Chapter 1: The Ninja at the Ramen Shop
Konoha Year 59.
In the shadows behind the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, Haruko lay on a homemade rocking chair, radiating an aura of 'keep away, I'm lying-flat'.
In his past life, he had been a workaholic until age thirty-five, when he and his ashes ended up on the company's wall of honor.
Having transmigrated into a high-risk world like Naruto in this life, he had long since figured things out.
Struggle? Hard work? What were those? Could you eat them?
When he first transmigrated, he had once been full of passion.
After all, as a transmigrator with memories of his past life, knowledge of the plot's direction, and the mind of a modern adult, surely he could easily reach the pinnacle even without a system?
Then, reality gave him a resounding slap in the face.
Not to mention the intense internal competition of his clan and the cruel policies of the Blood Mist, just staying alive was difficult.
After fleeing the Hidden Mist Village, he discovered that most areas were either embroiled in warlord conflicts like in Some Countries of Earth or were in a Dark Ages state, making them completely uninhabitable.
A wandering life completely shattered his spirit and made him realize that in this world of bloodlines, cheats, and powerful fathers, a transmigrator like him without any cheats or background had very limited paths to choose from.
Escaping to Konoha, the place with the best living environment in the entire Ninja World, securing a Ninja position, and then peacefully 'lying-flat' was the best outcome he could imagine.
His current life was already better than 99% of the people in the Ninja World, even more comfortable than his past life, so what was there to be dissatisfied about?
As his body and mind entered a state of extreme relaxation, some mysterious energy surged in from all directions, happily drilling into his body and nourishing his limbs and bones.
Natural Energy.
This was something he had only noticed in the last two years.
He didn't know the reason, nor did he want to delve into it.
Anyway, it didn't hurt or itch, and it made his body feel more comfortable, so why not?
'Brother Haruko, stop sleeping! It's time to open the shop, get up and help!"
Wearing a headband and dressed in a capable outfit, Ayame stood with her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks, and glared at him with annoyance.
From the back kitchen came the cheerful voice of Teuchi: 'There's still some time, let him lie down for a bit longer. He must be tired from the graduation exam today."
Ayame stomped her foot: 'Dad, you just spoil him too much!"
Haruko lazily opened one eye, looked at the girl who had grown up with him since childhood, and twisted his mouth: 'Got it, got it, coming right away."
He went inside, changed into his work uniform, and briefly tidied up his appearance in front of the mirror.
White, medium-length hair, with a handsome face that was 70% as good-looking as the readers. Haruko was very popular among young girls and married women, and together with Ayame, they were known as the two signboards of Ichiraku Ramen.
'The color of my pupils seems to have lightened again..."
'Brother Haruko! Are you not done yet?"
'Coming, coming~"
Walking into the shop, Haruko formed hand seals with both hands.
" Wind Release: Dust Absorption'
A whirlwind appeared out of thin air, picking up the dust in the corners and blowing them out the door.
" Water Release: Wash."
The faucet turned on automatically, a clear stream of water picked up the vegetables, and in the blink of an eye, they were cleaned.
Another stream of water splashed onto the floor, washing away the stains, and finally gathered like a snake, drilling into the drain.
" Wind Release: Drying'
A hot breeze, combined with Fire Release, blew over, and the floor was now bright enough to reflect light.
'No matter how many times I see it, Brother Haruko, you're amazing. If only you had a little more drive..."
Ayame muttered as she walked over carrying a pot of bone broth, her expression filled with a mix of admiration and helplessness.
'That's exactly why I practiced it, to be lazy."
Haruko pretended not to hear.
Opening the shop, welcoming guests, everything seemed so routine.
...
At night, business in the shop was still booming.
'Haruko."
A cold, clear male voice rang out.
'Oh, Itachi. The usual?"
'Yes." Itachi entered the shop and sat down, 'Congratulations on graduating."
'Eh? Did Brother Haruko graduate today? Con... Congratulations, Brother Haruko."
Hinata, who was quietly eating ramen nearby, heard their conversation and also blushed as she offered her congratulations.
'It feels weird for a genius like you, who graduated at 7 and joined the Anbu at 11, to congratulate an ordinary person like me who barely graduated on time."
Haruko retorted while nimbly adding two large slices of chashu to his bowl, 'But thanks anyway, this one's on me."
'Thanks to you too, little Hinata, here's some chashu for you too." Saying this, he added meat to Hinata's bowl as well.
Itachi looked at the chashu in the bowl, his eyes softening slightly: 'Your talent goes far beyond this. If you wanted to..."
Itachi had never been able to see through this former classmate of his.
Haruko's performance at the Ninja Academy had been unremarkable, always at a mid-tier level, not a point more, not a point less.
But he had seen the Wind Release Haruko developed because he didn't want to clean up, and that control over Chakra was something he still felt inferior to even now.
He couldn't understand why someone with such talent would be content to hide away in a Ramen Shop.
'That talent stuff only brings trouble." Haruko interrupted Itachi, while absentmindedly washing bowls with Water Release, 'I just want to live a peaceful life."
Itachi silently slurped his noodles.
A peaceful life... Yes. Peace, what a luxurious term.
The conflict between the clan and the Village was intensifying daily, and he was caught in the middle, crushed to the point of exhaustion.
Only here at Haruko's, in this small Ramen Shop, could he temporarily drop all his disguises and get a moment of respite.
'Be careful during the survival exercise." Before leaving, Itachi couldn't help but offer a reminder, 'Though with your talent, it shouldn't be a problem."
'Passing doesn't just depend on talent..."
Haruko smiled noncommittally, watching Itachi leave.
'The Uchiha Clan Massacre Night should be next year, right... What a world that makes it impossible to laugh."
He watched that figure blending into the night, feeling the storm brewing beneath that calm exterior.
'Brother Haruko will definitely be fine!" Hinata cheered for Haruko.
'Then I'll take your word for it. But Hinata, it's getting late, shouldn't you be heading home? You'll get scolded if you go back too late."
'Wu... Yes, that's right... Then goodbye, Brother Haruko!"
'Yeah, goodbye, take care on the way."
'She ate five bowls again today... That four-dimensional stomach is truly terrifying."
Just as Haruko was cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks, a drunkard reeking of alcohol stumbled in and immediately set his sights on Ayame.
'Hehe, little sister, how about having a drink with me?" The drunkard said, reaching out a greasy hand toward Ayame.
But Ayame was completely unafraid: 'Don't be too rough, okay."
The drunkard got even more excited upon hearing this: 'Hehe, I'll take good care of you..."
'She's talking to me."
Haruko, who had originally been leaning on the counter with a lazy expression, had already appeared behind the drunkard before anyone knew it.
Before the drunkard could react, he felt his neck being gripped by an iron pincer, and his entire body was effortlessly lifted up and dragged out of the shop like a dead dog.
Not long after, a dull thud came from the alley outside, followed by whimpering that sounded like someone drowning.
'Because Ayame said not to be too rough, I'll be a bit'softer' this time."
Haruko pressed one hand onto the drunkard's face, and a water sphere completely enveloped the other's head. The water surged crazily, acting out the entire process of drowning—suffocation, struggling, despair.
Waterboarding.
Simple, efficient, clean, and capable of causing immense psychological fear.
Only when the drunkard was twitching all over did Haruko disperse the water sphere and toss him aside like trash.
'Drink less in the future." He leaned down, his voice devoid of any emotion, 'Not everyone is as easy to talk to as I am."
After saying this, he turned and walked back into the shop, as if he had just come out to take out the trash.
'Go a bit further next time, don't scare the customers." Teuchi said while wiping a cup, not even looking up.
Haruko shrugged: 'Next time for sure."