Naruto reached Ichiraku Ramen. Behind the counter, Teuchi was busy preparing an order.
Naruto took a seat and spoke casually. "Old man, one bowl of miso ramen."
Teuchi smiled and soon placed a steaming bowl in front of him.
"Here you go. Haven't seen you in the past few days. What happened?"
Naruto picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
"I went on a mission. I came back to Konoha yesterday, and today I came here."
Teuchi chuckled. "Hahaha. As you grow up, life only gets tougher."
Naruto smirked. "It's nothing, old man."
He continued eating, enjoying the warmth of the ramen.
After a few bites, he looked around the shop.
"Where's Ayame? I don't see her near the store today."
Teuchi's smile faded slightly. "She's ill, so she's resting."
Naruto lowered his bowl a little. "What happened to her, old man?"
Teuchi sighed. His face carried the worry of a father who had been holding too much inside for too long.
"On the day my child was born, there was a strange snowfall in the middle of summer. From the day she was born, my child gets this illness every month. "
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly.
Teuchi continued.
" We tried enrolling Ayame in the Academy, but she struggled to perform even basic jutsu. We went for a checkup. The medical ninjas said she had a chakra surge at birth that is the cause of everything. After some time, Ayame dropped out herself"
His voice became heavier.
"Since she turned eighteen, she has been falling ill more often. Her body becomes unnaturally cold. The medical ninjas diagnosed it as chakra imbalance."
Teuchi looked toward the back room.
"They gave us medicine and said that if she drinks it for three months, she will become a normal human. But after that, she will never be able to use chakra again."
Naruto stayed silent for a moment.
'This is similar to the Cold Yin-Qi Body symptoms from my world.'
Then he placed his chopsticks down.
"Old man, can I see her? I just want to reassure her that it's okay."
Teuchi was a little surprised. Most people asked about Ayame only out of politeness. Naruto's question sounded more serious.
After a short pause, Teuchi nodded. "She's inside. Just don't disturb her if she's asleep."
Naruto stood up. "Got it."
........
He entered the back room.
It was the same room where he, Ino, and Ayame had once eaten together.
Ayame was lying on a futon. Her face was pale, but her eyes were still open. When she saw Naruto, she gave him a weak smile.
"Naruto? Why are you here?"
"Nothing," Naruto said. "I just wanted to see how you're doing."
He walked closer and took her hand.
A faint blush appeared on Ayame's cheeks.
Naruto closed his eyes for a moment. Using his Yang fire, he felt the condition of her body through her hand.
'Just as I expected. Cold Yin-Qi Body.'
His eyes opened again. "Where's the medicine you've been taking?"
Ayame pointed toward a small bottle on the nearby table. "Over there."
Naruto picked it up, opened it, and sniffed it. His brows tightened.
He could not recognize the exact composition, so he took a small sip.
A second later, his face changed.
"Thuu... thuuu!"
He spat it out immediately.
"How the hell are you drinking this crap?"
Ayame chuckled weakly. "You get used to it."
Naruto was not amused. He closed his eyes and carefully checked his own body. Then his expression turned serious.
'This medicine is damaging my dantian.'
He turned back to Ayame. "Don't drink this anymore. I will cure you. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll come and take you to my house."
Without waiting for her answer, he walked to the sink and poured the medicine away.
Ayame frowned. "Naruto! Do you know how much the medicine costs? You threw it all"
Naruto didn't reply to her, and he filled the bottle with water and placed it back.
Ayame continued. "Why should I believe you? Are you a doctor?"
Naruto looked directly into her eyes.
"You have a very special constitution. It's normal that they couldn't find the real cause."
His voice was calm. "Come to me tomorrow. I will cure you and make you strong."
He paused for a moment. "Think about it."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Ayame watched him go. There were still a lot more spare medicines there, so Ayame didn't feel that much when Naruto threw the medicine, but frowned, as that was still costly.
'I'm getting bored here anyway. If I go to his house, at least I can get some fresh air.'
Naruto returned to the front of the store.
Teuchi looked at him with concern. "How is she?"
Naruto answered smoothly. "She said she's getting bored inside and wants me to take her out tomorrow afternoon. Is that okay?"
Teuchi hesitated. He was clearly worried, but he also knew Ayame had been trapped inside for too long.
"I'll talk to her," he said. "When you come tomorrow, I'll let you know."
Naruto nodded and walked out of Ichiraku.
......
As he stepped onto the street, his mind was already moving.
'Now that I have a Cold Yin-Qi Body candidate, I don't need Haku as much anymore.'
His eyes narrowed slightly. 'What should I do with him?'
......
The next morning arrived; Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke sat on the academy rooftop.
There was visible tension between Naruto and Sasuke.
Ever since they returned from the Land of Waves, Sasuke had been feeling inferior to Naruto. The difference between them had become too clear for him to ignore.
Sakura sat between the tension, feeling uncomfortable.
'Hurry up, Kakashi. These two have been like this since we got back.'
A puff of smoke suddenly appeared.
Kakashi arrived with his usual lazy posture.
"Yo."
Sakura groaned. "You're late again, Sensei!"
Kakashi ignored her complaint and went straight to the point.
"In five days, the Chunin Exams will begin. I have recommended all three of you to participate."
He pulled out three slips and handed them over. "These are your entry passes."
Then his tone became a little more serious.
"This is voluntary. If you don't want to participate, you can wait another year. So, do you want to enter?"
"Yes," Naruto and Sasuke answered without hesitation.
Naruto looked at the slip in his hand.
'The information and jutsu they provide here are too pathetic. I need proper jutsu and info to use.'
His thoughts also turned toward his house.
'I have sealing techniques at home. They seem advanced, since Sakura and I have never heard about them. I haven't checked the whole house properly yet.'
His gaze shifted slightly toward Sakura.
'I'll assign the job of cleaning and checking the house to Sakura today.'
Sasuke clenched his fists.'I'm still too weak. If I want revenge, I need more power.'
Sakura looked nervous. She held the entry pass in her hand and hesitated. Naruto noticed it.
He glanced at her, tilted his head slightly, and made a small nod.
Then she smiled a little at that small exchange.
"Okay, Sensei. I'll participate too."
Kakashi noticed the small exchange between Naruto and Sakura.
'They're developing quite a bond.'
Sasuke noticed it too.
His face darkened. 'She always tried to get my attention before. Now, just because Naruto showed some unexpected strength and fought well, she's looking at him like that.'
His thoughts grew colder. 'So this is what kind of girl she is.'
Sakura would never have imagined that Sasuke saw her that way.
After all three agreed, Kakashi gave a lazy wave.
"Alright then. See you at the exams."
Then he vanished in a puff of smoke.
.........
Later, Naruto returned home with Sakura.
At the same time, he sent a shadow clone to Ichiraku to pick up Ayame.
The clone reached the ramen shop, and after talking with Teuchi, he received permission to take Ayame out.
As the clone and Ayame started walking toward Naruto's house, the real Naruto received the memories through the clone.
Back at his house, Naruto handed a scroll to Sakura.
"This is the breathing technique you need to learn and use from now on. I prepared it myself, so memorize it and then destroy it."
Sakura took the scroll carefully.
Then Naruto pointed his thumb toward the house.
"Back to work, maid. You need to clean the remaining rooms and find any useful scrolls or papers."
Sakura lowered her head.
"Yes, Master."
Her voice sounded obedient, but inside, her teeth clenched.
'Just you wait, Naruto.'
Naruto noticed her expression but ignored it.
........
For now, he had many things to prepare and think about.
The Chunin Exams were coming. Ayame's body needed to be treated. Was Haku still needed or not. The Executioner's Blade had to be studied.
And somewhere inside his house, there might still be secrets left behind by Minato and Kushina.
(To Be Continued...)