Three figures walked leisurely through the quiet village path of Konoha: Satoru, Eren, and Minato. The golden rays of the late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, bathing the road in a warm, peaceful light.
As they walked, Minato folded his arms behind his head and broke the silence with a bright smile:
"Hey, Satoru, Eren. What do you guys think about a little sparring match? I'm really curious to see how much you've grown after two months of training with Jiraiya-sensei."
Eren was silent for a moment, then gave a quiet nod. His face still carried the same cold expression.
Satoru raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting into a mischievous grin:
"Sounds fun, but are you sure, Minato? I'm afraid Kushina might drag you home by the collar tomorrow."
Minato laughed, scratching his head:
"Haha, she wouldn't go that far... Anyway, how about I treat you both to some ramen?"
At the mention of ramen, Satoru's eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning.
Eren glanced at Minato and silently thought:
"Minato just doomed himself."
Ramen and Teuchi's Despair
The streets leading to Ichiraku Ramen were buzzing with life. As usual, when Satoru passed by, a few girls shyly peeked at him. One bold girl even stepped forward:
"Satoru-sama! Could you tell me where you live?"
Satoru froze, his lips twitching. Eren raised an eyebrow with subtle amusement.
Minato chuckled and folded his arms, watching Satoru like some rare specimen:
"Being handsome must be a burden, huh, Satoru? If I looked like you, Kushina would probably kill me."
But even Minato attracted attention. With his golden hair and radiant smile, he was easily one of Konoha's most charming men.
The trio, striking in appearance, quickly became the center of attention. Many passersby turned their heads, stunned by the sight.
When they entered Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi was wiping the counter but suddenly froze.
"S-Satoru? Eren? You're back!?"
His expression stiffened. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he spun around, yelling into the kitchen:
"Ayame! Prepare everything! The two eating monsters have returned!"
Minato sat down calmly, sipping tea. He looked at the two with confusion:
"Why does everyone react like that when they see you two? Is it just me?"
Eren said nothing, resting his chin on his hand while Satoru smiled innocently.
Minato and the Fated Meal
Bowls of hot ramen quickly piled up in front of them. But within five minutes, bowl after bowl vanished.
Minato started sweating.
Satoru kept slurping noodles at terrifying speed. Eren ate more slowly, but didn't fall far behind.
After his fourth bowl, Minato set his chopsticks down and looked at the mountain of bowls in front of Satoru.
He could only scratch his head and smile bitterly:
"I'm broke after this..."
Satoru patted Minato on the shoulder, eyes gleaming:
"Thank you, Minato! You're the best friend ever! The true angel of Konoha!!"
Eren just squinted with a smirk, looking at Minato with pity.
Obito's Challenge
On their way back, as they passed through the neighborhood where Kakashi lived, they heard a loud voice:
"Kakashi, you idiot! Do you dare accept my challenge again!?"
Turning around, they saw a boy with black hair and strange goggles standing in front of Kakashi's house – Obito Uchiha.
The door opened and Kakashi stepped out. His eyes widened when he saw the trio.
"Sensei... Eren-san... and..."
Minato walked up kindly, his smile as warm as spring:
"Hello, I'm Minato Namikaze, a Jonin of the village."
Kakashi nodded politely, but before he could respond, Obito lunged at Satoru with tears streaming down:
"Sensei, you idiot! You've been gone for two whole months! We missed you so much! I'll make Kakashi cook for you!"
Kakashi's face darkened instantly, a vein popping on his forehead:
"Hey hey hey, who gave you permission to speak for me, huh Obito!?"
He glared at the Uchiha:
"And this is the 40th time you've challenged me this month! Haven't those 39 losses taught you anything!?"
Obito clenched his fists, eyes burning:
"This time will be different! I'll win! Prepare yourself, Kakashi!"
From the side, Satoru, Minato, and Eren watched, unable to hold in their laughter.
Eren crossed his arms and nodded slightly:
"My little brother... Even years from now, I bet these two will still be arguing like this."
END OF CHAPTER 79