The grilled fish tastes surprisingly good.
The skin is crispy on the outside, and the fish on the inside is tender and juicy. It is only seasoned with salt, but the deliciousness of the ingredients is retained to the greatest extent.
For Uchiha Hikari, who has been in an abnormal state for a long time, this simple and warm food not only brings an energy supplement, but also a long-lost sense of "alive".
She didn't doubt whether there was something else mixed in, because she couldn't resist anything in her current state.
The warmth and satisfaction coming from the stomach is like a weak but continuous fire, melting little by little the limbs and bones stiffened by long-term tension and weakness.
Naruto's feeding movements are very steady and patient.
After she took a bite, she paused briefly, waiting for her to adjust her breathing and spit out the fish bones in her mouth before offering the next bite.
There were no unnecessary words, no attempt to shorten the distance, just repeated simple and necessary feeding.
One fish is eaten, then the second one.
When only the bare wooden skewers were left on the third grilled fish, Uchiha Hikari finally turned his head slightly to avoid the food that was put to his mouth again.
"That's enough."
Her voice was still a little hoarse, but it was a little more energetic than before.
"No need."
Naruto asked, "Are you full?"
"I'm full."
After confirming that Uchiha Hikari was full, Naruto took out the pot, bowl, food, and seasonings from Ninja Tool Pouch, and then started cooking.
Boil the water and add the noodles.
After processing the garlic, shrimp, onions, ginger, chopped peanuts, bean paste, chili peppers, and sesame seeds (note: wash the garlic slices and minced garlic after cutting them), the noodles are almost ready.
Take the noodles out and set aside, and pour out the water in the pot.
After the remaining water in the pot is boiled away, saute the sesame seeds until fragrant, then pour oil into the pot.
When the oil temperature is right, add onions, ginger, peppercorns, and star anise.
After frying, take out the ingredients, leaving only the oil, and then put the garlic slices into it and fry.
Fry until golden brown, take it out and add minced garlic and chopped peanuts.
When the minced garlic turns beautiful golden Yellow Eyes, the previously fried sesame seeds and chili powder (also called chili powder in some places) are added.
The moment the chili noodles came into contact with the hot oil, a stimulating but alluring spicy aroma exploded, making Uchiha Hikari couldn't help but twitch his nose slightly even though he couldn't see it.
Then, a spoonful of dark red and shiny bean paste and the prepared minced shrimp were put into the pot.
The sauce and minced shrimp are quickly dehydrated and fused in the hot oil and residual temperature, making a pleasant "sizzling" sound, the color becomes darker and oilier, and the salty, fresh, spicy and soy sauce flavors are intertwined and sublimated in layers.
Finally, the previously fried golden garlic slices are poured back into the pot, mixed with the sauce, and then sprinkled with an appropriate amount of salt for final seasoning.
"Zi--"
With the last stir-fry, all the aromas seemed to reach their peak at this moment, and then blended together perfectly to form a complex, rich, overbearing but well-layered compound aroma, which was like an invisible hook, tugging at people's taste buds.
It is a chorus of garlic, sesame, peanut, spicy, soy sauce, fresh seafood and mellow oil. It is carefully controlled and sequentially superimposed. There is no mess at all, only the allure of enchantment.
Even though Uchiha Hikari had just eaten three pieces of grilled fish, body fluids were uncontrollably secreted from his mouth at this moment.
The rich and complex aroma is still lingering in the air, domineeringly occupying every inch of space.
Uchiha Hikari can "hear" the sticky and attractive sound when Naruto scoops out the red and oily sauce mixed with golden garlic slices, sesame seeds and crushed peanuts from the pot, and pours some kind of Vessel into it.
That voice, together with the increasingly solid fragrance in the air, seemed to have turned into a real hook, constantly teasing her stomach that was ready to twitch at the moment.
Immediately afterwards, there was a slight collision of bowls and chopsticks, and a rhythmic "ta-ta-ta" sound when the chopsticks and the bowl wall were stirred rapidly.
The subtle movements of the sauce, noodles, and noodle soup being fully integrated were clearly discernible to her amplified hearing.
Then, footsteps approached, and the familiar presence with the heat of food stopped in front of her again.
"Try it?"
Naruto's voice sounded, and it was still the same calm tone without too much emotion, as if it was as natural as just handing over a glass of water.
Uchiha Hikari's throat rolled uncontrollably.
The salty aroma of grilled fish remaining in the mouth has long been washed away by the more complex and exciting aroma, replaced by a new and stronger desire.
But...
She just made it clear that she was "full."
Now take it and eat it, what's the point?
Go back on your word?
Weak willed?
Or... give in to "temptation"?
She seriously doubted that the guy named Naruto Uzumaki in front of her did it on purpose!
First, let her relax her vigilance and replenish her basic energy with a simple but delicious grilled fish. Then, he came up with this "killer" dish with such an impactful aroma. He only invited her to taste it after she made it clear that she was full.
This is simply a well-planned psychological war against her will and appetite!
"Have a taste."
Naruto's voice sounded again, this time it seemed a little more persuasive, but it still didn't seem eager or demanding.
"If it tastes good, eat more. You need to eat to replenish energy, and long-term deficits cannot be replenished with just a few meals."
Reason is saying: This is the enemy's food, it may be fraudulent, so you must maintain dignity and vigilance.
Instinct and the glutton that is completely aroused are shouting: Just try it, just one bite! See if it really tastes that good! And he is right, you need energy! After all, it is his food, so you will not lose anything.
That all-pervasive fragrance is like the most cunning lobbyist, constantly breaking down the defense line of reason.
The fierce inner struggle was like two armies confronting each other. The bound hands were slightly tightened, and the lines of the shoulders were stiff under the coat. On the face covered by the bandage, the lips were pressed into a pale straight line, then loosened and tightened again.
Time seemed to be stretched out in silence, and every second was filled with silent confrontation.
Finally, after a long stalemate in which one could almost hear his own heartbeat, Uchiha Hikari opened his mouth slightly with an extremely slow and almost tragic determination.
She didn't speak or nod, but made a compromise with this subtle movement.
Naruto picked up a strand of noodles and put it to her mouth.
Uchiha Clan, whether it is Sasuke or light, they all look like kittens.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's so cute!
The soft and smooth noodles, the salty and spicy sauce, the crispiness of the garlic slices, the crispy aroma of sesame and peanuts, the light and sweet taste of the minced shrimp, and the indescribable complex richness formed by the fusion of various spices... All the flavors were harmoniously intertwined, impacting her taste buds, stronger than she imagined, and more... delicious.
Her chewing movement paused for a moment, and then she unconsciously sped up a bit. Her original intention of "taking a bite" became a little shaken by the strong feedback from her sense of taste.
Naruto seemed to be aware of her subtle changes, but he didn't point it out. He just gave her the second bite in a timely manner after she swallowed the first bite.
This time, Uchiha Hikari didn't struggle much and opened his mouth almost obediently.
In the darkness and under restraint, she silently ate this bowl of unexpectedly fragrant noodles one bite after another.
With every bite I took, my body seemed to feel a little warmer, and the lingering feeling of weakness seemed to be dissipated a little by the rich taste.
And the image of Blond Man sitting in front of her, patiently feeding her, became more complicated and difficult to understand in her mind.
What exactly does he want from her?