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

The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat and the salty smell of the sea; the two flavors intertwined yet remained distinct.

The atmosphere at the breakfast meeting froze for a moment because of Mei Terumi's challenge.

Yagura's brows furrowed unconsciously; he felt that Mei Terumi's actions were somewhat abrupt.

In a situation where the strength and status of both sides are extremely unequal, any form of challenge may be interpreted as an ill-timed provocation.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Mizukage, Hozuki Kaigetsu, was quickly taking notes in his notebook.

What he wrote was not about "cultural confidence".

Instead, the focus is on "Considering the feasibility of creating a high-end seafood brand in Misty Hidden Village, using culinary competitions as a starting point. The first step is to establish a competitive advantage in terms of origin. The second step is to apply for Konoha quality certification. The third step is to build a complete industrial chain from fishing and processing to sales, aiming to enter the high-end catering market in Konoha within five years..."

In that moment of silence, a clear, loud, and energetic voice suddenly rang out.

"I agree!"

Hozuki Shio had somehow gotten to the table, raising one hand, still covered in sauce, with a look of fervent excitement and anticipation, as if she had discovered a new continent.

"To ensure the fairness, impartiality, and transparency of the competition, I, Hozuki Shio, hereby voluntarily apply to serve as the chief judge for this duel!"

She patted her chest repeatedly, her face radiating an undeniable righteousness.

"The reason is simple!"

"Only someone with the highest respect for food, the broadest tasting experience, and the purest palate can make the fairest judgment on the ultimate showdown between the flavors of the sea and the flavors of the land!"

Yagura's eye twitched slightly.

You just want to have an extra meal without any excuse, don't you? And this excuse sounds like the opening statement of a court hearing in Konoha?

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally put down the bowl of fish soup in his hand.

He looked at the group of young people in front of him who were making a fuss over a trivial matter. Their lively and energetic faces filled him with gentle indulgence.

In his eyes, a small cooking competition had already transcended the matter of winning or losing.

This is a collision of cultures, a leisurely step that puts aside barriers, and yet another gentle invasion of the Konoha way of life.

"A very interesting suggestion."

He smiled and nodded, his gaze first falling encouragingly on Mei Terumi's face, a mixture of stubbornness and pride, before turning to Hozuki Shio, who had an air of "I'm the only one who can do this."

"Since the chief judge has already volunteered, there is no reason for Konoha not to accept him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the mountain-like man not far away, who was directing his clansmen to restock Ribs Mountain.

"Chefs of the Akimichi clan, will you accept the challenge from the sea?"

"roar!"

His response was a deafening roar and a series of muffled thuds as someone pounded their chest.

"In the art of cooking, our people never admit defeat! Whether it has long legs or long feet, whether it's a bird in the sky or a fish in the sea, ultimately, they should all realize their value on the baking tray!"

"I want to participate too! I absolutely have to participate!"

Obito Uchiha suddenly stood up and, in order to show Rin Nohara his reliable side, began to boast with spittle flying.

"My fire-style technique has the most exquisite temperature control! When it comes to grilled fish, if I claim second place, no one dares to claim first!"

"Oh."

A soft laugh came from the side.

Kakashi Hatake didn't even look up; he simply turned a page and spoke in a flat, analytical tone, as if he were giving an analytical report.

"The secret to grilling fish lies in allowing heat to penetrate layer by layer from the outside in at the most stable rate, locking in all the juices the moment it's fully cooked, and fully releasing the aroma of the fat under the skin. This requires precise control of chakra output down to the second."

He paused, then delivered the final blow.

"Your fire jutsu is called a cremation ceremony, not a barbecue."

"What did you say! You bookish, white-haired bastard!"

Obito's hair was almost standing on end, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"At least I won't turn precious ingredients into unrecognizable black carbonized matter."

"you!"

"Alright, alright, Obito, Kakashi-kun,"

Nohara Rin smiled helplessly and stepped in to smooth things over, as usual. Her gentle smile seemed to have the power to melt away all disputes.

"I believe Obito-kun's Fire Release technique will be able to grill the best-tasting fish. After all, sincerity is the most important seasoning, right?"

"Heh...hehe!"

Obito immediately backed down, giving Rin a bright yet somewhat silly smile, and habitually scratched the back of his head.

With approval in hand, a confident and bright smile finally blossomed on Mei Terumi's face.

Born in a sea kingdom, she possesses an absolute pride rooted in her blood for the top-quality ingredients produced by the bountiful sea off her village.

However, just as she was about to turn around and direct the Hidden Mist ninjas to retrieve the finest deep-sea salmon and lobster prepared for this mission from the ship's specially designed cold storage—

Suddenly, without warning, the ship began to shake violently.

The swaying was very slight, as if a whale had gently brushed against it.

But then came the second, and the third!

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

Each time it gets heavier than the last!

Uchiha Shisui, who was standing guard at the ship's side, instantly transformed into a blur, his sharp, knife-like gaze locking onto the source of the disturbance.

Everyone on deck stopped what they were doing.

On the once calm and waveless sea, a huge whirlpool with a diameter of over 100 meters had appeared at some unknown time!

The seawater was stirred by an invisible force, turning its color deep and murky, and emitting a muffled roar.

The next moment, a huge column of water shot into the sky, like a finger reaching out from the ocean.

Immediately afterwards, an enormous creature, beyond description, slowly emerged from the deep vortex with its massive head.

It was the head of an octopus, but it was larger than the Hokage Building in Konoha. Its surface was covered with dark brown and dark purple spots that writhed like living creatures. Its skin was wet and rough, as if it were covered with a layer of ancient moss that had lasted for thousands of years.

Even just the part that protrudes above the water casts a shadow that blots out the sky.

Following closely behind were eight tentacles as thick as giant pythons, each thicker than the mainmast of this steel flagship, covered with basketball-sized suction cups that were opening and closing.

[WARNING: A colossal, unknown bio-energy reaction has been detected!]

[Species: Suspected mollusc variant.]

Threat Level: ???

The ship's alarm system emitted a sharp, piercing sound, but it was quickly drowned out by another, more primal, and oppressive sound.

It was the sound of the giant creature's eyeballs moving.

Its eyes were larger than the Akimichi clan's flesh-and-blood tanks, and its dark pupils were unfathomable. There was no trace of the ferocity of a wild beast, only an ancient and pure curiosity.

They seemed to have been drawn here by the lingering aroma of meat that had been wafting from the ship for two days.

It waved one of its tentacles, its movements cautious and even childlike, gently patting the steel hull of the Konoha flagship, which was strong enough to withstand several rounds of explosive tags.

"Thump!!!"

"Enemy attack!!!"

"Attention! All personnel on alert!"

All the Hidden Mist ninjas on the ship instantly went into battle mode.

Their instinct to fight in the sea was ingrained in their bones. Faced with such a behemoth, although they were terrified, they did not collapse. Instead, they immediately gripped their weapons and formed a defensive formation.