chapter 201 part 3
Being born without parents is completely different from watching your parents die hundreds of times.
People are afraid of loss.
Even if they never had it in the first place.
Sasuke Uchiha seemed to be naturally curious about the reincarnation of Asura's chakra. He sized up Naruto, but still put on a foul expression, showing no desire to interact.
Under Tsunade's treatment, although Sasuke had recovered from most of the physical discomfort after Tsukuyomi, the memories in his mind were still constantly tormenting him.
Right now, his mind was filled with revenge. Even the whirlwind that was Naruto couldn't pique his interest.
"Hmph."
Naruto crossed his arms, squatted down in the rain, and silently began to play with a frog in a puddle.
Seeing this, Uchiha Ren couldn't help but ask, "Hey, aren't you going home?"
Naruto Uzumaki pouted. "Didn't you say there was food?"
Uchiha Ren was so amused by this guy that he laughed.
"Alright, alright, let's go. I'll take you to get something to eat."
The rain was pouring down, and most of the shops were closed because of the Third Hokage's death.
But Ichiraku Ramen was the same as always. The owner, Teuchi, didn't care if Naruto was some Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, nor did he care about the Third Hokage's death.
Ramen was still pulled, and business went on as usual.
However, business in the shop wasn't great today. The recent great fire had left many villagers severely injured, and coupled with the Third Hokage's death, no one was in the mood to eat.
Naruto Uzumaki, being the muscle, pushed Sasuke Uchiha's wheelchair to the shop's entrance. The moment Naruto smelled the aroma of ramen, he hurriedly pushed the wheelchair inside, completely failing to notice the step at the entrance.
With a crash, Sasuke made intimate contact with the ground, nearly breaking his nose.
"Naruto..." Uchiha Ren gritted his teeth. Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head in embarrassment. "Hehe, hehe..."
At this time, a lone figure was sitting in a corner of the shop.
Upon hearing someone approach from behind, this person immediately shrank back, hiding in the corner as if afraid of being seen.
Seeing the number of empty bowls, Uchiha Ren knew who it was.
Konoha's number one big eater—Hinata Hyuga!
That's right, it was Hinata.
Hinata's appetite could crush anyone her age; she only revealed its true extent after marrying Naruto.
Teuchi had given out ramen coupons before, but he wouldn't dare let Hinata know about them for fear she would eat his entire stock.
The young Naruto didn't yet know that the person sitting in the corner was his officially designated wife. All he could think about was eating ramen, and he shouted at Teuchi, "Ramen Uncle! Two thousand bowls of ramen!"
Uchiha Ren immediately gave Naruto a powerful chop, knocking him to the ground, and ordered for them, "Ten bowls to start!"
The ramen quickly arrived. To be the first to get a second bowl, Naruto slurped so hard that soup splattered everywhere.
But no matter how fast he ate, he couldn't beat Uchiha Ren, who was using Earth Grudge Fear to help him. One mouthful was half a bowl of noodles and broth. Two mouthfuls and the bowl was empty.
Meanwhile, Sasuke Uchiha, sitting beside them, still had a vacant look in his eyes, appearing completely lost.
When Uchiha Ren was on his sixth bowl, he turned to Sasuke and advised, "Eat something. What's wrong with you? Going on a hunger strike?"
Sasuke didn't say a word, just stared blankly at the ramen.
Uchiha Ren sighed. "If you keep starving yourself like this, with your blurry vision, you'll have to wait until you're old and gray to get your revenge, won't you?"
Hearing this, Sasuke was spurred into action. With a speed even faster than Naruto's, he started slurping up his noodles.
Naruto, at the side, thought Sasuke was trying to steal his remaining noodles and hurriedly swallowed his own, not even bothering to chew!
Uchiha Ren knew his wallet was done for. Fortunately, he had taken quite a lot of Uchiha treasures. He magnanimously called out to Teuchi, "Ten more bowls!"
After the meal, behind a half-man-high stack of ramen bowls, three satisfied customers rubbed their bellies, burped, and picked their teeth.
"That was awesome! I haven't eaten this well in so long!" Naruto Uzumaki contentedly rubbed his belly. "It would be great if I could eat like this every day."
Uchiha Ren clutched his wallet. "You can only eat like this on special occasions. This kind of opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, you know!"
Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head. "Okay... By the way, big brother! Can you take me out of the village?"
"What for?"
"I want to take a look! I never got to go out when Grandpa Hokage was alive. Now that he's gone..."
"Don't even think about it." Uchiha Ren refused on the spot. The crime of a Jinchuriki sneaking out of the village was much more severe than killing Danzo.
While the two were chatting, Sasuke Uchiha suddenly forced himself to stand up.
Seeing his stumbling posture, Uchiha Ren cocked his head. "Going to the bathroom?"
Sasuke took a deep breath. "Please! Teach me!"
"Teach you what?" Uchiha Ren asked in return.
Sasuke gritted his back teeth. "The way to get stronger! The way to kill Itachi!"
Naruto Uzumaki interrupted, "Uh, who's Itachi?"
"Seven days ago, the Uchiha clan was wiped out, leaving only me and Sasuke. His brother, Itachi, was the one who did it," Uchiha Ren explained.
Naruto Uzumaki was confused. "Why would his older brother kill people from his own clan..." As he said this, he suddenly felt a pair of crimson eyes staring at him and immediately shut his mouth.
Sasuke spoke again, "Teach me!"
Uchiha Ren thought for a moment. "It's not that I can't teach you, but you can't learn what I know. Besides, I'll need to find you another teacher."
"I'm begging you!" Sasuke immediately bowed his head in a standard dogeza.
Before he developed his cool-guy persona, it was truly not easy for Sasuke to make such a gesture.
Uchiha Ren smacked his lips and thought for a while. "Alright. In a few days, I'll talk to the village. The Ninja Academy can't teach you much of practical use anyway. I'll get you to graduate early."
"But before that, I need to get Jonin qualifications so I can form a team. And before that, I still have to take the Chunin Exams..."
(end of chapter)