Within the Pure Land, the Uchiha clan's territory still retained the rustic appearance it had in the world of the living. Bluestone-paved paths stretched deep into the clan grounds.
Uchiha Tajima, guided by a member of his clan, arrived here.
"Long time no see, Tajima."
A voice tinged with a smile sounded from beside him as Uchiha Yuto walked over at an unhurried pace.
Uchiha Tajima froze on the spot. He looked up, carefully sizing up the man before him, his tone filled with surprise and disbelief. "Clan Head Yuto?"
"It's me."
Uchiha Yuto nodded with a smile and stepped forward, naturally taking hold of his arm. "I've been waiting here for you for quite a while. Never thought you'd live this long. Come on, I'll take you inside to meet the past clan heads."
With that, he led Tajima toward the inner courtyard. The moment they stepped through the gate, they ran into Uchiha Yui, who was hurrying along.
Uchiha Yui's gaze fell on Tajima. Her brow lifted slightly as she spoke casually, "New arrival?"
"Tajima, let me introduce you. This is Clan Head Yui."
Uchiha Yuto said with a smile, turning slightly as he made the introduction.
Tajima quickly followed the etiquette of the living world, bowing slightly. "Greetings, Clan Head Yui."
"Oh, forget it."
Uchiha Yui waved her hand, clearly unconcerned. "This is the Pure Land. We're all dead here... what hierarchy is there to speak of? No need for all that formal nonsense."
"Clan Head Yui, heading out?", Uchiha Yuto asked casually.
Uchiha Yui glanced down at the phone in her hand, tapping it lightly with her fingers. Her tone carried a hint of cheerfulness. "Found a restaurant in the Pure Land with amazing reviews. I'm heading there to check it out. Catch you later."
With that, she turned and left without another word, her figure quickly disappearing at the end of the road.
Uchiha Tajima stared in confusion at the strange glowing object in her hand, completely baffled, unable to make sense of what it was.
Seeing his bewildered expression, Uchiha Yuto chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Tajima, you've just arrived in the Pure Land. You'll need a few days to adjust. The world of the dead is far more interesting than the living."
Tajima nodded blankly. Then the questions that had been lingering in his mind surged up, and he couldn't hold them back any longer.
"Clan Head Yuto, has my grandfather arrived? I remember he passed before me. Logically, he should have reached the Pure Land earlier."
Tajima clearly remembered that his grandfather had died before him. By all reasoning, he should have settled here long ago.
The smile on Uchiha Yuto's face suddenly stiffened. He snapped back to his senses, instantly recalling the elder Tajima was referring to.
"That's not right! The clan elder… he's never come to the Pure Land!", Yuto blurted out in shock, his expression changing abruptly.
Then, a chilling thought flashed through his mind, sending a cold shiver down his spine. Even his voice carried a note of disbelief.
"Wait! Are you saying the clan elder is still alive even now?!"
———
Two full months had passed since Arisu's death, the incident that had shaken all of Konoha.
During these two months, Konoha's higher-ups had devoted themselves entirely to preparations for the Hokage election.
On the surface, the village appeared calm as ever, but beneath it, undercurrents surged, and a subtle tension hung in the air on the eve of leadership change.
Right in the most central, golden stretch of Konoha's main avenue, where foot traffic was at its densest...
A brand-new eatery quietly opened. Its simple wooden storefront carried a faint warmth of everyday life, standing out amid the bustling streets.
The shop was run by a middle-aged man with an easygoing demeanor and neatly trimmed facial hair.
And a mysterious man who always wore a mask, revealing only a pair of emerald-green eyes.
Inside the kitchen, steam billowed as rich aromas spread through the air, carrying the fragrance of noodles.
Kakuzu wore a plain apron completely at odds with his usual aura. His fingers deftly measured out seasonings as he muttered under his breath about the proportions of the secret broth, "First, a pinch of fine salt to bring out the flavor. Then a few drops of fragrant vinegar to cut the grease. Finally, top it off with springy, chewy narutomaki…"
He was fully focused on preparing his signature ramen.
"Kakuzu, your skills are getting better and better. Not bad."
The middle-aged man beside him smiled, his tone casual and teasing. "In a few days, this old man... no, I... will give you a raise."
Kakuzu's face instantly filled with helplessness he couldn't hide. He let out a quiet sigh. "Old master, many thanks for your generosity."
"Hahaha, no need to be so polite. From now on, just call me Old Master.", Arisu laughed heartily.
Kakuzu nodded silently, feeling utterly resigned.
If he hadn't personally witnessed the unfathomable, heaven-defying power of the man before him, he would have already risked everything to find a way to escape.
Just a few days ago, he had still been locked inside Konoha's prison. When he heard news of Arisu's death, he had secretly begun plotting his escape.
But the very next moment, Arisu appeared alive right before him. What truly terrified him was how the man's appearance slowly changed before his eyes... the marks of age fading away as his years reversed, returning him directly to a middle-aged form.
That incomprehensible ability completely extinguished any thoughts Kakuzu had of rebelling or fleeing.
"Kakuzu, the shop just opened. We need a catchy name for it. What do you think we should call it?"
Arisu pulled his thoughts back and turned with a smile to ask.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes slightly and pondered for a moment before speaking. "How about 'Konoha Old Tavern'?"
Arisu's face darkened instantly, "Forget it, forget it. Let's just call it Ichiraku Ramen."
"Even if ramen is our main dish, we can't just serve that. I'll give you several fast-food recipes later. Memorize them carefully and learn how to make them properly."
Arisu added in a more serious tone.
He still remembered many fast-food recipes from his previous life.
"Understood.", Kakuzu nodded solemnly.
Just as the two were talking, Ichiraku Ramen welcomed its first customers since opening.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo walked in side by side, stepping into the shop at an unhurried pace.
"A new shop, huh. Not bad. Looks quite clean."
Hiruzen's gentle gaze swept over the tidy interior as he led Danzo to a seat and sat down slowly.
Danzo followed behind, his eyes quickly scanning the shop. The corners of his mouth curled slightly with interest as he gave a faint nod.
"Shop owner, securing this location for your store wasn't easy, was it? To get a spot in Konoha's central golden district… could it be you greased the hands of the higher-ups to get approval?", Danzo said with a teasing smile.
This area was the most prosperous core of Konoha, with endless streams of people and limitless business opportunities. Any shop here would inevitably thrive.
Danzo couldn't understand why the higher-ups would grant such a valuable location to what appeared to be an ordinary ramen shop.
Kakuzu's expression remained calm and unchanged. He looked up at Danzo and replied evenly, "This plot was personally approved and reserved by the First Hokage before his death. We merely happened to inherit this great fortune."
Arisu, standing nearby, let out a faint, silent chuckle.
He had approved the land for himself before he died.
Otherwise, such a prime location would have long been claimed by others. There was no way it would still be available.
"You two, even the First Hokage said our ramen tasted good after trying it. Would you like to give it a try?"
Arisu asked with a slight smile.
Danzo and Hiruzen's eyes lit up. "If even the First Hokage has tasted it, then we have to try it!"
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