The sun had begun to set, and the sky grew dim.
The three of them had started off clashing at first, then moved on to mutual learning, and later engaged in discussions so engrossed they lost track of time.
During this period, their relationship had progressed significantly.
Satori Hyūga gained much from this experience, though he wasn't the one who improved the most.
It was Namikaze Minato who absorbed the strengths of both sides and benefited the greatest.
As long as he could digest everything he learned, he might reach the level of the Golden Flash from his past life even sooner.
"It's getting dark," Satori said. "Are you guys hungry? I'll treat you to dinner."
He glanced at the sky, only then realizing his stomach had been growling.
His [Feeding-Back Jutsu 2.0] drained a lot of energy.
If it weren't for how urgent it was to study sealing techniques, he would've gone home for dinner already.
Since he now had some money, he thought he might as well treat himself to a good meal—a great chance to strengthen their camaraderie with Kushina and Minato.
In Konoha, comradeship among teammates was also important.
At the very least, social integration was important.
"Sure! You're from the Hyūga Main House—you must be rolling in cash," Kushina teased. "Minato, let's go eat at our rich friend's expense!"
Minato said earnestly, "No, no—I should be the one treating you. You both have taught me so much today, and I've truly gained a lot."
After all, both [Taijutsu] and [Sealing Techniques] were knowledge far beyond what the academy teaches.
For a commoner ninja like him, such skills would usually only become accessible after graduation.
"Then let's consider this a debt," Satori grinned. "Don't try to cancel it out with just a meal, or I'll feel ripped off, Minato-san."
"There's a ramen shop I know," Satori suggested. "Their food is pretty decent—we can give it a try."
Since he insisted, the other two didn't push back and followed Satori into the ramen shop.
Upon stepping inside, they saw Teuchi hard at work—wiping tables, washing dishes, mopping floors… doing just about everything.
He worked with boundless energy and enthusiasm, as if he were two people rolled into one.
Despite the ramen shop's spacious layout, every corner gleamed thanks to his efforts.
This kind of dedication even changed the once-prejudiced ramen shop owner's view of him.
When Teuchi spotted Satori Hyūga entering, his face lit up immediately.
"Satori-kun, you're here!"
Greeting him warmly, as if welcoming back a long-lost family member, Teuchi quickly rearranged chairs and tables with nimble hands while chatting excitedly beside Satori.
Teuchi's cheerful and lively demeanor reminded Satori of Uzumaki Naruto.
They really did have a lot in common.
That was probably why, during the time everyone loathed the Nine-Tails' vessel, Teuchi and his daughter still took care of Naruto.
Perhaps it was precisely because Naruto's childhood personality resembled Teuchi's own that they decided to look after him.
"Teuchi," Satori said gently, "keep up the good work. When the chance comes, I'll teach you the method for making instant noodles. Then you can try researching and producing your own version."
Hyūga Satori gave Teuchi an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
He was quite happy about unexpectedly meeting the future owner of Ichiraku Ramen.
Once he took power, perhaps he could get a lifetime free ramen pass, just like Naruto.
If they successfully developed instant noodles, that would be even better.
Satori could pivot careers and start a company—produce and sell instant noodles nationwide, becoming a wealthy merchant.
With the Hyūga Clan's influence and strength behind it, he might actually make a fortune.
The idea sent Satori into a daydream, and his meal tasted even more delicious now.
Within minutes, several large empty bowls had appeared on the table, every last noodle cleaned out.
On the other side,
Kushina and Minato Namikaze had also eaten quite a lot, especially Kushina, who finished eight whole bowls.
She kept eating bowl after bowl as if discovering the greatest delicacy in the world.
No wonder Naruto got her appetite.
When they finished eating, Satori's wallet had visibly thinned again.
A single meal hadn't bankrupted him, but it still hurt financially.
"Ninjas sure are big eaters. No wonder they always look stressed after paying up."
Eating out occasionally was fine, but doing it often—even ninjas constantly completing missions for cash couldn't handle it.
Ninjas earned money through missions, yet there were many expenses.
Don't be fooled by those six-figure payouts—the village takes its cut, the clan takes a slice, and what's left gets split among the team.
What's left at the end of the day isn't much.
Not to mention replacements for ninja tools, food supplies, intel-gathering, and more.
One word: broke.
Luckily, being part of the Main House gave Satori a better position.
After all, the Hyūga Main House was supported by the Branch Members.
Even when taking missions, most were simple in-village tasks.
Or handling various clan matters—much easier work.
No deductions, no equipment wear and tear.
"We still don't have enough money. I need to find a way to earn more," Satori murmured.
"Satori, what are you muttering about? Don't tell me you're short and have to wash dishes here?" Kushina teased.
"How could that be? I definitely have enough for this," Satori replied.
Wiping me out from just one meal? That'd be underestimating me big time.
At this rate, it'd take at least three meals to break me.
"I'm thinking about how to make money. Do either of you have any ideas or connections?"
Satori came straight to the point, asking Kushina and Minato directly.
One was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the other the future Golden Flash—they were both special cases.
One vital to Konoha, the other brilliant and full of promise.
Three heads are better than one—maybe we can brainstorm something good.
"If you want to make money, you've got to take missions," Minato said seriously. "But we can't take missions yet—we're not official ninjas."
"That's right. We won't be able to take real missions or make decent cash until we graduate," Kushina added dreamily, already picturing herself as a ninja.
"No, I'm not talking about taking missions," Satori Hyūga said. "I mean other ways."
"Like running a business, farming, or breeding livestock. Using these methods to earn money."
"But we're ninjas. Don't ninjas all make money by taking missions?" Kushina asked curiously.
Her thinking had already become fixed, just like most other shinobi who believed that ninjas were tools whose sole purpose was earning money through missions.
Activities like running businesses, farming, or animal breeding simply weren't seen as proper activities for a ninja.
Minato Namikaze felt the same way, though he was slightly more open-minded.
Coming from a non-ninja upbringing, he had interacted with regular people more and had seen various ways ordinary folks made a living.
But his perspective was different. His priority was always his comrades.
"Satori, are you short on cash? I've got some saved up—you can use mine for now."
Satori shook his head calmly. "I'm not short on money at the moment, but who knows about the future? Taijutsu training requires special medicine and nutrient-rich food, both of which cost money."
"Take the Ino–Shika–Cho trio for example—they take missions, but they also run shops and businesses."
"I plan to find my own way to earn money now. That way, I won't have to worry about it later."
"The reason I'm telling you both this is that I want to figure out a way to create my own method of making money."
What he didn't say was that he wanted to get you both involved too, so his plan could proceed smoothly.
One rising genius—think of it as an investment.
One Nine-Tails jinchuriki who's backed by the Third Hokage, and a Hyūga Main House heir backed by the whole Hyūga Clan. Probably no one would dare start any trouble.
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