"Hmph, you really think I'd believe that?"
Despite Sasuke's inner trust in Naruto's words, his mouth remained stubbornly defiant as he looked at Naruto's smug face.
"Come on, why won't you believe me?" Naruto felt like all his passion was being completely doused by Sasuke's cold expression.
"I just don't believe you. What, are you going to bite me—"
"Hey, are you a dog?!"
Seeing Naruto actually lean in as if to bite him, Sasuke hurriedly raised a hand to block it.
"I'm not a dog, Kiba is the dog. At most, I'm a fox, the Nine-Tailed Fox!"
"Foxes don't bite people. You should behave!"
"Foxes aren't obedient at all. Sasuke's the one who should behave!"
Sasuke was about to retort again, but when the ramen was served, he quickly cut it short with a "Not bothering with you!" and started eating.
Watching Sasuke eat so happily, Naruto instinctively glanced at Kakashi.
"Why are you looking at me, Naruto? If you're already full, you shouldn't keep eating—it's not good for you. But if you really like it, you can come here every day." Kakashi said while ruffling Naruto's hair.
"Really? Is Kakashi-sensei treating us?" Naruto looked at him with a face full of expectation.
He had already decided: if Kakashi said yes, he would call the whole class over to eat.
Kakashi almost agreed, but then suddenly felt a chilling premonition, a bad omen. He bit back the words at the last moment and instead smiled. "If you want to eat, Hikari has already deposited a large sum here for you. Enough for you to eat for half a year by yourself!"
"Huh? How come I didn't know about this?" Naruto looked at Kakashi, shocked. "And why did Hikari-senpai do it, and not you, Kakashi-sensei?"
What could Kakashi even say?
Could he say he's just a single guy saving money for marriage?
Could he say Kamizuki Hikari is loaded, and that Naruto should eat fast and eat him broke?
He couldn't say anything. It was painful.
"What are you talking about? Why would Kakashi-sensei save money for you? If anything, he'd save it for me!" Sasuke, feeling ignored, let out an indignant shout.
"Hmph, I knew it! Kakashi-sensei likes Sasuke the most!"
"And what's wrong if Kakashi-sensei likes me?"
"Sa-su-ke!"
"Na-ru-to!"
Watching the two brats trying to trap him, Kakashi simply stood up. "Both of you, shut up and eat properly! Don't you see you're disturbing the shop's business? Finish your food, train hard tomorrow, and don't cause trouble. I'm going home!"
Leaving a few thousand-ryō bills on the counter, Kakashi disappeared with Body Flicker.
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other. Neither was angry anymore.
Seeing the money, Naruto snatched it up quickly and tucked it into his wallet.
"Naruto, what about my share?" Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto pocketed it all.
This bastard, no loyalty at all!
They'd practically scammed that money out of Kakashi together, yet Naruto was taking it all for himself?!
"Ayame-nee!"
Ignoring Sasuke's resentful look, Naruto cheerfully called out to Ayame.
"What is it?" Ayame smiled. Watching the three of them clowning around had lifted her mood quite a bit.
"Well... why is Hikari-senpai so good to me?"
Thinking back, every time he ate at Ichiraku Ramen he always got special treatment. He had never thought it was because of Kamizuki Hikari.
If Kakashi hadn't mentioned it today, he might never have known.
"Hikari is just a really gentle person."
"Besides you, Gai and the three students in his team also get to eat here free. Hikari already paid in advance for all of you."
"Is that so? Then why don't I get that treatment?" Sasuke said sourly, looking at Naruto like a non-lucky-drawer glaring at the ultimate grand prize winner.
He had always thought Naruto was just like him—an orphan, unloved by anyone. But now suddenly Kamizuki Hikari appeared, looking out for Naruto like this. Of course Sasuke felt bitter.
Thinking about it more, Naruto's earlier words—about Hikari only bringing Sasuke along because of Naruto—sounded more and more plausible.
"Maybe Hikari doesn't know you well enough?"
What else could Ayame say?
Hikari wasn't just some selfless saint. He helped certain people quietly because he wanted to. Not everyone got to receive his kindness.
Even a saint couldn't do that for everyone.
"Hmph!" Sasuke grumbled and jabbed his finger at the signboard. "Give me the most expensive ramen! Naruto's paying!"
"Hey hey, Sasuke, cut me some slack! Ero-sennin already tricked away all my money. I'm broke right now!" Naruto grumbled, but there was no real anger in his eyes.
If anything, he was happy Sasuke could act this familiar with him.
"You can eat here for free anyway, what's the problem?"
"Unlike me, who has to earn money and eat alone."
Sasuke's pitiful eyes gave Naruto goosebumps all over.
"U-uh... fine! How about I treat you to a meal in the future?" Giving in, Naruto made his offer.
Sasuke nodded. "That's more like it."
"But only one bowl! You've gotta split the rest of the money with me—I need it for something!" Naruto quickly added.
At this rate, if Sasuke kept eating like this, his funds would dry up fast.
"No way. But tell me what you're saving for, maybe I'll consider helping out."
Ayame, curious now, leaned in closer. Even Teuchi in the back peeked through the curtain, eager to hear Naruto's little secret.
"Uh... I kinda wanna get something for Sakura-chan. I haven't seen her in a while, y'know?" Naruto winked at Sasuke, trying to give him a hint.
Sasuke: 'I don't want to know.'
But giving something to Sakura... that sounded fine to him.
That annoying fangirl was always pestering him, interrupting his training. If anything, Sasuke wished she'd stay far away.
Women? What were they?
Could they make him stronger?
"So Naruto likes Sakura, huh?"
Ayame's curiosity was satisfied, and her mood lifted completely.
"Ayame-nee... is-is that not okay?" Seeing her smile, Naruto suddenly felt a chill creeping up his spine.
"Of course not! I just can't wait for you and Sakura to get together. I'm looking forward to it!"
As a bystander, Ayame loved this kind of sweet little romance gossip.
Big and juicy.
"Really?! Then someday, when I bring Sakura-chan here, you gotta put in a good word for me!"
Ayame rolled her pretty eyes.
"Alright, alright. I'll indulge you, you little rascal. Happy?"
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