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

This time, what came out of her mouth was not a corrosive acid mist, but a warm, white steam with a peculiar temperature.

The steam didn't dissipate; instead, she controlled it with exquisite chakra, precisely enveloping the pot and forming a semi-transparent steam hood. Instead of using flames, she used her bloodline limit to slowly simmer the seemingly ordinary soup at a constant temperature, perfectly suited to bringing out the flavor of the ingredients.

An indescribable smell began to permeate the air.

It's not as overpowering as grilled meat, nor as refreshing as sashimi.

It was an incredibly rich and profound umami flavor. It was as if the essence of the entire ocean had been concentrated into that pot of soup, carrying the saltiness of the sea breeze, the power of the tide, and the warmth of the sun shining on the beach.

Obito Uchiha, who was still arguing with someone over who would get the next piece of grilled meat, stopped moving.

Rin Nohara, who was handing water to Kakashi, also subconsciously looked in the direction of the fragrance.

On the judges' panel, Hozuki Shio, who had just recovered from the emotion of eating sashimi, sniffed the air and her eyes lit up again.

In Yagura's mental world, the enormous single eye of Isobu Mio was also cast toward the pot enveloped in white steam.

[Hmm? What's this...?]

This time, its voice no longer contained ecstasy, but rather a hint of... curiosity and confusion.

It's a very simple umami flavor, but... it also seems quite complex...

As time went on, the smell grew stronger.

Finally, Mei Terumi withdrew her Boil Release.

She lifted the lid of the pot.

The soup in the pot had a light, clear amber color. The kelp had been cooked until it stretched out, and most of the dried fish had melted, leaving only a few small pieces of meat floating in the soup.

She poured the soup into three simple earthenware bowls and personally carried them to the judges' table.

Please enjoy.

She smiled confidently, "We fishermen of Wuyin drink this seafood blessing soup before we go out to sea."

Hozuki Shio was the first to pick up the bowl; she couldn't wait any longer.

She blew on the steam and carefully took a small sip.

The broth enters the mouth.

A warm and mellow umami flavor instantly spread from the tip of the tongue to the entire mouth, then slid down the throat, turning into a warm current that fell into the stomach.

Without fancy techniques or rare ingredients, it's simply the purest gift from the sea, cooked to perfection.

Hozuki Shio sighed happily, feeling completely healed by the soup.

Yagura also picked up the bowl.

He took a sip.

Then, he froze.

【…】

In his mental world, Isobu fell into a long silence once again.

Yagura awaited its roar, awaited its critique.

But this time, there was nothing.

Just as Yagura was feeling puzzled, Isobu's single eye, which was as large as a mountain, suddenly blinked slightly.

A single, equally enormous, yet silent tear slid down its cheek and vanished into the black sea of ​​the spirit.

[...This smell...]

Isobu's voice carried a hoarseness and nostalgia that Yagura had never heard before, as if it had traveled through a thousand years.

[...It's a bit like...the soup my old man used to give me a long, long time ago...]

Yagura, holding the bowl, froze completely.

Old man?

This title caused Yagura's thoughts to momentarily freeze.

In the realm of the mind, above that desolate black ocean, there was no longer ecstasy and roar, but rather ripples of reminiscence.

Yagura's consciousness was swept up by an irresistible torrent. He did not resist, or rather, he wanted to see what kind of soup could move this tyrannical beast that had lived for countless years.

……

The scene begins to flow and slowly unfolds before your eyes.

It wasn't the perpetual, chilly fog of Kirigakure, but rather a gentle sea breeze carrying a salty taste and warmth.

The sky was much bluer than it is now, like a huge, uncut sapphire, with a few white clouds drifting slowly by.

The sea was also much clearer than it is now, and you could clearly see colorful schools of fish swimming among the coral reefs, each scale shimmering in the sunlight.

A massive, three-tailed tortoise, its eyes still filled with confusion and bewilderment, was lazily basking in the sun on a warm, shallow beach.

Its name is Isobu.

I don't know where I came from or where I'm going.

It only knows that it is very powerful, so powerful that everything around it will subconsciously stay away from it, whether it is a fish or a sea beast.

It is lonely.

It learned the word "loneliness" later.

At that time, it was just a feeling of emptiness and disorientation.

A man dressed in a white robe and holding a tin staff was sitting on a rock next to it.

The man had white hair and beard, a kind face, and most striking features were the small horns on his forehead and his eyes with purple ripples.

He didn't exude any powerful chakra pressure; he was just like an ordinary old man fishing by the sea.

He is the old man.

The Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki.

"Isobu, the waves are calm today, it's a good day for fishing."

The old man's voice was gentle. He looked at the simple fishing rod in his hand with a smile, the fishing line swaying slightly in the clear seawater.

Fishing? Is it edible?

At that time, Isobu was childlike in mind and his way of thinking was simple and direct.

"Haha, of course you can eat it. Once I catch it, I'll make you a pot of the freshest fish soup."

Yu Yi smiled and patiently explained, "Soup is made by putting delicious food into water and simmering it for a long time. Then you eat it along with the soup, and it tastes really good."

[Gurgling?]

Isobu tilted his enormous head, not quite understanding the word.

It just lay there quietly, watching the old man fish.