The tasting begins

Hongle's side arrived early.

His three young apprentices had set up the stoves well ahead of time, but there were a full fifty judges today, and that many people would require plenty of broth.

At that point, Sasuke's Fire Release became the key to Aunt Ichiraku's side catching up despite their later start.

He blew fireballs into the stoves packed with dry firewood, and roaring flames sprang to life.

"The stoves are all set, and every fire is lit. Let the competition begin!"

Clang!!

A senior elder struck the gong and made the announcement.

The competition began.

Aunt Ichiraku and Hongle immediately began preparing their broth recipes and measuring the ratio of water to flour.

Both were veteran ramen chefs, and their movements were almost identical.

Yet their differences soon became apparent.

Hongle's secret formula was still diluted alkaline water. After Naruto's demonstration, however, Aunt Ichiraku added not only salt and eggs to her dough, but also the food-grade Alkali Noodles Naruto had exchanged for through the system.

With the three ingredients mixed in the proper proportions, Aunt Ichiraku began kneading with all her strength.

Though she was a woman, the ramen-making skills Aunt Ichiraku had honed over the years were formidable.

Hongle was a relentless man who had devoted his youth to ramen, and he was equally proficient in these fundamentals.

Their fluid movements each had their own strengths, with something to learn from both.

Konoha's fifty ramen chefs watched in quiet amazement.

As the saying went, outsiders watched the spectacle, while experts appreciated the technique.

To those fifty ramen chefs, the pair's series of movements was nothing short of a visual feast.

"Heavens, so this is Ichiraku, Konoha's number one flavor master for three years running? She really is a marvel of the culinary world."

"Yes. Objectively speaking, Ichiraku is highly skilled."

"Hmph, but Hongle can't be underestimated either. He brought back a top-secret recipe, after all. Without absolute confidence, he wouldn't have challenged Ichiraku the moment he returned, hoping to reclaim the title of number one flavor master."

"Right. I just wonder what sort of top-secret recipe Hongle brought back."

"Indeed. I can hardly wait."

On the surface, Aunt Ichiraku's techniques were superb, but in a culinary showdown, flavor was what decided victory.

What was more, this contest had a theme that would make any chef blanch.

Leaving ramen to sit for five minutes was an almost insurmountable test.

Naruto was not idle either. With ANBU and Root watching nearby, he naturally could not stand around doing nothing as Ichiraku's young apprentice. He deftly arranged bowls and chopsticks, ready to serve the delicious broth at any moment.

While pulling his noodles, Hongle occasionally glanced at his little master across from him. He did not understand why his master had suddenly changed his mind and let Aunt Ichiraku take charge, but the skills his master had shown yesterday had won him over completely.

Though puzzled, he dared not show it. He could only ask afterward.

Whoever had greater skill was the master. His master being only seven years old did nothing to diminish his respect.

That principle had been the key to his struggle from an ordinary civilian to a renowned chef in Konoha.

Seeing their master frown from time to time, Hongle's three apprentices dared not slack off, hurriedly preparing bowls and chopsticks.

Time slipped by, and before long, the portions of dough had all been kneaded.

Both sides finished their preparations, and the broth in the five pots had come to a boil.

"Hah... dance!"

With a low cry, Aunt Ichiraku seized a lump of dough in each hand and stretched and swung them with force, unleashing her signature Double-Handed Noodle Pull.

This secret technique demanded tremendous arm strength. Aunt Ichiraku had only gradually mastered it through years of hands-on work.

Every gaze fell on Aunt Ichiraku's side.

But just as the crowd burst into exclamations, Hongle refused to be outdone.

"Roar... Twin Dragons Soaring to Heaven!"

Holding a lump of dough in each hand, Hongle spun like a top. Before their eyes, the two lengths of dough grew increasingly fine.

Clearly, both wanted to show off their fundamentals before Naruto, hoping to rise in their master's estimation.

Neither Naruto nor Sasuke had ever imagined the competition would reach this point.

Who would have thought a cooking contest would come with bonus performances?

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch.

One glance at the crowd's reactions told Naruto that this had to be the first time the two had displayed their secret noodle-pulling techniques before their peers.

Otherwise, everyone would not have been so shocked.

Even Sasuke looked astonished.

He had never imagined that a group of ordinary people could hone their skills to such a level. His one-tomoe Sharingan was already active, continuously copying their movements.

"This is hardly any easier than ninjutsu. You really can't judge people by appearances..."

Sasuke spoke quietly, but Naruto heard him.

"In this world, we shouldn't look down on anyone, or any profession."

"Yes, that makes sense," Sasuke said with a nod.

While the crowd was still discussing the spectacle in amazement, Aunt Ichiraku and Hongle called out at the same time.

"Get the bowls ready!"

"Yes!!"

Ayame on Aunt Ichiraku's side and Hongle's three young apprentices answered loudly, then swiftly prepared fifty sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Naruto joined Ayame in her work.

Clatter, clatter, clatter...

Fifty clean bowls and sets of chopsticks stood in neat rows, waiting for the cooked noodles.

With as many as fifty judges and the contest's theme to consider, both chefs instinctively served the noodles first, waiting until all fifty bowls were filled before adding the delicious broth.

"Add the secret flavor-enhancing broth!"

"Add the secret toppings!"

At the two chefs' shouted commands, everyone sprang into action.

Glug, glug, glug...

Four people on each side, eight in all, methodically added broth, secret toppings, and garnishes. Soon, the competition ramen was ready.

Both sides finished at almost the same time.

The presiding elder struck the gong and shouted, "The competition is over! After both entries have rested for five minutes, Konoha's fifty ramen chefs will taste them and decide the winner. The victor will earn the title of Konoha's number one ramen flavor master!"

"The five-minute countdown begins!"

As soon as he finished, the elder turned over an hourglass.

The fifty ramen chefs who had been waiting surged forward, crowding tightly around the two long tables.

Aunt Ichiraku's ramen and Hongle's Ultimate Flavor Recipe ramen looked almost identical. No one could tell at a glance which was better. They would have to taste them.

Naruto crouched on the ground, watching the scene before him with a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Barring any surprises, Ichiraku Ramen's reputation in Konoha would soar thanks to his MSG and other modern seasonings.

With the right management, he would not have to worry about money for a while.

Fine grains of sand trickled through the overturned hourglass, and subtle changes began to appear in the two ramen entries within that short span.

The first was Hongle's ramen. After soaking in the piping-hot broth, the once translucent, delicate, and springy noodles had begun to turn slightly white on the surface.

This was the result of the noodles losing much of their firm texture.

Hongle's expression changed slightly at the sight. His little master's experiment yesterday had taught him the dangers of alkali stone, so he had not dared add much alkaline water to today's batch.

And so an embarrassing scene unfolded.

Hongle himself had proposed the five-minute resting period. Yet to everyone's surprise, Aunt Ichiraku's secret-recipe noodles showed no sign of swelling or whitening throughout those five minutes, while Hongle's were the first to give out.

"Master, this..."

"How could this happen? How could our ramen be worse than Ichiraku's?"

Hearing his young apprentices' doubts, Hongle gestured for silence.

As the last grains of sand ran out, another deafening gong rang through the air.

"Time's up!" the elder solemnly announced.

"The fifty judges will now begin tasting Hongle's ramen. Each judge has two points to award, and the winner will be decided by the two sides' total scores!"

The elder's voice immediately grew grave.

"This ramen showdown concerns the honor of being Konoha's number one ramen flavor master. I hope all you chefs who love your craft will score fairly and impartially!"

"Let the tasting begin!"