A Cook, A Doctor, A Ghost and A Ronin.

Empty Wallet

Few Moments Later...

It's a sunny day in Konohagakure. A teenager seems to be humming while walking down the street happily. The weather is pretty clear for today, adding it to the mood. The teenagers seems to be happy today. 

He has yellow-blond, spiky hair and blue eyes with particular three whisker markings on his cheeks. He wears an orange and black jacket with white collar. He also wore orange pants with a shuriken holster on his right knee, black sandals, and a blue forehead protector. 

This teenager is Uzumaki Naruto, the vessel for Nine-Tailed Kyuubi and the son of the Fourth Hokage. Naruto just came back from a mission before reporting back. He decided to take a stroll down the street.

*Growl!*

Naruto's stomach growled. He's hungry. It's lunchtime already, and he knew where would he have his lunch for today. His favorite ramen shop, Ichiraku Ramen! Since he was a kid he's always a regular there. The old man was the only one who treated him with kindness when no one ever does.

Seeing the shop at the end of the street, he smiled as he imagined how tasty the ramen will be. Since back then, Ichiraku Ramen has always been popular with because of the owner's strong commitment to taste, giving the ramen an almost artistic quality.

He approached the store. He took a seat. It seems that he's not the  only customer in this afternoon. A man is sitting few stools next to him, waiting for his meal. The man tapped the table out of boredom.

"Hey Naruto-kun! The usual?" Naruto looked at the owner with a surprised look. The owner looks very tired. Sweat dripping from his forehead. He loos very exhausted. Upon seeing Naruto, Teuchi forced a smile.

"Yes please!" Naruto nodded his head. The owner went back to prepare Naruto's order. Naruto's attention switch to the man that sit few stools beside him.

He wore a white yukata with black details and a green cloud pattern on its bottom. He wore a dark green haori and a black hakama with a pair of zori. The remarkable feature of the man is his cropped green hair. There isn't many people who had that hair color. Is it natural? 

What makes Naruto is even more curious is the fact that this man is bringing three swords alongside him. He found it ridiculous. He had never seen the man around here before. 

"I've never seen you here before. First time?" Naruto asked Zoro. Zoro turned around, looking at the blonde kid.

"Yeah, it's my first time here." Zoro replied with an honest answer.

"Oh? So this is the first time you came to Konoha?" Naruto raised his eyebrows. Is that the name of this town? Zoro thought.

"Yeah." Zoro found this kid to be one odd little fella. Why did he got whiskers on his cheeks? But he still answer the kid's question.

"Then you made a right choice by coming here! This place serves the best ramen in the whole village!!" Naruto proudly explained. Oh, no wonder the ramen here is pretty good.

"You're a regular here?" Now, it's Zoro's turn to ask Naruto some questions.

"Yeah I am! Since I was a little kid!" Naruto claimed that he's been a customer since he was a kid.

"By the way, why did you come here? Do you have some business to attend?" Naruto tilted his head. He probably here for business.

"No. I'm just passing through. After this, I decided to leave." Zoro honestly answered. He feel like there's not much here anyway.

"Ah, you're a traveler then?" Naruto guessed. Zoro didn't reply and nod his head. Naruto now understand. He's just here for some food then continue back on his journey.

"Well, I hope that you find some interesting things or interesting people on the way." Naruto wishes the best for the Ronin.

*Tap!*

*Tap!*

*Tap!*

"Ah, thank you." Zoro thanked Naruto. The timing is perfect as it gets. Ayame returned with a large bowl of ramen and medium sized bowl of ramen.

"Do you need anything else?" Ayame asked if Zoro require anything else. Which the Ronin didn't reply.

"I think this'll be the last one." Ayame breath a sigh of relief as they could finally took a rest after busting their ass making only ramen.

"And Naruto-kun! This is yours!" Ayame handed Naruto a bowl of ramen. The way Naruto liked his ramen. Naruto seemed to be genuinely happy when his food his delivered.

"Thank you!" Naruto thanked Ayame sincerely before proceed to blow the ramen because it's still hot. With steam coming out from the bowl. 

"I humbly receive! Naruto stated before digging in. The two seems to be enjoying their ramen altogether. Ramen is the best pleasure after all! 

Naruto is halfway before he could finish his ramen, but the guy next to him had already finished it way before him and his bowl are bigger than Naruto's. Zoro put his chopsticks away and he put his two hand together.

"Thanks for the meal" He nodded. Zoro is already full. He already eat enough this afternoon. Now, he need to get back to train.

"Wait!" Naruto stopped him before he could leave.

"Since this is the first time you've ever been here, I'll treat you!" Naruto kindly offered to pay his bill, which Zoro refused.

"You don't have to kid. Besides, I already get to eat for fre-

"Think of this as a gift to you!" Naruto smiled. Zoro knew that telling the kid no won't end easily, so he let the kid do whatever he wants.

"Do what you want. I thank you for your kindness." Zoro owed the kid once.

"Ah, I afraid that I didn't introduces my name yet/" Naruto almost forgot to introduces him yet. What a fool I am!

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! The one who will become the next Hokage!!" Naruto shouted his ambition loudly.

"The name's Roronoa Zoro. I owed you kid. Thanks. I pray that you'll become a great Hokage." Even though Zoro didn't knew what is Hokage, he just go with the flow., 

"See ya kid. Hopefully we'll met each other again." Zoro proceeds to leave before he disappeared within the crows of people. Zoro was gone from Naruto's sight.

"Ah old man! Bring me the bill!" Naruto brings out his frog wallet that he put on his pocket. But upon receiving the total amount he had to pay, he was shocked.

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...

"Are you sure this is the total amount? Did you miscalculated or something?" Naruto found it hard to believe. He thought it was just one large bowl of ramen, oh boy how he was truly wrong.

"That guy that just went away ate 88 bowls of ramen in one sitting! I mean jeez! Who could eat that many ramen?!" Even Teuchi found it hard to believe. Naruto dropped his wallet.

That afternoon, Naruto left Ramen Ichiraku with a sad look on his face and his frog wallet empty of any money. His soul looks like it was about to leave his body at any time.

Hinata's record has been broken by one mysterious man from nowhere who ate almost twice Hinata could eat. Queen of Gluttony has been defeated, and replaced with....

Emperor of Gluttony!