"Got it!"
Teuchi immediately responded and began preparing the ramen. He noticed that Konan seemed slightly different, but he didn't overthink it.
As the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, he encountered all sorts of people every day. He had seen countless faces and personalities, so he didn't worry or get curious about them, even when unusual things happened.
Even when Orochimaru and Danzo revealed the scandals involving the Third Hokage, Teuchi didn't care much. After all, those things had nothing to do with his life. All he did was cook ramen. As long as he could continue doing that, the rest of the world's problems would just be background noise to him.
Now, with this young girl in front of him here to eat ramen, all he had to do was cook. Teuchi briefly glanced at Konan when she first entered, but after she sat down, he focused on preparing the meal.
Before long, the aroma of freshly made ramen filled the air, drifting toward Konan's nose.
Grrr…
Konan's stomach growled. It had been a while since she'd had a decent meal. Lately, she had been surviving on cheap ration pills, only eating enough to keep her energy up. She had never paid much attention to food as a form of enjoyment, always seeing it as a necessity to keep from hunger.
Now, as the rich aroma wafted over her, hunger struck her again. Her appetite was suddenly piqued.
"It smells so good," Konan said, eagerly breathing in the delicious scent. She liked Konoha even more—not just for its beautiful environment and kind people but also for its incredible food.
Each of these things was enough to attract her. Together, they made her feel even more drawn to the village. Now, she understood why people wanted to come to Konoha; it truly was a wonderful place.
Her thoughts drifted to how much she had already fallen in love with Konoha, even though she had just arrived. It felt like falling in love at first sight, but it was with a village this time.
As Konan thought about this, she watched Teuchi's expert movements as he handled the noodles, swiftly cooking them with practiced ease. After a few more minutes, Teuchi lifted the freshly cooked noodles from the boiling water, poured hot broth over them, and the fragrant steam intensified.
"Ramen's ready."
Teuchi smiled warmly, handing Konan the bowl of ramen. His eyes narrowed into friendly crescent moons, adding to his kind demeanor.
The bowl of steaming ramen sat before Konan, its enticing aroma rising like a siren call. Her stomach rumbled loudly in response, her hunger reaching new heights as she eagerly anticipated her first bite.
Taking a deep breath, Konan savored the smell. She had heard about how delicious Ichiraku Ramen was but hadn't expected it to smell this irresistible. Even before tasting it, she knew it was going to be amazing.
"I'm starting!" Konan clasped her hands together in gratitude before quickly grabbing her chopsticks and digging in. She was so eager that she didn't pause to savor the first bite, slurping down the noodles as fast as she could.
Instantly, a wave of pure happiness washed over her. The flavors danced on her tongue, filling her with a joy she had never experienced from food.
"This is delicious!"
"Really delicious!"
"So, so delicious!"
Konan exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment. She had never tasted anything so good before. The flavors surpassed everything she had ever eaten.
It was worth it!
Worth it!
Even if Ōtsutsuki Shiren didn't show up, she wouldn't regret coming here. This bowl of ramen alone made her trip worthwhile.
As Konan continued to devour her ramen, she briefly forgot why she had come to Konoha in the first place. Her original goal of meeting Ōtsutsuki Shiren faded from her mind as she became fully absorbed in the delicious meal before her.
Everything else could wait.
At that moment, her entire focus was on the bowl of ramen, the most delicious thing she had ever eaten. Nothing else mattered.
The gatekeeper ninja beside her watched as she enthusiastically slurped down the ramen. He couldn't help but feel his hunger growing. Watching someone enjoy their food so much was contagious.
Even though he wasn't starving, seeing Konan eat eagerly made him want to join in.
"Bring me a bowl too!"
Unable to resist, the gatekeeper ninja raised his hand, signaling to Teuchi. He decided that since he was here, he might reward himself with a bowl of ramen.
Even though only a few minutes had passed since they arrived, they felt like an eternity as he watched Konan eat. The delicious smell drifted toward him, making his stomach growl louder by the second.
"Coming right up!" Teuchi replied cheerfully. When the two customers entered, he wondered if the second person would give in to the temptation. As expected, the ninja couldn't resist either.
As the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi knew the power of his ramen's flavor. He had seen countless people line up outside his shop, all eager for a bowl. He took pride in that once people tasted his ramen, they couldn't resist returning for more.
"I'll have another bowl," Konan suddenly said, her tone filled with excitement. Gone was the calm and collected demeanor she had earlier. Now, she was filled with anticipation.
"This is so good."
"It's just too good."
"Leaving without eating more would be an insult to my stomach."
Konan's expression softened, wholly immersed in the joy of the meal. She wasn't stalling for time. She would have left after finishing her bowl if the ramen had been ordinary. But this ramen was far too delicious to pass up.
She knew that once she left Ichiraku Ramen, she might never get another chance to eat here again. So why not savor every moment now?
Growing up in the harsh environment of Amegakure, Konan had learned that when the opportunity to enjoy life presented itself, you should take it. After all, she couldn't be sure when she would get another chance.
"Got it!" Teuchi replied, smiling as he prepared another bowl of ramen for her. He couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth toward Konan.
It didn't matter that she was from another village or even a rogue ninja. As long as she appreciated his ramen, Teuchi saw her as a good person.
As he prepared the noodles for Konan's second bowl, Teuchi poured his heart into making it as delicious as the first, ensuring both customers enjoyed their meal to the fullest.
Meanwhile, Konan focused entirely on finishing the first bowl before her. At that moment, she felt utterly content and happy, as she ate the ramen.
"If only life could always be this good," Konan thought. She realized now how wonderful life in Konoha could be, and for a fleeting moment, she imagined what it would be like to stay in the village forever.
"No, I can't give up so easily," Konan reminded herself. If she left now, she might never have the chance to return to Konoha.
Only after experiencing it firsthand did she understand how special this place was.