Naruto: This Uchiha is too innocent.

Is Ichiraku Ramen really that good?

You can ask Naruto Uzumaki about this; he's been eating his way up from the Ninja Academy all the way to Boruto.

Of course, Uchiha Sora couldn't travel through time to ask Uzumaki Naruto.

Besides, he didn't need to ask Naruto, because he was enjoying the experience right now.

The flavor... the rich broth explodes on your taste buds as the ramen hits you. It feels like being in military training in 40-degree weather, when a cup of iced tea straight from the fridge is handed to you.

That's how awesome it is.

"Ichiraku Ramen, your ramen is absolutely amazing." Uchiha Sora slurped up a mouthful and gave Ichiraku Ramen, which was serving the food, a thumbs up.

At this time, Ichiraku was only in his twenties or thirties, very youthful, but... his signature squinty eyes were already there.

"I wouldn't call it exceptional, it just happens to suit your taste." Ichiraku waved his hand modestly. "By the way, Sora, I heard you came in first place in the Chunin Exams. Congratulations!"

Uchiha Sora asked in surprise, "You're interested in ninja stuff, Ichiraku-kun?"

"Look at what you're saying. I'm a member of Konoha, how could I not care about the ninjas who protect our country?" Ichiraku rolled his eyes, a gesture that startled the Uchiha.

Because rolling one's eyes requires exposing the eyeballs, Uchiha Sora has never seen Ichiraku open his eyes.

Curious, he leaned over the serving counter and said with a smile, "Brother Yi Le, tell me, are you some kind of reclusive master, like the Sweeping Monk, living a life of quiet seclusion in the city?"

The guy in front of him, whose shop Ichiraku was completely unscathed when Konoha was destroyed by Pain's Shinra Tensei, strongly suspected that Ichiraku was a peerless master.

"I've read the novel," the Ichiraku Ramen vendor said cheerfully, flicking Uchiha Kuro's finger lightly. "To celebrate becoming the Chunin leader, your ramen is free today."

"Tsk, you really know how to do business." Uchiha Sora smacked his lips, thinking that Ichiraku's emotional intelligence was quite high.

"Ichiro, two bowls of ramen, please." A couple walked in and called out to Ichiro.

The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Uchiha Sora turned around and saw...

It really is an "acquaintance," Yamashiro Ritsuta, whom I met just last night. The woman next to her is wearing goggles and is also a ninja.

Sensing something, Yamashiro Ritsuta glanced sideways and saw Uchiha Sora sizing him up. He raised an eyebrow.

"Yo, Uchiha brat, what a coincidence."

Uchiha Sora smirked. This title was not even a tenth as endearing as Shisui's "older brother".

Yesterday I found it novel, but hearing it again today made me feel uneasy.

"Uncle, we meet again," he said.

"Tsk, you have to call me big brother." Yamashiro Ritsuta clicked his tongue, his expression slightly darkening.

"Ritsuta, who is this little brother?" the female ninja asked curiously.

"Oh, this brat, he's from the Uchiha clan. I happened to run into him yesterday."

In Konoha, the name Uchiha is always controversial.

In the past, the title of Uchiha was associated with the strong, and the villagers held it in awe.

Now, the Uchiha are considered outcasts, and under the influence of the Third Hokage, the villagers deliberately ignore them.

As expected, the female ninja, who had been quite interested, immediately lost interest upon hearing the name Uchiha, gave a curt "oh," and then ignored her.

Uchiha Sora naturally noticed the change in his attitude, but it didn't matter. He didn't know this person, so why should he care about her attitude?

In Konoha, there are only two kinds of people who will not neglect him.

Firstly, the Uchiha clan.

Secondly, children who graduated from the Ninja Academy.

He glanced up at the busy Ichiraku delivery guy inside, thought for a moment, and added another type of person.

Thirdly, adults he is familiar with, such as teachers.

These three types of people will not deliberately avoid him because of his Uchiha identity.

Everyone else looked at him as if he were an oddball, like trash.

In a sense, Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite successful in dealing with the Uchiha clan.

"No wonder Father wanted Konoha to descend into chaos," Uchiha Sora thought to himself.

Ritsuta Yamashiro naturally noticed his partner's displeasure with Sora Uchiha, but he didn't say anything.

I just waited quietly for the ramen.

"Ritsuta, the investigation into the people who died yesterday has been completed," the female ninja asked at that moment.

Ritsuta Yamashiro shook his head. "No, one is definitely a Konoha ninja, and the other two are ninjas from other countries."

"I wonder who killed them. If it was Konoha, that's fine, but if it was foreign ninjas... Sigh, these are turbulent times. Ritsuta, you have to be extra careful from now on..."

"Hmm..." Ritsuta Yamashiro replied casually.

Uchiha Sora kept his head down, eating his ramen in silence, seemingly an outsider.

In fact, they were silently listening to their conversation.

Unable to find out anything from the investigation?

As expected, after all, he had stripped her clothes and burned the body. It would be strange if they could find out anything under the cover of darkness.

"The ramen is here." Ichiraku came out carrying two bowls of ramen.

Just then, Uchiha Sora finished the last mouthful of soup and was about to say goodbye and leave when Ichiraku spoke first.

"By the way, Sora, you'll be heading to the battlefield soon after the Chunin Exams, right?"

"Hmm... we still have some time to adjust," he replied.

"Sigh." Ichiraku sighed. "Because of the Third Shinobi World War, the Chunin Exams were much more relaxed this time. I wonder how many people will die on the battlefield."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, glanced at Uchiha Sora, and said apologetically, "Sora, don't overthink it. I'm not cursing you, I'm just reminding you to be careful. Being number one isn't easy."

"Before you leave, come to my place for one last ramen meal. I'll treat you to the most luxurious set meal."

Uchiha Sora smiled slightly, "I couldn't be happier."

After saying that, he left.

……

Ritsuta Yamashiro listened silently to Ichiraku and Sora Uchiha's conversation.

After Uchiha Sora left, he turned to Ichiraku and asked,

"Ichiraku, are you close to this Uchiha brat?"

"Who?" Yi Le was taken aback for a moment, then realized, "You mean Kong? I'm quite familiar with him. He often comes to my place for noodles, and we've gotten to know each other over time."

"Him? He eats this often?" Ritsuta Yamashiro was taken aback.

The ninja world has a unified impression of the Uchiha clan: cold and unemotional.

The thought that the Uchiha people, who used to be so proud of their Uchiha clan, were now frequently eating ramen at this small shop...

Okay, he can't figure it out.

Shaking his head, not wanting to think about it any further, he asked again:

"Is he the leader of this Chunin Exams?"

"Hmm, I heard they won with overwhelming force."

Ritsuta Yamashiro fell into deep thought; overwhelming power prevailed.

So, this Uchiha brat is quite strong, possibly even stronger than some veteran Chunin.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have come back from the direction of the back mountain yesterday...

Is it possible...?

Suddenly, he chuckled to himself, shook his head, and muttered to himself, "Yamashiro Ritsuta, Yamashiro Ritsuta, he's just a twelve-year-old brat. Don't have such thoughts about him just because he's an Uchiha."

But soon, he fell into deep thought again.

What if?