Chapter 24: The Clever Girl

"Unexpectedly, I run into you here, Kotonoha."

Yuhara couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the girl before him. He glanced at the Ichiraku Ramen sign, thought for a moment, and then decided to go inside. Ichiraku Ramen was a long-standing ramen shop in Konoha, a famous spot he frequently visited during his childhood. After all, in the original series, characters like Naruto, Iruka, and Kakashi had all eaten here. Naturally, Yuhara wouldn't miss this place after being transported to this world. However, he had been visiting less often due to the increasing number of missions.

Kotonoha Nara, the girl in front of him, was his classmate from the Ninja Academy. Although both Yuhara and Shisui graduated early, she became Yuhara's teammate for a while after her own graduation. Yuhara remembered Kotonoha well; her name alone made it hard for him to forget due to its association with a certain anime he had seen. Moreover, Kotonoha was very beautiful, with hair that could be styled in a ponytail or left long and straight—exactly his type. She was also the cousin of Shikamaru Nara, inheriting the Nara clan's signature intelligence.

During their missions together, she often provided strategic insights that even their Jonin leader would heed. Eventually, as their ninja ranks increased and they took on new roles and responsibilities, their team naturally disbanded. Yuhara, who had been working solo on missions for years, rarely attended team gatherings due to his frequent absences from Konoha.

"Yeah, I almost didn't recognize you," Kotonoha said with a tilt of her head and a smile. "You're such a busy person now. I can't even remember the last time I saw you."

"Maybe a year or two ago?" Yuhara guessed, shrugging it off. "You know, I'm a mission ninja now, so I'm always busy."

Yuhara felt relaxed around his old teammate. Their team had always gotten along well, and Yuhara had none of the typical Uchiha arrogance. Besides Kotonoha, there had been a civilian ninja in their team, and they had all worked well together.

"Boss, give him a large pork-flavored char siu ramen with extra chili," Kotonoha ordered, then turned back to Yuhara with a teasing smile. "I know, but you made the right choice not joining the police force. Since running into you today is a happy coincidence, this meal is on me."

"That's rare; you're treating?" Yuhara chuckled. Kotonoha was known for being frugal, despite her family's wealth. She had discreetly warned him years ago about the pitfalls of the police force, even before the Nine-Tails incident. Yuhara had been surprised by her foresight, given that she wasn't an Uchiha and certainly not a time traveler like him.

"You're just finding ways to call me stingy, aren't you?" Kotonoha rolled her eyes but continued eating her ramen leisurely. "But seriously, what are you working on now?"

Yuhara smiled, avoiding direct confirmation of his thoughts. "I trust you, but what are you up to these days?"

"I don't believe you, but whatever," Kotonoha replied, looking at him briefly before continuing. "After our team disbanded, I started learning about clan affairs from my father. My uncle wanted me in the administration department, saying it was a waste if I didn't go there. But I told him I'm too young for that and prefer a less boring, less troublesome job at the academy."

Kotonoha's uncle, Nara Shikaku, had suggested she work in the administration department, which was typical for the Nara clan. However, Kotonoha, inheriting the clan's laid-back nature, had no interest in such tedious work.

While they were chatting, their ramen arrived. Ichiraku Ramen, Yuhara noted, was the most satisfying meal he had in years, always prepared with care and attention to detail. He would always come back here, no matter how many times he had eaten their ramen.

Just as Yuhara was about to start eating, a small blond boy with a skinny frame burst into the shop. Ichiraku greeted the boy warmly, but the other patrons frowned.

"Oh? That little guy again," Kotonoha observed, glancing at the boy before losing interest. "Didn't expect to see him here."

"You don't seem to dislike him," Yuhara remarked with a smile. "His name is Naruto, right?"

Of course, Yuhara knew Naruto, even though he hadn't interacted with him much. As the main character of the original story, Naruto was impossible to forget. But Yuhara felt it necessary to feign ignorance since, in reality, he didn't know Naruto well.

"Surprising," Kotonoha said, raising an eyebrow at Yuhara. "You actually know his name and don't seem to hate him."

"Come on, I'm not an idiot," Yuhara shrugged, sighing. "I've heard about his situation. He's pretty pitiful."

"Yeah, he really is," Kotonoha agreed, sighing softly. "My younger brother is his classmate, so I'm familiar with him. But..."

Kotonoha's tone became serious as she looked at Yuhara and lowered her voice. "You should avoid showing sympathy for him. His identity is too special. You haven't forgotten what happened years ago, have you?"

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