Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Isobu's roar stirred up a tidal wave in his mind.

Yagura took a deep breath, then another, trying to maintain his last shred of dignity as a high-ranking member of Kirigakure.

He forced himself to turn his head away from the tempting, sinful grilled meat, and instead looked at his superior, the new Fourth Mizukage, Hozuki Kaigetsu.

He hoped that the Mizukage would step forward, say a few polite words, and maintain the dignity of Kirigakure.

However, he only saw Hozuki Kaigetsu's stiff back.

The newly appointed Mizukage was standing on the ship's side, gripping the railing tightly with one hand.

He gazed at the distant sea, as if pondering some major strategic issue concerning the future of the village.

However, Yagura's highly trained ninja perception keenly detected that Lord Kaigetsu's peripheral vision was fixed on a plate of top-grade Wagyu beef, sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings and with a texture like a marble artwork, not far away.

His lips were moving slightly.

Yagura leaned closer and heard the Mizukage's barely audible mutterings, filled with endless struggle.

"No... I'm the Mizukage... I can't be this pathetic... But these snowflakes, this distribution... a perfect Melard reaction... it only takes seven seconds... seven seconds is enough..."

It’s over.

It's all over.

Within minutes of boarding the ship, the leadership of Kirigakure was completely annihilated on a spiritual level by a barbecue.

"Come on, come on, don't be shy!"

A loud voice rang out.

A Akimichi ninja, a member of the BBQ Association, was shirtless, wearing an apron with the word "meat" printed on it, and waving a huge BBQ tongs with a ruddy complexion, like a great general commanding a vast army.

"This is the tenderloin of our Konoha's No. 1 pig! It's a breed personally selected by Kakashi! It's been psychologically trained by the Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs to ensure that every pig grows up in the happiest environment! The meat is tender and melts in your mouth!"

The Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs... to provide psychological counseling?

"Yagura! Are you going to eat or not?!"

Hozuki Shiori approached with a small plate piled high with several perfectly grilled pieces of meat, thoughtfully accompanied by a leaf of vibrant green lettuce and some garlic slices. "Let me tell you, this is how you eat it: a slice of meat, a slice of garlic, wrapped in lettuce, and you devour it in one bite! Absolutely amazing!"

Eat! Eat quickly! Listen to her!

Isobu had gone from roaring to pleading.

Yagura closed his eyes, feeling as if he were not facing a plate of barbecue, but rather a choice of destiny.

He opened his eyes and glanced at Hozuki Shio's clear yet disdainful gaze, as if to say, "Are you stupid not to eat this?" He then felt the almost tangible resentment of Isobu in his mind.

Yagura silently reached out and took the plate.

He imitated Hozuki Shio, clumsily wrapping the piece of grilled meat that exuded a sinful aroma with lettuce, closing his eyes, and stuffing it into his mouth as if swallowing deadly poison.

First comes the crisp and refreshing lettuce, followed by the slightly charred and fragrant edges of the grilled meat. Then, your teeth break through the thin crust and encounter the rich and juicy meat inside.

It wasn't just simple oil; it was a blend of charcoal aroma, sweet sauce, and the natural umami of the meat, bursting in your mouth to create a perfect storm of flavors.

The spiciness of the garlic slices is like a mischievous sprite, perfectly neutralizing the greasiness and pushing the entire taste experience to another climax.

His chewing motion went from initial resistance to mechanical, and then... he couldn't stop at all.

【…】

In his mind, Isobu Mitsuo remained silent.

A deathly silence that lasted for several seconds.

Just when Yagura thought it was stunned by the smell, a more devout thought than ever before rose in his spiritual world, like the rising sun.

"...One more piece, please."

Yagura suddenly opened his eyes.

He saw that the Hidden Mist ninjas around him had completely let their guard down.

Those colleagues who once struggled to survive in the blood mist, their eyes forever filled with vigilance and numbness, are now clumsily imitating the Konoha ninjas, gathered around the grill, their faces showing a mixture of novelty and satisfaction.

A Kaguya clan member known for her ferocity is having a heated academic discussion with an Akimichi clan chef about "which side of the ribs should be grilled first".

On the other side, several female ninjas from Kirigakure were surrounding Nohara Rin, curiously asking how that red, sweet and sour sauce was made.

There was no murderous intent, conspiracy, or betrayal.

Only the rising smoke and the purest healing power of food.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding a cup of barley tea, leisurely walked over to Hozuki Kaigetsu's side.

The new Mizukage had given up resisting and was sipping a slice of hot pot beef, his face bearing a complex expression that mixed humiliation and enjoyment.

"How does it feel?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a chuckle.

Hozuki Kaigetsu swallowed the beef in his mouth with difficulty, raised his head, and looked at the man in front of him with a look of awe.

"Hokage-sama... how... how did you make the village so powerful?"

What he wanted to ask about wasn't the barbecue, but this method that transcended force and intrigue.

Konoha's strength lies not only in Susanoo and the Vajra Staff, but also in this terrifying system that can make even pigs happy.

"To get people to lay down their weapons, you must first get them to pick up something from within themselves."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping across the entire deck, his voice calm yet containing an undeniable philosophical depth.

Hozuki Kaigetsu was stunned.

He subconsciously glanced at the slightly crumpled copy of the "Mist Village Revitalization Plan" in his hand.

The plan depicted magnificent ports, complex railway networks, and towering tidal power stations... but only now did he truly understand its core.

Behind those cold buildings and numbers lies the scene before us, a vibrant one where everyone's face is beaming with smiles.

"I see……"

Hozuki Kaigetsu said in a low voice, unrolling the scroll again, his eyes becoming more determined than ever before.

Meanwhile, Yagura had reached a strange consensus with the Isobu in his mind.

He was in charge of eating, while Isogai was in charge of the fare.

"The one on the left, yes, the one skewered with metal sticks, looks good."

Yagura said to Hozuki Shio with a blank expression.

Hozuki Shio rolled her eyes, but still handed him a skewer of grilled chicken wings.

Yagura took a bite.

Hmm... it was slightly overcooked, but the seasoning was acceptable. Not as good as the pork belly from before. I'd give it a 7 out of 10.

"Give me a bowl of the soup from the pot on the right."

[This is great! The broth is delicious, and the white, blocky tofu pieces have a unique texture. I'd give it a 9 out of 10!]

"Mei Terumi, what does that roasted mushroom on your plate taste like?"

Quick! Ask her! Mushrooms! I've seen those before! But I didn't know they were edible!

Mei Terumi looked at Yagura, who had come to ask for advice with a serious expression, and then at the mountain of empty plates behind him. She covered her face and let out a helpless sigh.

She felt that the future of Kirigakure might really depend on barbecue.

This unprecedented barbecue diplomacy continued until the sun was high in the sky.

When the last Akimichi chef burped and packed away the oven, the way all the Kirigakure ninja on the deck, including the unruly battle maniacs of the Kaguya clan, looked at the Konoha ninja had completely changed.

It was no longer the fear of the conqueror, nor the awe of the strong, but a kind of... a look of worship and dependence, similar to that of looking at a meal ticket.