The sun had already dipped behind the Hokage Monument, casting a warm orange hue across the village. Inside The Hidden Ink, Koichi sat cross-legged at his desk, the soft scratching of his brush the only sound in the room. He was focused on the final panel of Chapter 2 of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance — titled "The Battousai is Born." In the panel, Kenshin sat alone at a small bar, his bloodied sword now sheathed at his side. Behind him, Tomoe entered quietly and took a seat at a separate table, her back to his. Without drama or fanfare, she ordered a cup of chilled sake—her calm presence quietly marking the beginning of their fateful connection.
Koichi leaned back, cracked his fingers, and exhaled slowly.
Just then—
Bang!
The door burst open with a loud jingle.
"Koichi-nii!!" Naruto's voice rang through the shop as the blonde ball of energy bounced inside, full of life and barely managing to stop himself before bumping into a bookshelf.
Koichi blinked, then smiled. "Oi, Naruto. Try not to break the door on your first visit."
Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Hehe… I couldn't wait! Iruka-sensei said we could come!"
Iruka entered a moment later, more calmly. "Sorry about the noise. He's been jumping around ever since class ended."
"It's fine," Koichi said, standing up and dusting off his hands. "Nice to see you, Naruto."
Naruto beamed. "This place is amazing! You made all this by yourself, Koichi-nii?"
"Well, mostly. Had some help from my clones," Koichi replied casually, reaching behind the counter. He pulled out a copy of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance — Chapter 1 — and handed it to Naruto.
"Here. This one's for you. My latest work."
Naruto blinked. "Eh? For me?"
"Yeah," Koichi said with a grin. "A gift from your big brother. You can drop by anytime if you want to read more. No need to worry about anyone else. This place is open for you."
Naruto's blue eyes lit up. He clutched the manga like it was something sacred. "Thanks, Koichi-nii! I'll take good care of it!"
He darted off to the nearest chair and opened the manga with wide-eyed curiosity.
Koichi watched him for a second before noticing Iruka hovering by the shelf. "You gave him a different one than the one I bought this morning," Iruka said, picking up another copy and flipping through it.
"Ah, yeah. This one's my second manga. Just finished chapter one yesterday. Decided to release both on the same day," Koichi replied.
Iruka raised a brow. "You've been busy."
Koichi scratched his cheek. "Sort of."
Iruka smirked. "Well, I was going to take Naruto out for ramen. We both came to drag you along, but it looks like someone's already found his dinner."
Naruto was already lost in the pages, lips silently mouthing dialogue as he read.
Koichi chuckled. "Give him a few minutes. Once I finish this last page, we'll go."
Koichi reached below the counter and handed Iruka a fresh copy of the first chapter of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance. "Here. Give this a read while I finish up. Let me know what you think."
Iruka took the book with a curious look. "You're really putting your heart into this, huh?"
Koichi gave a small smile. "More than people think."
As Naruto's delighted hums and page-flipping continued, Iruka leaned against a nearby shelf and started reading. Koichi returned to his seat near the counter, dipped his brush into fresh ink, and focused once more on completing the final page of Chapter 2—drawing Tomoe as she calmly ordered a cup of chilled sake behind Kenshin, marking her subtle but significant entrance into his life.
…
Hinata sat at her small desk inside the Hyuga Main House, a soft lantern casting a warm glow across her quiet room. The sky outside her window had darkened, and the village had gone still for the night.
She gently picked up the manga she had bought earlier that day—Rain Between Us, Chapter 1 - Shelter in the Storm. It was her first time reading anything like this, but something about the cover had stuck with her. Two shinobi beneath a wooden awning, the rain falling gently around them.
She opened the first page and started reading.
Tetsuya was the first to appear. A calm boy, not chasing battles or praise. He went off on his own, quietly drawing, surrounded by nature and silence.
"…He's different."
She turned the page slowly, eyes following the soft, detailed lines. He wasn't strong in the loud way others were—but his gentleness had weight. Like he was holding something carefully.
"He's kind... even if he doesn't say it."
Then came the kunoichi. Older. Quiet. A presence that spoke without words.
"…She feels familiar somehow."
Hinata watched as the woman sat without a word, sipping her tea. She didn't speak to Tetsuya. But she stayed.
"The silence doesn't feel cold. It feels… like understanding."
When the haiku appeared, Hinata paused:
'My feet forgot spring…'
Her breath caught.
"…Even strong shinobi must get tired too."
Tetsuya responded with another poem, not trying to fix her pain—just acknowledging it.
"They don't need to talk. But they still feel each other's presence."
When the woman left a second cup of tea for Tetsuya, Hinata paused again.
"No words. Just… a gesture."
She held the book gently in her hands.
"Rain Between Us…"
She didn't know if she understood everything. But it made her feel something quiet, and warm.
"Maybe someone like her can still be a kunoichi… Maybe someone like me can too."
She stayed at her desk a little longer, fingers resting on the cover.
"…I want to read the next chapter."
Just then, the door creaked open, and a younger voice called out.
"Nee-san?"
Hinata turned slightly in her chair as Hanabi stepped inside, eyes curious.
"What are you reading?" Hanabi asked, walking over to the desk.
Hinata showed her the manga, Rain Between Us, and gave a small smile. "It's called a manga. I bought it today at a new store that opened in the village."
Hanabi blinked. "Manga? What's that?"
Hinata thought for a second. "It's… like a story, but told through drawings. You read it panel by panel. It's quiet, and simple, but very moving."
Hanabi leaned in, flipping through a few pages, her fingers brushing the art. "Did the store owner make all of this?"
Hinata nodded. "Yes. He wrote and drew everything himself."
Hanabi kept flipping, her eyes pausing on the scene under the pavilion. "It feels… peaceful."
Hinata smiled gently, watching her little sister start to get drawn into the story just like she had.
…
The ramen shop glowed in soft lantern light, steam curling up from the bowls placed neatly on the counter. Naruto sat between Koichi and Iruka at the Ichiraku Ramen stand, his legs bouncing under the stool.
"Koichi-nii! That Battousai guy was awesome! He took down those three like it was nothing!" Naruto beamed, still gripping the manga in his hands.
Koichi gave a relaxed chuckle. "Glad you liked it, Naruto."
Iruka laughed beside him. "He's been going on about it the whole walk here."
Behind the counter, Teuchi ladled steaming miso broth into three bowls. Naruto's eyes immediately lit up when he caught the scent. "Yes! Miso ramen!" he grinned, practically bouncing on his stool. "This is the best, Teuchi‑ossan!".
Ayame, standing nearby, glanced at Iruka's manga — the one she had borrowed while Koichi was finishing up at the shop earlier. She flipped another page.
"This story… it's quiet. But it kinda stays with you. That part with the tea — I don't know why, but it felt special, like they said a lot without saying anything at all."
Koichi gave a small nod. "Sometimes silence says more than words."
Naruto pointed his chopsticks at Koichi. "Koichi-nii! When's the next Rurouni Kenshin chapter coming? I wanna see more fights!"
Iruka slurped a bit of broth and nodded. "That first chapter of Kenshin? You can feel there's something heavy behind that sword. I'm looking forward to where it goes."
Naruto grinned. "I wanna see who trained him! He's so fast — like, really strong!"
Koichi smiled. "Chapter 2's done. You'll get it next week."
"Aw, not now?" Naruto groaned.
"I want everyone to enjoy it together," Koichi said.
Iruka tapped Naruto's head lightly. "Don't forget, tomorrow's your graduation. You need to do your best, alright?"
Naruto grinned, nodding eagerly. "I will, Iruka-sensei! I'll become a shinobi for sure!"
Iruka sighed and followed up. "And you better not pull that stunt again, painting the Hokage faces like that. Honestly…"
Naruto scratched his cheek and looked a little sheepish. "I just wanted to make people notice me…"
Iruka sighed, but his voice softened. "You want to become Hokage, right? Then start acting like someone who respects them."
Naruto puffed up with pride. "Yeah! I'm gonna become the greatest Hokage ever! Just watch! I'll surpass all the ones before me!"
Koichi smiled quietly to himself, eyes on his ramen. You will, Naruto… one day, you'll surpass them all.
At this time, Ayame looked up from the pages. "Both stories feel different, but they both have something that pulls you in. You really drew and wrote them yourself, Koichi-kun?"
Koichi gave a modest shrug. "Yeah… I just put what I felt into them."
Teuchi handed bowls over the counter. "Well, I say keep going. If a bunch of kids are already talking about your work, you've got something special."
Naruto nodded furiously. "Yeah! Koichi-nii's stuff is awesome!"
Koichi couldn't help but smile.
The ramen stand hummed with warmth — of laughter, of stories being shared, and of a quiet connection made through pages and bowls alike.