After walking through Konoha for a while, Yugao eventually led the team into a hotel to settle in temporarily.
The moment they stepped inside...
Karin complained.
"I feel like Konoha is just… so-so," she said cheerfully, flopping into a chair and crossing her legs. "So many people keep talking about how amazing it is, but I'm not seeing anything worthwhile. Feels like living under a rock."
Yugao let out a slow breath and shook her head.
"Sigh… you can't judge a book by its cover, Karin. Even if they look backward, what truly makes Konoha strong is its shinobi."
Karin tilted her head. "…That's not helping their image."
Kimimaro spoke up calmly, straight to the point.
"…It's surprising they didn't send anyone to monitor us."
Haku moved toward the window, gently pulling aside the curtain as he looked outside at the village streets below.
"Should we say the Third Hokage is broad-minded," he said softly, "or that he simply doesn't care?"
"…."
Kimimaro didn't answer.
Honestly, if they had sent someone to watch them, he would not have been happy about it.
This outcome was… acceptable.
Hinata shifted slightly, her hands fidgeting together as she glanced at Karin, who was now rocking her chair back and forth, clearly unable to sit still.
"U-Um… Karin-chan," Hinata asked timidly, "should we maybe go out for a bit?"
"Let's gooo!!"
Karin shot up instantly, chair legs screeching against the floor as she bolted toward the door with sparkling enthusiasm.
"Wait, Karin-chan—!"
Hinata's voice trailed off as Karin was already gone.
Kimimaro stood next, adjusting his posture before following without a word.
Haku lingered for a moment, then smiled gently at Yugao.
"Don't worry, Yugao-san," he said warmly. "I'll keep an eye on them."
With that, he turned and left as well.
The door closed.
Leaving only Yugao behind.
She stared at the empty room for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
"…I knew this would happen."
--
The moment Karin stepped outside, she inhaled deeply.
Then grimaced.
"…Yep," she said flatly. "Still hypocrisy."
Hinata blinked curiously behind her blindfold. "Y-You can smell that?"
"I can smell everything," Karin replied proudly, lifting her chin.
"…That sounds amazing, Karin-chan," Hinata said with a gentle smile.
Then, almost unconsciously, her thoughts drifted.
Her lord had once mentioned it casually—
Karin sometimes acts strange on purpose.
She likes sounding mysterious. Don't always take her seriously.
Hinata's smile didn't fade, but the thought quietly settled in her mind.
Karin, completely unaware that the usually gentle Hinata was internally doubting her, continued walking forward with absolute confidence.
Five minutes later, they came across a snack stall.
"…Is that your famous street food?" Karin asked.
The vendor straightened immediately, chest puffed out with pride. "Best in Konoha!"
Karin bought one, sniffed it, and took a bite—
Then paused.
"…Huh."
Hinata leaned forward anxiously. "I-Is it bad?"
"…No," Karin admitted reluctantly. "It's actually good."
The vendor practically glowed.
"But," Karin continued, raising one finger, "the Snow Village version would be spicier, have better texture, and not pretend it's healthy."
"…Pretend?" the vendor echoed weakly.
Karin dropped some coins on the counter.
"Still," she said cheerfully, already turning away, "you pass. Barely."
She walked off.
Hinata bought one as well, nibbling at it in small, careful bites.
Suddenly, Karin stopped.
Then turned around.
"…?"
Hinata, Kimimaro, and Haku—who had just caught up—halted as well, all three glancing back in confusion.
Karin jogged back toward the stall.
A few seconds later, she returned—beaming.
Her hands were folded together, eyes shining like she'd just uncovered a great secret.
"Hey!" Karin said excitedly. "I asked that guy over there about Konoha's special food, and he said it's called Ichiraku Ramen or something!"
She pointed down the street.
"Let's go there next."
"…Alright," Haku said with a small smile.
Kimimaro gave a brief nod.
Hinata smiled softly. "Okay."
With no objections, the group followed after her.
--
"Naruto, can you behave normally for once?" Sakura snapped, pointing angrily at him.
"Look at you—you're annoying Sasuke-kun!"
Naruto was glaring daggers at Sasuke for reasons even Sasuke himself didn't understand.
"Sakura-chan, this guy is hiding something… I'm just trying to—"
SMACK.
Before Naruto could finish, Sakura's fist crashed down on his head. He bent forward instantly, a comically large bump swelling up.
"Arghhh! That hurts!" Naruto wailed, squealing like a pig being slaughtered.
Sasuke, who had been walking calmly ahead, felt his head buzz slightly—heavy, unfocused.
The noise beside him had been constant the entire journey.
Honestly, all he wanted right now was food.
And sleep.
"Hey! Let's go eat ramen!" Naruto suddenly shouted, perking up as drool nearly escaped his mouth.
Then, his expression shifted.
With a suspiciously friendly grin, he walked up to Sasuke and patted him on the shoulder.
"Sasuke, I can tell you're not in the right mood," Naruto said earnestly. "You should go back and rest. Sakura-chan and I will go eat ramen."
He even pressed slightly on Sasuke's shoulder, encouraging him to leave.
I've gotta get rid of this guy, Naruto laughed internally.
Then Sakura-chan and I can be alone… hehehe.
BANG.
The plan shattered instantly.
Naruto screamed and dropped to the ground, clutching his head.
No surprise—it was Sakura again.
She absolutely was not letting Sasuke go.
With a sweet, terrifying smile, she said,
"Naruto, I think you should go rest. Then Sasuke-kun and I… Sasuke-kun and I—yaaah!"
She squealed like a pink pig in heat.
Sasuke grimaced.
Just as Naruto and Sakura were about to argue again, they realized—
Sasuke had already walked ahead.
"Hey—wait!" they shouted, scrambling after him.
Moments later, Sasuke sat quietly, eating his ramen at a steady pace.
Naruto, on the other hand, was slurping as if his life depended on it.
Sakura… well.
Who cares.
Kakashi had already left to report the mission.
Naruto slammed his empty bowl onto the counter.
"Boss! Another one!"
Teuchi didn't even look surprised. "That's your fourth."
"So?" Naruto said proudly. "I'm still hungry!"
Sasuke lifted his chopsticks, paused mid-air, and stared at Naruto with eyes so dead they looked fossilized.
"…You're disgusting."
Naruto turned toward him instantly. "Huh? Jealous, Sasuke?"
"I would rather starve," Sasuke replied flatly, slurping his ramen with calm dignity.
Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Naruto, can you please stop embarrassing us in public?"
"Public?" Naruto looked around dramatically. "Sakura-chan, this is a sacred ramen shrine! You don't hold back here!"
He leaned closer to Sasuke, whispering loudly.
"Besides… you should eat more—my mom said if you don't, your face stays grumpy forever."
Sakura snapped. "Naruto!"
"What?! I'm helping him!"
"You're making him lose his appetite!"
Sasuke stared into his bowl.
"…That already happened."
Naruto gasped. "WHAT?!"
He leaned over Sasuke's shoulder, eyes wide. "Did the ramen offend you?!"
Sasuke slowly turned his head.
"…If you lean any closer," he said calmly, "I will throw you into the street."
Naruto froze.
Then grinned. "Heh. Tsundere."
SMACK.
Naruto folded forward again.
"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HIT ME?!"
Sakura stood there, fist smoking. "Because you never learn!"
Naruto groaned, rubbing his head. "I'm being persecuted…"
Teuchi chuckled with his eyes closed, carefully... because if he opened them, who knew what kind of legendary eye technique might come out.
"You kids are teammates, right?"
"Unfortunately," Sasuke muttered.
Just then, he stopped.
He glanced back slightly, eyes narrowing.
Naruto and Sakura noticed the movement immediately, suspicion flashing across their faces.
"Something wrong, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked, following his line of sight.
She looked back.
There was nothing there.
Only the small curtain at the counter, gently swaying and blocking the view of the ramen shop's entrance.
Sasuke didn't answer.
He lowered his head again and continued eating, chopsticks moving steadily.
But his attention had already drifted elsewhere.
"Hoo… so this is the Ichiraku Ramen I've heard about?"
A haughty, confident voice rang out from outside, easily audible inside the shop.
"Place looks kinda shabby, though."
"…U-Um," another voice followed, soft and hesitant, "it's actually quite good, I think…"
Two girls.
Then...
The counter curtain was lifted.
A hand came into view.
Followed by a flash of red hair.
The moment the curtain rose, Team Seven's attention snapped toward the entrance.
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