Chapter 6: A Bowl of Memories and a Dash of Teasing

Author notes: Hello everyone, I hope all of you reading have been enjoying the story so far. I really do like the idea that is being used here in this story even if other stories have used it before. I wanted to bring in other characters that I would love to see have more attention such as Shizune and I do have plans later on to keep more of the side characters being a part of the story as well. If you have any fun characters you want to see brought in at some point go ahead and let me know and I'll see what I can do with them.

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: At the moment Rin does not see the similarities between Naruto and Minato. She is still focused on getting used to being active again and being in a new time. Some hints will be dropped by people who know and time will tell if she will figure it out.

As Rin and Naruto left the hotel, Naruto's energy seemed boundless. Practically skipping with excitement, he grabbed Rin by the wrist and insisted they head to Ichiraku Ramen. Rin couldn't help but laugh softly, marveling at how effortlessly Naruto's enthusiasm brightened her mood.

"This is it, Rin! The food of the gods! You're gonna love it!" Naruto declared, his grin stretching from ear to ear as they approached the small ramen stand.

Rin followed willingly, her smile softening as she watched him. Despite her lingering exhaustion from training, being around Naruto's infectious optimism made her feel lighter. As she listened to him chatter animatedly, Rin's mind drifted to memories of Obito. His energy, his drive to prove himself, and that unshakable kindness—it all reminded her of the boy she had cared for so deeply. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she walked beside him, lost in bittersweet nostalgia.

At Ichiraku, Teuchi greeted Naruto warmly, while Ayame welcomed them with a knowing grin. "Well, who's this, Naruto? Your girlfriend?"

Naruto blinked, startled. Then, with a wide grin, he shook his head emphatically. "Nah, Rin's just my teammate! We're gonna be the best team ever, right?" he said, turning to her with an earnest smile.

Rin's face flushed slightly as she glanced at Ayame, whose smirk deepened. The playful teasing made Rin feel flustered, but Naruto's sincerity was unmistakable. He wasn't embarrassed—he was just happy to have someone he already saw as a close friend by his side.

Regaining her composure, Rin smiled and shook her head. "Naruto's a great guy so far," she said lightly. "But it's not like that. Besides, even if it were, he'd have to pass Kakashi-sensei's standards first."

Naruto's face lit up with a determined grin. "Kakashi-sensei's standards? Piece of cake! I'll prove myself to him, no problem. You watch!"

Rin chuckled, the tension fading. It was clear Naruto wasn't taking Ayame's teasing seriously—he just wanted to prove himself as a good teammate and friend. That earnestness warmed Rin's heart, even as she felt a pang of nostalgia.

As they dug into their ramen, the atmosphere was filled with lighthearted laughter. Naruto's excitement about forming stronger bonds with his team shone through, while Rin found herself wondering how someone so carefree could still remind her so much of someone she missed deeply.

Unbeknownst to Naruto and Rin, their casual dinner at Ichiraku Ramen had drawn some unintended attention. Just across the street, hidden behind a wooden fence, Sakura and Team 10 had stopped in their tracks at the sight of the two together.

Sakura's eyes narrowed as she watched Rin laugh softly at something Naruto had said. "What could she possibly see in him?" she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms.

Ino, standing beside her, frowned. "Yeah, no way someone as annoying as Naruto could actually be good company. He's probably just tricking her with one of his stupid pranks."

The two girls began whispering furiously, their minds racing with ideas about how to intervene. To them, it was unfathomable that someone new to the village would willingly spend time with Naruto, much less seem to enjoy it.

Meanwhile, a little further back, Shikamaru stood with his hands shoved in his pockets, watching the scene unfold with a disinterested expression. "Troublesome girls," he muttered, shaking his head. "Why do they always make a big deal out of nothing?"

Chouji, munching on a bag of chips, looked over at Shikamaru. "What's going on? Did something happen?"

Shikamaru sighed and jerked his thumb toward the ramen stand. "They're worked up because Naruto's out with that new girl, Rin. Probably think he's up to something when he's just having dinner."

Chouji glanced over, then shrugged. "Doesn't look like a big deal to me."

"Exactly," Shikamaru muttered, exasperated. "But if we stick around, we'll get dragged into whatever dumb scene they're about to cause."

Chouji nodded, finishing the last of his chips. "So, we're leaving?"

"Yeah," Shikamaru said, turning away. "Let's head home before they try to make us part of their drama."

As the two boys walked off, Sakura and Ino continued their hushed plotting. Their imaginations ran wild with the idea that Naruto had somehow manipulated Rin into spending time with him, and they were determined to "rescue" her from his influence.

Inside the ramen stand, however, the atmosphere was nothing but light and warm. Naruto, oblivious to the outside world, slurped his ramen with gusto while Rin smiled at his enthusiasm. For her, it was a rare moment of peace in a world that felt so different from the one she'd left behind.

If only she knew how much noise their quiet dinner was about to stir.

Later that night, as Naruto and Rin stepped out of Ichiraku, their pleasant evening was suddenly disrupted by angry voices calling out to them.

"Hey, Naruto!" Sakura yelled, stomping toward him with Ino close behind. Her expression was livid, her fists clenched at her sides. "What do you think you're doing, tricking Rin into spending time with you?!"

Ino chimed in, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "Yeah, no girl in her right mind would willingly eat ramen with you. You're obviously up to something!"

Naruto froze, caught off guard by the sudden confrontation. "I'm not tricking her!" he said, waving his hands defensively. "We were just having dinner!"

Sakura sneered, taking a step closer. "Shut up, Naruto! Don't try to weasel your way out of this!" She raised her fist, preparing to punch him.

Before her blow could land, Rin's voice rang out sharply. "Kakashi!"

In an instant, Kakashi appeared, catching Sakura's fist effortlessly with one hand. His usual lazy expression was gone, replaced by a calm yet firm demeanor. "Now, now," he said, lowering Sakura's hand. "Is this any way to treat your teammates, Sakura?"

Sakura and Ino stared at Kakashi in shock, their anger momentarily forgotten. Naruto, too, was startled by the sudden appearance of his former sensei. Rin, however, seemed unsurprised.

"What took you so long?" Rin asked, crossing her arms. "I thought you were supposed to be watching your stupid student."

Kakashi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I wanted to see what you'd do first. It's always interesting to see how you handle things."

Rin rolled her eyes, but before she could respond, Kakashi turned to Naruto and gave him a rare, soft smile. "Naruto's special to both of us, after all. I couldn't let things get out of hand."

Naruto blinked, confused. "Special to both of you? What do you mean?"

Kakashi chuckled and said a single word: "Inu."

Naruto's eyes widened in realization. "Wait—that was you?! You were the one watching over me when I was a kid?!"

Kakashi simply shrugged, the faintest hint of a smile still on his face. "Someone had to make sure you didn't get into too much trouble."

Before Naruto could press him further, Kakashi turned back to Sakura and Ino, his tone shifting to one of authority. "As for you two, it seems you need a refresher on how to treat your allies. Remedial lessons it is."

Without another word, Kakashi placed a hand on both girls' shoulders and vanished with them in a puff of smoke, leaving Rin and Naruto standing alone in the quiet street.

Rin frowned slightly, watching the empty space where Kakashi had been. "Special to me too?" she muttered under her breath. The thought left her puzzled and uneasy, as she couldn't quite figure out what Kakashi had meant.

Naruto, oblivious to her inner turmoil, stretched his arms behind his head. "Man, Kakashi-sensei sure knows how to make an exit," he said with a grin. "Well, I guess we should call it a night too."

Rin nodded absentmindedly, following him back to their shared hotel. But as they walked, Kakashi's words lingered in her mind, leaving her with more questions than answers.