"Thanks."

Naruto solicits a few more details about which inn, then hugs Kakashi apparently spontaneously. "You're a really good teacher, you know!" he says.

..."And you're a very clingy student." Pat pat.

He lets go and grins up at Kakashi. "Hugging people's fun!" he says. "Are we going to Ichiraku now?"

"Unless anyone wants to maybe eat something other than ramen...?"

"I am fine with ramen."

"Eh, it's not like we eat it too often."

Kakashi sighs, defeated once again.

"Fine then. Ichiraku it is."

Naruto laughs. "Come on, let's go celebrate!"

Off to Ichiraku. Chihiro has grown to appreciate ramen in the time she's been part of the team... though still not as much as Naruto does.

There's probably some alternate universe version of Naruto that's a ramen god! Or so he likes to think, at least. Being a ramen god would be cool.

(He doesn't tell Ichiraku that they're celebrating, let alone about the promotion.)

A god of ramen would be very strange. Would there also be gods of udon, barbecue, and sushi?

Maybe! That'd be fun. Or he could be a god that gets ramen offerings!

Gods don't usually get to eat their offerings, though.

Might not be as fun, then. Or he could change that!

Messing with things like that seems... unwise.

He'd have to find out the rules, of course. (Before he breaks them.)

That's... slightly better. She guesses.

Yeah!

So what're they doing next? (More ramen?)

Kakashi only promised one dinner. With this one over, he'll pay and take his leave.

"We should make preparations for the trip. It is unknown how long it will take."

Naruto pouts at Kakashi, then turns to Chihiro. "Yeah, that works! Too bad I couldn't figure out storage seals..."

"We may be able to requisition some. As chunin."

"Oh, that'd be neat! Would that work, sensei?"

Sensei has taken advantage of the momentary lapse in attention and made a cunning escape.