Chapter 92: Ramen Shop Fortress Plan
In the morning, the Ichiraku Ramen Shop hadn't hung up its "Open" curtain yet, but the atmosphere inside was even more heated than during peak dining hours.
A land deed was slapped onto the table with a loud "thwack."
"We got it!"
Teuchi stood with hands on his hips, his face beaming with pride.
"The plot next door is officially our territory now!"
Ayame, Kin, and Tayuya gathered around the paper, their eyes sparkling.
Kaguya Kaede glanced at Haruko, who was calmly sipping tea nearby, and wore a knowing expression.
Teuchi waved his hand grandly, looking at the girls around the table with immense pride: "Since we have new territory, everyone speak up—how should we renovate?"
Ayame was the first to raise her hand: "I want an independent dessert preparation room! And a display case, the kind with transparent glass, so I can arrange the little cakes beautifully!"
"For me, I'd like a staff break room..." Kaguya Kaede twirled a lock of hair with her finger, her eyes never leaving Haruko, "Preferably the kind where... no matter how much noise is made inside, it can't be heard outside."
Haruko, who was drinking tea, almost spat a mouthful out.
"If possible, I'd also like a changing room," Kin added. "That way, I won't have to borrow Sister Ayame's room to change into my work uniform every time."
"I think things are fine as they are, but if I had to say, it would be nice if the front counter and the kitchen were a bit larger," Tayuya offered her opinion.
"Haruko, what about you?" Teuchi looked toward Haruko, who had remained silent while drinking tea.
"I want to install a ton of defenses for the shop."
The moment Haruko spoke, the originally noisy shop instantly fell silent.
"...What?" Teuchi doubted he had heard correctly.
"Defenses," Haruko stood up, walked to the land deed, and lightly traced a circle on the layout with his fingertip. "I plan to set up barriers in the shop. If we can coordinate this during the renovation, the effect will be even better."
Ayame blinked: "Brother Haruko, the barriers you're talking about... are they the kind Ninjas use?"
"Exactly," Haruko nodded. "The preliminary plan is to set up a three-layer barrier."
"Th-Three layers?" Teuchi became increasingly bewildered.
"The first layer is an Anti-Reconnaissance Perception Barrier. It's used to block things like Byakugan penetration and sensory Ninjutsu, as well as to distort light so people from a distance can't see clearly."
"..."
"The second layer is a Defense Barrier. As for the strength standard... it should at least be able to easily withstand Ninjutsu attacks from a Jonin. Although I'd like it to be strong enough to block a Tailed Beast Ball, that's a bit difficult and won't be needed in the short term, so we can hold off on that for now."
"..."
"The third layer is a Chakra Suppression Barrier. It forcibly suppresses the flow of Chakra within the shop. Except for those with specific tags, everyone else in the shop will only be able to act as ordinary people. This will prevent anyone from causing trouble."
"..."
"Old Man, what do you think? I'm thinking of adding a Genjutsu Barrier or a Restraint Barrier, and a Wide-Area Surveillance Barrier would be good too..."
"..."
After a long silence, Teuchi tremblingly raised his hand, pointing at the poor land deed: "Haruko... we're just opening a Ramen Shop, not building the Hokage Building, and certainly not a shelter for the Daimyos Estate... are you trying to turn Ichiraku Ramen into a war fortress?"
"Old Man, you don't understand."
Haruko spread his hands righteously: "This is called a necessary investment for a 'peaceful life." In case the Nine-Tailed ever comes out for a stroll again, or some blind rogue Ninja comes to the village to commit a terrorist attack, we'll have to rely on these few walls to save our lives."
In this high-risk Ninja World, nothing was more of a luxury than "safety," especially in the disaster-prone Konoha Village.
First there was Orochimaru's Konoha Crush plan, and later there would be Brother Chao carrying rice. There were also all sorts of random small-time villains shouting slogans about destroying Konoha to stir up trouble.
To live a peaceful life, one had to make a ton of preparations.
"Brother Haruko, is there some kind of danger...?"
"Darling is always so careful about safety."
"Then if enemies come, will we be able to counter-kill them in the shop?"
"As long as I'm with everyone... I'll like whatever kind of barrier it is."
Teuchi looked at these children and finally sighed with a smile: "Fine, let's build the safest Ramen Shop ever!"
"Then it's settled," Haruko finalized. "I'll handle the technical issues and find a way to get the materials. When the time comes, I'll just coordinate with the renovation master..."
...
The discussion ended, and everyone continued their preparations for opening the shop.
The excitement of the expansion hadn't faded yet, and the girls were still chatting away.
"Yo, why is it so lively?"
A silver-haired man lifted the curtain and walked in. His left eye was covered by his forehead protector, and his right eye scanned the room listlessly before finally stopping on Haruko.
"It seems I've come at a bad time?"
"Sorry, the shop isn't open yet. If you want ramen, please come back later," Haruko glanced at the newcomer and continued his work.
"I'm not here for ramen; I'm here for you," Kakashi Hatake walked to the counter. "During the Chunin Exams, I will be your supervising Jonin. The team has been finalized."
Haruko nodded: "Understood."
"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, meet at Training Ground Three. Don't be late." After saying that, Kakashi Hatake turned and left, crisp and efficient.
"The King of Tardiness has the nerve to say don't be late; no wonder he covers his face." Looking at Kakashi's disappearing back, Haruko curled his lip.
"Speaking of which, he didn't even say who the teammates are... whatever, it doesn't matter. It's just a low-level match anyway. I'll find out when we meet tomorrow."
At noon, the number of customers in the shop gradually increased.
"Haruko! I heard you're participating in the Chunin Exams?"
Before Anko Mitarashi even entered the door, her loud voice had already drifted in.
"You know too?" Haruko watched as she sat down on her own, and his eye twitched.
'One after another... if you're not eating, then get out, hey!"
"Nonsense, I'm your former supervising Jonin." Anko picked up the teapot on the table and poured herself a cup.
"By the way, my team is also participating. You might even run into your former teammates~"
"I see," Haruko seemed uninterested and casually asked another question, "Speaking of which, what about Kenya and Megumi?"
"Those two who were sent back to the academy? They aren't my responsibility anymore." Anko's expression was a bit subtle.
"They probably don't even have the qualifications to sign up." Anko shrugged with a 'that's reality' look on her face. "This Joint Chunin Exams is a stage for the major hidden villages to show off their strength; only the elite can take the field. Those Genin who haven't even done a few C-Rank Missions would just be going to their deaths."
Cruel, but that was the Ninja World.
"Good luck, kid. This Joint Chunin Exams won't be simple," Anko patted Haruko's shoulder. "With your strength, there shouldn't be a problem, but don't get careless and mess up."
"I know."
Haruko was completely unperturbed; he was currently more concerned about something else.
"Teacher Anko, can you help me get some things? Chakra-conductive metal, special ink for sealing techniques, and these few specific minerals..."
He reeled off a list of expensive materials.
Anko was stunned as she listened: "What do you want these for? Building a fortress?"
"Renovating the Ramen Shop."
"..." Anko looked at the old walls around them, her expression saying his excuse was incredibly perfunctory.
"I can keep an eye out for you. But there's a condition."
"What condition?"
"Accompany me in practicing Natural Energy later." Anko blinked. "I heard from the Old Man that your level of manipulating Natural Energy has improved again."
Haruko sighed, which was within his expectations.
"Fine."
"Then it's a deal!" Anko slapped her thigh, laughing like a fox that had stolen a chicken. "I'll come find you at your house then! Wash up and wait for your big sister!"
After saying that, she rushed out like the wind, leaving behind a room full of meaningful stares.
Especially Kaguya Kaede—the amusement in her eyes made a chill run down Haruko's back.
"It's just a transaction." Haruko raised his hands innocently. "A pure transaction of money and flesh... bah, I mean, a pure technical transaction."
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