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

His gaze swept across the dining table, and his eye twitched involuntarily.

On the long dining table, mountains of food radiated an astonishing heat. To the left was a mountain of grilled pork ribs with the Akimichi clan's secret sauce, to the right were hills of salt-baked chicken wings, and in the middle was a plain of grilled meat slices of various flavors.

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently bypassed the area radiating calorie glow and walked to the very corner.

There were a few light dishes on the table.

He served himself a bowl of steaming fish soup, poured it over rice, and then added two bites of refreshing pickled radish and cold seaweed salad.

Simple and clean.

This is the kind of breakfast a real man should eat.

As he turned around, carrying his own plate, he casually grabbed another clean bowl from the table next to him and filled it with the same fish soup rice.

He walked to the door, where Zhishui still stood as still as a pine tree.

"promise."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shoved the other breakfast he was holding directly into Shisui's arms.

The boy paused for a moment, then instinctively caught it.

"Lord Hokage, I..."

"You need to eat even when you're on guard duty; your stomach isn't made of iron."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in an unyielding tone, then added, "Eat first, then rest. That's an order."

Through the gap in the mask, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to see a subtle ripple in those usually calm and unwavering eyes.

Shisui didn't say anything more, but simply held the bowl of still steaming fish soup rice and bowed deeply to Hiruzen Sarutobi's back.

In the breakfast room, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sat down, scooped up a spoonful of rice soaked in fish soup, and put it in his mouth.

The deliciousness of the fish soup, the warmth of the rice, and the crispness of the pickled vegetables instantly soothed his stomach, which had been tormented by the aroma of meat all morning.

Comfortable.

Sure enough, as people get older, they should eat lighter meals.

He squinted contentedly, enjoying this moment of tranquility.

Just then, Yagura and Mei Terumi walked over somewhat awkwardly, carrying trays of food.

Yagura's expression was very serious, as if he were holding not breakfast, but an important document concerning the future of Kirigakure.

Mei Terumi, on the other hand, seemed rather curious. Her bright green eye, which wasn't hidden by her long hair, was constantly scanning everything in the breakfast room.

The two stopped a few steps away from Hiruzen Sarutobi and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Hokage."

"Yes, please sit down."

Hiruzen raised his chin, indicating that they should do as they pleased.

The two exchanged a glance, hesitated, and then sat down at an empty table not far away.

Yagura stared at the half-pound grilled steak that the Akimichi ninja had enthusiastically stuffed onto his plate and fell into deep thought.

In his mind, Isobu Mio was cheering joyfully.

It's steak! The one we missed yesterday! Come on, try it!

Yagura's lips twitched.

He felt that ever since he became the perfect Jinchūriki, his life had taken a strange turn from which there was no turning back.

Meanwhile, Mei Terumi took a keen interest in a plate of brightly colored fruit salad.

She picked up a piece of red, melon-like fruit with her fork and asked curiously, "Lin, what is this? Is it sweet?"

Nohara Rin smiled kindly and explained, "This is called a watermelon. It's a new variety from our Konoha Ecological Farm, and it's very sweet."

"Can farms... really grow things like this?"

Mei Terumi's eyes were filled with astonishment.

"Of course!"

Rin Nohara proudly puffed out her little chest, "Under Kakashi's leadership, we can even grow cucumbers in winter! Our captain, Minato-sensei, said that Konoha's future lies half in ninjutsu and half in the farm!"

Mei Terumi looked at the watermelon in her hand, then at the man in the distance who was leisurely drinking fish soup, her eyes filled with awe and longing.

Konoha, which was once just rumored to be the strongest village, has become a concrete, vivid, and even somewhat... overly idealized concept in the past few days, as she has witnessed it firsthand.

The power here is not only reflected in the emerald-colored divine storm unleashed by Uchiha Shisui, nor is it merely reflected in the Third Hokage's effortless suppression of the tailed beasts.

More importantly, they can allow a young girl struggling to survive in the blood mist to sit peacefully on a giant steel ship floating in the waters of her homeland on such a morning, and taste a piece of sweet and refreshing fruit grown in a place called Farm, thousands of miles away.

She took a small bite of the watermelon, and the sweet juice burst in her mouth.

This is a pure, delightful flavor, completely different from the salty, fishy food of Kirigakure.

She suddenly understood something.

Just then, Mei Terumi put down her fork.

Her right eye, which was covered by her long hair, seemed to twitch, and a hint of stubborn defiance flashed in her emerald green left pupil.

He stood up, walked over to Hiruzen Sarutobi who was enjoying fish soup with rice, and bowed slightly.

"Lord Hokage."

"Um?"

Hiruzen raised his head, still chewing on a refreshing pickled radish.

"The food in Konoha is truly amazing."

Mei Terumi's opening remarks were polite, but her tone carried an undeniable pride: "Whether it's the hearty grilled meat or the sweet fruit, both showcase the ultimate in land produce."

Hiruzen listened without replying, but simply took another sip of soup, gesturing for her to continue.

"but,"

Mei Terumi then shifted her tone, saying, "The Land of Fire is most proud of its forests and plains, while our Land of Water possesses an endless ocean."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the breakfast room. Even Obito, who was struggling with a grilled sausage, stopped what he was doing and looked over curiously.

"Our Hidden Mist Village may not be as good as yours in farming, but when it comes to tasting and cooking the flavors of the sea, we have our own dignity."

She raised her head, her emerald green eyes staring directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if issuing a unique challenge.

"Therefore, I'd like to issue an informal culinary challenge to the chefs of Konoha. How about a gastronomic duel themed around this sea?"