Chapter 20: Secret Technique - Couple's Rasengan

"Tora, Tora! You're finally back."

At the Konoha mission briefing point, a sturdy woman was hugging her pet cat and rubbing her face frantically. The poor cat was almost suffocating from the flesh on her face squeezing it, unable to breathe.

"It seems like I understand why the cat ran away."

Naruto touched the scratched area on his face caused by the cat's claws and chuckled with a sense of pity. Sasuke and Sakura nodded in understanding.

"Here, this is your reward."

The elegantly dressed woman handed over the reward, satisfied, and walked away with her cute pet. Naruto felt that if given the chance, that cat would definitely run away again.

"This reward is quite a lot..."

Kakashi received the reward from the mission assigner and was slightly surprised by the amount in his hands. It was 8,000 Ryo for a D-rank mission, which meant the woman had paid a reward of 20,000 Ryo.

"You guys are lucky. She is the wife of the daimyo of the Fire Country, Madame Shijimi, and such a reward is even more than an average B-rank mission."

Kakashi, of course, wouldn't keep the entire reward to himself. He distributed 2,000 Ryo to each member of Team 7. Normally, a D-rank mission would have a reward of a few dozen Ryo at most, but they happened to encounter a generous employer.

"What, what is this!"

Naruto's eyes sparkled. He had never let go of even 100 Ryo in his wallet, and now he didn't know what to do with two 1,000 Ryo bills in his hand.

"Now I can buy so many clothes! Hooray!"

Sakura also couldn't believe that they would receive such a reward on their first mission. She happily exclaimed, but Sasuke, who had never lacked money since childhood, remained indifferent.

"A bowl of ramen for 10 Ryo, so that's 200 bowls?"

"It's 200 bowls. Do you only think about ramen?" Sasuke sneered and replied coldly.

"Ohh, so being a ninja is a super lucrative profession?"

"You won't be given rewards for your efforts in missions for nothing. Well, that's it for today, disperse."

Kakashi disappeared with a smile. With the unexpected reward in their hands, he could buy a few more copies of 'Intimate Paradise.'

...

"Hinata, let me treat you to ramen!"

The first thing Naruto did when he got home was to take Hinata out of the house and head towards Ichiraku Ramen.

"Sure, why not? Are you happy, Naruto-kun?"

"Yeah, I received a mission reward of 2,000 Ryo today, and I'm so happy I don't know what to do."

"Congratulations."

Hinata tilted her head in confusion. Was that a lot? Her mother usually gave her an allowance of 10,000 Ryo. However, Hinata had grown accustomed to Naruto's simple lifestyle. She couldn't even get used to wearing luxurious clothes, so today she wore a white hoodie and black leggings, showing no signs of being a wealthy heiress.

"Naruto-kun, if you're short on money, why didn't you ask me? I have plenty."

"Huh? Because that's yours, Hinata."

"Don't you understand the concept of marrying into a family?"

Naruto's innocent reply amused Hinata, and she asked curiously.

"Well... I forgot the original reason, but now I want to marry into the family because I like you. There's no other reason."

"Ah..."

Naruto's heartfelt words were like a sweet candy unexpectedly thrown at Hinata, causing her face to blush slightly.

As they spoke, the two walked through the bustling streets of Konoha and arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.

"We're here, Iruka-sensei. Sorry for making you wait."

"Naruto, why did you suddenly call me out? I'm also busy, you know. Don't tell me you want me to treat you to ramen again, you rascal!"

"Iruka-sensei, it's not like that..."

"Well, since you're able to use Shadow Clones so proficiently, I'll treat you this time."

Without listening to Naruto's explanation, Iruka made up his mind. He felt pleased that Naruto could summon him using a Shadow Clone.

"That's not it, I want to treat you to ramen, sensei!"

"Huh? Am I dreaming?"

"I received a mission reward, so Iruka-sensei always treats me to ramen. This is a return gift."

"...Ah, Naruto, you've finally become an outstanding young man on your own. I'm so happy, I could cry."

Iruka's eyes welled up. The Naruto, who used to skip class, play pranks, and have questionable morals, had become a capable young man who could pay back debts.

"Hey, sensei, why are you crying?"

"The pepper is too spicy for my eyes."

"Welcome, Naruto."

The owner of Ichiraku Ramen was a dignified and robust man. Unlike other villagers, he never saw Naruto as a monster. He had invited Naruto to his shop for the first time without any reservations.

"Uncle, three extra-large bowls of ramen with all the toppings."

"Now that you've become a ninja, your aura is completely different. Just a moment."

"Oh, today you're here with Hinata. Sorry I didn't notice you before."

Iruka looked around and realized there was another customer sitting beside Naruto, wearing purple. He had just noticed Hinata's presence.

"Hello, Iruka-sensei."

Hinata said quietly from behind Naruto. She thought it was a date, but she didn't expect Naruto to invite Iruka as well. She felt a little disappointed.

"Naruto, you brought your girlfriend today. Should I treat her as well?"

After a while, the aroma of ramen wafted from the shop as a brown-haired girl carried the bowls of ramen and came out. She saw Naruto and Hinata and teased them.

"Thank you, Ayame-neesan, but I received a lot of mission rewards today, so it's not necessary."

Naruto smiled and replied. Just like her father, Ayame didn't hold any grudges against Naruto. She always secretly treated him to ramen without her father's knowledge, and Naruto remembered that kindness.

"Ah, the little brat who used to have a runny nose has become an outstanding little man. Keep up the good work."

Ayame sighed and said the last sentence directed at Hinata, causing the girl to blush and lower her head in embarrassment.

"By the way, Naruto, does anyone else know about your ability to communicate with the Nine-Tails?"

After finishing the last sip of soup, Iruka leaned closer to Naruto's ear and asked in a low voice. Since the incident with the Sealing Scroll, he had been pondering whether Naruto's connection with the Nine-Tails was a good or bad thing. He hadn't even reported it to the Third Hokage.

"No, only you know, Iruka-sensei."

Naruto thought for a moment. Minato had warned him not to tell anyone about the Nine-Tails being released, so this matter wasn't included. The reason why no one knew until now was that no one asked Naruto the foolish question of "Do you know the Nine-Tails?"

"Then remember to keep it a secret. Don't let it slip out, it could cause unnecessary trouble."

"Okay, got it."

"I'll go first, being a third wheel for too long will make people dislike me. I also want a girlfriend."

Iruka, feeling a bit dissatisfied, muttered to himself as he left Ichiraku Ramen. He had come to eat ramen but ended up slightly envious his own student's dating life.

"Hinata, do you want more? I can eat two bowls of Ichiraku's ramen...!?"

Naruto turned his head and was about to ask Hinata if she wanted another bowl, but to his surprise, he saw five empty bowls stacked next to Hinata.

"Huh?"

...

Hinata didn't hear what Naruto said; she was focused on devouring the ramen in front of her. With one hand holding the chopsticks and the other holding the spoon, she elegantly made the contents of the bowl disappear at a visible speed.

"If I'm in good shape, three bowls are no problem!"

Naruto, struggling with his curiosity, asked Ayame for two more bowls, but almost vomited while eating them.

Naruto and Hinata had a close relationship. They had known each other since childhood and were childhood friends. Because of this, Naruto had always overlooked some small things, such as the speed at which Hinata accumulated empty bowls while eating.

"Ugh, I can't eat anymore... Hinata, I never knew you could eat so much. Where did all the food go?"

Naruto patted his satisfied belly and curiously looked at Hinata's flat stomach. He wondered if Hinata had a dimensional space in her stomach, generating such strange thoughts.

"Is it bad for girls to eat too much?"

Hinata's index fingers unconsciously touched each other, a gesture she often made when she was shy. Naruto didn't think much of it.

"Is it? Eating a lot means being healthy, right?"

"Naruto-kun, you're so nice."

"I'll leave you here...?"

Naruto intended to leave after escorting Hinata to the gate of the Hyuga house, but Hinata held his hand.

"Come in and stay with me for a while longer."

Hinata raised her head, her white eyes expressing a pleading and reluctant look. Today, she just wanted Naruto to spend more time with her.

"Hehe, alright, then."

Naruto couldn't help but laugh as he held Hinata's small hand and walked into the Hyuga house.

"The moon is so round."

Naruto lay on the corridor floor, looking at the moon. When he felt lonely as a child, he would climb onto the roof and watch the moon. As long as the moon didn't reject him, it would accompany him every day.

"Mom said there are fairies living on the moon. I wonder if it's true."

"If that's the case, the fairies will definitely fall in love with me because I watch them every day."

"Pff, shameless."

Hinata scolded Naruto, but her body obediently leaned against his side, enjoying this peaceful moment.

"If time could stop at this moment, that would be great. Huh?"

Just as Hinata finished speaking, the sky seemed to play a prank, and a dark cloud covered the moon, instantly plunging the previously illuminated area into darkness.

"Pff."

"No laughing! I'll light it up."

Naruto's laughter echoed in the darkness as Hinata tapped him in embarrassment.

"It's so dark, be careful not to trip. Watch this."

Naruto sat up from the floor and extended his right hand. Chakra gradually gathered on his hand, and after about ten seconds, a small blue ball appeared in his hand, emitting a soft light.

"No matter how many times I see this jutsu, it doesn't seem like a jutsu at all."

Hinata gazed at the Rasengan in Naruto's hand with a dreamy look. It emitted the most primitive glow of chakra. When other ninjas used chakra, it would change its nature, possibly into fire or water. It was impossible to emit the chakra's glow like this.

"It looks good, but it's too slow."

Naruto sighed while holding the Rasengan. Dad had emphasized the importance of speed in battles. Even being one second faster.