chapter 36

If Naruto had to be honest, he needed a break from home, where his mother had a problem with wearing clothes (or more accurately, he had a problem with noticing) and also the school suck-fests. He needed to be on his own for a bit.

Upon graduation, it was generally accepted that one had become an adult, so when you were still learning from it, you were basically a teenager as well. So that's why Kushina, being a ninja for most of her childhood, saw no reason her ten year old son couldn't go out into town by himself; provided of course, that no one discovered his gender. Thankfully, she made sure to give him some money in case he got hungry.

In light of all the new things he'd experienced in the past two weeks, Naruto made sure to keep an eye out as he wandered the village streets. There weren't all that many people around at this time of day, but nevertheless, he was still very much aware of his member warming the front of his tight boxers. He hoped that nobody would notice the treacherous appendage, so that he could go through the day without incident.

A smell reached his nose, making him pause. It was a warm, salty smell that quickly made his mouth water. Looking around, he spotted a stand with stools out in front, from which steam wafted gently. A sign was affixed to the top that read simply, "Ichiraku Ramen."

His mama had made him ramen more than once in the past. When asked why she loved it so much, she'd told him that it was because she'd eaten at this place. "They've got the best ramen in the world, dattebane!" she'd told him. And now he was hungry.

He ducked under the curtain at the front, peering into the stand eagerly. "Hello?" he asked.

A tall young woman with brown hair, tied back with a kerchief, looked around and smiled happily. "Oh, hello! Are you looking for something?"

Naruto smiled nervously. "Ah…I smelled something good and got hungry, so I figured I'd have some ramen."

"Well, I hope so. It's what we do, after all!" she laughed. She glanced into the back and called, "Oi, Nee-san, we've got a customer!"

"Hmm? Really?" A dark haired woman, a little older than the first yet retaining a petite physique and mature look, looked at Naruto, "A new customer, and so young, are you perhaps new to the village?"

"Uh, no, not at all, it's just the first time I've been here." Naruto looked around the modest stand, before sitting down at the counter, "I'll have a… uh, ramen then?"

"What kind? Miso? Beef? Shrimp? Vegetable?" she asked, wiping her hands as she walked forward.

"Uh… Miso?"

The blue haired girl smiled humorously as she nodded. "One Miso, coming up."

"But yeah, my mama used to tell me about this place. She always ate here when she was in the Academy," Naruto said, trying to start up a conversation.

The brunette woman looked surprised. "Oh? That must've been a while ago, I'm guessing. Our...our father probably knew her." For a moment her expression became downcast, but she continued, "What's your mama's name?"

"Uzumaki Kushina."

Both girls eyes widened in disbelief. "K-Kushina? As in, the Endless-stomach Tomato?!" The brown haired girl exclaimed, their heads turned towards a wall, which hung a picture of a round-faced, red-haired girl, grinning happily out of it. Underneath there was a plaque, with the words 'Ichiraku Ramen Eater Grand Champion.'

Naruto stared at it blankly. Kaa-chan…just how much did you like this place? he wondered. A few minutes later, a steaming bowl was set down in front of him. He took a pair of chopsticks, broke them, took a moment to mutter a quick "Itadakimasu," and raised some noodles to his lips.

GoF

Chuckling nervously, Naruto put his ryō on the counter. After that first taste, he'd somehow managed to burn through about four more bowls before the meager amount of money his mama had given him ran out. "Man...that was so good! I'm definitely coming back here!" he exclaimed, "That ramen's even better than when mama makes it!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it so much," said the dark-haired woman, smiling happily at the indirect praise.

Naruto slid off the stool and made to exit, pausing before ducking under the curtain. "Oh yeah, what're your names?" he asked.

"I'm Ichiraku Ayame," the brown-haired girl introduced herself, "And this is my older sister Megumi."

"I'm Naruto! Nice to have met you both, Ane-tachi!" And with that he was back out onto the street.

With his belly full, Naruto's gait was slower now, but he grinned happily, remembering the taste of his new favorite food. He stopped, shaking his head when the lovely faces of the ladies at the ramen stand also drifted into his mind.

Getting new suck-buddies was NOT the purpose of the trip!

With that, Naruto continued on his path…but stopped suddenly when someone lightly tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to look at… Kizu? No, she looked a little like Kizu, only older and less wild. Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a pair of purple shorts, along with a partially unzipped Chuunin vest. Trailing at her feet were a trio of identical, rather bored-looking gray dogs. The Uzumaki looked up at her face, which had a more dignified bearing to it than Kizu-chan's, but blushed slightly at the gentle swell of her chest on the way up.

"Hey...do you know my younger sister, Kizu?" she asked him.

"Uh… yeah?" Naruto answered back, slightly confused.

"Hmm, how's she doing? I'm Inuzuka Hana, by the way." The girl shifted weight to her left leg, cocking a hip to the side casually.

"S-she's fine. We're pretty close at the Academy and hang out between classes," he said nervously.

The girl in response nodded, "Good, I wondered how she was doing…she spends a lot of time with you right?"

Naruto sweated a little bit, wondering how to exactly explain 'spends a lot of time with.' "Uh, y-yeah, we're kind of friends and all…"

"Mm. Yeah, I can tell, from how much of her I can smell on you and the other way around."

The blonde froze, sweat intensifying along with his fear.

"...You're starting to smell a lot stronger right now." The girl shook her head, "Look, sorry to make you nervous, just wondering what kind of person my sister's friends are." She glanced to the right for a second, "How about I make it up to you? I know this training ground, I'm sure a academy student like you would make good use of it."

Naruto felt rather edgy…but he couldn't really find a reason to deny her as such. It wasn't like he had an actual reason to refuse…and besides, a training ground would come in handy…

…In more ways than one.

GoF