Chapter 23 - A Ramen Encounter

Arriving at the Ichiraku Ramen stand, Mikumo saw the familiar figure cooking food behind the counter. The stand opened a little bit before Mikumo was born and has been a staple of the village ever since.

Finding an empty seat, Mikumo plopped herself down and rang a bell on the counter.

"Teuchi-san! One large Shio Ramen please!"

"Oh, if it isn't Mikumo-chan! Alright, just give me a sec!"

A few minutes later, Teuchi came over with a big bowl of Shio Ramen and placed it in front of Mikumo.

"Order up! One Shio Ramen, please enjoy!"

Mikumo awe'd at the beautifully topped bowl of ramen in front of her with stars in her eyes.

"I humbly accept this offering from the Sage of Six Bowls, Itadakimasu!"

"Ahaha, what's up with that? Well, enjoy!"

As Mikumo slurped down the delicious bowl of ramen, a pair of customers came in and sat down near her.

"Teuchi-san! Two bowls of Shio Ramen, please."

"You got it, ooh! Minato, and Kushina too, haven't seen you guys in a while, how have you been?"

"We're doing well, thanks for asking!"

Mikumo's hand instantly froze as she heard the names of the new arrivals from Teuchi. Looking to her right, she saw a young Minato and Kushina sitting two seats away from her.

Sensing Mikumo's gaze, Minato looked over and locked eyes with Mikumo. Not wanting to appear weird, Mikumo broke the gaze and returned to eating her ramen.

'Oh wow, I've been wondering where they were for a while now. Who knew I'd run into them here?'

Minato carefully examined Mikumo's side profile for a few moments before Kushina squeezed his ear.

"Ow ow ow!"

"Hey, what're you doing eyeing that girl over there, huh!?"

"Nothing, I just think I recognize her, that's all."

"Hm?"

Mikumo was alerted by the couple's words and looked back over. Kushina leaned over and examined Mikumo as well. A short second later, Kushina's eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Hey, aren't you Mikumo? Sakumo's student?"

Mikumo nodded slowly, surprised to hear that the famous couple knew of her.

Minato smiled gently with a happy expression.

"I knew it! Sakumo-senpai spoke about you all the time. Look, Kushina, she's just like how Senpai described."

Kushina had a suspicious expression on her face as she narrowed her eyes.

"Hmm..."

Mikumo felt a little uncomfortable under her fiery gaze.

"Uhm-"

Before Mikumo could say anything, Kushina moved over from Minato's right and came sat right next to Mikumo, eyeing her closely.

"Hmmmmmmm..."

"C-can I help you?"

As Mikumo asked the question, Kushina suddenly felt up Mikumo with both her hands.

"Eek!"

Kushina's eyes then suddenly lit up.

"It's true! You are a girl!"

"Ahh! Kushina!"

Minato hurriedly pulled Kushina away from Mikumo and bowed over and over rapidly in apology.

"I'm so sorry about her! She means well, I promise!"

"Hey! It's just some skinship between girls, what's the problem?"

Kushina pouted and came to sit back down right next to Mikumo. Mikumo stayed guarded against her, not wanting to get harassed again.

'I guess this is how it feels to be on the receiving end. I've learned a lesson today.'

"Mikumo-chan, are you in the academy right now?"

Kushina's words broke Mikumo out of her thoughts and she nodded cautiously.

"Yes, I'm in my second year currently."

"I see, I see! Sounds like I'm going to have a cute new kouhai soon! My name's Kushina, and this is Minato!"

Kushina introduced herself and Minato with a smile. Mikumo nodded politely in turn.

"Nice to meet you, Kushina-san, Minato-san."

After greeting, then a thought flashed in Mikumo's head and she smirked internally.

"Kushina-san, is Minato-san your boyfriend?"

Mikumo asked with a wide smile.

Kushina's face reddened like a tomato upon hearing the question.

"H-huh what? W-well..."

Kushina simply stared at her fidgeting fingers while Minato smiled warmly at the sight. Mikumo smirked smugly seeing the response she wanted.

'That's what you get! I'm the one who harasses around these parts, know your place!'

Minato chuckled at Mikumo's proud expression, reading that she teased Kushina on purpose.

"So Mikumo-chan, why do you want to become a ninja? I heard about you from Sakumo-senpai that he took a civilian girl as a student but didn't hear much else."

Minato asked in order to distract Kushina from her embarrassment.

"Yeah, Mikumo-chan, tell us about yourself!"

Seeing how Minato skillfully maneuvered Kushina out of her embarrassment, Mikumo lost interest in continuing to tease her.

Mikumo thought for a moment before answering.

"Well, originally it was just because I thought it'd be interesting, and I had the talent for it. My grandmother once asked me this same question, and I wasn't able to give her a clear answer then, but recently I feel like I could now."

Mikumo reminisced on the conversation a year ago with her grandmother Towa, then she thought about the scene she saw this morning.

Minato and Kushina kept quiet to let Mikumo ponder her answer.

'So many kids, eagerly wanting to learn the art of war. It's as Sakumo-sensei once said, we're in the profession of killing, and all those who walk this path can't escape from this reality. All I really wanted was to not live an ordinary life, but now I find myself with people who I enjoy being around. My parents, my classmates, Kurenai, Shizune, Rin, and even Obito and Asuma. Then there's Kakashi, Sakumo-sensei, and Shinku-sensei.'

As Mikumo listed off the bonds she created so far in this life, flashes of memories of the anime went through her head.

'So many of them go through so much suffering, so much death. Was there no other way? Who knows, it was just a show in my previous life. What I do know is this, I'm here now.'

Mikumo looked over to Minato and Kushina, who patiently waited for her answer.

"I want to protect my friends and family. In order to do that, I will do what I must, and become what I must. That's why I'm going to become a Shinobi."

Minato nodded happily at the answer, while Kushina smiled warmly.

"We are of the same mind, Mikumo-chan. I too want to protect the people I care about and the village where they live, to that end, I will become the Hokage!"

Minato said as he gripped Kushina's hand. Kushina blushed deeply and simply held his hand in turn.

Mikumo chuckled, many others might think of these as empty words, but she knew better.

"I believe you, Minato-san. You can do it."

Minato was surprised, as he looked into Mikumo's eyes, he saw no trace of doubt at all.

"Thank you very much, Mikumo-chan. I will do my best to live up to your belief in me. If you ever need any help, just let me know! I owe a lot to Sakumo-senpai as well."

"Hey, don't leave me out of this! You can count on me as well, Mikumo-chan! If anyone ever bullies you, let your sister know, I'll put them in the ground!"

"Ahaha, thank you but please don't, Kushina-san, that's murder."

"Ehe!"

Kushina smiled and then moved the conversation to a lighter tone.

"So, how's your academy experience so far? Any friends in school? Any boys?"

"Friends yes, boys? Ehh."

Mikumo and Kushina chatted happily while Minato listened quietly in the background. Soon, Teuchi came over with two big bowls of Shio Ramen.

"Order up! Two bowls of Shio Ramen, thanks for the business!"

After Teuchi placed the bowls down, Mikumo looked back at her bowl to realize its already cooled. Minato noticed it and laughed apologetically.

"Teuchi-san, one more hot bowl for Mikumo-chan as well, if you please."

Teuchi nodded happily and grinned.

"Alright, one more Shio Ramen, coming right up!"

Kushina clapped her hands together happily upon hearing the order.

"Ooh! You like Shio Ramen too? I knew we had a connection, Mikumo-chan!"

"Hehe, yeah. Anyway, Kushina-nee, where can I find you two love birds when I need some help? I better believe I'll cash in on that offer at some point!"

"Ahaha, what a cheeky sister I have now. I live on the east side of the village in a small villa given to me by the village. Minato lives in the Jonin residence district."

Mikumo marked the areas in her head and nodded.

After this, the trio chatted about random things as they ate their ramen. After the meal, they said their farewells.

"Goodbye!! I'll see you next time, Mikumo-chan!"

"Mikumo-chan, it was very nice to meet you. See you again!"

"Goodbye, you two, take care!"

After parting ways, Mikumo headed home to prepare for the first day of class after her break and the start of the second school year. On the way home, smiled happily about the two new connections she's made.

'They're good people. Now I have two more reasons to get stronger, and two more fates to change. But no problem, after all, I am a genius! Hmph, what Danzo? What Madara? Black Zetsu? One thousand years isn't enough for you to face me! I'll show you all the power of Aizen-sama! It's almost time to start gathering allies for the future ahead.'

Mikumo rushed home, where she started plotting her plans for the future.