Sasuke returned to his doorstep under the twilight, surprised to find Mamoru sitting on the steps, resting his chin on one hand and idly scratching something on the ground with the other. It looked like he had been waiting for a while.
"Why didn't you go inside?" Sasuke stopped and asked, slightly puzzled.
Hearing this, Mamoru jumped up, enthusiastically wrapped an arm around Sasuke's shoulder, and started leading him away.
"Come on. Big brother is taking you out to eat."
"Out to eat?" Sasuke was led forward two steps, his brow slightly furrowed, clearly not having processed the idea yet.
"My treat."
Mamoru pulled out a handful of banknotes and coins from his pocket and shook them in front of Sasuke like a treasure, a Ten-Thousand-Ryo Bill being particularly conspicuous.
"Where did you get so much money?" Sasuke pulled free of his arm, his eyes scrutinizing and confused as he stared intently at the money in Mamoru's hand.
"I earned it from a mission. What else? Did you think I robbed someone?" Mamoru answered confidently.
But internally he thought, 'If I were to truly embark on a criminal path, this little money wouldn't even be enough to wipe my butt.'
"You got this much from a mission reward?" Sasuke was momentarily dazed.
He worked hard all day and earned less than three thousand ryo. Was he really being held back by Naruto, that dead last?
"Normally, you wouldn't earn this much, but I slightly leveraged the advantages of our team to improve mission completion efficiency." Mamoru said casually, his fingers idly flicking the banknotes in his hand, creating a soft rustling sound.
He specifically chose missions like 'Finding Lost Items,' utilizing the squad's specialties—his Six Eyes to narrow the scope, combined with Hinata's Byakugan to precisely locate the target. Naturally, their mission efficiency far surpassed that of other teams. The only pity was that there weren't many missions like that.
"What happened?" Sasuke pressed.
"It's a business secret, a bus-i-ness sec-ret." Mamoru put his index finger to his lips, flashing a sly smile, and deliberately spoke syllable by syllable.
Actually, even telling Sasuke wouldn't help. This kind of coordination couldn't be imitated by other teams.
"Hmph." Sasuke turned his face away, no longer pressing the matter.
Night fell, and the streetlights came on.
Ichiraku Ramen's warm curtain gently swayed in the evening breeze, like a gentle hand beckoning customers.
Mamoru lifted the warm curtain and brought Sasuke inside, where a wave of food aroma washed over them.
"Welcome!"
Teuchi was wiping the counter. He looked up, saw the familiar faces, and his wrinkles smoothed out. "Oh, it's you, kid."
He noticed the boy behind Mamoru who resembled him and added with a smile, "Bringing your brother along today?"
Mamoru called out readily, "Boss, the usual, two bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen. Don't forget, add two extra servings of chashu and eggs."
"Got it!" Teuchi responded loudly, his hands not pausing in their work.
"Two bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen, plus two extra servings of chashu and eggs."
Naruto, who was currently gorging himself, heard the familiar voice and abruptly turned his head. "Ah! It's Mamoru..."
When he saw Sasuke behind Mamoru, the smile instantly vanished from his face. His mouth involuntarily drooped, and his tone became cold. "Uh... and Sasuke."
"Dead last." Sasuke snorted, his chin slightly raised, a hint of disdain flashing in his dark eyes.
"Damn it! Who are you calling dead last?" Naruto slammed his chopsticks down, immediately rolled up his sleeves, and jumped up from his seat, looking ready to charge.
"Give me a break, stop fighting." Mamoru quickly stepped forward, placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, and pressed him back into his seat.
At the same time, he generously waved a hand. "My treat today."
"Huh?" Naruto paused, blinking his blue eyes, then immediately beamed happily. "Really?"
"Mhm," Mamoru nodded, sitting down next to Naruto. "Don't be shy, eat all you want."
Sasuke silently sat on Mamoru's other side, his back straight, his hands crossed in front of him on the table.
"Mamoru, you're really nice." Naruto said emotionally, his voice thick with emotion. "Completely unlike some guy."
"Idiot Naruto, what are you implying?" Sasuke spun his head around sharply, his eyes piercing.
"Who are you calling an idiot?" Naruto glared back without backing down, his fists unconsciously clenching.
"You big idiot, wasn't today's mission messed up because of you, causing the client to chew us out?" Sasuke's voice grew colder.
"It wasn't entirely my fault either." Naruto retorted stubbornly, his cheeks flushed red with excitement.
Mamoru helplessly covered his ears, feeling that these two rivals were like powder kegs, ready to ignite at a spark. It wasn't until the steaming ramen was served, and the rich aroma filled the air, that the two temporarily ceased hostilities.
"Boss, your ramen is really getting better and better." Mamoru slurped a mouthful of noodles, praising without reservation, and squinting his eyes in satisfaction.
"Right? I think his ramen is super delicious too!" Naruto loudly agreed, his mouth stuffed with noodles, nodding vigorously.
"Then please continue to patronize us in the future." Teuchi's daughter, Ayame, responded with a smile, neatly wiping the counter with the rag in her hand.
"Absolutely." Mamoru swallowed his food and smiled.
"Ayame-nee is getting prettier and prettier. Even just to catch another glimpse of you, I should come often." He spoke naturally, not even noticing the bit of broth clinging to the corner of his lips.
"Oh, Mamoru." Ayame covered her mouth and chuckled softly, the corners of her eyes curving into crescents.
"If I weren't so young, I would definitely pursue you." Mamoru said seriously, a slice of chashu still held between his chopsticks.
"Hey! Kid, got your eyes on my Ayame?" Teuchi, holding a ladle, poked his head out from behind the Cooking Station, deliberately putting on a stern face, though his eyes held a smile.
"Of course. Who wouldn't like such a beautiful and capable woman?" Mamoru replied as if it were obvious, completely oblivious to the two subtle gazes directed at him from the side.
"Hahahaha..." Teuchi laughed heartily, his booming laughter echoing in the small shop.
With a wave of his large hand, he added a thick layer of chashu to Mamoru's ramen bowl. "Tell you what, why don't you just marry into our family? I'll pass my Ramen Technique down to you."
"Father, what nonsense are you talking about?" Ayame blushed, giving Teuchi a reproachful look. "He's still a child."
Sasuke's and Naruto's gazes simultaneously focused on Mamoru, their eyes filled with shock, their mouths slightly open, forgetting even to eat the ramen they had brought to their lips.
Mamoru's effortless performance completely redefined their understanding of their peer.
The person in question, however, didn't care at all, a meaningful smile present on his lips as he continued to enjoy the delicious meal in his bowl.