As Shen Mo had confided in Tsunade, a good customer, even a "salt-of-the-earth" civilian like the ramen chef Teuchi, possessed an innate drive that made them viable prospects. This drive wasn't always the pursuit of ninja power; it could be the quest for perfection in one's chosen craft.
Teuchi, behind the counter, began working with a renewed seriousness. Shen Mo's presence and his identity—now known to Teuchi thanks to Tsunade's casual familiarity—had stirred the chef's professional pride. His goal was pure: to make his customers love his ramen.
"Guests, please enjoy," Teuchi announced, placing a steaming bowl of his Best Taste ramen before Shen Mo with a confident, slightly challenging smile. The dish was immaculate—perfect ingredients, perfect timing, the pinnacle of his current ability.
"Mew." Himari, perched on Shen Mo's shoulder, stretched her tiny neck, wiggled her nose, and let out a soft sound of disgust. Her large, purple-blue eyes conveyed the precise disappointment of a picky child confronted with an unpalatable vegetable.
Does the kitten not like human food? Teuchi wondered fleetingly, though he dismissed it.
Shen Mo ignored the local custom of announcing the start of the meal. He simply took his spoon, tasted the broth, and began a slow, careful analysis.
His eyebrows furrowed. Teuchi's heart tightened.
"If you're going to say it's not tasty without a reason, I won't believe you," Tsunade interjected, leaning her chin on her hand, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. "I think the craft is better than ever."
Shen Mo smiled, nodded, and put down the spoon.
"It's not bad," he admitted. "But compared to the ramen I've had before, this is decidedly mediocre."
The truth was, the flavor was objectively delicious, but it lacked the soul-shaking intensity of the food from the Toriko world or the profound technical brilliance of Food Wars cuisine. Luxury, once tasted, made simple pleasures feel meager.
"Hey, Mister!" Naruto jumped up, indignant. "Big Sister Tsunade said ramen outside the village is gross compared to Uncle Teuchi's! You're lying on purpose!"
"Naruto!" Sakura quickly tugged him down. The man was with Lady Tsunade and looked important.
"That's not good enough," Tsunade shook her head. "You need to prove your claim." She, more than anyone, believed Shen Mo was telling the truth, but watching the mysterious merchant be forced to defend himself was entertaining.
"Proof!" Naruto shouted again, despite Sakura's desperate attempts to silence him.
"If you want proof, how about you taste it yourself?" Shen Mo suggested, his voice low and serious.
"You're going to cook?" Tsunade asked, surprised.
"No," Shen Mo shook his head, looking directly at Teuchi. "As an ordinary chef, you have reached the limits of the normal culinary path. But beyond that, there is an immensely vast field. Are you willing to witness it?"
Shen Mo's entire aura changed. He radiated a serious, almost spiritual dignity, infused with a deep, compelling mystery. Even Naruto quieted down under the unintelligible tension, clenching his fists and feeling an inexplicable nervousness.
After a long moment, Teuchi took a deep breath, straightened his stained chef's uniform, and asked, "Is it truly delicious?" He was serious now, his competitive spirit fully engaged. "If it exists, I will absolutely witness it."
"Even if it means your current confidence in food is destroyed?" Shen Mo pressed.
"A chef who avoids challenges will never improve," Teuchi declared, his eyes burning with a lifetime's dedication.
"Then so be it."
Shen Mo raised his hand and waved it lightly.
Pop!
A large, covered ramen bowl instantly materialized on the counter.
"What was that? A magic trick?" Naruto gaped, looking from the bowl to Shen Mo, utterly confused about where the item had come from.
Sasuke stared in disbelief. No sealing scroll, no smoke, just instantaneous materialization. It defied every known principle of Ninjutsu.
"Please, sample it," Shen Mo motioned.
The ramen bowl was a custom product from the Food Wars world, personally prepared by Nakiri Senzaemon, the 'Food Demon King,' representing the absolute pinnacle of that dimension's culinary art.
Teuchi's hands trembled as he reached out and touched the porcelain. The temperature was perfect, as if it had just been served. He glanced at Shen Mo, steeled himself, and lifted the lid.
The aroma exploded, instantly filling the shop.
Everyone—Tsunade, Shizune, Sasuke, Sakura, and especially Naruto—instinctively inhaled, their mouths instantly flooding with saliva.
Gulp. The sound of unified swallowing was audible.
"What is that smell?" Naruto moaned, his eyes glued to the bowl, drool escaping his lips.
Teuchi was shaking. He looked at the ramen as if it were a lost holy artifact. "Such beautiful broth," he whispered, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and overwhelming excitement. "There is zero cloudiness, yet the color is deep. The noodles' perfect texture, the arrangement of the meat... Hiss—what kind of meat is this?"
Teuchi had dedicated over thirty years to the pursuit of ramen perfection. In this moment, he felt the same profound wonder he'd felt the very first time he tasted a perfect bowl decades ago.
"The time for peak flavor is limited," Shen Mo reminded him softly.
"Yes!" Teuchi snapped out of his trance. With careful reverence, he scooped a spoonful of the soup and slowly brought it to his lips.
Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke watched, breathless.
Then the flavor hit.
Tears instantly welled in the old chef's eyes. His body trembled violently; his hands fluttered in the air. He sobbed like a child, yet a look of drunken, transcendent bliss washed over his face.
"This feeling... it's like being held in my mother's arms," he wept happily. "So magical, so delicious... This is real ramen!"
"Excellent," Shen Mo said, his internal satisfaction complete. The new Gourmet Jar Series was ready for market. Now, the only question was how much Teuchi would pay for a chance to attain that unparalleled level of flavor.