Something told him that it was made for him, but that was a discussion for another time.
Though he was certain to test it out more in the future, today he just didn't feel like doing anything else, and simply wanted to hang out with Tayuya and have a good time with her. Plus it was ramen hour; the most important time of the day. There was no way in hell he was skipping it.
"Yo, oji-san!" Naruto exclaimed, taking a seat at the serving desk alongside Tayuya and raising a hand to the chef. "Two miso here!"
"Coming right up, Naruto," Teuchi exclaimed, immediately pulling out two baskets of freshly cooked noodles from the pot and two bowls. The clacking of knives against a chopping board told everyone in the stall that the food was being made right there, which brought smiles to the young customers.
"Would you guys like anything to drink?" Ayame asked, looking between the pair smiling comfortably where they were.
"I'll have some green tea please," Tayuya spoke.
"Same. We'll split a pot."
The waitress giggled as she pulled out a couple of cups and moved to start boiling the water. "You two are in an awfully chipper mood today. Did something good happen?"
"You could say that," Tayuya replied with a shrug.
"We just got through with filling in all our paperwork to become Genin and had our official profile photos taken today," Naruto stated proudly. He grabbed his jacket and adjusted the zipper on it all cool style and grinned up at the manager's daughter across the counter. "You're looking at two new shinobi of Konohagakure, Ayame-neechan."
"Wow. Good work you guys," Ayame congratulated, fishing out serviettes while looking between the couple. "I assume team assignments are coming up at the end of the week. Do you think you'll be placed on the same squad together?"
Tayuya took on a bit of a disappointed look and glanced over at her companion. "Probably not. Naruto-kun was a full time academy student from beginning to end, whereas I started half-way through the first year in an apprenticeship. I'm probably going to continue it for the rest of my career as a Genin until I get promoted or, if I'm lucky, I might actually get put into a team myself, but not with any of the students from Naruto's group."
"You'll probably be teamed up with other apprentices then," Ayame stated helpfully, pouring the now boiled water from the steel kettle into the serving jug and sliding it between the two kids. "Your teachers might fashion three of you into a group and sign you up with a new instructor to lead you guys. Konoha has a very efficient way with handling all of its shinobi, so you should have no problems finding your way onto a squad."
"That's good then," Tayuya sighed, giving a smile as she poured herself a cup. "That means I don't have to worry about going the profession track alone."
"Teamwork is very important," Naruto said, propping his head on his hand as his friend filled his cup. "Iruka-sensei drilled that idea into our heads every day for the entire year. You wouldn't believe how many hours he spent talking about how shinobi operated, how the ranking system worked and everything related to the chain of command. Man… I just hope I'm put onto a team I like."
"Damn straight," Tayuya exclaimed. The pair knocked glasses together and sipped, enjoying the third-wheel company of Ayame making sure they had everything they needed before their ramen eventually came to them. Rubbing their hands together eagerly, both the jinchuriki and his red-haired companion pulled up their chopsticks and prepared to dig in. "After being stuck with Anko this whole time, man does it feel liberating to finally get the headband and move on."
"Aww, did you really hate our time together that much, Tayuya-chan?"
The red head froze immediately upon hearing that voice and went ramrod straight. The moment she did, a pair of delicate fingers curled around her cheek and she was pulled into the collar bone of one Mitarashi Anko, who propped her chin on her shoulder and licked her lips sensuously. The appearance of the purple haired kunoichi with the trench coat and fishnet bodysuit had Naruto, who was in the middle of slurping up ramen, choke on his noodles and pound at his chest furiously in shock.
"That's so mean, my little red riding hood," Anko whined, rubbing her cheek against the girl as she mock-played out her heartbreak in the most sickeningly sweet tone she could muster. "You were such an excellent student too. I was going to recommend you to Shikaku to have you drafted into the ANBU course, but after hearing how relieved you were at finally being put onto a team away from me, it just makes me want to cry." A mischievous grin crossed her lips.
Tayuya stiffly looked at the woman resting her head against her and smiled nervously, the corner of her mouth twitching as sweat threatened to break from her forehead. "N-No sensei… it's nothing like that at all. You must have misheard me."
"I did?" Anko gasped, looking the girl in the eyes slyly and making it impossible for her to sit still. "Well, please, enlighten me. Didn't you just say it was liberating to finally get the forehead protector and move on? Is that what you said?"
"W-W-What I meant to say was…" Tayuya stuttered, her eyes darting around and desperately trying to think up the best response she could. God damn it, this was nerve rattling. If she said the wrong thing, this crazy woman was going to send snakes after her again. "Was that… uhh." Gulping, the musician then settled on the only answer she knew would save her life. "I'm… really looking forward to be placed onto a team with you as our instructor… sensei."
She felt like driving a knife through her stomach.
Even Naruto had to admit that took a lot of cojones to say.
Anko, raising her eyebrow at the girl's very nervous response, watched her sweat for the next few seconds before suddenly grinning and wrapping her arms around the timid kunoichi like she was her little sister. "Oh, I'm just messing with you, red. You did well." She patted her on the cap, with Tayuya looking as though she was about to pass out. "Out of all the students I've had under my wing, you were by far the most talented. I couldn't have asked for anyone else."
Laughing nervously, Tayuya took in a few deep breaths to compose herself as she was hugged and showered with loving affection by the eccentric woman. As terrifying as her situation was, she was still able to bring up a normal smile that wasn't forced in any way… probably. "Thank you… Anko-sensei."
"Hey chef! A bowl of miso and two more for the little munchkins here! On me!"
"Three number ones coming up," Teuchi replied pleasantly.
What followed after that was a very loud and boisterous lunch as the three dined away together. The uneasiness that had previously appeared between Anko, Tayuya and Naruto lifted from them around the second serving of ramen, and by the third bowl the trio, including the two newly graduated Genin, could say that they had a great time.
It was a fantastic way to kick off the end of their academy years and celebrate their advancement into shinobihood.
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