Have you ever wanted something so badly you were willing to wait in a long line?
A ride at an amusement park?
To buy something special?
Or for ramen?
Finally, morning training's over.
What should we do for lunch?
Any preference, Lee?
Let's see.
Yesterday was pork curry.
The day before was ground beef curry.
And three days ago was green curry.
I say today we go for it and get the ultimate curry!
It'll be great!
What is with all the curry this month?!
The curry festival needs to end!
Well, from a business point of view,
if we keep pushing curry, a food company might sponsor the show—
Leave that to the producers.
How about ramen?
Sold! Let's head to Ichiraku!
For those who don't know, Ichiraku is a famous restaurant...
...in the Hidden Leaf village, and Naruto's first choice for ramen!
Save Ichiraku Ramen!
Ichiraku might go out of business?!
Unfortunately.
A new ramen chain from the Flavor Village called Tasty Ramen...
...just opened a store directly across the street,
and it's taking Ichiraku's customers.
There's another ramen spot.
But look at that line. This place must be way better!
People see that line and they hop right in.
It's like lining up for that place is becoming a new trend.
Anyway, because of them, no one's going to Ichiraku anymore.
The old man's getting really depressed,
and I'm worried about him.
People are suckers for famous names and long lines.
It's always survival of the fittest in the business world.
But this isn't fair.
It's one thing if their food is better,
but for them to be winning on name recognition and trendiness?
Naruto!
You can count on us to help save Ichiraku!
Bushy-Brows... Let's do it!
I appreciate the offer.
But making ramen is too hard for a...
...bunch of novices to waltz in and do it right away.
Naruto, your skill lies in eating, not cooking!
Have no fear. We don't intend to change the flavor.
Your ramen has been beloved by villagers for many years.
Um, it looks like Naruto's the only one eating anything...
If you simply alter your business strategy a bit,
I guarantee you can beat Tasty Ramen!
Let's go for it, pops!
All right, I can't turn away such enthusiasm!
Let's give it our best shot!
The first step is to know thy enemy.
Let's do some recon.
I see, so we spy on their recipe—
Don't you dare!
First of all, the enemy will recognize us.
And secondly, I don't think my stubborn old dad...
...is going to line up at a competitor's store and eat his food.
He's already there?!
Dad, have some pride!
You talk to him, Naru—
Not you, too!
Don't worry, Tenten.
We don't need Naruto or Mr. Teuchi to spy on the enemy's flavors.
Neji!
That's right.
They don't know Neji's face,
he should be able to get a seat and—
Byakugan!
That's what you meant by spy on the flavor?!
Even if you can see the dish,
you still don't know what it tastes like!
It's a very thick, pork-based broth,
with two types of mackerel, bonito and vegetable dashi.
Yet in spite of its heaviness, it has a smooth, mild flavor.
You really can see the flavor?!
The Byakugan is so broken!
Okay, now we need to formulate a "Double Fish Pork Ramen" counterattack.
Huh? Since when are you so knowledgeable about ramen?
First!
Fried Rice
Sichuan Bean Curd Gyoza Rebanira
Veggies
We need to come up with the right sides!
Indeed.
Dumplings, gyoza, fried chicken...
There are a lot of good sides that go with ramen.
It's true that we work very hard on our ramen dishes,
but tend to neglect the sides.
And so!
Barbecue Lunch Set
I came up with a barbecue lunch set!
A lunch set is way beyond a side! That's a whole meal in itself!
And to counter the enemy's thick broth...
No!
Dad!
We need to lay the service on thick!
Your head is the only thick thing around here!
For some reason, I'm burning with youth!
Especially in the head area!
The wig is making you hot!
Our enemy isn't just laying it on thick!
Don't forget they keep it in check with a smooth, mild flavor!
I remember.
So...
Here!
A Can-Can girl?!
To balance our thicker service with something smoother.
This isn't food service, it's fan service!
And this outfit shows no restraint!
Not here,
and not here!
There's nothing left to the imagination!
I guess I need to keep things in check more?
Here!
A school swimsuit?!
Showing less skin doesn't fix the fundamental problem!
Even if we change the service,
it makes no difference if we have no customers.
That's true.
Why don't we use ringers?
Just seeing the line seems to draw people to the other place.
That's true, there's some psychology to making people want to stand in line.
Ringers might be the ticket.
I like it! Let's give it a try!
Here's our ringer!
We need more than her!
What the heck is going on here?
Er, sorry, Sakura...
No one's gonna line up just because of Sakura!
We did.
She only works on you!
We're in, too!
Get back in the kitchen!
Who's gonna make the food?
Leave the cooking to me!
You leave it to the professionals!
Professionals?
Now we just need to wait for the customers to roll in.
Yeah!
But no customers came back to Ichiraku.
Why didn't it work?
I think our business plan went down the wrong track.
I'd say it went straight of the rails and flew off into space.
I'm sorry, kids...
You tried so hard for me...
Pops...
I've got a lot of confidence in my dishes.
I'm sad I'm not getting a chance to compete on flavor.
They're all just lining up because of the name, or the line itself.
If there was a way to make them realize...
...the food here is good without actually eating it...
Know it's good without eating...
We can! There's a way!
How so, Bushy-Brows?
Leave everything to me!
And so we're here to find the best ramen in the Leaf Village!
Our expert is the village's most well respected gourmand, Choji Akimichi.
Glad to be here.
I'm gonna stuff myself silly!
What's the plan, Lee?
The only way to convince people of a restaurant's quality...
...is a positive review from a famous food critic.
If such a critic were to sing its praises in front of that line...
Hey, that ramen place looks good!
I'm going over there!
Me, too!
And bam.
We'll have an even bigger line over here.
But why Choji?
Choji is like the Guy Fieri of the village.
Food always looks yummier when a fat person's enjoying it.
I am not fat.
I'm big-boned!
Now let's all dig in!
Bon appétit!
This delicious!
What do you think, Mr. Nejiyama?
What? Me?!
Why Neji?
It's, um, I'd say...
It's Eight Trigrams and Sixty-Four Strikes of deliciousness!
That made no sense!
It was the best I could do...
Being a food critic is so complex...
You're overthinking this!
What is all that?
I don't get it...
This is bad, Lee. They're getting turned off!
Another round, please!
Nice, Choji!
If Choji eats a few bowls we can convince people the ramen is that good!
This barbecue lunch set is outta this world!
He's not eating ramen!
My brilliant side dish backfired...
You idiot, Lee, you stupid idiot!
We worked so hard and you ruined it!
I've got this!
Neji, please turn this around!
The flavor's Byakugan-tastic!
That is the most confusing—
No, I'm trying to say the flavor is bright and clear—
No, there's nothing but a black void awaiting us...
Choji, please eat some ramen!
Wait, I'm not done—
Eat it and tell us what you think!
Let me finish my beef first!
The ramen!
Sakura, watch out!
I should've known!
Leaf Whirlwind!
Hey, this is really tasty!
I'm gonna check that place out. It's open!
Me, too!
Gimme ramen!
I want some ramen!
Dad!
Naruto... Lee!
Thank you!
Thus, Ichiraku escaped bankruptcy.
Sorry, Sold Out. -Ichiraku
But the sudden upswing in customers...
...left Lee and the others with empty stomachs.
I want my ramen!
Lee and his team are back from a mission.
Finally home...
That mission was brutal...
I need to get home and take a break.
A break, huh? Okay!
All right, I'll squeeze 100 apples and make us...
...the most refreshing juice you've ever tasted!
That's no break. You're just painting yourself into a corner again.
I train my body even when I'm resting.
Suddenly, I'm burning with passion!
You don't have to burn up for this!
Can't you regulate your temperature better?
Vacations are for Training!
Bushy-Brows refuses to rest?
Yeah.
Ever since fall began, it's been one event after another,
and he makes a big production out of all of them.
Plus Guy Sensei always makes him...
...do these weird exercises with him on our days off.
I'll say it's weird. What is this?
I'm worried about his health.
It's true. There is such a thing as over training.
If he hurts himself it'll all be for naught.
Well, I do get what you're saying,
but if this is what Bushy-Brows wants why not leave him be?
See ya!
That evening...
Thanks for the meal!
Exhausted from another day of training, Lee?
Now's the time to fill up on your favorite food,
and take a nice long rest.
I can't eat any more...
You didn't eat anything.
Although I've never heard anyone say that in their sleep before.
He really does need a proper break.
That is cause for concern.
You think so, too, Lady Tsunade?
No matter how fit you are,
if you over train it will have the opposite effect!
Plus as a teenager, Lee's body is still growing.
Still growing... Why is it just his eyebrows?
In order to grow in a healthy way,
the body needs plenty of rest.
This is definitely not balanced, it's nothing but hair!
Look how I've grown!
It's not even him anymore!
But even when we tell him to rest, he ignores us and keeps going.
We need a way to force him to take it easy.
Labor Day
Of course!
Labor Day!
Labor Day?
Labor Day was originally created for laborers...
...and tradesmen to celebrate their contributions,
and mutually thank one another for their efforts.
Watching this doesn't make me feel grateful at all.
In fact I don't even want to watch this!
It's too much!
This year, I'll order everyone in the village to rest.
If it's a rule, Lee will have no choice but to comply!
Lady Tsunade...
Thank you very much!
And so, Labor Day came.
The Hokage's declared that everyone in the village has to take the day off.
So make sure you actually rest today, Lee!
Understood. I'll take the day off.
Okay, that's good.
He's finally learning the importance of rest.
Well, since I've got the day off,
I'm free to train to my heart's content!
He hasn't learned anything!
Lee, these are Lady Tsunade's orders!
Think of resting as today's mission!
I see...
All right then.
We demand the right to train!
The Hokage is taking away our human rights, she must go!
Hokage must go!
Training
We demand freedom
Retire
Enough!
You just don't get it.
Looks like he needs a lecture directly from Lady Tsunade.
Big Time Dice House
Why did you follow me here?
I told you all to take the day off!
She's totally in vacation mode.
I don't understand the problem, Lady Tsunade!
Well for starters, the hand doesn't feel right...
She's completely focused on the game.
Hand? So I just need to rest my hands?
You mean fold?
You don't know anything, do you?
Wait, maybe she's going to explain things to him after all.
This is no time to lie down and quit!
The real fight starts now!
Lady Tsunade is more oblivious than Lee!
I'm really confused now. What will happen if I don't rest?
"Get too full of yourself and treat your underlings to lunch!
You lose your bonus!"
You shouldn't even have to ask...
You grow weak.
Lady Tsunade's mind is growing weak...
She won't be able to convince Lee in her state...
Weak?
I'm growing weak? No!
I didn't expect that!
Maybe now Lee will...
When you're this beat up, you have to rest...
It's working!
I can't afford to let my body grow weak.
I have to train harder than ever!
Time to work!
That's the opposite effect!
And now he's run off...
Would you please help us stop him?
I told you, I say let him do as he pleases!
Please, we'll buy you all the ramen you want!
Sure thing, count me in!
Where'd you come from?!
No fair, Choji! I'm in, too!
That ramen is mine!
Not a chance.
Those fifty bowls of ramen...
...and ten barbecue meals have my name all over them!
I never said that!
I'll transform into Sakura and invite Bushy-Brows out to lunch.
Then...
I'm so elated that you want to have lunch with me, Sakura!
I'll stop training right away!
What could go wrong?
Sounds good, simple but practically guaranteed to work!
Great idea, Naruto!
Give Lee, Give Lee, leap into the fray...
Forget common sense, throw it all away!
Sakura?
Hey, Bushy-Brows, what say we grab some ramen?
Naruto?
How'd you know?
Naruto, you dimwit...
Now it's my turn.
I'll lure him in with BBQ.
Hey, wanna grab some lunch with me?
We can eat 'til we're stuffed!
Wow, thanks! I was just starting to get hungry!
Whew, I'm full!
Thanks for inviting me, Choji!
Now I'm all fueled up for my afternoon training!
Good luck!
You just wanted to eat a big lunch.
Now he's even more motivated.
Oh, sorry...
I give up!
You'd think all of Bushy-Brows' skits would have you exhausted enough.
Why are you still at it on your day off?
Skits?
Of course!
What is it, Tenten?
Those stupid skits Lee's always making us do!
We can use a skit to teach him the importance of proper rest!
A skit...
I'm not thrilled, but it may be our only shot.
Naruto, Choji, will you help us?
If you insist.
If at first you don't succeed, fry fry again.
Try, not fry.
Say it's not so, Doctor!
Is my dad really...
Yes...
I'm afraid he's only got a week, at best.
No...
Daddy, make sure you rest up, okay?
Sis, when is Lee coming home?
Well, I've got an old friend out looking for him...
Tenko, are you going to call him?
I was planning to, yes...
He abandoned our family to run off and chase his foolish dreams...
Don't you dare call him!
I won't speak to him even if he does show up.
We lost Mom when she was very young.
Daddy raised all three of us by himself.
Thanks to him, my big brother Lee was...
...able to pursue his dream of becoming an actor,
but Daddy never forgave him for leaving.
Still, he may talk tough, but I'm sure he wants to see Lee again.
Lee, please come back...
It's been ten years...
Sis...
Great job, Tenten!
There's no way Bushy-Brows won't be moved!
I'll stop training!
He'll be bawling!
And he'll finally rest his body.
We'll actually get through to Lee!
What're you all doing?
For once we get the day off, and you're doing skits?
Huh?
Gotta work out, see ya.
Don't stop the Lee!
Today, Tenten and the gang learned...
...that no skit can move Lee enough to make him stop.
But make sure you all get plenty of rest, kids!
Lee, you butthead!
Next week is "Caring for Animals is Hard Work,"
Caring for Animals is Hard Work Howl at the Naruto
and "Howl at the Naruto."
Okay then, I'll put my heart into it and howl out!
Lee, it's not supposed to be literal—
The Nine-Tails is reacting inside me!
Stop howling at each other!
And the Nine-Tails isn't a dog!