Why is my anime art style so weird?

"Okay."

Unexpectedly, she then added another sentence.

"But I want you to feed me~"

Kato Megumi scooped up a spoonful of soup and slowly savored it. Upon hearing her words, he immediately choked and coughed.

"Cough cough!!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's face showed a hint of smugness. She casually took a pair of chopsticks from the chopstick holder next to her, handed them to Xu Ming, and then looked at him expectantly.

Chapter 424 The Chief's Expectations

Just as Xu Ming was about to take the chopsticks, he immediately felt a pair of intense gazes fall upon him.

Xu Ming looked in the direction the gaze was coming from.

Kato Megumi had already put down her chopsticks and spoon, and was gazing at him across Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Kato Megumi's expression was so calm that it put Xu Ming under immense pressure.

Ayame, standing to the side, immediately put down what she was doing and stared intently at them, her gaze as if she were watching a soap opera.

Xu Ming's expression became even more troubled.

"Sister, this isn't right..."

"What's wrong with it?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha shook the diamond ring on her finger.

Her expectant gaze also made Xu Ming feel immense pressure.

Who can resist this double dose of 'happiness'?

"Your noodles."

Finally, the sound of the boss hitting his hand completely saved Xu Ming.

When he placed a large bowl of ramen in front of Kasumigaoka Utaha, Xu Ming immediately seized the opportunity to say:

"Sister, eat quickly, the noodles won't taste good if they get cold."

After saying that, ignoring Kasumigaoka Utaha's horrifying gaze, she picked up her chopsticks and spoon, lowered her head, and stared intently at the large bowl of ramen in front of her.

"Humph!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha let out an extremely angry sound from her nose and glared fiercely at Kato Megumi beside her.

If she weren't so unsure, she would have torn that philandering cat to pieces long ago.

Kato Megumi, however, had somehow averted her gaze and was calmly enjoying the ramen in front of her.

The ramen shop has reinstated the use of river crabs.

Xu Ming was only putting on an act to cover up his embarrassment.

However, when he scooped up a spoonful of the thick broth and put it in his mouth, all he could see was this big bowl of ramen.

The rich, incredibly rich pork bone broth warmed me from head to toe with just one sip.

This warmth even instantly dispelled the chill emanating from the ruins of Konoha.

Slurp!

Xu Ming immediately took a bite of noodles.

Xu Ming sucked the thick broth and noodles into his mouth.

The chewy and elastic noodles fully absorbed the rich, savory broth, bouncing between Xu Ming's lips and teeth like rubber bands.

These noodles don't seem to be mass-produced products from a machine, but rather handmade by the noodle master himself.

Handmade noodles possess a unique texture and vitality that machine-made products lack.

Xu Ming then picked up another piece of char siu pork.

The char siu, braised with special spices, not only has its aroma fully permeated into the meat, but is also so tender that it melts in your mouth.

The seaweed placed on the side of the bowl had already absorbed a lot of soup. When you put it in your mouth, it was half crispy and half soft. With the rich soup mixed in, the two contrasting textures were amplified, making it an ultimate enjoyment.

The soft-boiled egg, cooked with careful control of the heat, has a smooth egg white and an uncured yolk. It has a rich egg flavor and a unique gelatinous texture. Dip it in ramen broth and the deliciousness seems to wrap around your tongue.

Even side dishes like corn and purple cabbage have their place in ramen soup; a bite of fresh, tender vegetables instantly cuts through the greasiness of the broth.

Slurp!

Xu Ming finished off a large bowl of ramen with extra toppings.

"Another bowl, please!"

Xu Ming put down the empty bowl and, without thinking, shouted loudly.

"Hey~"

The boss immediately got busy.

After finishing two large bowls, Xu Ming finally felt a sense of satisfaction.

As expected of the legendary figure who controlled the entire Hidden Leaf Village...

The man with the tongue!

This tastes amazing!

What Xu Ming found strange was that even after eating two bowls, he didn't feel particularly full.

However, the warm feeling that spread throughout my body was real.

This contradictory situation left Xu Ming completely baffled.

After finishing his meal, Xu Ming immediately took out his wallet.

But to his surprise, the boss didn't charge him a single penny.

Xu Ming had more and more questions in his mind.

After the three finished their meal and left Ichiraku Ramen, Xu Ming immediately grabbed Kato Megumi.

"Xiao Hui, what's going on with this Ichiraku Ramen?"

Kato Megumi looked back at the only ramen shop with its lights on in the shopping street, a look of reminiscence on her face.

"This ramen shop is also a kind of weirdness, 'strange'."

"You mean this whole ramen shop... is 'strange'?!"

Xu Ming was somewhat surprised and clicked his tongue.

Of the four categories of 'strange', 'weird' is the most unique.

They often carry unique rules, sometimes pitifully weak, sometimes terrifyingly strong.

And it's not just humans that can transform into monsters; anything can become a monster under certain conditions, even if it's just a teacup or a chair.

However, the conditions are extremely harsh. So far, Xu Ming has only seen a handful of strange creatures.

I never expected to see you here today.

"That's right, Ichiraku Ramen is the last warmth and light in the entire Hidden Leaf Village."

Kato Megumi said with considerable emotion.

"The ramen we just ate is actually a special kind of positive energy that can help us resist the Nine-Tailed Demon aura that is spreading in the air of Konoha Village."

"Demonic aura? I don't see any..."

Xu Ming suddenly remembered.

When they entered Konoha, which had become another world, Xu Ming felt a chill creeping into his body. At the time, he thought it was just the temperature dropping at night, and since the temperature difference in the mountains and forests was already extreme, he didn't pay much attention to it.

Now it seems there's something wrong with that chill!

Xu Ming immediately activated his spiritual vision.

Sure enough, he soon discovered that wisps of purple mist were floating in the air.

"Staying in the Nine-Tailed Demonic Aura for a short period of time will cause a person to fall seriously ill. If it goes on for too long, the Nine-Tailed Demonic Aura will invade the body and corrode the internal organs, at which point death is certain."

Moreover, the souls of the dead are controlled by demonic energy, transforming into the mindless vengeful spirits found on the streets.

Listening to Kato Megumi's explanation.

Xu Ming suddenly felt a chill; this place was far too dangerous.

Fortunately, he possessed the 'Saint's Prayer'.

However, Kato Megumi seemed to immediately see through his thoughts and quickly warned him:

"The Nine-Tailed Demon's aura is extraordinary."

Even with protective amulets or similar items, spending too much time in the Nine-Tailed Demon's aura will gradually weaken a person, and may even cause them to fall seriously ill.

Back then, Konoha attempted to seal the Nine-Tailed Fox into a Jinchūriki when it was at its weakest at noon.

The ritual failed, resulting in disaster. The Nine-Tails' demonic energy spread throughout the entire Hidden Leaf Village, instantly killing everyone.

Silk!

Xu Ming couldn't help but gasp; this nine-tailed demonic energy was practically a large-scale biological weapon.

Kato Megumi, seemingly oblivious to the shocked expression on Xu Min's face, continued:

"Nearly 10,000 people died overnight. In order to cover up the truth, they had to fabricate a story that a small volcano nearby erupted and released a large amount of toxic gas, killing all the villagers."

Chapter 425 I'm so cold, I'm so dark

Xu Ming couldn't help but recall the warm feeling that dispelled the chill throughout his body when he finished eating the ramen.

"You brought me to Ichiraku Ramen because..."

"You guessed right, the ramen shop has become a 'monster,' and it has gathered almost all the positive energy that remains in the entire Hidden Leaf Village."

The owner, who has become part of the ramen shop, has turned this positive energy into ramen.

"After we eat Ichiraku Ramen, we can purify the Nine-Tailed Demon's energy within us."

Xu Ming clicked his tongue in amazement.