Teuchi was wholly immersed in his emotions, savoring the ramen bite by bite, tears streaming down his face.
"Uncle," Naruto suddenly sidled up to Shen Mo, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Do you have more of that ramen?"
It wasn't just Teuchi who loved ramen—Naruto was a die-hard fan too.
Including, but not limited to, all kinds of instant noodles.
"This ramen was made by a former client, a gift preserved with a special secret technique," Shen Mo said with a smile, sidestepping a direct answer.
"That must be one incredible chef," Teuchi said, having polished off the ramen cleaner than a washed bowl, his face radiating longing and reminiscence.
"Mr. Teuchi," Shen Mo said, looking at him with a meaningful gaze, slowly shaking his head. "You don't think this bowl represents the pinnacle of culinary arts, do you?"
"No way…" Teuchi's jaw dropped.
This ramen, with its unique texture, intense aroma, and ability to evoke maternal warmth, had already opened a new world for Teuchi—a flavor beyond his wildest imagination.
And yet… there was greater cuisine?
"I only presented this level of ramen because it's all you can handle," Shen Mo said, his lips curling into a mysterious smile. "Your body's too weak, your taste nerves far too frail to endure true cuisine. I've seen chefs who chase ultimate gastronomy—do you know what they're like?"
Gulp.
Teuchi swallowed hard involuntarily.
Even the others—Tsunade, Sasuke, Naruto—were captivated by Shen Mo's words.
"Powerful!"
Shen Mo's hand clenched into a fist, amplified by a custom Trade Point effect, producing a faint sonic boom.
"Unrivaled power! Those chefs forged a path where supreme cuisine strengthens them. The more they eat, the more delicious their dishes, the stronger they become. With that power, they venture into mountains, deep seas, hidden caverns… all manner of perilous places, hunting ultimate ingredients."
"In their eyes, the world's creatures are divided into two kinds: delicious and not delicious! And they call themselves—"
"—Gourmet Hunters!"
Indeed, Shen Mo was describing the Gourmet Hunters from the Torikoworld.
That world's cuisine defied imagination.
Even the System's descriptions of most dishes came with warnings.
The weak must not eat!
"Gourmet Hunters…" Teuchi murmured, repeating the words, a strange yearning stirring within him.
"Uncle," Naruto said, skeptical, "if they're that amazing, why haven't we ever heard of them?"
"Yeah, yeah," Sakura nodded instinctively. "There's nothing in the books."
"Hmph," Sasuke scoffed coolly. "That's just a story to fool kids. Eating more makes you stronger? Getting strong isn't that easy."
Though he dismissed it instinctively, Sasuke's faintly disappointed expression betrayed a flicker of hope deep within.
A way to grow strong quickly.
Shen Mo glanced at him.
Among the main trio, Sasuke was the most likely to become his client.
Relentless in pursuit of power, resolute, resourceful, and capable.
"If anyone else said this, I wouldn't believe it," Tsunade said, glancing at Shen Mo with a hint of regret, shaking her head. "But coming from you, it's probably true. Shame it's not easy to see."
"Lady Tsunade…" Teuchi looked at her, surprised.
"This guy's pretty extraordinary—no, make that impressive," Tsunade said, snapping her chopsticks apart, ready to dig in.
"…If even Lady Tsunade says so," Teuchi said, looking at Shen Mo with resolve. "I believe it. And I understand what true chefs pursue in cuisine."
This was the benefit of Tsunade's rapport.
Her credibility in Konoha was immense.
"As expected," Shen Mo said, looking at Teuchi with admiration. "You're cut from the same cloth as the chef who made that ramen. So… do you want to follow his path, to become a true chef?"
"What!?" Teuchi's pupils contracted.
He believed, but he thought witnessing it would be near impossible.
Yet, from Shen Mo's words…
"Under normal circumstances, gaining that power is nearly impossible," Shen Mo said, his lips curving slightly as he stood, arms spread. "But I'm a merchant who grants clients a turning point in their destiny. All pursuits—power, wishes—can be fulfilled through me. So—client, how about a set of Food Series cans?"
Almost the moment his words fell…
A set of small cans appeared before them.
"Ack!" Tsunade nearly choked on her noodles, turning to him. "You've got Food Series cans too?"
"I've said it before—my cans are opportunities to change destiny," Shen Mo said leisurely. "Immense power, hope in despair, dreams to chase—all can be achieved through these cans, with just a small price and a bit of luck."
His peripheral glance flicked to Sasuke.
As expected…
The young Sasuke was staring at him intensely, fists clenched unconsciously.
Shen Mo's repeated emphasis on power had paid off.
Today, he might snag two clients.
"You sly guy," Tsunade said, her brow furrowing briefly before relaxing, as if sighing. "Teuchi, I've got to warn you—his cans are beyond imagination. You'd better be ready to lose your ordinary life."
She'd figured it out.
From the moment Shen Mo presented that ramen…
He'd been angling to sell cans.
But everyone had their own dreams and convictions. She, ensnared by her quest to resurrect Nawaki, had no right to stop others.
"They're just ordinary cans, right?" Naruto, who'd been staring for ages, couldn't resist reaching out.
Snap.
Shen Mo snapped his fingers crisply, and Naruto's hand passed through the cans like a phantom.
"Fifty thousand each," Shen Mo said with a slight smile. "Pay first, or offer items of equal value, to touch and open."
"Fifty thousand?!" Naruto yelped.
He had his little frog wallet, but nowhere near that much.
Fifty thousand! That'd cover a month of living!
Teuchi stared at the cans, a flicker of hesitation on his face.
"To be honest, these cans alone won't unlock the true path of cuisine," Shen Mo said, sitting back down, his tone casual. "So you don't need to worry too much about your life changing. Buy a set, try it out, see how it feels."
As for whether, after trying, he could resist the cans' charm and walk away…
That was up to him (chuckle).
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