Kenji approached Konoha Hospital shortly before lunchtime.
Naruto was already sitting on the front steps. He had changed back into his ordinary bright orange clothes, though his right shoulder remained heavily bandaged beneath the jacket. Hinata stood quietly beside him, holding a paper bag containing the medicine and discharge instructions he had nearly forgotten on his bedside table.
"They made me stay an entire extra morning," Naruto complained the moment Kenji arrived. "I told them I have Uzumaki vitality, but the nurses wouldn't listen."
Kenji looked at the bandaged shoulder. "Raise your arm."
Naruto lifted his right arm halfway, winced sharply, and immediately dropped it back to his side.
"Fully recovered," Kenji noted.
"It only hurts when I move it," Naruto argued.
"Convenient for a shinobi."
Naruto grumbled something under his breath, then looked up brightly. "The first thing I want after two days of hospital food is Ichiraku. Hinata already agreed."
"Good," Kenji said. "I was heading there anyway."
The heavy glass doors behind them slid open, and Sakura stepped out carrying a small medical pouch.
"Is Sasuke coming?" Naruto asked, looking behind her.
"Sasuke is staying overnight," Sakura said, joining them on the steps. "His ribs are still healing, and the Sound Four forcibly activated his Curse Mark. Karin and Kakashi-sensei are running checks to make sure the suppression seal is stable." She glanced back at the building. "Lady Tsunade also stationed ANBU outside his door after the kidnapping attempt."
"We should bring him ramen," Naruto decided instantly.
"He is on a controlled hospital diet," Sakura corrected.
"Bring the ramen anyway," Kenji suggested. "Eat it directly beside his bed."
Naruto grinned. "That's a great idea."
Sakura looked at both of them. "This is exactly why hospitals need guards."
They took four consecutive seats at Ichiraku Ramen.
Ayame leaned over the counter, noticed the thick bandages visible near Naruto's collar, and called an extra-large pork ramen order toward the kitchen before Naruto could even speak.
The oversized bowl arrived a few minutes later. Naruto snapped his chopsticks apart happily.
"Ramen is not medicine, Naruto," Sakura pointed out from the end of the line.
"Ayame's hands have therapeutic qualities," Kenji said.
Ayame set Kenji's bowl down in front of him. "Don't start."
Kenji caught her wrist and pulled her forward until she stood partly between his knees. His free hand slipped beneath the edge of her white apron and closed firmly over her ass.
Ayame's hips jerked. The serving tray tilted sharply in her hand, and the empty water glass rattled across it before she caught the edge against her stomach.
"Kenji—"
His fingers sank deeper into the soft cheek.
Ayame tried prying his hand loose while keeping the tray balanced. "There are other people here."
Kenji glanced down the counter at Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura. "They already know I eat ramen."
He squeezed again.
Ayame's thighs pressed together for a second before she smacked the top of his head with the damp cleaning cloth and pulled herself out from between his knees.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You still owe me that date."
Kenji gestured broadly around the small noodle shop. "This is the date. Naruto is our chaperone."
Naruto looked up from his noodles, chewing loudly. "Does that mean you're paying?"
"This is not a date," Kenji clarified immediately.
Later in the meal, Ayame leaned across the counter to refill Kenji's water glass. Kenji slipped one hand around her waist and grabbed her ass again.
Ayame's breath caught. The stream of water struck the rim instead of the center, splashing several drops across the counter.
"Behave," she hissed, sharply pinching the back of his hand.
Kenji squeezed the cheek once more before releasing it. Ayame finished pouring, set the jug down harder than necessary, and walked away with a noticeably stiff back.
Hinata blushed and looked down at her broth.
Naruto watched the interaction carefully until Sakura reached over and knocked his chopsticks downward.
"Don't learn from him," Sakura warned.
"He's technically my teacher," Naruto protested.
"Not in this subject."
Naruto went back to eating. A moment later, he casually dropped a thick slice of pork into Hinata's bowl because she had already finished hers. Hinata smiled softly, picked up her chopsticks, and quietly moved a small pile of vegetables Naruto had been avoiding into her own broth.
Kenji watched the silent exchange.
"Are you two exchanging food or negotiating a treaty?" Kenji asked.
"We're eating," Naruto said through a mouthful of noodles.
Hinata simply smiled again and continued her meal.
The fabric flaps rustled, and Team 10 entered the shop after submitting their morning reports. Shikamaru looked tired, Choji was already looking at the menu, and Ino walked in wearing a high-collared purple top despite the warm afternoon weather.
She spotted Kenji immediately. She walked directly over, claimed the empty stool beside him, and took a long drink from his water glass without asking.
Kenji slid his arm around her waist. His hand moved down her back and settled comfortably onto her ass.
Ino did not swat him away, flinch, or complain. She simply shifted closer, resting one hand casually on Kenji's thigh while continuing a conversation with Choji about the formatting of their mission scroll.
Sakura watched from two seats away as Ino continued talking, one hand still resting casually on Kenji's thigh.
Kenji turned slightly, hooked one finger beneath the edge of Ino's high collar, and pulled downward.
Ino slapped his hand away instantly before the fabric could drop.
Sakura noticed that, too.
Ino finally leaned forward, pressing her breasts deliberately against Kenji's arm as she reached across him toward the center of the counter. She caught Sakura staring and offered a knowing, completely unapologetic smile.
Kenji picked up his chopsticks and smoothly lifted a steamed dumpling directly off Sakura's side plate.
"Hey!" Sakura objected.
Ino took a second dumpling from Sakura's plate and ate it while still leaning heavily against Kenji's shoulder.
"You're too slow, forehead," Ino said.
Sakura looked at the empty spot on her plate. Her gaze rose to Ino's suspiciously high collar, then dropped to Kenji's arm around her waist.
Ino caught every second of it.
The group separated outside the shop.
Naruto and Hinata left first, carrying a carefully sealed takeout bowl meant for Sasuke despite Sakura's repeated medical objections. Choji followed them, specifically citing his need to verify that the bowl safely reached its destination without being eaten in transit. Shikamaru muttered that the entire smuggling operation was too troublesome and walked away toward his own home.
Ayame returned to the kitchen while the others filed outside. Kenji remained near the entrance until she came back carrying a stack of empty bowls.
He waited until she turned toward the counter.
His palm cracked sharply across her ass.
Ayame jumped hard enough that the bowls clattered together in her arms. She spun around, face burning, one hand immediately covering the stinging cheek beneath her apron.
"Kenji!"
He slipped through the fabric flaps just before the damp cleaning cloth flew past his head and landed in the street.
Sakura and Ino ended up stepping onto the main street at roughly the same time. Kenji followed them outside.
Ino adjusted her high collar as she walked. The movement shifted the fabric just enough to expose the dark edge of a bruised hickey near her collarbone.
Sakura saw it. She stopped walking entirely.
Ino noticed the exact spot Sakura was staring at. She did not bother adjusting the collar back into place.
"Something interesting, forehead?" Ino asked.
Sakura looked away, but not before her eyes dropped once more toward the mark. "It looks like you were attacked."
Ino smiled. "I was."
Kenji stepped between them from behind. He casually placed his right hand firmly onto Ino's ass. His left arm hooked around Sakura's waist and dragged her ass back against his crotch before she could move aside.
"Why are you two standing in the middle of the street?" Kenji asked.
Ino remained perfectly comfortable under his hand, her gaze flicking toward Sakura. "We were comparing injuries."
Sakura drove an elbow backward into Kenji's ribs, pulled herself free from his grip, and started walking quickly down the street without looking back.
Ino watched her retreat, her smile widening. She cupped a hand around her mouth and called out after her.
"Don't worry, forehead! I'll explain tomorrow!"
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