Legendary ramen maker
Ritsuka laid quietly in Tamamo’s lap, his long hair spilling out across her thighs like waves of ink. Her soft fingers combed through it as she gazed down at him, puzzled and awestruck by everything he had just explained. The warmth of her touch and the blue sky above almost made him forget the weight of reality.
"I still can't believe it," she whispered, eyes wide with wonder. "The anime you used to talk about—Naruto—is real. All of it... real."
"Yeah," Ritsuka said softly, his amber eyes gazing up at the sky as if it held all the answers. "But here we are. This world, this place… It’s real now."
Tamamo leaned down slightly, her hair brushing against his cheek. "What are you going to do, Darling? You know about the future!!"
He was quiet for a while, thinking.
"Naruto doesn’t need me to save the world," he finally said. "Even back in fiction, he carried everything on his own. His pain, his hope… But still, even if it's just a little, I want to help. I want to give everyone something more than what they had. Not just survival… but happiness. A real ending—not one forced by the cycle of pain."
He turned his head slightly, eyes locking with hers.
"Even if fate is unpredictable… even if the story changes and more trouble comes… it’s worth it, isn’t it?"
Tamamo smiled down at him, that pure, affectionate smile she reserved only for him. "You really are too kind, husband. But that’s why I love you. I follow you no matter what."
He sat up slowly, brushing a few strands of hair from her cheek. "Tamamo… I need you to blend in. This world doesn’t know about Servants or mages, and I don’t want anyone to suspect you. Just for now."
With a graceful nod, Tamamo pulled out her magic mirror. In a shimmer of soft light, her fox ears and tail vanished. Her kimono transformed into a modest traveler's outfit, and her vibrant aura subdued into that of a normal young woman. Her hair tied back, her expression still full of mischief and love.
She twirled once for him and giggled. "Mikko no more. I am now just a simple traveler, Tamamo."
Ritsuka chuckled and reached out his hand. She took it without hesitation.
"Okay. Let’s go home," he said, and together they walked through the battered streets of Konoha hand-in-hand.
Tamamo’s smile began to waver the moment they entered the heart of the village. The destruction left behind from the 9 tails attack was gut-wrenching. Broken homes, shattered dreams. Parents held small sandals and tattered cloaks that would never be worn again. Friends stared blankly at empty spaces where laughter once echoed.
She slowed down, her steps faltering.
"Tama," Ritsuka said softly, tightening his grip on her hand. He pulled her gently away. "Don’t look."
"But, Ritsuka…" she began, voice shaking, "this is…"
"I know. But we can't change the past, If we came before 9 tails attack we could've done something. It's pointless to think about past." His voice was calm but heavy, filled with a gentleness that made her chest ache.
She said nothing else. She simply nodded, and followed him.
Eventually, they reached the street where his small house stood—right above an old dango shop he helped clean to make ends meet. But when he looked up… he stopped cold.
A chunk of stone the size of a carriage had crushed part of the roof. The balcony was gone, one of the pillars cracked clean down the middle. His tiny sanctuary—his only slice of peace in this new world—had not been spared.
Ritsuka stood still, eyes dimming, his breath catching in his throat. He had seen worse—so much worse in his life—but something about this, the sheer ordinariness of the loss, made his chest ache. It was pain of the memories of the original body causing it.
"Darling…" Tamamo whispered, her voice filled with worry.
"I’m okay," he said with a soft smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "It’s just a home. Not the first one I’ve lost."
She walked in front of him and placed both hands on his cheeks, gently wiping away a tear he hadn’t realized had fallen. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "But you’re not alone this time. I’ll help you rebuild it, brick by brick, even if it takes forever."
Before Ritsuka could talk.
"Ritsuka, you’re back? Are you okay? I tried to meet you in the hospital, but they didn’t allow us. Wait—who is she?"
The voice that called out made Ritsuka freeze for a moment, a warmth stirring in his heart. It was familiar—cheerful, concerned, and unmistakably genuine.
He turned slowly, Tamamo doing the same. Standing just a few steps away was a girl with shoulder-length brown hair and kind eyes—Ayame. Her apron was dusted with flour and broth stains, and her expression was a blend of worry and relief.
"Ayame..." Ritsuka blinked, then offered a tired smile. "Sorry, I didn’t know. I’m okay now—just recovered. And this is Tamamo," he said, gently guiding her forward. "She’s a traveler… like me. She lost her parents too."
Tamamo bowed slightly, her expression soft and polite. "It’s nice to meet you, Ayame-san. I’ve heard good things about Ichiraku Ramen." She already knows about anime from Ritsuka knowledge. So she acted like a traveler.
Ayame nodded her head with small smile.
Ayame’s eyes shifted between the two of them, her heart sinking a little at the thought of how much Ritsuka had endured. She had already known… His parents’ names had been on the official deceased list. Seeing him alive now, standing beside someone who clearly cared for him, was a bittersweet relief.
"I’m just glad you’re okay," she said quietly. "It’s been… hard. For everyone."
She glanced at the ruined remnants of the bakery across from her family's shop, then back at Ritsuka. "Listen, I know your home was destroyed. Dad already said it—you’re welcome to stay with us. Our place is still standing. We’ve got a spare room."
"Thank you," Ritsuka said, voice filled with sincere gratitude. "But I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness…."
Ayame frowned, crossing her arms stubbornly. "No. Dad was serious. He made me promise to bring you to him the moment you came back. He’d be mad if I didn’t." She glanced at Tamamo and gave a warm smile. "Besides, you both need a place to rest. You’ve lost too much already."
Tamamo looked to Ritsuka, her eyes full of understanding and agreement. "Darling, I think she’s right. It’s okay to let someone help you, too."
Ritsuka hesitated. It was never easy for him to accept charity, even from old friends. But the sincerity in both their voices, and the genuine warmth in Ayame’s offer… it was overwhelming. Slowly, he nodded.
"Alright," he said softly. "Just until we rebuild. I’ll find a way to repay you and your dad."
Ayame grinned. "Deal. Now come on. He’s going to be so happy to see you."
With that, Ayame gently took one of Ritsuka’s arms while Tamamo held the other. Together, the two girls guided him around to the back of the Ichiraku Ramen shop.
Ayame always treated him as brother, Ritsuka thought.
Their home was humble, much like Ritsuka’s had been. A small wooden porch, wind chimes tinkling in the breeze, and a sliding door that led into the house. It smelled faintly of miso broth and warm rice—comforting, homely.
Ritsuka paused just before stepping in. A lump caught in his throat, emotions welling up in his chest. He never imagined he’d be welcomed like this after losing everything.
After stepping into the warm, fragrant interior of Ichiraku’s home, Ritsuka and Tamamo were greeted by the man himself—Teuchi, the legendary ramen maker. He stepped out from the small kitchen with an apron still on, his face breaking into a smile of relief.
"Ritsuka! You're back. Are you okay? I'm sorry that we couldn't come and meet you. Hokage-sama gave strict instructions against it," he said, voice a mixture of concern and guilt.
Ritsuka offered a gentle smile and a respectful bow. "It's fine, Uncle Teuchi. I’ve recovered now. The doctors did a good job."
"How can that be? You just got out of the hospital!" Teuchi scolded lightly. "You’re not allowed to move too much. Take rest here for at least a week."
"I appreciate the concern, Uncle… but I can’t sit still. There’s so much to do."
Teuchi’s eyes narrowed, then softened as he sighed. "That’s just like your father. Stubborn when it comes to hard work."
Then he glanced to the side, noticing the woman beside Ritsuka. "But who is she?"
Ritsuka hesitated for a moment before giving a small, sincere lie. "This is Tamamo. She’s a traveler who came to our village on the night of the Nine Tails’ attack… She lost her parents during the chaos. When I found her, she was… about to take her own life. I stopped her. I promised to give her a new family. I asked her to be my life partner."
Tamamo quickly covered her face with her sleeve to stifle her laugh. The lie was bold—but Ritsuka’s voice, his expression, and the warmth behind his eyes made even the fib sound like the truth. He was kind to his core, and even when he lied, it was to protect and comfort for them.
Teuchi blinked, then slowly nodded. His smile was bittersweet. "I’m sorry for your loss, Tamamo-chan. But dying… especially when you’re so young… it’s never the answer. If you love Ritsuka, and you’re okay with this path, then I’m more than happy for both of you. Just remember—take your time. Understand each other first. That boy right there," he said, pointing to Ritsuka, "is one of the kindest hearts I’ve seen in this village. You're lucky to have each other."
Tamamo, momentarily moved, gave a quiet nod. "I know," she said softly, looking toward Ritsuka. "I’m already more fortunate than I deserve."
Teuchi chuckled. "Now… what are you planning to do, boy?"
Ritsuka’s eyes focused with quiet resolve. "I want to rebuild the bakery. My father’s shop… I want to make it stand again. I’ve saved enough money through what my parents left behind. I’ll repair the house and the shop, and start again from there."
Teuchi raised an eyebrow. "I was afraid you’d sell it all and leave the village. But it looks like my fears were unfounded."
Ritsuka chuckled lightly. "I would never sell it. That shop is my family’s legacy."
Teuchi folded his arms, still skeptical. "You really have that much saved up?"
"I do. My parents were careful. There’s a hidden locker in the ruins—I know where it is, and I know the locker code."
Teuchi let out a low whistle, then nodded. "That’s good. Then you better stick to that bakery like glue. Also, No wandering around at night."
Ritsuka blinked. "Why?"
Teuchi grew serious, glancing toward the window. "The Third Hokage has put a curfew in place. Ever since the attack, there’ve been… rumors. People disappearing. Rogue ninja sightings. It's safer indoors after sunset."
Ritsuka instantly understood the disappearance of people happened because of Death reaper. But he already took care of it.
Tamamo's ears twitched slightly under her disguise, and she mumbled, "...There was a curfew?"
Teuchi turned stern. "Promise me, both of you. No night wandering. If ANBU get involved or if you’re taken away, even I won’t be able to do a thing."
Ritsuka bowed deeply. "We promise. I have no intention of doing anything reckless."
"Good. I know you’ve got your parents' recipes and techniques. That should be enough to get you started. And if you need help… I’m free during the slow hours. No one’s coming to eat out in this crisis anyway."
"Thank you, Uncle. But how much the cost to repair!!."
Teuchi looked out at the damaged building, then said thoughtfully, "It’ll take about 25,000 ryō to repair it all."
Ritsuka nodded. "Then I’ll put in 30,000, just in case."
Teuchi looked impressed. "Well, now I’m really glad you didn’t sell that shop. With that money, we can get Konoha Construction Inc. to take the job. We’ll go first thing tomorrow. I’ll even pay for the locker extraction—you can pay me back later."
The words struck Ritsuka with emotion. Ritsuka and tamamo was happy to hear. He had always known that Teuchi was a good man. He treated Naruto so well, even when the people of the village hated him for being the Jinchuriki. Such a personality was a rare one and his help for Ritsuka was genuine. This kindness… it wasn’t something he ever took for granted. He bowed his head again. "Thank you… for everything."
Teuchi waved him off. "You’re family, Ritsuka . Always were. Now come on, you two need rest."
He turned toward the hallway and called out, "Ayame! Show them the guest room. Tamamo will share with you tonight."
"Yes, Papa!" Ayame called back cheerfully. She appeared a second later, her eyes twinkling. "Come on, you two. I hope you like warm futons and flower-patterned covers."
Tamamo gave a sly smile. "I’m fine with anything, as long as I can sleep next to something that smells like cinnamon and rice."
Ayame blinked. "...Is that a compliment or a weird poetic joke?"
Ritsuka just laughed, the sound light and warm—perhaps for the first time in days.
---
Note: Well, as I promised, here's the chapter. I'm planning to take a slow-burn approach to the plot development of Naruto in this fic. My focus is on creating a realistic isekai plot where the main character, Ritsuka, doesn’t get overpowered instantly with timeskip justu but focus on changing the story in his own way. No timeskip for now.
In this world, only normal bread cake exists
...so if Ritsuka wants anything fancy or special, he’ll have to travel the world to find the materials himself. That means you can expect him to gradually interact with the Naruto cast as the story unfolds.
Also, just a heads-up...Naruto Characters will be showing up soon. And you know how that usually goes.