Ramen Doodles

By Andrew J. Talon

Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.

Anyway, here's another trope: Fourth member of Team 7. In this case I'll just add another trope to it...

At Ichiraku Ramen... After the Sand/Sound Invasion...

Ayame: "Huh?!"

Anko: "Listen. I know it's not ideal but we need all the ninja we can get after and you two are on the reservist lists."

Ayame: "But the restaurant!"

Teuchi: "We'll be all right, Ayame. We've got enough saved up I can hire some extra help. Besides, without ninja, we wouldn't have our business!"

Ayame: "Well... All right. But keep in mind, my skills aren't exactly combat focused."

Anko: "That's not what we're focusing on for you anyway, so don't worry!"

Later... At Team 7's meeting place...

Naruto: "Eh?! Ayame-nee-chan? Why are you here-And dressed like a ninja?!"

Ayame: *sigh* "Reserve genin Ayame Ichiraku, reporting for duty."

Sakura: "You're a reserve ninja?!"

Ayame: "Sure!" *She forms hand seals and shoots a Fireball from her mouth into the air* "I learned this stuff to help out since my dad was a ninja. I did my time as a genin, and then I retired to join the reserves!"

Naruto: "You were a ninja?! Your dad was a ninja?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

Ayame: *giggles* "You didn't ask, silly! Anyway, I'm a bit rusty on anything for combat so if you could uh, help me get back into shape?"

Sakura: "I-!"

Sasuke: *too quickly* "Of course. I'd be happy to. This way."

Naruto: "Hey! I'll help her too!"

Sakura: ... Did... I just get competition?!

Team Seven accompanies Naruto to Ichiraku's Ramen. Sasuke sees a picture on the wall and does a double-take.

Sasuke: "Th-that picture...? Why do you have a picture of him on your wall."

Ayame: "Who? Oh, that's Hitoshi and Itachi, we were Genin together for a while before they got promoted and I got moved to the Genin Corps. I think they stuck me on the team because I was the only girl not in love with Itachi-san in our year. I haven't talked to either of them in ages, though."

Sasuke: "... You... Weren't in love with... him?"

Ayame: "No. He was kind of a dork, really. He just kept gushing about you and how you were coming along as a ninja. And he had a thing for his cousin? So that was weird."

Sasuke: "... I see..."

Ayame: "But he was a friend. Or at least... I mean... I thought he was." She sees the look on Sasuke's face "... I'm sorry."

Sasuke: "..." nods slowly

Sakura: "Uhhh... SO! Ayame-san, what kind of... Jutsu do you know?"

Ayame: "Oh! Uh, a few! Fire jutsus mostly. To warm food and cook with! And maybe one to show off a little... Uh..."

Ayame does some hand seals, and produces a short ribbon of flame she weaves in the air. She dances a bit too with the flames, outside of the stand, much to Naruto and Sakura's awe. Sasuke looks almost... Wistful.

Ayame: "Ta dah! I do it for extra tips sometimes!"

Sakura: "Wow!"

Naruto: "That's pretty cool!"

Ayame: "Um, what did you think Sasuke?"

Sasuke: "... My... Mother did flame dancing. A long time ago."

Ayame: "Oh yeah! She'd do demonstrations at the Academy for the girls! It was... It was really nice of her."

Sasuke: again, slowly nods, and resumes eating in silence

Later... Ayame had not been suited for the Sasuke Retrieval Mission. She just wasn't combat capable enough. She had at least accompanied the recovery team... And seen what had happened to all the members of the team. Her basic medic training let her help keep them alive, at least.

But seeing Naruto and so many of the other genin she'd become close to in that state... It was horrible.

She visited Naruto, Kiba, Neji, Lee, Chouji, and Shikamaru in the hospital, to make sure they were recovering and in good health. Naruto of course wanted to immediately run off and try again, but Jiraiya, Kakashi and Tsunade had all forbade him from doing it. Ayame had tried to cheer him up, but his frustration had been insurmountable. Ayame had sighed, and headed off.

She took a simple courier mission to try and get her mind off the situation... And ended up being taken captive.

Hakkuku: "Hahahaha! I'll get the secret to your father's delicious ramen, and revenge for him defeating me in the post-war cook offs!"

Ayame: "Er... Isn't this a bit extreme?"

Hakkuku: "You have any idea the humiliation I have suffered?! Being shown up at every single cooking contest by a mere ramen stand owner?!"

Ayame: "Hey! Don't talk about my father like that!"

Hakkuku: "I'll talk about your father any way I please, you little whore!"

He moves to backhand Ayame... And his wrist is caught in a strong grip.

Hakkuku: "HEY! Who the hell are... You...?"

He looks up in astonishment and terror into the cold Sharingan eyes of Itachi Uchiha.

Ayame: gapes

Hakkuku: "Who... You can't be-!"

Itachi: "You will flee. Now."

Hakkuku and his fellow cooking ninja all flee in blind panic and terror, leaving Itachi alone with Ayame. Ayame trembled, but managed to lock her eyes onto Itachi's. She knew it was suicidal, but... She was up against Itachi! What difference did it make?! She was dead anyway!

Itachi: "... Are you hurt?"

Ayame: "H-Huh?!"

Itachi: "Are you hurt?"

Ayame: "N... No... I... Itachi? Why?"

Itachi: "..." Turns away "It was... A whim."

Ayame: "A-A whim?!"

Itachi: "You are part of my old life. I have no interest in those old bonds... Save for where it might amuse me."

It had been a long time. Itachi was a genius ninja, a true prodigy. But Ayame had known him for most of her childhood, and she knew him. She knew...

Ayame: "... That's a lie."

Itachi was silent.

Ayame: "You're lying, Itachi. I could always tell. Why did you do this?"

Itachi: "... Please. Give my regards to Sasuke."

Ayame: "I can't... He ran off. To Orochimaru. All just to try and kill you."

Ayame was angry. She was so helpless... She couldn't do anything... So she did something stupid. She stood up and yelled.

Ayame: "All because of you! You bastard! How could you do that to him?! How could you do any of it?! Why?!"

Itachi was suddenly facing her, Sharingan eyes burning. Ayame started, her heart pounding, but she glared back in defiance.

Itachi: "... You were always stupid to stare me in the eyes."

Ayame: "Y-yeah, well... We can't all be geniuses, can we? Are you going to kill me, or-or what?!"

Itachi: "..." He closed his eyes "Take care of yourself, Ayame."

He vanished into a flock of crows. Ayame blinked, and looked around. She was all alone.

Ayame: "The hell was that...?"

Because Ayame is a lot of fun to write.