Are You Uzumaki, Naruto?

Realizing his question might have been offensive, Naruto quickly clasped his hands together and apologized to Uncle Ichiraku. He hadn't expected such a simple truth behind Ichiraku's eyes. Teuchi just smiled warmly, not taking Naruto's curiosity to heart, and set down two heaping bowls of seafood ramen in front of them.

"Enjoy your meal," he said cheerfully.

The bowls were enormous, brimming with seafood to the point where it seemed like noodles were an afterthought. The size of the bowls even overshadowed Naruto's face. It was a far cry from the paltry servings of beef ramen he remembered from his previous life.

Naruto slid one of the bowls toward Hinata. "Come on, eat with me," he encouraged.

"But..." Hinata hesitated, worried about her appetite. Before she could refuse, Naruto had already placed a pair of chopsticks in her hand. She glanced at him, then down at the steaming bowl, finally lowering her head and eating delicately.

She knew Naruto was being considerate, his excuse for her benefit, however flimsy. Hinata appreciated the gesture, smiling softly as she pretended not to notice his concern.

Half an hour later, Naruto was struggling, his stomach tight and uncomfortable. He had eighteen empty bowls stacked in front of him, while Hinata had nearly sixty. She finished her last bite of noodles with a dainty slurp, looking as composed as ever, despite the massive quantity she had consumed.

"Naruto-kun... are you okay?" Hinata asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Just... need a moment," Naruto replied, trying to mask his discomfort. He had started eating more to keep Hinata company, but halfway through, he found himself caught in a competitive spirit, wondering if he could keep up with her. It was a bad idea. Hinata's appetite was astonishing—he'd never seen anything like it.

Hinata, noticing Naruto's struggle, stealthily slipped some money onto the counter when he wasn't looking, then moved to help him up. As they walked out, she rubbed his back soothingly, trying to ease his discomfort. Naruto, despite his misery, couldn't help but feel a warmth from her care.

Inside his mind, Kurama chuckled. "You couldn't keep up with her, huh?"

Naruto grumbled internally, "It's not like I can compare to a tailed beast." Still, Kurama's teasing didn't help. He knew he had overestimated himself.

As they walked, Naruto suddenly remembered they hadn't paid for the meal. "Did we pay back there?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. He wasn't one to skip out on a bill, especially not with his wealth.

"I... I paid," Hinata confessed shyly, looking down.

Naruto smiled, reaching out to pat her head affectionately. "Thanks, Hinata-chan. But let me know next time, okay?"

Just as they were about to continue their stroll, a stern voice called out, "What are you doing with Miss Hinata?!"

Naruto and Hinata turned to see Hyuga Neji standing before them, his expression dark and serious. Hinata immediately stepped back, nervous at the sight of her cousin. Naruto recognized the look of disapproval in Neji's eyes and the tension in his stance.

"N-N-Neji-niisan..." Hinata stammered, clearly distressed.

Neji's gaze shifted coldly between Naruto and Hinata. Despite having heard rumors about Naruto's connection with the clan heiress, seeing them together ignited a fire within him. To Neji, the Hyuga clan's future—and by extension, the future of the branch family—was tied to Hinata. The thought of her being influenced by Naruto, someone he considered a nobody, was infuriating.

"Is your name Uzumaki Naruto?" Neji asked, his tone icy.

Naruto nearly addressed him as "brother," catching himself just in time. "Yeah, that's me," he replied, trying to keep his voice casual.

To Neji, Naruto's casual response felt like a challenge. He felt his anger rising; this boy didn't understand the gravity of his actions. Neji's hand moved to his side, taking up a stance that was unmistakably a preparation for a Hyuga-style taijutsu match.

Hinata, sensing the brewing conflict, looked between them with increasing worry. Naruto, however, felt a grin spreading across his face. A physical challenge? Now this was something he could get behind.

The air grew tense as the two young men faced each other, the energy of the impending confrontation palpable.