Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 298 Let's eat ramen together tomorrow!

This person is nothing like those boys in school who would stare at her if she spoke loudly. He always seems to understand what she's trying to say and gives the gentlest response.

He is a...very, very reliable listener.

……

At the same time, in the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his slightly sore neck and put down the documents in his hand.

A draft document concerning the post-war evaluation of merits and the distribution of pensions left him dizzy and confused.

"Lord Hokage."

A member of the secret service appeared silently in the office, knelt on one knee, and handed over a scroll.

"Report on the First Day of the Ninja Academy"

"Yeah, just leave it there." Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand wearily.

He could roughly guess what was written inside; it was nothing more than information about new student enrollment, course schedules, and teacher feedback.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down again and unfolded the seemingly unremarkable report scroll.

The preceding sections were mostly formulaic content, which Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly skimmed through until he reached the last line, the appendix.

"Addendum: After school today, it was observed that Minato Namikaze, a student in Class 4-A, and Kushina Uzumaki, a transfer student in the same class, entered the Ichiraku Ramen restaurant on Hokage Avenue together at around 6 PM and left after staying for about an hour."

That short sentence instantly dispelled the Hokage's majesty and the weariness of a corporate slave from Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.

Instead, there was a... fatherly smile of satisfaction.

It became.

The gears of history have finally begun to click in the most ideal direction.

"That trouble-averse guy, Nara Shikazuki, is probably going to complain again about me always keeping an eye on these trivial pieces of information," Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, his smile growing ever wider.

"But this is no trivial matter..."

"This is a matter of paramount importance, concerning the future of Konoha and the happiness index of the next generation of Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"

He carefully put away the intelligence scroll and locked it in his most private drawer, feeling a sense of relief.

A bowl of ramen brought the two people closer.

When Minato escorted Kushina back to the entrance of the Uzumaki clan's new residential area, the atmosphere between the two had become very natural.

"Thank you for the ramen today." Kushina stood at the door, thanking them with a rare hint of embarrassment.

"You are welcome."

Minato smiled and said, "I enjoyed my meal very much too."

A gust of evening wind blew by, stirring up a few fallen leaves.

Silence spread between the two.

"Then... I'll go back." Kushina gripped the strap of her backpack and prepared to turn around.

She didn't want it to end like this.

The thought suddenly popped into my head without warning.

She wanted to talk to him again, and she wanted to... eat another bowl of the ramen he recommended.

Impulse overcame reason.

Before she could even react, the words had already slipped out.

"Hello!"

Minato stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.

"Let's eat ramen together tomorrow too!"

The moment she finished speaking, Kushina regretted it.

She felt her cheeks start to burn uncontrollably again.

She didn't dare to look at Shuimen's reaction. Without waiting for his reply, she turned around abruptly and rushed into the residential area like a frightened rabbit.

Minato stood there, stunned.

He watched the fiery red figure disappear around the corner, the girl's words, tinged with urgency and shyness, still echoing in his ears.

After a moment, he finally realized what was happening.

Under the lamplight, the boy slowly revealed a smile more radiant than ever before.