The title "New God of the Shinobi World" sounded a bit too exaggerated to Hikaru Uchiha. To him, it carried an air of juvenile pretentiousness, which is why he had never brought it up to the others on his own.
So now that this secret had suddenly come to light, even someone as composed as Hikaru couldn't help but feel embarrassed. It felt like a fire had ignited across his cheeks, leaving him flustered and uneasy.
If it weren't for the formal setting, the girls present would've already burst into teasing laughter over his obvious discomfort.
Fūka Seiyuki watched the scene before her with a look of mild confusion.
While she didn't fully understand the entire situation, her sharp senses easily picked up on Hikaru's awkwardness.
To ease the tension, she cleverly shifted the subject.
"I'm truly glad you all accepted my request."
"In that case, allow me to prepare a few dishes to express my gratitude—what do you say?"
Hikaru immediately nodded. "Then I'll respectfully accept, thank you for your hospitality, Lord Daimyō."
Seeing how quickly he jumped on the opportunity, the girls couldn't help but chuckle behind their hands.
Fūka Seiyuki gave a small nod, then turned to the attendant beside her and instructed:
"Go prepare some of our Land of Snow's signature dishes. I want to give these esteemed guests a proper welcome."
The moment the words "signature dishes" were uttered, a chill ran down Hikaru's spine.
A few less-than-pleasant memories suddenly surfaced.
The Land of Snow's climate was much like the Arctic—frigid and harsh.
That raised a rather troubling question in his mind: would these signature dishes be similar to those… uniquely questionable arctic delicacies?
Before he knew it, his thoughts drifted to things like fermented seabirds—the sort of food that turned people away before they even got close.
If Fūka Seiyuki really served something like that at a banquet, Hikaru had no idea how he'd handle the situation.
Still, he had already spoken. Backing out now would be a terrible look.
With complicated thoughts running through his head, he followed the others into the dining hall.
But once the dishes began to appear, the first thing Hikaru felt was unexpected relief.
The food looked completely normal—none of the "unique" aura he had feared.
Though he didn't say it aloud, he could finally let go of the rock that had been weighing on his heart.
"Everyone, please help yourselves. These are the pride of our Land of Snow."
Fūka Seiyuki smiled graciously and gestured elegantly for Hikaru and the others to enjoy the feast.
Hikaru responded by picking up a pair of beautifully crafted chopsticks, his eyes falling on the fish dish in front of him.
The fish was a creamy white, its surface grilled to a delicate golden hue, exuding a faint but mouthwatering aroma.
He gently picked up a piece and placed it into his mouth—instantly struck by the tender texture and refined flavor.
The custom sauce paired flawlessly with the fish: rich and layered, yet refreshing and clean.
After finishing the fish, Hikaru went on to sample several other dishes.
Each one had its own unique character—vibrant in color, enticing in smell, and captivating in taste.
His tastebuds felt as if they were being swept up in a celebration.
Watching Hikaru eat with such delight, Tsunade and the others couldn't resist joining in.
They shared their thoughts on each dish, all full of praise.
Even Chiri Uchiha, ever the courteous one, took a moment between bites to offer her thanks: "Thank you for your generous hospitality, Lord Daimyō."
The atmosphere in the dining hall grew warm and pleasant. Everyone was immersed in the comfort of the moment.
After all, the purpose of their journey was to experience the unique cultures of various nations.
And this banquet hosted by Fūka Seiyuki had clearly left a wonderful impression.
Seeing the satisfaction on everyone's faces, Fūka Seiyuki herself felt a wave of joy.
She knew that as long as she maintained a good relationship with Hikaru, her country would always have a powerful ally.
Even if they were nothing more than familiar strangers, it was just a meal—no harm done.
While Hikaru and the others enjoyed their meal, elsewhere, a small figure sat quietly eating alone.
In stark contrast to the gourmet feast carefully prepared by the daimyō, this young girl's lunch was strikingly plain—almost pitiful.
The land's severe cold made even finding wild vegetables a struggle.
She had spent tremendous effort catching a wild rabbit, but lacking any cooking skill, it ended up burnt in some parts and raw in others.
Yet none of that deterred her. She forced the meat down regardless—her only goal was to keep her strength up.
As she ate, her eyes grew damp, and her thoughts drifted to the past.
To find the anomaly mentioned by the Great Toad Sage, she had already crossed through multiple worlds.
Her goal: to find someone who could help her defeat the person who had ruined her life.
Throughout her travels, she had received kindness and help from many.
The warm smiles, encouraging words, and selfless sacrifices had left her deeply touched and endlessly grateful.
But every encounter came with partings—and bloodshed. Those who helped her inevitably died, slaughtered by the pursuers on her trail.
Honestly, if it weren't for that person toying with her, she would've been long dead by now.
This time was no different.
Shortly after arriving in this world, she had been spotted by shinobi from the Hidden Grass Village. She had used chakra—and that drew him to her again.
Their battle led to the complete destruction of the Hidden Grass Village.
Now, eating alone in silence, the girl's heart brimmed with sorrow and regret.
Still, she knew she had a mission—and to fulfill it, she had to keep moving, to find the one who could help her defeat her enemy.
Just as she lost herself in thought, a cocky voice suddenly pierced the quiet, coming from nearby.
"Hey, look over there. Smoke, isn't it?" a gruff male voice asked.
"Yeah, let's go check it out. Might be another one of those Land of Snow caravans. We told 'em to pay up if they wanna pass. But no—they just try to sneak through!"
Another voice replied, clearly irritated.
Those words snapped the girl back to reality.
She instantly sensed danger in their tone—this wasn't a coincidence.
She wasn't stupid. Realizing the situation had turned hostile, she quickly began packing up to leave.
But she was still a step too slow.
Just as she stood up, several figures rapidly closed the distance and blocked her escape.
"Boss, doesn't look like she's with any caravan," one of the rogue shinobi muttered, visibly disappointed. They were clearly used to robbing merchant groups, and this caught them off guard.
He had barely finished speaking when his "boss" smacked him hard on the head with a loud smack.
The leader shot him a glare and barked, "Who said we can only rob caravans? Hey, kid—hand over anything valuable you're carrying!"