"I really didn't expect to run into you here, Kotoha."
Yuhara smiled as he looked at the girl in front of him. Then, noticing the Ichiraku Ramen sign nearby, he made a quick decision and headed inside.
Ichiraku Ramen was practically a historical landmark in Konoha. Back when he was a kid, he used to come here often—it was one of the village's most iconic food spots. With legends like Naruto, Iruka, and Kakashi all having eaten here in the original story, there was no way Yuhara was going to miss out after being reincarnated into this world.
Of course, he hadn't come by much in recent years due to his constant mission assignments.
As for Kotoha Nara—she was one of his old classmates from the Ninja Academy.
Although Yuhara and Shisui had graduated early, after Kotoha graduated, they had still ended up as teammates for a while.
She had made a strong impression on Yuhara. Not just because her name reminded him of a certain anime character, but also because she was undeniably beautiful—with a ponytail that could swing like a wild stallion, or hang loose in long, flowing straight locks. She was absolutely his type.
She also happened to be Nara Shikamaru's cousin, and had inherited the Nara clan's trademark intelligence.
During their missions together, she'd often given advice sharp enough that even their Jonin squad leader took it seriously.
Later, once their ranks rose and they were assigned new roles and missions, their team had naturally disbanded.
Yuhara had been operating solo for quite a while now. Although there were occasional team reunions, he rarely attended—not out of disinterest, but simply because he was often away from Konoha during those times.
"Yeah, I thought I was seeing things at first," Kotoha said with a slight tilt of her head and a smile. "You're such a busy guy—I can't even remember the last time I saw you."
"A year ago? Maybe two?" Yuhara scratched his cheek. "Hard to say. You know how it is. I'm on missions all the time."
He felt at ease around old teammates.
Their squad had always been close, with no major conflicts. And Yuhara didn't have any of the typical Uchiha pride and arrogance.
Besides Kotoha, their third teammate had been a civilian-born ninja. All in all, they'd gotten along well.
"One large pork-flavored chashu ramen," Kotoha told the owner without missing a beat, "extra chili."
Then she turned back to her bowl, already starting to eat as she spoke.
"I get it. You made the right call by not joining the Konoha Police Force. That was a smart move."
She glanced up briefly, adding, "Since I ran into you today, I'll treat. Eat as much as you like."
"Wow, you offering to pay? That's rare," Yuhara chuckled.
He knew Kotoha wasn't poor, but she had always been tight with money. She'd brought up the police force years ago—before the Nine-Tails incident—hinting subtly that it wasn't a place he should go near.
As a reincarnator, Yuhara already knew it was a political deathtrap. But it had surprised him that Kotoha—who wasn't an Uchiha and definitely not from the future—would sense that too.
"So you're saying I'm stingy, huh?" Kotoha rolled her eyes.
"Not at all," Yuhara said with a laugh. "You know I trust you. But what have you been up to these days?"
He wasn't about to admit his real thoughts, so he swiftly changed the subject.
"You're still as bad at changing topics as ever," Kotoha said dryly. But she didn't mind. She looked at him and shrugged.
"After our team split up, I started helping my father with clan affairs. Then my uncle suggested I join the administration office. Said it'd be a waste of talent if I didn't."
She paused to slurp some noodles, then continued.
"But I told him I was still young and didn't want to deal with all that paperwork. Honestly, it's just too boring and way too annoying. I'd rather work at the Academy—something light and simple."
Her uncle, of course, was Nara Shikaku.
Yuhara wasn't surprised Kotoha had gotten the chance to work in the administration. She was brilliant, and the Nara clan traditionally either sold medicine or held civil service positions. It was part of their family legacy.
Still, Kotoha seemed to have inherited the Nara laziness, and clearly had no interest in being stuck behind a desk.
While they chatted, the ramen was finally brought to the table. Yuhara had to admit, Ichiraku's ramen had never disappointed—not in portion size or quality.
It was comfort food, made with care.
Just as Yuhara picked up his chopsticks, a small, blonde-haired boy dashed into the shop. The moment he entered, the ramen chef's face lit up with a warm smile. But the other patrons began to frown.
"Ah, that kid again," Kotoha muttered, barely glancing over. "Didn't expect to run into him too."
"You don't seem to dislike him," Yuhara noted. "His name's Naruto, right?"
That's right—the kid who just ran in was Naruto Uzumaki.
Of course Yuhara recognized him. He hadn't seen Naruto often, but as the main character of the original story, how could he ever forget?
Still, he had to pretend not to know him well. In reality, they weren't close.
"I'm surprised you even know his name," Kotoha said with a curious look. "You really don't hate him?"
"Come on, I'm not an idiot," Yuhara sighed. "I've heard about his situation. He's got it rough."
"Yeah," Kotoha nodded. "My little brother's in the same class as him, so I've seen him around. Poor kid."
Then her expression shifted. She leaned in slightly and dropped her voice.
"But listen—you'd better not show too much sympathy. His identity is... complicated. You haven't forgotten what happened back then, have you?"
[If you like this story, please don't shy away from adding to the collection, giving a power stone, and leaving a review.]