Although this was a very small shop, with only a single row of seats near the entrance that could fit maybe five people at most, its reputation was unmatched.
In the hearts of netizens in his previous life, the owner of this shop was none other than the legendary Teuchi Ichiraku!
That might sound like an exaggeration, but it was true — neither the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack nor Pain's Six Paths Assault ever managed to destroy this little ramen shop.
Even in the Boruto era, it was still standing — bigger than ever, its storefront expanded.
"Yo, Jin-kun!"
"Today's your graduation day, right? You definitely need to celebrate properly."
"Uncle's treating you to extra char siu and tempura today!"
Teuchi Ichiraku greeted him warmly, squinting as he smiled.
Ayame, who was busy in the back, came out when she heard the commotion. She smiled too and started chatting with Uchiha Jin.
Uchiha Jin smiled back, exchanging light conversation with the father and daughter while waiting for his food.
Just then, the curtain at the entrance rustled.
A masked ninja walked in.
"One extra-large tonkotsu ramen."
His tone was flat, his expression unreadable.
He had snow-white hair, a black mask, and an aura that kept people at a distance.
Hatake Kakashi.
Uchiha Jin's classmate — at least, nominally.
Kakashi ordered and sat right next to Uchiha Jin, his sharp eyes darting over to him.
A flicker of confusion passed through Kakashi's gaze.
He didn't recognize this classmate, but the Uchiha fan symbol on Jin's back was unmistakable — known not just in Konoha but across the entire ninja world.
What puzzled Kakashi was that most Uchiha were famously arrogant, aloof, and dismissive of ordinary villagers.
But this one seemed... different.
He hadn't expected it.
Other than Obito, who was always tagging along and shouting loudly about becoming Hokage, he didn't know of another Uchiha who acted this way.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Jin was also quietly sizing up Kakashi.
He hadn't expected to run into him here, but when he thought about it, it made sense.
Most major characters in the story liked Ichiraku Ramen.
Still, Jin had no intention of starting a conversation.
He focused on chatting with Ayame and enjoying his dinner.
After all, he wasn't close to Kakashi — and the system he awakened today was a lazy, good-for-nothing system that only encouraged him to lie flat and slack off.
Getting too involved with "plot characters" meant trouble.
And trouble was exactly what he wanted to avoid.
"Uncle Teuchi, Ayame, thanks for the meal. I'm heading home."
Jin stood, stretched lazily, and left the shop.
Kakashi, still eating, watched him leave, his thoughts lingering on the strange Uchiha.
"Kakashi, why aren't you eating? Does it not taste good today?"
Ayame crossed her arms and glared at him. If he didn't explain himself, she looked ready to throw him out.
Kakashi forced an awkward smile, hurriedly finished his ramen, and asked about Uchiha Jin.
Ayame didn't hide anything.
"You mean Jin-kun? He's an unusual Uchiha, that's for sure. He's been coming here since seven or eight years ago. He's one of our regulars."
"Jin-kun is always very polite and gentle. He's a good person."
Kakashi's expression softened at that.
When he first saw Jin, his instinct had been to suspect him.
Because of his teacher, Namikaze Minato.
Ordinary villagers might not know, but Kakashi was well aware that Minato was a strong candidate for Fourth Hokage.
And given what he knew of Uchiha politics, his first thought had been that Jin might be trying to get close to Minato on purpose.
But Ayame's words eased his suspicions.
Someone who had been a loyal customer for seven or eight years wasn't plotting anything.
Kakashi shook his head.
"What a strange Uchiha."
---
Rewards for Lying Flat, Preparing an Escape Route
Uchiha Clan Grounds.
On the very edge of the district stood a somewhat dilapidated two-story house — Uchiha Jin's home in this world.
Even if the building was a bit run-down, its location was quite good, close to Konoha's commercial street.
After all, this was still before the Nine-Tails' attack. The Uchiha had not yet been relocated to the outskirts of the village, and as one of Konoha's founding clans, their living area was prime real estate.
As Jin walked back through the streets, he received the usual treatment from his fellow clansmen — dismissive looks, mocking sneers, and whispered insults.
But he had long since grown used to it.
He just drooped his head, yawned, and replied lazily with his "mouth no jutsu."
"Yeah, yeah, you're totally right. I'm a coward, a good-for-nothing."
"You're amazing, you're so cool, you're the GOAT!"
He didn't even bother to be angry anymore.
Back when he first transmigrated, he might have been hurt or furious.
But now?
He had grown numb, developing skin thicker than any chakra armor.
He even found them laughable — still clinging to the empty pride of being "Konoha's Noble Clan," yet completely oblivious that they were already nothing more than a dish served on someone else's table.