Chapter 8: Hey Naruto How About Ramen In Exchange For Your Wife

"If you dare to bully others or call people names again, I'll beat you up again. Got it?" Chiya didn't hit them too hard, just enough to make their noses bleed. After letting them cry for a while, he finally spoke with a mischievous grin.

As the saying goes, it takes a brat to handle brats.

If an adult stepped in, the kids might be scared for a while but would soon go back to their ways.

But if someone just as mischievous as them retaliated, it would leave a deep impression.

"G-Got it… Waaahhh!"

Hearing Chiya's warning and seeing the wicked smile on his fair face, the three kids trembled and answered in unison through their sobs.

As soon as Chiya turned his gaze away from them, they scrambled to their feet and ran off crying, wishing they had more legs to carry them faster.

Hinata Hyuga, with tears still glistening at the corner of her eyes, watched the boy who appeared like a hero and saved her.

Strangely, she felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

Summoning up her courage, she stepped forward, blushing and bowing slightly, "Um… thank you."

"No need to thank me." Chiya formed a hand seal, and with a *poof*, a puff of smoke dispersed, revealing his true form.

Hinata's eyes widened as she watched the boy in front of her suddenly grow taller. The sense of familiarity surged again, prompting her to ask, "Umm… have we met before?"

Chiya chuckled, squatting down to her height. "So you remember, huh? Two years ago, that winter day, you got lost in the snow. Do you remember now?"

Hinata's eyes lit up as the memory surfaced. "You're the big brother who took me home!"

Chiya nodded, gently patting her head.

Hinata blushed, her gaze lowering shyly.

Chiya then noticed, at the end of the road, a male ninja with pure white eyes — likely her clan's escort. Not far away, hiding behind a tree, was a little blond-haired boy.

Chiya turned back to Hinata and spoke softly, "Little girl, you are a Hyuga. With the Byakugan, you must have received formal training, right? So why couldn't you fight back against those kids? Next time, don't back down or cry. Learn to fight back. Remember, others can only help you temporarily. No one can protect you forever. Endless tolerance and weakness will solve nothing. If you want to protect the things you cherish, you must learn to strike first. Alright, I have something else to do. See you next time."

With that, Chiya turned and walked away without looking back.

For a long time, Hinata stared in the direction where Chiya disappeared.

Soon after, the Hyuga clan's escort ninja arrived, scolding, "Young Lady, why did you sneak out again? What if you encountered someone dangerous? Luckily that boy didn't do anything… also, you didn't approach that blond kid, did you? The clan leader has strictly forbidden—"

But Hinata paid no attention to the nagging. Her gaze remained fixated where Chiya had vanished, and she silently thought, See you next time, big brother.

After that day, Hinata changed.

Her passion for training in Gentle Fist suddenly intensified. Besides completing the daily training assigned by her father, she began practicing in private as well.

Whenever she encountered difficulties, she would actively seek her father for guidance.

Her sudden dedication surprised and gratified Hiashi Hyuga.

During one training assessment, Hiashi, who had always been harsh toward her, for the first time praised his daughter.

Receiving her father's praise brought Hinata immense joy, motivating her to train even harder.

Gradually, she began to catch up with the Hyuga clan's so-called genius — Neji Hyuga.

But that's a story for another time.

…

Meanwhile, Chiya had returned to Ichiraku Ramen.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission. Reward: Earth Release Chakra Nature Transformation.]

"Finally, my effort paid off," Chiya muttered, a faint smile curling his lips as he heard the system notification.

Then he glanced behind him.

There, a little blond-haired boy was clumsily trying to hide behind a utility pole, peeking out every few seconds.

The moment Chiya turned, the boy immediately shrunk back, flustered.

"Sigh… Come out. You've been following me the whole way, aren't you tired?" Chiya sighed helplessly.

"Hehe… Ni-san, do you remember me? I'm Naruto… Uzumaki Naruto…" The blond boy emerged, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

"Of course, I remember," Chiya smiled.

Their first encounter dated back two years ago when Chiya took Hinata home. Originally, Naruto was supposed to be the one to find her, but Chiya's intervention altered that.

Even this time, Naruto was supposed to step up and protect Hinata but get beaten up in return.

On his way back that day, Chiya had encountered the lonely boy wandering the streets and treated him to a bowl of ramen.

Apparently, Naruto still remembered that.

Hearing Chiya's reply, Naruto's ocean-blue eyes sparkled with excitement, his face filled with joy.

For Naruto, Chiya was the first person besides the Third Hokage who didn't look at him with disdain.

The second was Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen.

Just then, Naruto's stomach let out a loud growl.

"Let me guess… you skipped meals again?" Chiya smiled, looking at Naruto.

Naruto's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he rubbed his belly, glancing longingly at the warm lights of Ichiraku Ramen and swallowing hard.

"I knew it. Come on, I'll treat you to ramen," Chiya said, briefly glancing toward the dark corner where an ANBU was secretly observing Naruto. Then he walked into Ichiraku.

Naruto hesitated for a moment, but his hunger quickly overcame him, and he followed excitedly.

In the shadows, one ANBU whispered, "Someone's interacting with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Should we report this to the Hokage?"

The other ANBU responded, "No need. It's probably just a kid showing sympathy. Let's observe for now."

Inside Ichiraku, the owner, Teuchi, greeted with a smile, "Oh! Chiya, kiddo! How come you're not here with your little girlfriend today? What can I get you?"

"A bowl of tonkotsu ramen for him," Chiya gestured to Naruto, placing what little money he had on the counter. "By the way, Teuchi-san, can you do me a favor? Use this money to treat him to one bowl of ramen every day until New Year."

Teuchi's narrowed eyes suddenly widened, looking at Naruto, then back at Chiya. With a complicated expression, he sighed, "You're a kind kid, Chiya."

Chiya simply smiled.

As he was about to leave, Naruto's soft, hopeful voice called out, "Ni-san… aren't you gonna eat with me?"

Chiya turned, smiling gently. "Nah, I have a date."

"A date?" Naruto blinked.

"Yeah. My girlfriend's waiting for me to celebrate New Year." With that, Chiya left without looking back.

Naruto stared in a daze for a moment but soon turned his attention to the steaming bowl of ramen placed in front of him.

For Naruto, today was a wonderful day.

Although fate took away his chance to meet his future wife, it did grant him a new friendship — and a full stomach for the holidays.