Time flies.
Tonbo Tobitake worked quietly and visited Ichiraku Ramen faithfully. His job was stable, and his conversations with Ayame were very pleasant. It was during this time that Orochimaru returned with his troops. Returning alongside him was Minato Namikaze.
The main forces remained on the front lines to guard against other villages and prevent any sudden counterattacks. In the welcoming crowd, Tonbo did not see Orochimaru; he presumed the man didn't care for such atmospheres.
"It's finally over."
With the war ending, things would be stable for a long time—aside from the Nine-Tails Incident. At this thought, he looked toward the escort team. He finally saw the legendary "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze. Just as the rumors suggested, he radiated a very sunny disposition. One could tell how immense his fame was just by the level of cheering from the surrounding villagers.
After getting a glimpse of the person he wanted to see, Tonbo turned and headed home. Their paths wouldn't cross much. Tonbo had no intention of clinging to "big shots"; he only needed to stay close to Yamanaka Inoichi. Being under the banner of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio meant safety and clear political alignment, as well as high status.
In the following days, a grand funeral was held for the fallen comrades of the war. All the high-ranking officials of Konoha, from Jonin to Genin, came to the cemetery to bid farewell. There, Tonbo saw the main cast of the story.
Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, Guy... many familiar faces. At this time, Orochimaru was still young, and Minato was only in his early twenties. Everyone was youthful. He also saw the pregnant Kushina Uzumaki. With her red hair and the massive chakra he could feel just by sensing her, the overwhelming pressure made her impossible to miss.
The funeral was solemn. For once, the Third Hokage did not publicly preach his "Will of Fire" theory but instead observed a silent moment of grief for his departed comrades.
The funeral ended. The war concluded. Konoha silently returned to its normal track.
Tonbo heard news through the grapevine that the Third indeed intended to elect a Fourth Hokage. After a month of deliberation, a conclusion was finally reached. Minato Namikaze would succeed as the Fourth Hokage.
The village was buzzing with excitement. The Third stepping down and Minato taking over was a move that won the hearts of the people. On the day of his inauguration, all the residents of Konoha watched the figure in the flying Hokage robe and his sunny smile. Aside from a few characters in the shadows, no one opposed him.
Tonbo did not see Orochimaru there. He didn't know if the man was angry about not becoming the Fourth or if he was busy with human experimentation. He also didn't see the legendary "Leader of Roots," Danzo Shimura. This left Tonbo with a bit of regret; it seemed that unless there was some special mission, he wouldn't be seeing him.
"Actually, it's better not to see him. I'll just go eat ramen today."
Tonbo arrived at Ichiraku Ramen once again. When Uncle Teuchi saw him, he looked like he wanted to hit him with a rolling pin. This brat actually wants to pursue my daughter. However, out of professional integrity, he maintained his natural smile as he served the noodles.
"Tonkotsu ramen, enjoy your meal."
"Thanks, Uncle. Where's Ayame?" Tonbo asked politely, his eyes scanning the shop.
"She went to deliver noodles to an elderly lady with mobility issues," Teuchi replied. He wasn't exactly dissatisfied with Tonbo; he just wasn't ready to be a father-in-law yet.
"How about I give you a hand? I'm quite nimble," Tonbo offered, seeing that the shop was busy while Ayame was away.
Teuchi's expression tightened. "No. I must be responsible for the deliciousness of the food I produce. You haven't learned the craft; I'm afraid you'll ruin my reputation." In this regard, he was absolutely uncompromising.
Seeing Teuchi's persistence, Tonbo decided to compromise. "How about this: I'll help you knead the dough. I'm a ninja; I have the strength." Without waiting for consent, he finished his bowl, stood up, and slipped into the prep area.
"Hey, don't just jump in!" Teuchi was startled.
But Tonbo had already started. After observing for so long, he might not be able to handle the secret seasonings, but he was very familiar with the kneading process. Flour, the right amount of water... kneading, slamming, rubbing, pulling—his movements were as smooth as flowing water. When the flour got dry, he appropriately dampened his palms to keep the dough hydrated. His superior mind told him exactly when the dough reached its peak texture, and his ninja senses allowed him to feel the perfect consistency.
Teuchi watched in a daze. That technique, that level of skill... had he really never learned the craft?
"You brat, you clearly know the trade! You weren't being honest when you said it was your first time," Teuchi huffed, though he didn't stop making noodles for the customers.
Tonbo laughed. "I come here every day. I learned just by watching your hand movements. Look, even my current posture is copied from yours."
With his help, Teuchi's workload lightened significantly. The service speed increased. Seeing Tonbo's learning speed, Teuchi felt quite satisfied; this kid's learning ability was impressive. If he really did become a son-in-law, he could inherit the shop after retiring as a ninja. With this thought, he actually began explaining the dough-making process and the finer details to Tonbo. Under his guidance, the already skillful Tonbo became even more proficient.
Clatter!
Just then, a blonde man walked in with a red-haired woman. The woman's belly was quite large.
"Lord Fourth Hokage!" Tonbo was startled and immediately bowed. Good grief, he's been inaugurated for less than half a day and he's already bringing his wife for noodles!
"You're a ninja, aren't you?" Minato, whose perception was also top-tier, said to Tonbo. Since it was the inauguration day, Tonbo wasn't on duty and wasn't wearing his forehead protector.
"Yes. Analysis Team, under Yamanaka Inoichi, member of Dokuraku Mawashi's squad—Tobitake Tonbo," Tonbo replied honestly. He didn't dare be otherwise. Kushina was a Jinchuriki; he couldn't let his eyes wander. It would be bad if Minato suspected him of being a spy.
"Minato... Lord Hokage, he saw I was busy and stepped in to help me," Teuchi interjected quickly, fearing Tonbo might get in trouble for working a side job.
"Haha, Kushina's belly is so big now. Just a few more months, right?"
At those words, Kushina, standing beside Minato, showed a happy smile and stroked her belly. "Yes, it's coming soon."
Minato committed Tonbo's name to memory. "One Tonkotsu ramen, one Seafood ramen."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Tonbo continued to help out. He had nothing to be guilty about. He was a bona-fide successor of the Will of Fire. However, he preferred not to get involved with these major figures if possible. A ninja should just go to work and do their job well.
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