If not for the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, it wouldn't be surprising if he had already died long ago.
Uchiha Arata sighed softly but didn't approach.
The relationship between the Uchiha and the village was already tense, on the brink of breaking.
As one of the clan's prodigies, a figure representing the younger generation, he couldn't afford to act rashly.
If he were seen showing kindness to the Nine-Tails' vessel, the ever-watchful Third Hokage and Danzō might take it as a provocation...and Arata didn't yet have the strength to challenge them outright.
His Mangekyō Sharingan might be powerful, but it still wasn't enough to control the Nine-Tails.
To do that, he'd need the Eternal Mangekyō.
Arata's gaze lingered on Naruto's small, trembling figure.
In his mind, he saw another image....the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
A man of humble birth, yet a prodigy unlike any other.
Brilliant, strong, compassionate… a true hero of the village.
If only Minato hadn't died so young, Arata thought, he would've found a way to save him.
Not just because Minato had always treated the Uchiha with fairness, but because he was a man of rare virtue.
If the Fourth Hokage were still alive, the Uchiha and the village would never have fallen into such bitter opposition.
Arata's hand brushed against the inside of his cloak, feeling the paper there.....a few discount coupons from Ichiraku, given by Teuchi out of goodwill.
As a loyal customer who always ordered the most expensive dishes, Arata received them often.
Without hesitation, he turned away from the counter and walked past Naruto.
As he passed the boy, a small bundle of coupons slipped from his sleeve, falling silently to the ground beside him.
Arata didn't slow down. His steps remained calm and steady, as though he hadn't noticed a thing, disappearing into the morning streets.
Behind him, a small hand slowly reached out.....hesitant, trembling...toward the coupons that might buy a single warm meal.
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