It was a quiet afternoon at the Academy. The kind that felt lazy even with the sun high in the sky and lectures still echoing through the halls.
But Reiji Arata had other things on his mind.
"Alright, class dismissed for the day," Iruka announced.
As students gathered their bags and filtered out, Naruto suddenly stood up on his bench, practically vibrating. "He's making it again!"
Heads turned. Reiji raised an eyebrow.
"Making what again?" Choji asked through a mouthful of chips.
Naruto puffed his chest. "The sacred thing! The legendary thing! The thing that made me see the gods—Reiji's BURGER!
Choji blinked. "Burger? You mean that … thing you and Iruka-sensei wouldn't shut up about?"
Naruto spun toward him. "Choji. You don't understand. I cried when I ate it."
"You cry when you stub your toe."
"This was different!"
Reiji sighed. "I guess I am making burgers again."
Choji turned slowly. "Can… can I come?"
Reiji smirked. "Only if you promise not to pass out from joy."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Ugh… troublesome. But fine, I'll tag along."
Within the hour, Reiji's modest apartment was packed again. Shikamaru leaned against the wall, Naruto was bouncing in place, and Choji sat with hands folded like he was waiting for holy communion.
And then, the door creaked open.
"Ah, there he is," Reiji said without turning.
"I heard rumors," Iruka said, setting down a wrapped paper bag. "About a… certain burger."
Reiji shot him a look. "You came back for my cooking, didn't you?"
"I came back to supervise," Iruka lied.
"Uh-huh."
Naruto grinned. "Admit it, sensei. You dreamed about it too."
Iruka cleared his throat. "...It was a good burger."
As Reiji moved around the kitchen, flipping sizzling patties and toasting freshly baked buns—all homemade, from the flour down to the sauce—Iruka took a seat.
"I still can't believe you made all of this without any recipe," he muttered.
"I did," Reiji said. "Because no recipe exists here. Burgers aren't even a thing in this world."
"You mean," Choji asked slowly, "there's no restaurant that sells these?"
"Nope."
Choji's jaw dropped. "You created it?! From scratch?!"
Reiji smirked. "Burger jutsu."
Naruto gasped. "You LIED to me?! You said it wasn't a jutsu!"
"I lied," Reiji said with a shrug. "Sue me."
The scent of grilled meat and toasted sesame filled the air. Naruto wiped drool from his chin. Shikamaru, trying not to be obvious, leaned just slightly toward the stove.
Reiji handed out plates like a ceremony. When Choji took a bite, his soul left his body.
"This…" he whispered, falling to his knees, "this is… the sacred food. It's real…"
Naruto already had sauce on his face. "I missed this so much I dreamed about it. I even tried making it myself… it ended in fire."
Iruka chewed slowly. "Still perfect. Honestly… Reiji, if this whole ninja thing doesn't work out…"
"I know, right?!" Choji cried. "You should quit being a ninja! Open a food stall! A temple! A shrine for burgers!"
"I'm broke," Reiji said flatly. "Can't even open a rice ball stand."
Choji grabbed his sleeve, eyes shining. "I will fund you. I will BEG the Akimichi clan to fund you!"
Shikamaru wiped his mouth. "Yeah, yeah. He can cook. Can we go now?"
But Iruka raised a hand. "Before we all enter food comas, I wanted to ask—have you two given any thought to your ninja specialization?"
He looked at Naruto and Reiji. "Choji and Shikamaru already have inherited paths. But you two still have a choice."
Reiji set his plate down. "Yeah. I've thought about it."
Iruka blinked. "You have?"
Reiji nodded. "I'm choosing Sealing Techniques as my primary specialization."
Naruto choked on a fry. "Sealing?! That's so boring!"
Reiji turned to him, fire in his eyes. "Naruto, you fool. Do you know how cool seals are?!"
"I mean…"
Reiji slammed a palm on his desk.
"Imagine this—I throw a kunai. It misses. The enemy laughs. But wait… BOOM! It's got an explosion tag sealed to it!"
Choji's eyes lit up. "Like… surprise barbecue!"
"Or storage seals!" Reiji said. "Imagine a scroll tattooed on your palm. Need a weapon? Bam. Need medicine? Bam. Tools? Traps? Paper bombs? BAM BAM BAM! It's ninja magic!"
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait… that's actually awesome."
Iruka laughed. "Most people fail sealing class. Precision, patience—it's tough. Last person to pass was Tenten."
"Then I'll be the next," Reiji said confidently.
Naruto punched his palm. "Then I'm doing it too!"
Reiji smirked. "Try not to blow yourself up."
Iruka chuckled. "And your secondary specialization?"
"Ninjutsu," Reiji replied. "More versatility. Earth, Wind, maybe even Fire if I push the system."
Shikamaru finally looked impressed. "You really are gunning to be a powerhouse, huh?"
Reiji sighed and turned back. "Besides, Naruto, my uncle once told me something that stuck with me for life…"
He put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and looked off dramatically toward the window. "With great power… comes great responsibility."
The way he said it—with such gravitas and solemnity—had everyone stunned into silence.
"..."
"..."
Then Naruto broke it with a frown. "But Reiji… you're an orphan."
"..."
Reiji stared into the void, soul leaving his body. "I was trying to be cool… you stupid yellow mouse…"
They all burst out laughing.
As the last of the burgers disappeared and the plates were cleared, Reiji looked around at his friends—Naruto licking sauce from his fingers, Choji reverently chewing, Iruka smiling, Shikamaru pretending he wasn't having a good time.
Maybe this wasn't the life he expected after dying.
But for the first time since arriving in this world, Reiji Arata felt like he belonged.
And with sacred burgers and explosive kunai at his side… he was going to change everything.
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