In the original story of Naruto, the plot regarding Konoha's First Seasoning was never shown, so Naruto was a little confused at the moment.
However, Sasuke was born into a major clan, and his food, clothing, and daily expenses were beyond what Naruto could compare to; thinking of this, Naruto also turned his head and asked, "Sasuke, do you know what this title of Konoha's First Seasoning represents?"
"Um... I know a little. Although I'm not entirely clear, I heard my father and the elders talking about it casually when they mentioned Konoha's title of First Ninja Tool."
Sasuke tried hard to recall the information he had heard from his father in his childhood.
"My father said that every walk of life in Konoha has a top title designation. It is said that as long as you can hang this designation on your signboard, you can 100% attract a large number of customers. It's like Shino's family's insecticide, the blacksmith shop's ninja tools, the Nara Clan's medicinal herbs, the Inuzuka Clan's veterinarian, and many others."
Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto had a flash of inspiration. "In other words, as long as you can win the first title, you can guarantee a booming business?"
"Hmm, it seems to be like that." Sasuke nodded and said.
"Alright, so that's how it is."
Having obtained this information, Naruto also calculated the gains and losses in his heart.
If Aunt Ichiraku lost the title of First Seasoning, her business would not be as good as before, which would directly lead to a drop in the income of her stall. This was something he did not want to see.
"Hmph, just you wait. In my eyes, this so-called secret recipe is nothing much."
The crowd waited at the doorway for less than five minutes before they heard the order-ready bell ringing inside the shop.
At this time, the bald man had already hidden the black stone he obtained into his pocket, and immediately the group turned and entered Ichiraku Ramen.
When Naruto and Sasuke re-entered Ichiraku Ramen, what appeared before them were four bowls of exquisitely made, richly fragrant ramen.
Seeing that Ichiraku's so-called secret seasoning was still the same as usual, the bald man directly led his subordinates into the kitchen to start making the competition ramen.
Because Ichiraku had already made her competition entry, everyone did not need to leave the scene when it was the bald man's turn to make his. After all, even if they saw it, an ordinary person could not tell the proportion of someone else's secret seasoning with the naked eye.
"I'm going to dig in."
"I'm going to dig in too."
As soon as Naruto and Sasuke finished speaking, they picked up the secret seasoned noodles and started eating.
The ramen was chewy, the broth was fresh and delicious, and the aroma was rich...
Judging by the culinary culture of this world, it could indeed be considered top-tier ramen.
Sasuke used to eat only food made by his mother and rarely went out to eat at such small shops, so he didn't know that ramen could taste this good.
However, I don't know if it was because he had eaten the ultimate roasted fish made by Naruto, but although this ramen had a great texture and taste, it fell short by a thousand miles compared to that unforgettable taste of the roasted fish.
Naruto also picked up a mouthful and put it in his mouth to chew. To his surprise, Aunt Ichiraku really did have a secret recipe.
It was the table salt in the ramen.
Previously, everything he had eaten was ramen without added salt, so the ramen wasn't particularly chewy, and ramen without chewiness was equivalent to losing its soul.
Raising his head to look at the nervous Aunt Ichiraku and Brother Ayame, Naruto also gave a thumbs-up.
"This ramen is so delicious today; Aunt Ichiraku is the best."
As soon as these words came out, they couldn't help but draw a sneer from the middle-aged man on the side who had put down his chopsticks after eating only one bite of ramen.
"A frog at the bottom of a well. Hopefully, you can still think that way later."
This-and-that, this time Boss Hongle learned the true essence of ramen from a wise man deep in the mountains.
Hearing these words, Aunt Ichiraku and Ayame both looked ugly.
They had paid attention to Hongle's production methods from the very beginning, but no matter how they looked at it, it was the same as their own procedures.
When Ichiraku and Ayame's attention was on Hongle's details of kneading and pulling the noodles, Naruto's focus was on Hongle's little apprentice.
He saw that the little apprentice was currently tinkering with a small pot, inside which was some pitch-black liquid.
If it were a cook from Naruto's world, they would definitely think this was Hongle's secret recipe, but Naruto, who knew the texture of the black stone, didn't think so.
"Ore containing a large amount of alkali? Interesting."
From the beginning of making the dough to inadvertently scooping out a spoonful of settled alkaline water and putting it into the dough, the process was extremely natural. Aunt Ichiraku couldn't see the function of that spoonful of mysterious liquid at all.
The subsequent steps were very similar.
Amidst the nervous waiting of the crowd, about five minutes passed.
Hongle began to pull the noodles. The solid, well-developed muscles of his arms and his wide arm span as a man both added to the visual appeal of the ramen-making process.
The broth bubbled and gurgled. The little apprentice took out six bowls and poured the fresh broth into them one by one.
Just as this side was ready, they heard Hongle let out a low shout.
The stove strainer in his hand danced like lightning, and with each sweep, a clump of bouncy ramen entered a prepared bowl.
In just a few breaths of time, six bowls of secret-seasoned ramen were presented before everyone.
Only then did Hongle untie his apron, look at Ichiraku and Ayame with a face full of confidence and contempt, and say, "I prepared two extra bowls for you, to make you lose and accept it willingly."
Naruto and Sasuke both looked down at the ramen in front of them.
From the surface, regardless of color, style, or aroma, they were almost identical.
I don't know if it was psychological, but facing Hongle's absolute confidence, everyone present subconsciously felt that Hongle's ramen was superior.
"Slurp..."
No one made a move first, but the two judge uncles couldn't help revealing looks of pleasant surprise and immediately began to eat heartily.
Looking at that starving-ghost expression, it was as if they hadn't eaten for a month.
Seeing this, Aunt Ichiraku and Ayame both swallowed their saliva and prepared to taste-test as well.
Sasuke had already started eating.
Naruto also wanted to know what the difference was between this ramen with added alkaline water and the ramen without it.
Except for the two starving-ghost uncles, both Ichiraku's side and Naruto's side ate slowly and chewed carefully, savoring the details.
Sasuke opened his eyes wide, picked up a strand of ramen, stretched it a few times, and said in surprise, "Ramen can actually be this bouncy?"
The smoothness and bounciness in his mouth-indeed, Aunt Ichiraku, who had tasted it, wore a downcast expression; she knew she had lost.
She was certain that no matter what, she could never make such bouncy ramen.
Seeing the bodies of Ichiraku and Ayame sink, Hongle laughed heartily and said, "So, which one do you think is the winner?"
"Hehehe... Naturally, it's Boss Hongle's secret seasoning!"
"Right, I've never eaten such bouncy ramen before; you are the originator of ramen!"
After the two uncles finished speaking, they both turned to look at Sasuke and Naruto.
"Hey, kid, as judges, we don't need to talk about fairness. Although you are laymen, as guests, you also need to give an objective evaluation!"
Seeing this, Sasuke nodded and said, "This uncle's ramen is indeed stronger than Ichiraku Ramen."
Hearing this, Hongle showed a smug smile, and then looked at the yellow-haired brat again.
"Hey kid, what is your evaluation?"
Aunt Ichiraku and Ayame looked ashen-faced at the moment.
Being watched by everyone.
Naruto carefully experienced the taste and chewiness of the ramen, and then smiled as he looked at Hongle.
"This ramen tastes freaking awful! Shoddily made ramen with so many risks has no qualifications to be served to customers at all! Trash!"
[Ding, received 100 Shock Points from the villagers of Konoha.]
As soon as Naruto said these words.
The scene instantly exploded.
Before you continue