Naruto rebirth! Born again with a system.

Chapter 19: Ramen and Revelations!

The familiar scent of miso broth and fresh noodles filled the air as Team 15 approached Ichiraku Ramen, their steps lighter than they had been in days. The weight of their new forehead protectors—still gleaming and unblemished—served as a constant reminder of how dramatically their lives had changed in just a few short hours.

The group now stood outside of Ichiraku ramen shop. The most famous noodle bar in all of Naruto and the hidden leaf.

"Here it is boys..." Tatsuma said, his voice filled with barely contained excitement as he stared at the simple curtained entrance. "I can't believe we're actually here."

"The legendary Ichiraku Ramen," Kōzaru breathed, his eyes wide with wonder as he took in every detail of the humble shop front. "This is where Naruto ate all those bowls. This is where so many important conversations happened."

"I'm actually getting goosebumps," Aotaka admitted, his usual composed demeanour cracking to reveal genuine enthusiasm. "All those episodes, all those manga panels, and now we're actually standing here about to eat at THE ramen stand."

"Well, we shouldn't wait any longer, let's get in!" Tatsuma said eagerly, getting enthusiastic nods from the others as they practically bounced on their feet with anticipation.

"I still can't believe we actually did it," Tatsuma continued, his voice carrying a mixture of disbelief and pure joy as he pushed aside the entrance curtain with reverent care. "We're actually genin now, AND we're about to eat at Ichiraku!"

"This is like a dream come true on multiple levels," Kōzaru replied with a huge grin, settling onto one of the wooden stools with the kind of careful attention someone might give to a historical artifact. Yuki and Riku positioned themselves beside him, sensing their partner's excitement.

An older man with kind eyes and greying hair looked up from his cooking, wiping his hands on his apron as he noticed the new customers. His face carried the warmth of someone who had spent years perfecting his craft and welcoming hungry ninja.

"Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen!" the man said with genuine warmth, his experienced eyes immediately noting the new forehead protectors. "Fresh genin, I see! Congratulations, you three! I'm Teuchi, the owner of this little establishment."

The three teammates exchanged glances filled with barely suppressed excitement. They were actually meeting Teuchi! The legendary ramen chef himself!

"Thank you so much, Teuchi-san!" Aotaka said, bowing deeply in his seat with obvious respect. "We've heard incredible things about this place. Could we have three miso ramen, please? Make mine with extra chashu."

"Same here," Kōzaru added, trying to keep his voice steady despite his excitement, "and maybe some scraps for these two?" He gestured toward his ninja hounds, who wagged their tails at the mention of food.

"And I'll take the same," Tatsuma chimed in, his eyes darting around the interior of the shop, taking in every detail like he was memorizing a sacred space.

"Coming right up!" Teuchi began working with the fluid efficiency of a master craftsman, and all three genin watched in fascination as they witnessed the legendary ramen preparation they had seen so many times in the series.

As they waited for their food, the surreal nature of their situation began to sink in more deeply. They weren't just academy students anymore—they were shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village, sitting in the most famous ramen shop in the ninja world.

"You know what's still blowing my mind?" Tatsuma said, lowering his voice but unable to hide his excitement. "We actually met the Third Hokage. THE Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Professor, the God of Shinobi! And now we're eating at Ichiraku! This is the best day ever!"

"And Shibi Aburame is going to be our jonin instructor," Aotaka added, his fingers unconsciously drumming against the counter with nervous energy. "I've read about the Aburame clan's capabilities in—I mean, I've heard stories about them. Having someone of his calibre personally request to train us... that's not normal, is it?"

Kōzaru nodded thoughtfully, his mind working through the implications while part of him was still marvelling at actually being inside the legendary ramen stand. Through his bond with Yuki and Riku, he could sense their contentment at being in this welcoming place, but also their alertness to his own barely contained excitement.

"No, it's definitely not normal," he agreed. "Which brings up something we need to discuss seriously."

The steaming bowls arrived at that moment, interrupting their conversation as Teuchi set down three perfectly prepared portions of ramen. The rich broth glistened with droplets of oil and the noodles were arranged with artistic precision—exactly like they had always imagined it would be.

"Itadakimasu!" they said in unison, breaking apart their chopsticks with ceremony befitting the moment.

The first taste was everything they had dreamed it would be. Rich, complex, perfectly balanced—it was easy to understand why this place had such a legendary reputation.

"This is incredible," Aotaka said between bites, his usual composed demeanour giving way to obvious amazement. "It's even better than I imagined it would be. No wonder this place is so famous."

"I could eat here every day and never get tired of it," Tatsuma agreed, his second helping already half-finished. "And now that we're genin, we'll actually be earning mission pay. Real money for real ramen at the real Ichiraku!"

"Speaking of real ninja work," Kōzaru said, his tone becoming more serious as he reluctantly set down his chopsticks, "we need to talk about what comes next. And more importantly, how we handle it."

The change in atmosphere was immediate. Both of his teammates recognized the shift from fanboy celebration to strategic planning, their expressions becoming more focused and attentive.

"You're talking about our abilities," Aotaka said, his voice dropping to match Kōzaru's careful tone. "About how much we should show."

"Exactly," Kōzaru confirmed, glancing around to ensure they weren't being overheard. Teuchi was busy with preparation work, and the ramen stand was otherwise empty, but caution had become second nature to all of them.

"Look, we impressed them today—maybe too much," he continued. "The Hokage himself said our development was exceptional, beyond normal expectations. Shibi specifically mentioned that we represented an 'anomalous case' that merited specialized attention."

Tatsuma nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "They're watching us more closely now. Trying to figure out how three academy students developed so quickly."

"Which means we need to be smart about this," Aotaka added. "We can't just keep pushing ahead at full speed without considering the consequences. If we stand out too much, we'll attract the kind of attention that could complicate everything."

The weight of their unique situation settled over them like a familiar burden. They weren't just genin—they were genin with knowledge and capabilities that didn't quite fit the world they found themselves in, and that discrepancy was becoming harder to hide as they advanced.

"So what do you think we should do?" Tatsuma asked, his voice carrying the kind of serious consideration that had emerged during their examination.

"We pace ourselves," Kōzaru said after a moment of thought. "We're good—maybe too good—but we don't need to be the best at everything right away. We let our natural development carry us forward without pushing too hard on the advanced techniques."

"That makes sense," Aotaka agreed. "Focus on solidifying what we have rather than constantly reaching for the next level. Build a reputation for reliability and sound judgment rather than flashy power."

"Plus," Tatsuma added with a somewhat grim smile, "if half the stories about this world are true, we're going to have plenty of opportunities to prove ourselves whether we want them or not. Better to be underestimated and prepared than overhyped and unprepared."

The conversation took on a more serious tone as they considered the realities of their new status. They were no longer students learning about ninja techniques in the safety of the academy—they were active shinobi who would soon be sent on real missions with genuine dangers.

"Speaking of preparation," Kōzaru said, "we all levelled up from the promotion. That means we each have a skill point to allocate."

The mention of their systematic development brought a mixture of excitement and strategic consideration to their expressions. Levelling up was still a novel enough experience that it carried genuine impact, but they had learned to approach such decisions with careful thought rather than impulsive excitement.

"What are you thinking of putting yours into?" Tatsuma asked, his mind already working through the possibilities.

"I'm not sure yet," Kōzaru admitted. "Part of me wants to boost my ninjutsu to get access to more wind techniques, but my taijutsu is already my strongest area and improving it further might be more immediately practical."

"I'm torn between ninjutsu and genjutsu," Aotaka said. "My kenjutsu is solid, but having more diverse techniques could be valuable. Though genjutsu might give me options I don't currently have."

"Ninjutsu is tempting for me too," Tatsuma added. "More chakra-intensive techniques would be useful, especially with my Uzumaki reserves. But I'm also considering taijutsu—being a one-trick pony with shadow clones could be a liability."

They finished their ramen while continuing to discuss their options, but ultimately decided not to make any immediate decisions. The skill points would remain available until they chose to use them, and hasty choices could limit their future development in ways they might regret.

"No rush," Kōzaru concluded as they prepared to leave. "Let's see what kind of missions we get assigned first. Our needs might become clearer once we understand what we'll actually be doing."

As they prepared to pay—disappointed when Teuchi politely declined their attempts to pay extra for the honour of eating at his establishment—the reality of their new independence began to sink in. They had mission pay coming, real responsibilities, and the freedom that came with being recognized adults in the village hierarchy.

"Same time tomorrow?" Aotaka asked as they stepped out into the late afternoon sunlight, taking one last reverent look at the shop that had exceeded even their high expectations.

"Briefing is at 0800, so maybe meet at 0745?" Kōzaru suggested. "Give us time to coordinate before we meet Aburame-sensei."

"Sounds good," Tatsuma agreed. "I want to get some training in tonight anyway. Maybe work on some basic techniques with shadow clones, see if I can improve my efficiency and how fast I can improve my skills!"

"Training sounds like a good idea," Aotaka nodded. "I've been wanting to work more with my sword techniques. My uncle gave me some scrolls along with the blade—might be time to start studying them seriously."

As they parted ways, each heading toward their respective homes, the magnitude of their transformation continued to settle over them. They were genin now, with all the opportunities and dangers that status entailed. Tomorrow would bring their first official mission briefing, and with it, the beginning of their real careers as shinobi.

But tonight was for preparation, for family, and for the quiet satisfaction of a goal achieved through hard work and determination—and the incredible memory of finally eating at the legendary Ichiraku Ramen.

Kōzaru made his way through the familiar streets of the Inuzuka compound, Yuki and Riku bounding alongside him with the kind of satisfied energy that came from a successful day and a good meal. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows between the buildings, and the air carried the distinctive scents of the various ninja hounds that called the compound home.

As he approached his family's house, he could see his mother waiting on the front porch, her expression mixing pride with the kind of maternal concern that never quite went away regardless of her child's accomplishments.

"There's my genin son," Mika Inuzuka said, her voice carrying the rough affection that characterized most Inuzuka interactions. "Word travels fast in this village. I heard about your promotion before you even left the academy grounds."

"Really?" Kōzaru asked, settling onto the porch steps beside her as Yuki and Riku sprawled in their favourite sunny spot.

"The Hokage himself was there to observe your examination," she continued, her tone becoming more serious. "That doesn't happen for routine promotions, son. That means you three impressed some very important people."

Kōzaru nodded, understanding the implications of her observation. "It was... intense. More challenging than I expected, but in good ways. We learned a lot about working together."

"Tell me about it," Mika said, settling back to listen with the kind of focused attention that made it clear this was more than casual curiosity.

For the next twenty minutes, Kōzaru recounted the day's events—the individual assessments, the coordination disaster that became a coordination success, and the ethical reasoning exercise that had concluded their examination. His mother listened with growing interest, occasionally asking for clarification or additional detail.

"Shibi Aburame requested to be your instructor?" she asked when he finished, her eyebrows rising with surprise. "That's... unusual. The Aburame don't typically involve themselves in training outside their own clan unless there's a specific strategic reason."

"That's what we figured," Kōzaru admitted. "We think he suspects something about our development. Maybe not what, but definitely that there's more to it than normal academy training."

Mika was quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful as she processed the information.

"Well," she said finally, "whatever he suspects, he's also one of the most competent jonin in the village. If you're going to have someone watching you closely, better it be someone who can actually teach you something valuable. Besides, Lord Hokage knows what he is doing." She added.

She stood up, stretching with the kind of casual strength that reminded Kōzaru that his mother was a formidable ninja in her own right.

"Speaking of teaching," she continued, her voice taking on the tone that meant training was about to commence, "your promotion means it's time to step up your clan techniques. You've mastered the basics of working with Yuki and Riku it would seem, but there's a lot more to Inuzuka fighting styles than basic coordination."

Kōzaru felt a familiar mixture of excitement and apprehension. His mother's training sessions were always effective, but they were also invariably exhausting and more than occasionally painful, such that of his memories in this body told him anyway.

"What did you have in mind?" he asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

"Beast Mimicry: All-Fours Jutsu," Mika said with the kind of satisfied smile that suggested she was looking forward to the training as much as he was dreading it. "It's time you learned to truly fight like the pack hunter you're meant to be." She said, crossing her arms over her chest with a frightening smile appearing on her face.

Kōzaru suppressed a groan. He had seen his mother and other adult Inuzuka use the All-Fours technique before in his memory. Along with remembering Kiba using it in the anime.

While it was undeniably effective, it was also physically demanding and required a level of chakra control and body modification that pushed genin capabilities to their limits, meaning it would not be easy. Still, it would certainly come in useful and surley boost his taijutsu skill to the extreme. Causing Kōzaru to think about the implications of the technique mixed into his fighting style.

"Tonight?" he asked, though he knew the answer already.

"Tonight," she confirmed. "No time like the present, and you'll need every advantage you can get once you start taking real missions. The All-Fours jutsu isn't just about mobility—it's about becoming something more than human when the situation demands it, increasing your strength and speed. Now follow me runt."

As they headed toward the family training area behind the house, Kōzaru reflected on how rapidly his life was changing. This morning he had been an academy student preparing for his genin examination. Tonight he would be learning advanced clan techniques in preparation for real missions that could involve genuine danger.

This is going to be tough, he thought as his mother began explaining the theoretical basis for the All-Fours technique. But he was an Inuzuka, and Inuzuka didn't back down from challenges—they met them head-on with fangs bared and pack at their side...

Across the village, Tatsuma climbed the stairs to his small apartment with the satisfied exhaustion that came from a day of significant achievement. The building was modest but well-maintained, and his unit on the third floor provided him with the privacy and independence that his unique situation required.

As an orphan with no family ties to complicate his cover story, Tatsuma had found certain advantages in his circumstances, but also a kind of loneliness that his teammates couldn't fully understand. Success felt different when there was no one waiting at home to share it with—more personal, perhaps, but also more solitary. Something he hadn't considered before getting reincarnated in this world.

He unlocked his door and stepped into the neat, sparsely furnished space that he had made his own over the past few days. The main room served as both living area and training space, with enough open floor for kata practice and shadow clone exercises. A small kitchen adjoined the main room, and a single bedroom and bathroom completed the modest layout.

Home, he thought, setting his forehead protector carefully on the small table that served as his desk. The word still felt strange when applied to this place, but it was becoming more natural as time passed.

His promotion to genin meant that his financial situation would improve significantly—mission pay was substantially better than the small stipend provided to academy students—but more importantly, it meant that his training could become more intensive and focused.

"Alright," he said to the empty room, "time to see what I can really do."

He formed the familiar hand seals, feeling his chakra respond with the smooth efficiency that came from countless hours of practice that he had put into using this skill, regardless of his starting out with it as a perk.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

[CHAKRA: 174/174 → 99/174]

Three perfect copies of himself materialized in the room, their presence immediately filling the small space with focused energy and shared purpose.

"We've got work to do," he said to his clones, who nodded with identical expressions of determination. "I want to push our limits tonight—see how much we can improve our efficiency and coordination, not only that but to test the limits of this system and see how much we can improve."

The first clone moved to the small bookshelf where he kept his training scrolls and technical manuals. "Research and theory," it announced. "I'll work on understanding advanced applications."

The second clone positioned itself in the centre of the room's open area. "Kata and physical conditioning. If we're going to be taking real missions, our base physical capabilities need to be flawless."

Tatsuma himself settled into a meditative position, focusing on chakra control exercises he had learned at the academy before inhabiting this body. That would improve his efficiency with shadow clone creation and management. The technique was powerful, but it was also demanding, and any improvements in energy usage would translate directly into combat effectiveness.

For the next two hours, the apartment hummed with focused activity as four versions of Tatsuma worked on different aspects of his development. The clone studying theory made notes on advanced chakra manipulation techniques, the clone practicing kata refined his physical forms to near-perfection, and Tatsuma himself pushed his chakra control to new levels of precision along with his other clone.

When he finally dispelled the clones, the rush of shared experience and accumulated fatigue hit him like a wave, but it was accompanied by the satisfaction of genuine improvement. His shadow clone technique was more efficient, his physical conditioning was enhanced, and his theoretical understanding of advanced techniques had expanded significantly.

What more, he had gained a level of experience that he could now see within the system itself, giving him a better indication that he could grow stronger without completing quests.

EXP earned x 0.6 thanks to shadow clone technique (One shadow clone = 0.2). The system alerted him, giving him the notification and showing him the numbers.

50 EXP + x 0.6 bonus = 80 EXP.

Tatsuma.

Uzumaki Clan: Level 4: EXP (80/500) Skill points available: 1

Health: 120 + (4×2) = 128.

Chakra: 140 + (7×2) + Uzumaki Bonus = 174.

Taijutsu: 4,

Ninjutsu: 7,

Genjutsu: 4,

Kenjutsu: 4.

Abilities: Shadow Clone Jutsu: Cost 25 chakra per clone.

Shadow Clone Shuriken: Cost 20 chakra.

Special: Enhanced endurance + 20 points to chakra.

Tatsuma could see that he had increased his exp points thanks to a small amount of training, and also gained a boost thanks to using his shadow clones, something he would certainly be making more use of in the future.

As he prepared for bed, Tatsuma reflected on the strange path that had brought him to this point. Tomorrow would bring his first official mission as a genin of the Hidden Leaf Village, and with it, the beginning of the next phase of his development as a shinobi.

He was ready.

In the Senju compound, Aotaka knelt in the private training area behind his family's house, his sword laid across his knees as he studied the scrolls that had come with the ancient blade. The late afternoon sun filtered through the trees, creating patterns of light and shadow that seemed to dance with the written instructions for advanced kenjutsu techniques.

His family had been as proud of his promotion as he had expected, but they had also been realistic about what it meant for his future development and safety. The Senju clan understood better than most the responsibilities and dangers that came with active ninja service, and they had wasted no time in ensuring he was prepared for what lay ahead, being some of the last pure Senju in the village.

"The Leaf-Cutting Technique requires precise chakra flow and perfect timing," he read from the scroll, his eyes following the detailed diagrams that illustrated proper hand positions and energy circulation patterns. "The blade becomes an extension of the user's chakra network, allowing for enhanced cutting power and reach."

He set the scroll aside and lifted his sword, feeling its familiar weight and balance in his hands. The weapon had served his family well during its own career, and now it would serve a new generation of Senju warriors.

"Chakra Flow," he murmured, beginning the careful process of channelling his energy into the blade. The technique was one he had chosen to start with, paying skill points to have it. But the scrolls contained refinements and improvements that promised to enhance its effectiveness significantly, something he planned to learn.

[CHAKRA: 123/123 → 103/123]

The sword began to glow with a faint blue aura as his chakra integrated with the metal, and he could feel the weapon's cutting potential increase dramatically. But more than that, he could sense the deeper connection between user and tool that characterized true kenjutsu use.

For the three hours, he practiced the forms described in the scrolls, his movements becoming more fluid and precise as muscle memory integrated with theoretical knowledge. The Leaf-Cutting Technique was demanding, requiring both physical skill and chakra control, but he could feel his competence improving with each repetition, having wondered the same thing as his friend Tatsuma on how it might impact his system.

Aotaka,

Senju Clan: Level 4: EXP (50/500) Skill points available: 1

Health: 140 + (4×2) + Senju bonus = 168.

Chakra: 120 + (4×2) = 123.

Taijutsu: 4,

Ninjutsu: 4,

Genjutsu: 4,

Kenjutsu: 7.

Abilities: Lightning Style (Static Force) Cost 20 chakra.

Chakra Flow into Weapon: Cost 20 chakra.

Special: Enhanced strength and endurance + 20 points to health.

"Seems I was right..." Aotaka said to himself aloud as he wiped the sweat from his brow, seeing that he had also gained 50 exp from his training.

Seems we can grow stronger without levelling up too, just as I thought.

As the sun began to set, casting longer shadows across the training area, Aotaka reflected on the day's achievements and the challenges that lay ahead. He was a genin now, with all the responsibilities and opportunities that status entailed. His promotion meant that his training could become more intensive and focused, but it also meant that the stakes of his development had increased significantly. He was no longer a helpless Naruto nerd in his old world. Now he was a Senju, one with the power to forge his own future in the world of Naruto.

Tomorrow would bring his first official mission briefing under Aburame-sensei's supervision, and with it, the beginning of his real career as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village. Tonight was for preparation, and for the quiet satisfaction of skills refined and capabilities enhanced.

He was ready for whatever came next.