Hunters Chasing Gourmet Food!

Hunters Chasing Gourmet Food!

Teuchi was completely immersed in his emotions, eating the ramen one bite at a time as tears streamed down his face.

"Uncle." Naruto suddenly leaned over beside Shen Mo and asked eagerly, "Do you have any more ramen like this?"

Teuchi was not the only one who loved ramen. Naruto was also a loyal ramen enthusiast.

That included, but was not limited to, all kinds of instant noodles.

"This ramen was made and given to me by a former customer. I preserved it using a special Secret Art." Shen Mo merely smiled without giving a direct answer.

"Then he must have been a truly great chef." Teuchi had already eaten every last bit of ramen in front of him, leaving the bowl even cleaner than if it had been washed. His face was filled with lingering appreciation and yearning.

"Mr. Teuchi." Shen Mo looked at him meaningfully and slowly shook his head. "You don't think this bowl of ramen is the limit of the culinary path, do you?"

"How could it be?" Teuchi's mouth fell open.

This bowl of ramen had used its unique texture and ultimate richness to evoke the emotions one felt when facing one's mother.

To Teuchi, it was an unimaginably delicious pinnacle, as if it had opened the gates to an entirely new world.

There was actually food even more powerful than this?

"The reason I only brought out ramen of this level is that you can only enjoy ramen of this level." The corners of Shen Mo's lips curved into a mysterious smile. "Your body is too weak, and your taste buds are far from capable of withstanding true gourmet food. I've met some chefs who truly pursued the pinnacle of cuisine. Do you know what they were like?"

Gulp.

Teuchi unconsciously swallowed.

Even everyone else—Tsunade, Sasuke, and Naruto—was drawn in by Shen Mo's words.

"Powerful!"

Shen Mo's hand clenched into a fist. Under the effects of the Trading Points' customization, it even produced a faint sonic boom.

"Unparalleled power! Those chefs have forged a path of strengthening themselves through the ultimate cuisine. The more they eat and the more delicious the food they create, the stronger they become. Then, with that formidable power, they venture into deep mountains, the deep sea, secret caves, and all kinds of dangerous places in pursuit of the ultimate ingredients."

"In their eyes, everything in the world falls into only two categories: delicious and not delicious! And they call themselves—"

"—Gourmet Hunters!"

That was right. The people Shen Mo was talking about were the Gourmet Hunters from the Toriko World.

The food in that world had already far surpassed the limits of imagination.

In fact, the system's descriptions of most of its gourmet food even contained warnings.

The weak must not eat it!

"Gourmet Hunters..." Teuchi murmured, repeating the words. Deep inside, he seemed to harbor a strange yearning.

"Uncle." Naruto looked somewhat unconvinced. "If they're really that powerful, why have we never heard of them?"

"Yeah, exactly." Sakura nodded instinctively. There had never been anything about them in the books, either.

"Hmph." Sasuke let out a cool snort. "That kind of story is only good for fooling children. Eating more makes you stronger? Becoming stronger isn't that easy."

Although he instinctively assumed it was false, the slight disappointment on Sasuke's face showed that, deep down, he might still hold on to such an expectation.

A way to become stronger quickly.

Shen Mo glanced at him.

Of the three protagonists, Sasuke was the one most likely to become his customer.

He would pursue power at any cost, with a firm goal, methods, and ability.

"If anyone else said that, I definitely wouldn't believe it." Tsunade glanced at Shen Mo and shook her head with some regret. "But if you're the one saying it, then it should be true. What a pity it isn't so easy to see such a thing."

"Lady Tsunade?" Teuchi looked at Tsunade in surprise.

"This guy is very mysterious. No, I should say he's formidable." Tsunade snapped apart her chopsticks, seemingly preparing to start eating.

"If even Lady Tsunade says so..." Teuchi looked at Shen Mo with determination. "I believe it. I understand what true chefs pursue when it comes to food."

This was also one of the benefits of having Tsunade establish a good relationship with him.

Tsunade was still deeply trusted in Konoha.

"As expected." Shen Mo looked at Teuchi approvingly. "You and the chef who made this bowl of ramen are the same kind of person. So, do you want to walk the true path of a chef, just like him?"

"What!?" Teuchi's pupils contracted.

Though he believed him, he had also thought it would be nearly impossible to witness such a thing.

But judging from what Shen Mo meant—

"Under normal circumstances, obtaining that kind of power would be nearly impossible." The corners of Shen Mo's lips curved slightly. He stood up and spread his arms. "But I am a merchant who grants customers turning points in their fate. Everything people pursue, whether power or a wish, can be realized here. So, guest—would you like a set of Gourmet Series Chests?"

Almost as soon as his voice fell.

A set of small chests appeared in front of them.

"Cough, cough." Tsunade nearly choked on her noodles. She turned her head. "You have Gourmet Series Chests too?"

"I told you, didn't I? My chests are opportunities that can change fate." Shen Mo spoke unhurriedly. "Powerful strength, hope in desperate situations, dreams worth pursuing—everything can be achieved through these chests. All it takes is a small price and a little luck."

His peripheral vision swept briefly toward Sasuke.

Just as expected.

Young Sasuke was staring fixedly at him, even clenching his fists unconsciously.

Shen Mo's repeated emphasis on powerful strength had not been in vain.

It seemed there might be hope of digging up two customers today.

"You..." Tsunade's brows drew together slightly, but soon relaxed. She seemed to sigh. "Teuchi, I have to warn you. This guy's chests can exceed your imagination. You'd better be prepared to lose your ordinary life."

She had already figured it out.

From the moment Shen Mo brought out that bowl of ramen, he had been planning to sell chests.

However, everyone had their own convictions and dreams. Having become deeply entangled in her own pursuit of resurrecting Nawaki, she had no right to stop anyone else.

"Aren't these just ordinary jars?" Naruto, who had been staring at them from the side for a long time, could not resist reaching out to touch one.

Smack.

Shen Mo snapped his fingers crisply, and Naruto's hand actually passed through the jar like a phantom.

"Fifty thousand each." Shen Mo smiled faintly. "You must pay first, or provide an item of equal value, before you can touch and open one."

"Fifty thousand!" Naruto could not help crying out.

Although he had his own Frog Wallet, he did not have that much money.

Fifty thousand! That was enough to support him for a month!

Teuchi stared at the jars, a hint of hesitation showing on his face.

"Actually, if you want to open the true path of cuisine, this number of jars is far from enough." Shen Mo sat down and spoke as if casually. "So you don't need to worry too much about your life being changed or anything. You can buy one set first and experience it."

As for whether he could put them down afterward and resist the allure of the jars—

That would be up to him. (Laughs.)