The Best Food in the Ninja World

The shift in atmosphere came so quickly that neither Uchiha Yu nor Uchiha Shisui could process it.

"Ah?"

Uchiha Yu was taller, and he immediately guessed what had happened from the scent in the air.

With an apologetic smile, he said, "Uncle Teshio, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

"Even though we didn't make much, we can at least share some soup. Everyone will get a portion."

The furious Uchiha Teshio instantly changed his expression. "As long as there's soup, it's fine."

"You brat, how could you make food smell this good? Fine, make it smell good—but couldn't you at least shut your doors and windows and eat it in secret?"

"You had to make the whole street smell like it. Are you trying to make people miserable?"

"Look at my kids. They're crying and throwing tantrums because they want to eat the meat from your house. They won't even touch the meat I made."

"Exactly! My house is a complete mess too. Their father even broke the broom handle, and he still couldn't suppress them."

Uchiha Yu hurriedly bowed and apologized humbly. "Sorry, sorry!"

Uchiha Shisui: "..."

Nearly all the neighbors followed Uchiha Yu to his house. When they pushed open the unlocked gate, they saw that all the doors and windows were tightly shut. The kitchen in particular was sealed up tight, aside from the chimney releasing thin wisps of smoke.

Uchiha Teshio immediately asked in surprise, "Yu, did you cook that... Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?"

"Mm, I did."

"Oh no. We're doomed."

As the news spread, the neighbors immediately broke into mournful cries:

"How are we supposed to eat after this?"

"Yeah. For the next month, everything we eat will taste awful."

"Yu, if you make something like this again, tell us in advance so we can prepare ourselves mentally."

What could Uchiha Yu say?

He could only laugh awkwardly as he strode forward and pushed open his front door. A wave of extraordinary fragrance immediately rushed out of the house.

Strangely enough, authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall should have released almost no scent while it was simmering. Yet in the Ninja World, the smell simply could not be contained, seeping through walls and reaching the street.

One thing was the same: only after the sealed container was opened would the true fragrance burst forth. What they were smelling now was merely the overture.

But even that was already unbearable. Everyone craned their necks and inhaled deeply, trying to breathe in as much of the scent as possible. It was a scent that drove people mad with hunger.

The short Shisui finally understood why everyone had reacted that way. Children had even less resistance to delicious food, and saliva uncontrollably filled his mouth, leaving him to swallow again and again.

"Meow, everyone's here." Miwa Masayo emerged from the kitchen with elegant steps. "It seems the smell has already spread."

"We only came to beg for some soup."

"Sigh, yes. A bowl of soup is enough. We wouldn't dare eat the meat. Last time, my child didn't know any better and ate some meat, then had nosebleeds all night."

"I'm the same even as an adult, much less a child."

"A bowl of soup will do."

"Hehe, newlyweds can have two pieces of meat..."

This was not Uchiha Yu's first time making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. He and Miwa Masayo had prepared long ago. The reason they had made so much stock and deliberately chosen the biggest earthenware jar was for this very moment.

Uchiha Yu walked into the kitchen and confirmed that Miwa Masayo had extinguished the fire in the stove. Then he directly removed the seal from the huge earthenware jar.

As white steam rose, the aroma of wine charged into everyone's nostrils with overwhelming force. The wine scent was merely the vanguard. Following it came the fresh fragrances of the sea, sea breeze, land, and animals of the sky, converging like a vast, well-organized army and charging straight into everyone's hearts.

In an instant, the entire house and courtyard fell completely silent. No one spoke.

Their souls were practically flying away. How could they still speak?

Uchiha Yu fetched a large ladle, scooped out the rich brown, thick yet not greasy soup, and shouted:

"Uncle Teshio, snap out of it! I'm handing out soup!"

With an "oh," Uchiha Teshio came back to himself and hurriedly held out his bowl. The other neighbors also regained their senses and automatically formed a line, eagerly waiting for their share.

Among the main ingredients used to make the stock for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, people supposedly said that the hen could not be eaten because its meat had been boiled to mush, lost all flavor, and had all its nutrition absorbed into the soup.

But that was nonsense—nothing but pretentious petty-bourgeois affectation. Meat was still meat, no matter how soft it had become. The shredded chicken blended into the broth smelled amazing.

So in addition to a bowl of soup, everyone received a small bowl of shredded chicken.

Those who received their soup first took a deep breath, unable to pull themselves away from the delicious aroma of the broth. Only then did they carefully cradle their bowls and take tiny steps back home.

In just over ten minutes, all the neighbors had left. They had left behind all sorts of gifts: flatbread from Teshio's family, fresh vegetables, rice, flour, soybean oil, and other daily necessities.

There was even a little outfit prepared for Miwa Masayo, which the Tabby Cat scorned with utter disdain.

"This craftsmanship is so crude. Even the stitch holes along the edges are uneven. And this color—how can it be blue?"

"My fur is blue-black tabby. It doesn't match at all."

Miwa Masayo grumbled with a look of complete disgust, but her tail swayed like rolling waves.

Quite a few Uchiha ninja kept crows, but every Uchiha was, at heart, a cat lover. One look was enough for Shisui to know that this Cat Sage was merely putting on a tough front. She was actually so happy she was about to explode.

As expected, the Tabby Cat did not throw away the outfit. Instead, she carefully folded it and placed it in her own cabinet, pressing it beneath the bottommost compartment.

Uchiha Yu paid no attention to the gifts. He was starving now. He wanted to eat—wanted meat.

Fire-natured Natural Energy flowed into his hands. Uchiha Yu wrapped both arms around the enormous earthenware jar and carried it to the dining table in the living room.

Then he prepared bowls, chopsticks, rice, and refreshing vegetables as quickly as possible, getting everything ready for the meal.

"Shisui, try my cooking. Don't be polite."

"Big Brother Yu, is it really okay for me to eat this?"

"Don't worry. You aren't a ninja yet, but you've already undergone enough training and even extracted chakra. This is exactly when you need nutrition."

"Eat. Just eat. There won't be any problem at all."

Uchiha Shisui no longer hesitated. He picked up a piece of abalone and bit down hard.

The wine fragrance mingled with countless other aromas, sending his taste buds into a frenzy. The abalone was soft and tender, melting in his mouth with a light press of his tongue. Yet the meat was soft without falling apart, its flavor endless. He could not even tell whether he had swallowed the abalone or his own tongue.

It was too delicious.

"Don't just eat the meat. Pick up your bowl and take a sip of the soup. The soup is an unmatched delicacy too."

The obedient Shisui immediately lifted the bowl, which was larger than his head. After blowing on it slightly to cool it down, he took a sip of the rich broth filled with gelatin.

Uchiha Shisui felt as though he had ascended into the clouds. His soul seemed to leave his body, and he could no longer control himself.

By the time he regained his senses, all the food had already been eaten. A pile of pork bones was stacked in front of him.

But the strongest sensation came from his own belly. It was round and swollen to the point of pain, yet he felt incomparably satisfied.

Ah, when had his belt come undone?

"This has to be the best food in the Ninja World. Absolutely!"