Childhood Memories

Year-X771

"Naruto, come on!" Sakura said as she dragged the young eight year old Naruto to the ramen shop.

"Alright, already!" Naruto said with a smirk as he neared the shop. They entered the shop and Naruto smiled when he saw Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji standing with Ayame and Teuichi.

"There's my number one customer!" Teuichi grinned as Naruto jumped atop his reserved chair. The ramen shop was celebrating its twelfth anniversary and the old ramen chef was having a small party with the children to aid in the celebrations. After the initial morning and afternoon rush hours of people coming in to eat during the shop's special day and now that it was night, the children were invited to come and have a little fun with the ramen chef.

"This is troublesome, I'd rather be watching the clouds." Shikamaru said as he laid his head on the cool, granite countertop.

"Now Shika don't be like that." Ino scolded, "It's rude. You'll make Teuichi-san and Ayame-san feel bad."

"Yeah, Shikamaru." Chouji agreed with the blonde. Naruto chuckled as he saw the smirk form on his lazy friend's face. Teuchi and Ayame then set out the already prepared bowls of ramen before the children and they simultaneously clapped their hands together in prayer.

"Itadakimasu!" They chorused before splitting their chopsticks and digging in.

"Amazing as ever, Teuichi-san!" Sakura said as she slurped up the noodles. Naruto placed down his bowl and grinned.

"Seconds, Ji-chan!" Teichi chuckled as he adjusted the hat on his head.

"I swear Naruto, you're going to eat out my entire shop if you keep this up."

"Oh, you know you love me, Ji-chan! Besides, you get to retire early if I keep coming, right?" Ayame giggled at the blonde.

"Otouto has a point there, Tou-san." The young teenager told her father. The ramen chef laughed loudly as he ruffled the boy's hair. The boy was like the grandson he never had. After eating a few more bowls, Naruto and Chouji both placed their bowls down at the same time. As the sound echoed through the air, Chouji and Naruto turned and faced each other. A silent conversation passed between them as they both sported wide grins.

"Oh not again." Ino sighed.

"Boys will be boys, Ino." Sakura giggled as she adjusted her red hair band. Shikamaru had stopped eating a while ago and was now just staring up at the ceiling, counting the tiles.

"Troublesome." The boy muttered.

"RAMEN EATING CONTEST!" Naruto and Chouji chorused. Teuichi sighed as he took out his supplies.

"I'll get the ramen ready. Ayame...be sure to collect Naruto's money after this." Ayame gave her father a mock salute before laying out the place mats for the two ramen eaters.

"GO!" Ayame yelled as she placed the bowls on the tables and the two dug in.

......

Year-X774

Kurama sat down in front of the steaming bowl of chicken ramen and raised a non-existent eyebrow as the steam rose into the air.

"You sure this thing is good?" The Exceed asked as the eleven year old children all watched him.

"It's the food of the gods, Kurama." Naruto and Chouji said, unconsciously drooling at the ramen before the fox costumed cat.

"It's okay." Sakura and Ino shrugged.

"I don't care." Shikamaru said. Kurama stuck out his tongue and caught a bit of the hot soup and some noodles with his teeth when he opened his feline jaws. After eating the mouthful, Kurama froze as if he were in a trance. Naruto and Chouji gave each other high-fives.

"This...This is..." The children all listened intently to the red furred cat. "This is THE MOST DISGUSTING THING I'VE EVER HAD! WHERE'S MY FIRE WHISKEY!" Shikamaru, Ino and Sakura began to laugh at that while Chouji and Naruto began to cry.

"Oh the poor fool, he knows not of what he has done." The two cried anime tears. Suddenly a shadow appeared over Kurama and the cat gulped when he saw the fiery expression in Teuichi's eyes.

"So my ramen is disgusting huh?" Teuichi slapped his spatula against his palm in a threatening manner. Kurama sweatdropped along with the children as they gazed at the angry chef. Ayame giggled as she saw her father catch Kurama before he could run and began to slap Kurama's ass with the spatula.

"YOU INSULT MY COOKING, CAT!" Kurama hissed and meowed loudly as he was being physically abused. The children all laughed at the scene before them.

.....

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