Cooking Ramen

Sunlight peeked through Naruto's bedroom window. As he slowly rose from his sleep, he saw that William had already gotten out of bed.

"Guess I'm making breakfast," he yawned.

Before William, the idea of having a family member had felt foreign. For as long as Naruto could remember, he had navigated the Leaf Village alone, often facing challenges without the support of someone who understood him.

Since discovering that he had a cousin in William, Naruto's perspective had changed slightly. The bond they were forming had become essential, especially as he processed the loss of his mentor, Iruka.

The emotional toll of losing Iruka was still evident, and in the aftermath, Naruto found himself contemplating what it meant to have a family.

As he prepared his breakfast, flashes of his past resurfaced. Kiba, Ino, Shikamaru, and Iruka had all walked among the villagers once, and their absence felt strange now.

Naruto recalled the days following Iruka's death. His friends—Jada and others—had been there for him during that difficult transition. They talked with him, assured him that it wasn't Alice's fault, and that Orochimaru's actions played a larger role in the tragedy.

Losing Iruka had been significant; he was Naruto's first real friend, someone who saw him for who he was rather than the reputation he carried.

Upon entering the kitchen, sounds of cooking followed. Oddly enough, having William by his side, he learned that cooking a well-balanced meal was an essential part of the day.

Gone were the moments Naruto drank spoiled milk out of the carton. Now he actually read his ingredients and thought about what he put over a stove.

Since William was clearly not here, today Naruto wanted to make "tamagoyaki," a traditional Japanese omelet.

He stood in front of his small kitchen counter and started off by first brewing some freshly green tea. He added the teabag into a small cup and poured some boiling hot water over it.

He then gathered the necessary ingredients and placed a small bowl of beaten eggs, a dash of soy sauce, and a sprinkle of salt on the counter. Next to it, he arranged a tiny bamboo sushi mold.

Naruto cracked the eggs into the small bowl and beat them lightly, being careful not to overbeat. The eggs were smooth and creamy, just the way he liked them.

Next, he added a dash of soy sauce, a staple in tamagoyaki. A pinch of salt followed before he carefully poured a small amount of the egg mixture into the bamboo mold. He then gently tilted the mold from side to side, letting the runny eggs settle into a uniform, thick layer.

If one didn't understand now, it became evident that Naruto Uzumaki knew how to cook!

Once the tamagoyaki started to cook on a heated pan, the aroma filled the room. It smelled so incredible that it would make anyone's stomach growl.

After it was removed from the mold, he placed it onto a plate and said, "Thank you for the food." He then took a bite, and it was only alright. It tasted as if there was too much sweetness added to it. Next time, he would try to be perfect with it.

After finishing his meal, he set off toward Ichiraku Ramen.

The small eatery held fond memories, and lately, he'd taken up a new hobby. He had decided that instead of purely being a customer, he wanted to learn how to make ramen. It felt like a way to share something with his friends for all the help they've given.

However, Teuchi, the shop owner, wouldn't simply hand over his secret recipes. Naruto needed to prove his dedication. So for the first time, he had committed to working part-time at Ichiraku's.

Though it was unofficial, as he had no formal employment status or set hours.

As he approached the shop, he noticed Teuchi already active, taking orders and interacting with customers. Naruto slipped into the back, changing into the simple work attire he was all too familiar with.

Just as he was settling in, Teuchi looked up and brightened at the sight of his latest employee.

"Glad to see you, Naruto! We've had a rush this week. Ayame needs assistance in the kitchen!"

"Right away!" Naruto enthusiastically replied, hurrying to where Ayame was stationed.

Ayame looked relieved as Naruto entered the kitchen. "Thanks for coming by, Naruto. We've been busy, and I could use another pair of hands. I wasn't sure how we'd manage with all these orders."

"It's no problem! I'm ready to help!"

Naruto immersed himself immediately as if this was second nature. But before he could start, he glanced over at Ayame, who was checking orders and organizing bowls.

"What do I start with?" he called out.

"Let's start with the broth!" she responded. "We've got beef bones, konbu sea kelp, dried bonito flakes, and some shiitake mushrooms that just arrived last night."

Naruto went to the storage and retrieved a large pot before setting it on the stovetop. He began with the beef bones, placing them in to render and create some stock. He poured in water to cover the bones and placed the konbu at the edge to soak.

"Make sure to bring it to a gentle boil, then simmer for several hours," Ayame advised as she handed him a skimmer.

He already knew that, but it was a great reminder.

Naruto watched as bubbles began to form. When it came to a boil, he skimmed off the foam.

Naruto never really knew how to cook, but after learning the ins and outs, he relished the process.

Next, he turned to the aromatics. He sliced garlic and ginger and sautéed them in a pan with a little oil. Once the two had turned golden, he tossed in sliced scallions for an extra kick.

Ayame herself was busy preparing garnishes and assembling bowls. Normally, she would be doing the cooking, but Naruto had proven himself quite well lately.

With the broth bubbling in its pot, he moved on to the noodles. A handful of them were thrown in at once.

"Make sure to keep stirring them so they don't stick together," Ayame reminded him, glancing up from her work.

"Right! I didn't forget!"

He did as instructed. After he had cooked them just right, he skimmed them out and placed them in a bowl. At the same time, he carefully poured the broth he'd personally made over the noodles.

Now it was art.

"Looks great!" Ayame said, clapping her hands together.

But it wasn't done. He topped the bowl with chashu beef, menma (fermented bamboo shoots), nori (seaweed), and a boiled egg. With a final sprinkle of chopped scallions and sesame seeds on top, the bowl was complete.

Ayame grabbed the bowl and really examined it with a critical eye before taking a spoonful. She paused, slurping thoughtfully. To think someone would concentrate this much on a simple bite.

The moment of truth came when she put the spoon down.

"It's… really salty, Naruto," she admitted.

The words hit him like a punch. He had wanted this to be perfect.

"Okay, I can do better!" he said, determination seeping in. "What do I need to change?"

"Less salt in the broth next time, and maybe adjust the soy sauce too," she advised with a kind smile.

Even though they were swamped with orders, she understood that cooking was a process that others learn from each attempt. Naruto, although knowledgeable, was still just a beginner.

Not feeling too dejected, he bent back over his pot and dumped the salty broth to begin again.

As the broth simmered, Naruto repeated the steps with the noodles, garlic, and ginger, taking conscious notes of everything he had done wrong before. Slowly, he built the flavours back up, allowing each ingredient to work together.

After pouring the new broth over the freshly cooked noodles, Naruto stepped back and watched Ayame take another spoonful. This time, after she tasted it, he saw her close her eyes in delight.

"It's perfect, Naruto!"

How could the boy not be excited? It was like he had learned a new jutsu or something. "Alright! I did it!"

Before he could soak in the moment, the fabric moved with new customers. Ayame looked over at the order slip piling up and turned back to him to say, "Let's keep this momentum going, Naruto! More bowls are coming in!"

The kitchen soon became much more active. He prepared various types of ramen—shoyu, tonkotsu, and even tsukemen—taking careful notes on the balance of flavors and the right proportions for the broth.

Even while he was cooking, Ayame quizzed him between orders. "What's the base for shoyu ramen, Naruto?"

"Soy sauce, of course!" he chuckled.

As the rush continued, he found himself unveiling his first creation—a shoyu bowl with slices of chicken, green spinach, and a perfectly boiled egg resting atop. While it might have looked great, the taste is what mattered most.

The customer at the counter, who had ordered it, beamed as they took a first bite, eyes lighting up with delight.

"Best ramen I've ever tasted!" they announced, sending a thrill through Naruto.

Between orders, Naruto took the time to reflect on his progress. He enjoyed the process of cooking, especially when it was something he knew how to make.

"I think my miso soup is next!" he excitedly announced.

He set to work, gathering the ingredients for the soup. To prep the dashi, he simmered water with kombu and bonito flakes, letting them permeate the broth.

Once the initial steps were complete, he measured out the miso paste, remembering how much he loved miso soup. It reminded him of all the times he'd spent eating with Iruka—enough to make him cry.

He poured in the dashi and began to whisk the miso paste into the pot, swirling it until they combined. Adding in cubes of tofu and sliced green onions, he inhaled the comforting aroma.

Ayame eventually took the bowl, tasted it, and closed her eyes again, savoring the warmth.

"This is really good! You've really done it this time, Naruto!"

It was no surprise that his favourite thing to eat also happened to be the best thing he knew how to cook.

Just as they shared a moment of celebration, the flap moved again for more ramen eaters.

Hours later, as the sounds of laughter, slurping, and chatter settled, Naruto finally stepped back, catching his breath. Ayame was finishing up the final orders.

"Today wasn't as bad as last week," he said.

"Try coming here during lunchtime," she joked. "But seriously, you did good today, and we appreciate the help."

Funny enough as it was, Naruto wasn't actually getting paid to do this; he worked under the table to only learn how to make ramen. Anything that didn't involve cooking was done out of kindness.

He finished the morning by wiping down the counter. And now that Ayame was able to take her break, he decided now was a good time to clock out.

"Thanks again for the help," Teuchi said, clapping him on the back. "You really came through for us today. In fact, I think you've got a natural gift for cooking."

Naruto was grateful for the opportunity to learn from them. "Gee, thanks, boss Teuchi! I'll see you later tonight!"

Working at Ichiraku's had really brought out his love for cooking. He'd started experimenting with recipes at home, trying to learn more about the different flavors and techniques—all for the sake of his friends.

And it wasn't just the basic dishes that he knew how to make; he'd also learned some more complicated Japanese dishes, like katsu sando, gyoza, chankonabe, tonkatsu curry rice, and oden.

The thought of owning his own restaurant had crossed his mind. But only for a moment. It was William who had once said, "Most restaurants end up failing within the first year, so I wouldn't build one if I were you."

He was actually right. Restaurants, regardless of where one was located, had a high failure rate.

Naruto pushed the thought aside for now. Today, he had more plans; he promised to meet Sakura for brunch at noon, and he was already running a bit behind schedule.