The news that the Hokage was going to eat ramen spread rapidly through the school.
Of course, it didn't reach the point of being known by everyone. Most members who had agreed to the "Classmate Social Gathering" were from prominent families like the Ino-Shika-Cho and Hyuga clans, and they wouldn't be gossips in school, though they certainly would be within their own clans!
Kushina watched her "little brothers" scatter to spread the word and gather people, a triumphant smile on her face. Humph! I, Kushina, am not inferior at all! Brother Lin Yu is quality! Then I'll make up for it with quantity. I'll surely surprise that stinky Lin Yu!
The teachers at the Ninja Academy were puzzled today. Why were the students so absent-minded during class? Even the top student, Namikaze Minato, though not as impatient as the others, had a look of nervous anticipation on his face.
Uncertain of what was happening, Teacher Umio, chalk in hand, continued the lesson. The bell for dismissal rang amidst the teacher's and students' wandering thoughts.
Ding ding ding...
"Goodbye, Teacher Umio!"
"Quick! Hurry home and tell your parents the big secret!"
"Shhh, don't blab! If too many people find out, there won't be any left for us!"
Teacher Umio's vision blurred for a moment. Before he could even dismiss the class, only a handful of students remained below the podium. Even his most promising student, Namikaze Minato, had quietly slipped away with his bag.
Teacher Umio casually grabbed one of the "little cats" still in the classroom and asked sternly, "Has anything happened in class lately? Why are Takuya and the others running so fast? Even Minato didn't say goodbye to me!"
"No, I don't know. I don't usually hang out with them."
Teacher Umio said sharply, "Students should be friendly with each other. I detest cliques. Remember, starting tomorrow, you need to integrate with them, understand!"
"Y-yes..."
...
The Akimichi clan compound.
"Dad, Dad, quick! I found an incredibly delicious ramen shop. Let's go set up camp and queue now!" Akimichi Choza tumbled into the living room on all fours and shouted loudly at his father.
"What! Super delicious ramen? In Konoha? And there's a delicacy I haven't eaten?" The Akimichi clan head swallowed a jumbo chicken leg whole, chewing and swallowing it in just a few bites.
The Akimichi clan head was skeptical. What delicacies in Konoha hadn't he eaten? Not to mention anything else, his clan would surely be the first to know about any place or delicacy in Konoha village!
"It's true, Dad! Let's hurry and set up camp and queue!" Akimichi Choza was already packing his "gear." His passion for food was even greater than his father's.
"Queuing is fine, but what's this about camping? Are we going into the deep mountains? Then I'm not going." The Akimichi clan head hesitated. Although he loved food, he loved meat the most. To be honest, he wasn't very interested in ramen.
"That shop hasn't opened yet! They say it will only open in ten days. If we go now to queue, we'll be the first to eat!" Akimichi Choza's eyes blazed with fanaticism, completely oblivious to his father's darkening expression.
"Choza! Have I been too lenient with you? To do something so foolish!" The Akimichi clan head was extremely disappointed in his eldest son, who showed none of his former spirit!
"But... the Legendary Sannin will be there, as well as Shikaku and Inoichi. They say, they say the Hokage will also be present!" Akimichi Choza said meekly.
"Quick! What are you waiting for! Your father is already prepared!"
Akimichi Choza was stunned. In the brief moment they were talking, his father was already carrying bags and bundles, looking like he was going on a trip.
Fire ignited in Akimichi Choza's eyes. He truly was his father's son! His passion for food was no less than his own!
"He's worthy of being my son! He has my spirit from back then," the Akimichi clan head thought proudly.
What kind of delicacy would attract both the Sannin and the Hokage?
...
The Nara clan.
"The Hokage is going to patronize a ramen shop? And the Sannin will be there too?" Nara Shikiei looked somewhat bewildered. How could he, the Hokage's secretary, not know, while his son Shikaku knew in advance?
"That's the situation, Father. Do you think this might be a special mission?" Nara Shikaku pondered, stroking his chin.
"A special mission? You mean there's something wrong with that ramen shop?" Nara Shikiei also stroked his chin.
"All the clans of Konoha, the Sannin, and even the Hokage are coming to support it. That ramen shop must be unusual. Father, do you know if any dangerous individuals have appeared in the ninja world recently?" Nara Shikaku's expression was nothing like that of a twelve-year-old; he had the mind of an adult in the body of a child.
After all, they, the Nara clan, were the transmigration ones!
Nara Shikiei's expression changed, and he blurted out, "The man in the black robe!?"
Nara Shikaku asked, "You mean that mysterious man in the black robe who roams the battlefield?"
"Exactly. More than just roaming the battlefield, he's like a god. Ordinary ninjas are no match for him; numbers are useless against him!" Nara Shikiei had heard about that battle from the Akimichi clan head. Even with just a verbal description, he found the opponent terrifying.
"Then Father, do you think this is a trap set by the Hokage? Hmm... Father?" Nara Shikaku didn't hear a response from Nara Shikiei for a long time. He looked up and felt speechless, holding his forehead.
"Old man! How can you take back your move! And aren't we discussing something important?"
"Ah, you found me out." Nara Shikiei showed no embarrassment. He even moved a chess piece in front of Shikaku and said, "These are not things you should be considering now. Just focus on your studies. The ninja world is about to see turbulent times!"
Shikaku drooped his head, looking as if he heard his father but chose not to listen.
Nara Shikiei ruffled Shikaku's head fiercely and said, "Why overthink things? We'll just go and see together then."
"Dad wants to eat ramen too?"
"Who doesn't like delicious food... Hey, why are you touching my chess pieces!"
...
One-tenth of the various families, big and small, in Konoha received the news that the Hokage was going to eat ramen. While the surface appeared calm, privately, they were all planning how to gain the Hokage's favor. Even if they couldn't gain the Third Hokage's favor, gaining the patronage of one of the Legendary Sannin would be an ancestor-honoring event!
Most of the major clans in Konoha knew this news, except for one clan - the Uchiha.
"Brother Fugaku! You must avenge me! That brat with yellow hair beat me up so badly!" Uchiha Otome cried with a snotty nose, his tears streaming down. Fugaku quickly took two steps back, his expression filled with disdain.
To be bullied like this by a commoner, as a noble member of the Uchiha clan, was a disgrace to the Uchiha. Fugaku's expression darkened as he asked, "Do you know the name of the person who bullied you?"
"Yes! His name is Namikaze Minato, and he's a second-year student at the Ninja Academy!"
"A student at the Ninja Academy? That's a bit tricky to handle." The Ninja Academy was an important institution in Konoha, and they wouldn't allow the Uchiha to act recklessly. Fugaku said with disappointment, "You're a fourth-year student, and you were beaten up by a second-year student. Are you useless!"
"Brother Fugaku, I was wrong. But that Namikaze Minato didn't give the Uchiha any face and hit me so hard that even my mother didn't recognize me when I got home!"
Uchiha Otome suddenly had an idea and quickly said, "Brother Fugaku, Brother Fugaku, I heard them talking about having a classmate social gathering and going to eat ramen together. Then we can..."
"Shut up! You know these things in your heart. If they dare to bully us Uchiha, we can't let this go!"
"Right, and who else is going?"
"I remember the Inuzuka clan, Nara clan, Yamanaka clan, Akimichi clan, Hyuga clan..."
Uchiha Fugaku: ...Can I take it back now?