Chapter 73 The Taste is Just So-So

A flute was silently pressed against Naruto's neck, and Tayuya's cold voice whispered in his ear.

"If you dare to go out, I'll kill you immediately."

"Then I won't go out." Naruto immediately raised his hands in surrender.

"Beef bowl."

"Then I'll go out and buy it."

"I'll kill you."

"Then just go ahead and kill me. But when you bury me, make sure the grave is nicely dug." Naruto said helplessly.

In the end, Tayuya relented.

Naruto returned with two beef bowls, using the Flying Thunder God Kunai he had left in the abandoned building. On the way, he also bought a lot of food and other supplies, which he quickly stashed away in his seal space when no one was looking.

Inside the seal space, Kyubi heard the commotion outside but didn't even bother to open his eyes. Beside him was a mountain of DVDs.

"Where did you get all this stuff?" Tayuya asked, feeling a little surprised.

Seeing Naruto pulling a bunch of things out of thin air like a magician, she blinked in disbelief and relaxed her vigilance a little.

Naruto probably guessed that Tayuya's purpose of staying in Konoha was to make it easier to capture Sasuke. After all, Orochimaru would never give up Sasuke, and he was just waiting for an opportunity.

"It's just a Ninjutsu." Naruto clapped his hands and said, "These things should be enough for you to consume for a while. If not, I will come back with more."

Tayuya was stunned and raised her dirty face to ask, "Why are you helping me? Don't you have anything to ask?"

"Not interested." Naruto waved his hand dismissively and said, "You've got your own mission, right? It wouldn't be polite to pry."

Of course, he knew that the Sound Four were here to capture Sasuke, but he didn't care enough to interfere. This was the path Sasuke would choose, and Naruto wouldn't stop him.

'Itachi is too scary. If I had such a brother, I'd probably stab him a couple of times just to feel better. If he can't beat Itachi head-on, then I will indirectly support Sasuke's revenge efforts from the sidelines.'

Naruto didn't linger long. After chatting for a while, he left.

…

Two days later.

Naruto's life returned to its usual calm. He didn't like cooking, so he went to Ichiraku Ramen every day, yawning as he ate.

At night, at Ichiraku Ramen…

Under the warm yellow lights, Naruto slurped down his ramen in large bites.

Teuchi, who is standing behind the counter, squinted with a satisfied expression on his face, and asked with a smile, "Naruto, you seem to be coming here a lot more often these days?"

"Uncle."

"What is it, Naruto?"

"Besides the surname Ichiraku, do you have any other surname?" Naruto asked while eating ramen. (T/N: Since Teuchi has no surname, I use Ichiraku as his surname.)

"You silly kid, what nonsense are you talking about?" Teuchi laughed heartily, not taking offense at Naruto's question.

"Uncle, I've run into some trouble lately."

"Is there anything I can help with?" Teuchi asked, his expression turning serious.

Naruto looked up at Teuchi, blinking a few times before hesitantly asking.

"Maybe… Uncle, could you offer them a deal they can't refuse?"

"A bowl of ramen?" Teuchi asked doubtfully.

"Never mind," Naruto sighed and said, "I just hope the Ramen God will bless his faithful follower with some good luck."

Teuchi didn't quite understand what Naruto is saying, but he didn't dwell on it. A boy of Naruto's age has reached the age of fantasizing a lot of things, so there is nothing to be surprised about.

The rainy season had come, and when Naruto woke up again, heavy rain was pouring down outside his window.

He stared weakly at the ceiling, thinking about what flavor of ramen he should eat today. Recently, Naruto had been more devout about eating ramen than visiting a shrine, as it was the only thing he could do right now.

Waiting.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Naruto, who was lying on the bed, had his pupils widened instantly and with a thought, he grasped the sword in his hand.

Knock knock knock!!

The dull knocking sound continued, Naruto, barefoot, quietly got out of bed, holding the long blade as he slowly opened the door to his room.

The knocking grew louder and clearer, echoing eerily in the quiet of the apartment.

With the rain howling outside, Naruto considered who or what might be knocking at his door at a time like this, 'The Anbu never knocked on the door, and Kakashi always used the window.'

'Sasuke was seriously injured and Sakura was training with the medical department.'

'Is there really only that possibility left?'

Naruto gripped his sword tightly, planning to throw open the door and attack whoever was on the other side, then make a quick escape. With the rain pouring down, any explosion sounds might not even carry far.

Moreover, the Explosive Tags provided by the system have been used up.

He usually didn't bother to buy Ninja Tools, a bit of laziness that could cost him dearly.

'Damn it.'

'The God of Ramen should have some effect. Those who lie will go to hell.'

'Forget it!'

Naruto yanked open the door, and the storm's wind and rain instantly surged inside. Naruto clenched his teeth, ready to strike, only to be met with a head of blonde hair.

"Huh?"

Naruto was confused, his eyes instantly becoming dull.

Ino, who was soaking wet, was shivering in the rain-soaked hallway while holding something that looked like a lunch box. Her blonde bangs were plastered against her pale face, and her purple dress clung tightly to her body, revealing faint traces of the fabric beneath.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing with that... sword?" Ino shivered from the cold after being soaked.

"This... it's a long story." Naruto stared at Ino, confirming that her gaze was clear before tossing the sword aside.

"Anyway, just come inside for now."

…

Naruto leaned outside the bathroom door and knocked.

"So, you braved the storm just to bring me some food?"

Ino didn't answer directly. After a moment, her frustrated voice came from the bathroom.

"Argh!! How was I supposed to know it would rain, you idiot! Forget everything that happened just now!!!"

"Sorry, I saw everything."

"Go to hell!!!"

The bathroom door cracked open, and a slender hand yanked Naruto by the shirt. Ino showed half of her head and glared at Naruto, then shoved him out.

Naruto stood up and shrugged his shoulders, then he sat in the living room and opened the food box, finding the contents soaked from the rain.

It just so happened that Naruto hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so he didn't mind.

After taking out a spare toothbrush from the cabinet and washing his face, Naruto sat on the carpet and finished off the food. The taste was mediocre, and the rainwater had made it soggy and mushy.

After mentally giving the meal a six out of ten for the sake of friendship, Naruto heard the bathroom door open.

Naruto was about to turn around but was stopped by a shout.

"Don't look back, you idiot!"

Ino, wrapped in a bathrobe, sat on the sofa. Her slender and delicate hands, which were slightly smaller than Naruto's, fiddled with the food box a few times. Then, she asked Naruto with an incredulous look on her face, "You everything?"

"Ah, the taste is just so-so." Naruto said, lying back on the carpet.

Ino's expression suddenly turned strange and she said somewhat awkwardly, "That wasn't for you. It was for Akamaru."