Naruto: The Chosen Undead

Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me.

https://www.p.a.t.r.e.on.com/Adamo_Amet

....

Join us on discord: 

https://discord.gg/DXv2nkTB

••••••••••••••••••

Chapter no.20 Ichiraku Ramen

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Teuchi Ichiraku had never been much of a fighter. He didn't like violence, not one bit. He had always been a more passive man, a man with a passion for food. His family—well, they weren't shinobi. They had been one of the first non-fighting immigrants to cross Konoha's borders after the great shinobi clans had settled there. They were the first generation of civilians.

It was a revolutionary move by the Second Hokage. Before, during the Warring States Era, civilians like them had no place among shinobi unless they were nobles. But with the creation of shinobi villages and the population boom, even ninja needed someone to provide for their families, to take care of the mundane tasks. That's where civilian families came in—farmers, artisans, craftsmen, traders. They formed the backbone of Konoha's economy, the lifeblood that kept the village running. Civilians and shinobi, side by side, in a kind of harmony that Teuchi had come to love.

The early morning was still dark, a deep blue sky hanging overhead. Teuchi had always appreciated the peace of the quiet night just before dawn. It was the best time of day, in his opinion. The village still asleep, the air cool and crisp.

His family had originally come from the Shina province of the Fire Nation, bringing with them the recipe for shina soba. But as time passed, new spices, new flavors, and new ingredients had transformed shina soba into something else—ramen. Teuchi's ramen.

He got ready for the day, following the same routine he had for years. He rolled out of bed, stretched the kinks out of his back, and splashed some cold water on his face to shake off the last bits of sleep. The room smelled of wood and the faint remnants of yesterday's cooking. He grabbed his chef's uniform—a simple white tunic with a red apron tied around his waist—and tucked a cloth headband across his forehead. His hair, what was left of it, was now a dark gray. He didn't mind it. He had earned these years.

"Ayame-chan, time to wake up!" he called up the stairs.

She wasn't his biological daughter, but that didn't matter. He had found her during the Kyuubi attack, just a little four-year-old lost in the chaos when the civilians fled for safety. Her parents hadn't made it, and somehow, Teuchi had ended up with her in his arms. She didn't remember any of it—Teuchi guessed that was a blessing in disguise. The mind had a way of sealing away the worst of things.

He could hear her grumbling as she shuffled downstairs, her dark brown hair a mess, her eyes still half-closed. Ayame always looked a bit disheveled when she first woke up—her fair skin a little flushed from sleep, her large black eyes blinking away the last bits of her dreams. She was a slender girl now, growing up faster than Teuchi liked, but to him, she would always be his little girl.

"Go wash up, we've got work to do, kiddo."

"Can't we change the timing so I can sleep more?" she asked, her voice muffled by the yawn she was trying to hide.

"The early bird gets the worm," Teuchi replied, slipping into his sandals and heading downstairs. It was the same response every morning.

Once he reached the kitchen, the quiet calm of the early morning wrapped around him. It was peaceful, just the sound of his own footsteps and the creaking of the wooden floors. He started setting up—grabbing the noodles, the broth, the pork belly. Everything had its place, and he made sure it was where it belonged. The small restaurant, their home and workplace, could only seat six people, so most customers grabbed their ramen to-go.

The prep work was familiar, soothing even. Boiling water for the noodles, stirring the broth until the aroma filled the air, slicing the pork just right. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the soft simmer of the soup, the occasional hiss of the stove as the heat hit the metal pot. Teuchi breathed it all in. This was his life, and he wouldn't trade it for anything.

Running a ramen shop wasn't glamorous, but it was honest work. It was about providing something warm, something filling. A bowl of ramen could be a simple thing, but to someone who was hungry, it was a lifeline. In a way, Teuchi had always seen his work as helping to nourish Konoha, just like the shinobi protected it. They all played their part.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, checking the broth one last time. "Ready for another day."

Ayame would be down any minute, and soon the early risers would start trickling in. Another day, another chance to serve up bowls of ramen to a village that had become his family.

And honestly, Teuchi couldn't ask for more.

Teuchi waited for the first customer of the day. It was always Naruto. Like clockwork, the boy would come in, rain or shine, for his breakfast—a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen before heading off to the academy. Teuchi always made sure to use the freshest ingredients for him. That kid, he needed all the nutrients he could get.

He remembered the first time Naruto had come in, six years ago. It was a rainy day, no customers around. Then there he was, a little blonde boy, soaked to the bone, holding a few coins in his small hands. Teuchi had been scared at first, unsure of what to expect. The rumors, the whispers—they made him hesitate. But when he saw Naruto's eyes, hungry and desperate, something inside Teuchi shifted. That wasn't a demon standing in front of him. That was a hungry child. And since then, Naruto had become his most loyal customer.

The curtains rustled, and Teuchi was about to greet him like he always did, but the words caught in his throat when he saw who walked in.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Teuchi said, his eyes scanning the beautiful patterns on the shield slung across the customer's back. That was gold—real gold. Whoever this was had to be someone important.

Then he heard the voice, tired and exhausted, like the person had pulled an all-nighter.

"Oji-san, why are you talking to me like that?"

Teuchi froze. He knew that voice anywhere.

"Naruto?" Teuchi said, disbelief coloring his voice. Ayame walked in from the back, tying her apron, and echoed the same question.

"Yeah," Naruto said, and in the blink of an eye, the helmet was gone. Like it was never there. Some kind of jutsu, Teuchi guessed. Ayame, of course, had stars in her eyes.

"You look..." Teuchi started, but his voice trailed off. Naruto's face was covered in sweat, grime, and dirt. He looked like he hadn't cleaned up in days.

"Dirty. Come to the back and wash up," Ayame cut in, giving Naruto a pointed look. Teuchi shot her a glance that said, Don't even think about tricking him into doing the dishes for more ramen. Ayame always had a knack for using Naruto as her guinea pig to try out new ramen flavors. She loved cooking just as much as Teuchi did, but she always dragged the poor kid into her experiments.

"So, Naruto, how did yesterday go?" Teuchi asked as he started making a few bowls of Naruto's favorite ramen.

Naruto pointed his thumb at his forehead, and suddenly, the ninja headband appeared. It was like magic. Teuchi still couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Hey, teach me that jutsu," Ayame chimed in, turning on the tap, her hands working quickly. "That way, I don't have to bother putting on my clothes every morning."

Naruto chuckled nervously. "Sorry, Ayame Nee-chan, but I can't."

Ayame looked deflated, and Teuchi couldn't help but chuckle himself. As Naruto cleaned his face, Ayame gave him a once-over.

"So, you're a ninja now, huh?" she asked, glancing at the headband.

"One step to being Hokage."

Naruto froze at the statement. He splashed his face again, like he was trying to avoid the idea, the dream.

Teuchi and Ayame exchanged a look. That wasn't like him. Something was off.

"Did something happen?" Teuchi asked gently, setting down a bowl of ramen in front of Naruto. Naruto quickly sat down, his heavy armor making the stool creak under the weight. Then, without much hesitation, he spoke.

"I found out about the fox," Naruto said, right before diving into the ramen.

Teuchi's hand froze mid-pour as he worked on another bowl. The broth almost spilled as he processed Naruto's words. He knew. He knew about the Kyuubi.

And then, Naruto's eyes—those eyes that Teuchi had seen so many times, hungry and desperate, full of life—looked at him differently. Naruto wanted to confirm something. He wanted to see if Teuchi and Ayame were like the other civilians, the ones who whispered behind his back, who treated him like he was the demon itself.

Teuchi didn't have to guess what Naruto was thinking. The fear in the boy's eyes told him everything. Naruto was afraid that they would treat him differently.

Teuchi looked at Naruto, inhaling the ramen like it was his lifeline, and his heart broke a little.

Teuchi finished making the bowl as quickly as he could and placed it down in front of Naruto.

"A bowl for Naruto Uzumaki," he said with a smile.

"Not for the fox," Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible, filled with hesitation and fear.

"No, it's for the champion of last year's ramen-eating competition."

The transformation was immediate.

That smile—Naruto's smile—lit up his face, so bright it could chase away the darkest clouds. He took the first bite, and for a second, Teuchi thought the boy was going to cry. Then, just like always, Naruto grabbed the bowl with both hands and shoveled the ramen into his mouth like he wanted to hide his tears behind the bowl.

Teuchi chuckled, watching the boy, but out of the corner of his eye, he could see Ayame standing there, looking confused.

"What are you talking about?"

Naruto put the bowl down, and Teuchi saw the hesitation in his movements. Naruto wanted to tell her, that much was clear. The pull to stop keeping secrets from people he cared about was written all over his face. But Teuchi placed some water in front of him and shook his head ever so slightly, signaling to keep quiet.

Ayame, not one to be left in the dark, frowned and turned to her father. "Dad, what's going on?"

Teuchi gave her his best smile, the one he had used to calm her when she was little. "Ayame, can you go to my room and bring my journal? I want to give something to Naruto."

She shrugged, still puzzled, but headed off to fetch it. Teuchi turned back to Naruto, his expression softening. The boy needed to hear this.

"Sometimes, Naruto, some things are better left unsaid," Teuchi told him, his voice low and gentle.

"Wouldn't that be lying?"

"Sometimes lying is good," Teuchi said, hating how true the words felt. "I know you think Ayame deserves to know, but... please, the Kyuubi attack was the worst day of her life. She doesn't deserve to be reminded of that pain, okay?"

Naruto looked down again, this time at the empty bowl, but he nodded. Teuchi could see the conflict in his eyes.

As the ramen chief started making him another bowl, Naruto asked the question that Teuchi honestly wished wasn't asked.

"Would Ayame Nee-chan see me as the fox?"

"No," Teuchi said, his voice firm. But even as he said it, he could see that Naruto didn't believe him.

Suddenly the chief placed a fishcake in Naruto's bowl, one that Ayame had specially made. It was shaped like the young Uzumaki.

"Ayame made this for you," Teuchi said softly. "A special ingredient to congratulate you on your graduation."

Naruto's face lit up again, his eyes a little watery as he smiled at the fishcake. Teuchi could see it, just for a moment—the boy was finally starting to accept that he would always be Naruto Uzumaki, their number one customer at Ichiraku Ramen, nothing more, nothing less.

Ayame came back in, and just as Naruto held up the fishcake, he said, "Thanks, Ayame Nee-chan."

She looked at her father, shock and betrayal written all over her face, and Teuchi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Sorry," he said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"Well, I'm going to give you your present now," Ayame said, pulling out a small piece of paper from the journal. She placed it in front of Naruto with a triumphant smile.

"A coupon for 100 free bowls of ramen," she declared proudly, giving her father a smug look, as if she had just won the title of best-gift-giver.

Naruto held the coupon in one hand and the fishcake in the other, staring down at them like they were treasures. He whispered a soft, "Thank you..." and though it was quiet, it felt like it filled the whole room. Ayame ruffled his hair affectionately, like the big sister she always was, and Teuchi placed another steaming bowl of ramen in front of him.

"Eat up, champ," Teuchi said, his heart full as he watched Naruto. "You need to show the world who The Great Naruto Uzumaki really is."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 11, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!