After clearing their IDs with the gate guards, Daiki Nojiri led Musashi Ryomiya into the Hidden Leaf Village.
The streets were clean and orderly, filled with men and women going about their day.
Compared to the chaos and suffering of the outside world, Konoha was basically Shangri-La.
Musashi looked around as they walked, trying to overlay the vivid scene before him with the images from his memories of the show.
As for Daiki Nojiri, who had spent the last month chanting "I'm going to starve to death in five seconds" about seventy times a day, his demeanor had completely changed. His eyes had turned into little hearts, and there was a suspicious amount of drool at the corner of his mouth.
"We're finally back... Pretty ladies... oh, the sweet-smelling ladies... The clean, beautiful girls of Konoha... Heheh... Heheheh."
"Hey! You're laughing like a total creep. Dial it back," Musashi warned.
"Oh, right. Slurp!" Daiki wiped his mouth and led Musashi forward.
Suddenly, a rich, savory aroma hit their noses.
Grrrrrumble~
Their stomachs staged a protest. It was like their feet had been nailed to the floor; they couldn't move another inch.
They turned their heads.
A sign hung above the shop flaps: [Ichiraku Ramen]
Grrrrrumble~ Grrrrrumble~
Passersby couldn't help but stare.
"Look at those two kids... they must be beggars."
"Ugh, they smell terrible! Let's go, quick."
"Damn it, I wanted ramen, but I've lost my appetite. Let's just go."
The people nearby didn't bother whispering. Daiki's face instantly flushed bright red.
"Let's go... we'll go to my house and change clothes first." Overcome with embarrassment despite his hunger, Daiki tried to drag Musashi away.
"Ta-da!" A cheerful female voice rang out.
"Free samples of Ichiraku Ramen's new broth! Please, tell us what you think!"
Two small bowls of steaming hot ramen appeared right in front of them.
Behind the bowls was a smiling face, framed by the steam.
She wore a small white chef's hat, and through the mist, Musashi could see her gentle eyes.
For two months, it had been nothing but hunger, cold, and anxiety.
They had been despised, cursed at, attacked, and hunted.
But this smiling face pierced through the gloom like a ray of sunlight, making Musashi's heart beat strong again.
Why is her face getting blurry?
Oh, it must be the steam from the ramen.
Musashi quickly closed his eyes.
When the moisture in his eyes cleared, he looked up at the girl.
She was about six years old, a head taller than him. Under that little chef's hat was a face smiling so hard her eyes were crescent moons.
Inside the shop, the usually grumpy-looking Teuchi—the Ramen Guy—had a faint smile on his face too.
"Here you go, customers! The new sample is free, but you have to give us your feedback, okay?"
"Thank you! Thank you!" Daiki grabbed the bowl and inhaled the noodles like a vacuum cleaner. It was a sight that would make a pig shake its head in disgust.
"...Thank you. I will taste it carefully." Musashi took the bowl and chopsticks, grabbed Daiki by the back of his collar, and dragged him to a corner where they wouldn't disturb the paying customers.
They began to enjoy the rare treat.
But they had been starving for too long. The noodles practically slid down their throats the moment they hit their mouths. Every cell in their bodies groaned in satisfaction; there was no way they could give an objective review.
Just as they were burying their faces in the bowls in the corner, a childish female voice interrupted them.
"There! Right there! Those two sneaky-looking kids."
Musashi: "..."
Daiki: (O_O)!
Standing before them were two figures, one large and one small.
The fan-shaped crest on their clothes was unmistakable.
A little girl in purple was pointing an accusing finger at Musashi and Daiki, her eyes scanning them with intense suspicion. She looked back at the adult man behind her, clearly fishing for praise.
The man lowered his gaze, his eyes indifferent as he looked at the two dirty beggars.
The girl, who looked about Musashi's age, spoke again. "No secret can escape the eyes of Izumi Uchiha! Speak! are you spies from the outside?"
"Izumi, quit messing around."
The adult man looked at Musashi and Daiki and spoke calmly. "You're just two kids... but state your origins and your reason for coming to the Leaf. If you can't explain yourselves, you aren't welcome here."
The arrogant Uchiha clan, huh? Musashi thought.
Daiki nervously stepped forward to explain who he was (the son of a wealthy merchant), while Musashi tidied up his bowl and chopsticks and returned them to Teuchi at the counter.
"I apologize. Since we haven't eaten in a long time, we couldn't provide any constructive feedback."
"If possible, next time I will come back washed, with enough money to pay for a full meal."
"Thank you for the food!"
He put down the bowl and walked back to Daiki, who was still frantically explaining himself.
"Alright, you're the young master of the Shueido Company, I got it. And what about you?" The Uchiha man turned his gaze to Musashi. "Explain yourself."
Musashi stopped Daiki from trying to help. He straightened his rags, looked the Uchiha directly in the eye, and recited the code phrase he had memorized.
"Monkey, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Rooster. Alpha-Three. Basketball. Pancake. Jonin Vest. Spicy Tuna."
"I am Musashi Ryomiya. I have brought back vital intelligence. Please take me to see the Hokage."
The two Uchihas: "?"
Daiki: (O_O)!
The Hokage's Office
After the Uchiha guide left, Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the soot-stained kid standing in front of him.
Musashi was studying the Third Hokage right back.
This was the "Professor of Ninjutsu." The man who hid Naruto's parentage, turned a blind eye to the Uchiha massacre, and signed countless unfair treaties. The strongest Hokage in history (allegedly).
He looked exactly like he did in the anime: the robes, the pipe, the wrinkled face.
Just looking at him, it was hard to imagine this old man was one of the strongest fighters in the ninja world.
"So, you are Kenta's son," Hiruzen said softly, looking at the decoded intel in his hand.
"Yes. Before my father died, he told me his identity and the intelligence. He ordered me to get this information back to Lord Hokage, even if it cost me my life," Musashi said.
"Phew..." Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke and spoke slowly. "It must have been hard on you, taking on such a mission at such a young age."
"Father said that no matter how young, we are all part of the village. Everything is for the Leaf!"
"This intelligence is valuable. With the merit points your father accumulated, you can exchange them for Ninjutsu, money, or other resources. There is a special office where you can claim this at any time."
"Now, there is one last thing."
Musashi was puzzled. "One last thing? What is it?"
Hiruzen turned to the Jonin beside him. "Ibiki, take him to get cleaned up, then bring him back to me."
"Yes! Lord Hokage."
Thirty minutes later, the filthy little beggar had transformed into a clean young boy. Although his skin was weather-beaten, his handsome features were now clearly visible.
"That settles it. You really do look just like Kenta did when he was a boy. Just as handsome." Hiruzen scrutinized Musashi's face and nodded, his doubts gone.
"Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew."
"Child, welcome home. Grow up healthy and strong here. One day, you will become an excellent ninja, just like your father."
Musashi put on a determined face. "Lord Hokage, please believe in me! I will become an even better ninja than my father!"
Under the Third Hokage's instructions, a specialist took Musashi to receive Kenta Ryomiya's inheritance. It included a small house, some furniture, and a few sealed Ninjutsu scrolls hidden in a secret compartment.
With some help, Musashi sold off the junk and rented a room near Ichiraku Ramen.
Real estate in Konoha was a high-risk investment (what with the invasions and giant snakes), so Musashi felt that renting a place right next to the Ramen Shop gave him a sense of security.
It looked like his happy little life was finally within reach.